Christmas 2008!!!

What a wonderful Christmas. We started our celebrating with Brianna and Brandi. They came over for dinner and we opened presents and just had some quality time together. The kids always love hanging out with them.

Brandon Ben and Faith loved their presents.

We had Christmas Eve at mom and dads and everyone had a great time. We got some wonderful gifts. And had a very yummy meal. Everyone brought something different and everything was a hit.

Christmas morning Brandon and Ben were in our room at 5am. We had them wait until about 5:30 and then they literally were dragging me and Josh out of bed.

Faith was so excited about everything, when we handed her a box and she had not even opened it she was this is the best. Brandon and Ben loved their gifts.

This is Ben acting like he isnt happy. They are getting ready to play a game.

Faith loves her bike can you tell. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

And the mess left for mom!!!

Santa's Clause 2008

So we made it to see Santa. It was kind of a mess, but isnt alot of stuff this time of year. We waited in line for a long time and the kids were really impatient. The pictures were very expensive also so I just got 2 wallets. Seems like everything is really expensive this year. I have most of the shopping done. I think I have about 5 more presents to buy. Hoping biolife works out this week so I can use that money to finish my shopping. The kids only asked Santa for a couple of things. Ben asked for some GI Joes, and the Batman/motorcycle car. Faith asked for a blue bike. (she likes blue now because that is Bens favorite color). Brandon asked for night vision goggles. Not too bad. They understand Christmas is not going to be tons of presents this year so they have really really put thought into what they wanted this year. They would circle something in a magazine and then cross it out and say I dont need that. Josh volunteered to buy two presents this year for a couple of 10 year olds through the salvation army one of them wanted a watch and Brandon was so happy to help Josh pick it out for him. The other wanted an MP3 player. I heard Brandon talking to his friend Nora and he told her we are going to help a couple of little boys have a good Christmas this year. If it werent for my dad these little boys might not get anything. He said I want everyone to get to open something for Christmas. He was so proud of his dad and proud that he could help. So sweet. He also gets to be a bell ringer on the 20th of this month up at Hyvee. He says I hope I get lots of money collected.

First snow of the season!!!

So we got our first snow of the season. It wasnt really enough for us to make a snowman or go sledding, but as you can see the kids made the most of it. Faith was so excited. This is really the first year she is able to do what the boys are doing so she was super happy. Here they are warming up with a bowl of ramen noodles. So funny these kids would eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I would let them. Faith says mommy I want some oodnles. Too cute.

Faith had to wear this hat, It is a little big but she loves it because it use to be Brandons. She also loves her snow boobs that are spiderman that use to be Bens. Ben is scaring me with a snowball, the door was open when I took this picture. LOL

Brandon was trying to help Faith make a snowball, it is so funny its like she wasnt for sure what to do so she just stood there waiting for directions.

They had a blast. The warmed up to some hot chocolate and lego playing afterwards but I didnt get a picture of that. All in all a very fun weekend!!!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!!!

So this is how we have been spending our Saturday. The kids have been begging to put up the Christmas tree for weeks, but I wont put it up until after Thanksgiving. So today was the day. I took the kids to McDonalds for happy meals because they were so helpful. Faith was so excited when we got the stuff out.

The Christmas tree box was a mess so the kids went down to the basement and brought up the pieces and piled them on the floor. They were so much help this year. Usually I am the one to do everything but they helped every step of the way. Except the lights I did that part.

Our scary dark basement that the kids just love. I hate going down there.

Faith really loved putting the tree together, Brandon and Ben do a good job of helping her. What a fun day.

Nora came over about 3 so her and the kids played while a made a quick trip to the store and to pick up some pizza. We ate some pizza and back to business.

Here they are putting on the last of the ornaments.

And here is the finished product. Again they did all of it mostly by themselves. I am very anal about moving around the ornaments and having them all not by the same color and stuff. Well Ben is just the same he kept saying mommy I need to move this one it doesnt look quite right. Too funny. It looks wonderful!! Good job Brandon, Ben and Faith.

Shrine Circus

So we took the kids to the circus on Thursday evening. They woke up that morning at 5 am cause they were so excited. I was definately worried because it didnt even start until 730 that night. The only pictures I could take was of the kids enjoying their cotton candy. You could not take videos or pictures so sorry none of those. The circus was awesome though I was wondering how they were going to put on a good circus in the limited amount of space they had but it was really really good. I am glad we got to go. Because we went on opening night our tickets were only $5 each we had awesome seats and Faith was free. So all in all a pretty cheap fun evening. The worst part was it was downtown and their were like 2 or 3 other concerts going on so parking was horrible. We are really getting excited about all the holidays. The kids want to put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. I think everyone forgets that Thanksgiving is in between Halloween and Christmas. I truly enjoy Thanksgiving. I love the family time and the yummy food we all get to share. After Thanksgiving is here then I will start worrying about Christmas. Each holiday should get its equal time. LOL!!! I dont like the cold. My house is so drafty that I feel like I am outside sometimes even when I am not. I am not ready for this cold weather. But I am ready for all of the wonderful holidays memories that are going to be made.

What a long week. I just cant believe how crazy people were acting this week. It just kind of makes me sick to my stomach. I voted that is all I can do. The rest is out of my hands. Liberty Public Schools voted for McCain. It was so sad Tuesday when I walked the kids to school and kids were crying their eyes out because they didnt want to make the wrong choice. Oh my gosh unbelievable. Everyone is entitled to their vote whether I agree with it or not. And the reason kids vote the way they do is because most of their parents tell them too. I didnt tell my kids either way. I dont tell my kids what the Presidents supposedly promise because neither one of them will do exactly what they said they will do. I did not tell my kids who to vote for. I did tell my kids what was important to me and that would be the way I would vote. I do not discuss politics or religion with anyone except my family and my very good friends. The ones I can trust not to go off the deep end if I have a vote different then theirs. I cant believe that people let this affect their friendships. Again this is my personal opinion and the way I do things with my family. Nothing else. On a lighter note these are the kids new school pictures I posted for the people who are not on facebook with me. I think they turned out really good. My little guys love school so much and strive to have perfect attendance. I am very proud of them both. No excuses in this house for just staying home. They both WANT to go even if they arent feeling 100%.

Here is Jamie and Lacy and Makenna. Makenna had her surgery on Tuesday and I cant wait to hold and kiss her. I know she is in pain but all will be better in a few days. Poor little girl.

Today is moms birthday. Happy Birthday Mom. I hope you have a great day.

Halloween week 2008

What a busy, fun week. We had lots and lots to do. So I take the kids to school on Tuesday morning and there is a firetruck and ambulance. Apparently when the teachers came in that morning there was smoke coming out of the computer lab. It took several hours for them to figure out an exhaust fan motor had started smoking and they had to replace it. I got a call about noon saying the kids could come back to school yeah. While the kids were home they helped me decorate the trunk for trunk or treat we had later that night. After school they helped me sell books at the bookfair, then straight to sonic we went for dinner and straight to trunk or treat after that. Wednesday we had three days worth of homework to do since we couldnt do it Monday or Tuesday. Thursday were there class parties plus an early release day. I went up to Target to get my 24 cupcakes they we suppose to have for me well apparently they had read the paper wrong and only made 12. Nice!! They just so happen to have one other package of 12 made sitting up front so all was ok. I had to do both parties so I was literally running from party to party to help. It was alot of fun. Then we brought home 2 extra kids till their mom got home from work. Then back to the bookfair and parent teacher conferences. Both kids are doing excellent in school. Then of coarse trick or treating on Friday night. The kids came home with so much candy. They had a blast. Here are Max and Camille. Max was a wizard and Camille a fairy.Max and Camille went down to trick or treat on the square with us. Ben was a ninja, Faith a spider, and Brandon the grim reaper.
This is all the candy they got. Faith just got a few the rest was all Brandon and Ben. Me and Faith stayed home and passed out candy and only had like 9 trick or treaters, so we also have what we bought left. We should be good to go for awhile.