Christmas - Part 1

Here's our Christmas in Review!

Last year's Santa picture left a little to be desired.

So, this year, we went by to see Santa 2-3 times before picture day. At home, we practiced saying Hi to Santa (either they, me, Daddy, Nonnie or Evan), sitting on his lap, telling him what they wanted for Christmas (stickers and Diego back-packs) and finally saying "cheese" for the picture!

Big day arrived. Everything went great, they climbed right up on Santa, no fear, no hesitancy. They chatted with him. They were smiling. But we quickly realized the error of our ways when Santa's helper went to assist in getting the boys attention for the cameraman.....by "tickling' their tummies with a puppet.

This year's photo will be captured: "Puppets? Nobody said nufin' about no stinkin' puppets!"

Seriously, we have a HUGE fear of any and all puppets - be it TV or real. Puppets usually send them screaming out of the room. So, right before the shot, laughing and talking. This shot: Logan on the left, "Oh crap is she coming back again with that puppet?" Austin, "Hey! No like puppets! No touch my belly! Mommy?!"

Sorry, boys!

Next up, as a family (see family pic in "Merry Christmas" post), we were chosen to light the 4th candle of Advent (Love!) the Sunday before Christmas. Here's Gary with the two littlest dapper boys:

(Can't you tell that every picture for the last 5 -6 months has had that "cheeeeeeeze" expression?)

And then we went out to eat afterwards. This is a typical restaurant experience for us.

Note Evan's, "I'm so glad we're eating out like real people" expression! Not!

We ordered these off a fellow blogger's website. Adorable little Guatemalan outfits...or as Mason calls them, "African Boy's Choir" outfits.

Christmas Eve, Austin and Logan were part of the Christmas Pageant. They were the MOST adorable littlest shepherds I have ever seen!!!

Or as Mason calls them, "Omar and Kadavi Eartern Oil Drillers."

More of Christmas 2008 to come!

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours...

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Lights!

One day last week, when the kids were sick (but not feverish or puking), we loaded them up in the wagon:

This is Austin and Logan's snowman! They watch from the window every night as he "comes alive!" Then we headed around the corner to my neighbor's house.

This house is famous - it's in TLC, on a special about way out there decorated houses!

On this night, Santa and Mrs. Claus saw all these lights from the sky and just HAD to come down and see them. But Austin and Logan are pretty sure that this house IS Christmas and that Santa lives there!

Yum - candy canes!
Our door mat - how cute is that!

Nada Mucho.

Not much to report here.

Computer got well and we all got sick and. I. mean. ALL!

Lory was the initiator. She went down last Wednesday. Austin went down Thursday. Friday was a trick day - we thought we were fine. But Saturday, Logan went down. Saturday night claimed Evan. I held on until Sunday. Gary went down last night and Mason finally went this morning!

Lots of fun going on around here!

So, I wanted to add a few more wonderful pictures from this summer. This time giving huge kudos to my extremely gifted friend Karen and also add a link to her website: http://www.karenpeeblesphotography.com/

Karen - these pictures are priceless!! What a wonderful treasure for us to have. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Catch-Up!

The computer is back! Woo-Hoo!

Okay, here's some pictures of the last few weeks.

Baking for Turkey Day...

Bowling with the church youth group:

Hanging their ornaments on the Christmas tree.

One of the many trips to see Santa at the Polar Express.

(note the cowboy boots!)

SICK COMPUTER

This is Nonnie standing in temporarily for Donna. Everyone is OK - except the COMPUTER!! The darn thing just isn't working and is in the hospital for repairs - should be coming home sometime this week - so hang in there, faithful bloggers - Donna will be returning shortly.

The twins are enjoying everything about Christmas so far, even Santa - they were scared to death last year whenever they saw him, but have taken right to the jolly old man this year.

Donna has not been able to visit any of her blogger friends sites, so don't be mad because you haven't gotten any comments from her - they will be coming.

She asked me to post a few pictures of the boys that were taken this summer at the beach by a friend of hers who is a fantastic photographer, so here are a few of those shots. I haven't captioned them because I'm not quite as witty as my darling daughter. But, who needs captions when the subjects are this darn cute!!

Hopefully, the next entry will be from Donna, herself!

Jesus Loves the Little Children

This is the song that Austin and Logan were supposed to sing at Preschool Sunday. But instead of singing, they sort of just picked their noses. And swung on the railings. And ran away scared from the "sea of bunnies" - their words for ALL of the priests! But that's a whole 'nother post that's not gonna happen because it's hard to take pictures when there's "bunny" terror...

But......for my 40th birthday (last Friday) (and yes, you can be shocked and amazed!), I was serenaded. Beautifully serenaded, I might add...

And just in case you need the words:
"Jesus Loves the little children, all the children of the world
red and yellow, black and white, We are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world!"

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

P.S. No children were harmed in the making of this video. The bottle top a.k.a "chew toy" a.k.a. "choking to death hazard" was promptly removed from Logan's mouth without incident!

Ashland Train Day!

Despite my thinking there's just something creepy about Alec Bladwin's voice on Thomas the Train (anyone else?), my children love the show. Austin especially is a HUGE train fanatic.

Coincidentally, a small town near us, Ashland, is celebrating it's 150th Anniversary this year. And last Saturday was Train Day.

So, Nonnie, Lori (my future daughter-in-law and only other estoogen provider in my house) were very excited to take the boys to train day.


What a cute little town....and it was a gorgeous day.



Look at these faces....could they be any more excited!?!



hmm, or not?

This is how close the trains come through the town...

Pretty cool, huh?

Or not....

I mean, why does everybody look SO pissed? I feel like this shot could have been taken outside of a Jerry Springer show....

Okay, here comes another train!

Clearly catching on to the excitement of the day!?!

Not so much!?!

Okay, we waited in line for this - how exciting! - A train ride with Nonnie! Smile!

Pleeze smile for Momma, boy?




Wait for it....
Finally.....some frickin' enthusiasm!! Thanks, Nonnie!


Here's a close up in case you missed the only excitement shown that day....

Okay, let's try the library, they have lots of cool trains in there.

Austin, look at Mommy - smile!

Just a little smile?

Logan, honey - do you have a smile for Mommy?

Nope - but I'll show you these cool trains, Mom!

Totally posin' - but it IS nice to see a smile or two!

Logan getting his ticket from Sir Top'Em Hats.

But when Austin went to get his ticket, he was actually denied at first, because he supposedly "already had a ticket." Until Mommy stepped in....he doesn't have a ticket, uh - they're twins. Clearly not the most observant Mr. Sit Top-Em Hats. I mean duh - they ARE wearing different colored shoes!

lol!

Mr. Sir Top'Em Hat trying to redeem himself.

They're not so easily forgiving.Neither is Lory.

Last stop - model trains!

Cool!

They got to hit buttons that made all sorts of stuff happen on the table.

Time to put our tickets away and call it a day!

Despite the pictures, it was actually a pretty fun day...both boys seem to get a little quiet when so much new stuff is going on. They tend to get wide eyed and just sort of take it all in. They have been asking for more "big trains" ever since that day and they're really hoping Santa will bring them a train set!