Christmas break

The kids eagerly waiting for Mom and Dad on Christmas morning. We have a mandatory picture each year before they can come downstairs.

Charlie has been asking for his own guitar for years and really hoped Santa would come through for him. Sawyer kept assuring him that he wouldn't. So, boy were they surprised on Christmas morning.

I think Brad enjoyed it more than Charlie. He's been wanting to learn to play for years. Maybe this is the year?
Sawyer enjoying his assortment of sugar cereal- a tradition we've carried over from my childhood. They love it!

We had a relaxed Christmas morning opening presents and making a yummy breakfast. By 2:00pm, we had everything cleaned up, had packed the car and were on the road heading to Texas to visit good friends.

We spent the night in Dallas and arrived in Houston on Friday afternoon. We spent five wonderful days relaxing, visiting, and eating good food.

Some of the highlights were hunting for alligators, a day at the beach in Galveston, Nasa Space Center, racquetball (for Eric and Brad), a Latin dance class (Megan and me), eating out as adults, and ditching our winter coats for a week.

The kids were in absolute heaven to be with their friends. Everyone got along perfectly barring Lucy and Braden's random screaming wars over who was bigger, etc.

I can think of few things I enjoy as much as a trip to the beach with kids. Unfortunately, the water was cold, but they made the most of it just the same.

We had adjoining hotel rooms, so the kids were thrilled about being able to watch a show together one night.

Sawyer felt crummy the morning of departure, so he slept most of the day in the car. Brad was a complete superstar and agreed to drive the kids home alone while I flew. We had a one way ticket which was about to expire, so knowing how much I dislike long car rides with kids, he suggested I stay an extra day and fly home alone. That was probably one of my best Christmas presents. Thanks sweetie! Not only did he make the 12 hour drive with four kids alone, but with two sick kids. Spencer threw up three times before reaching Kansas. Twice in the hotel and once in the car. Luckily, we were prepared with plastic bags, so it didn't get everywhere. I don't recall a trip we've been on with kids, when someone wasn't sick.

Lucy

Lucy's preschool class performed the nativity for the parents last week. Lucy was bursting with enthusiasm and couldn't stop smiling. They did it twice so the children could play different parts. Lucy was Mary and the Innkeeper. She loved being dressed up, saying her part, and singing. And I loved watching. She looked adorable in costume.

Well, it finally happened. Little Lucy gave herself a haircut. Apparently, she didn’t like her hair hanging in her eyes, so she took a pair of paper scissors down to the basement and fixed the problem. So, now she has short little bangs. Fortunately, she has a cowlick in that same place, which causes all of the hair to lie to the side naturally. So, it doesn’t look as bad as it could have. I figured it was bound to happen at some point. Hopefully, this will be the last time.

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

Spencer and Charlie enjoying homemade bread after school. I remember loving coming home from school to the aroma of fresh baked bread. My mom made such yummy bread. We'd spread it with butter and honey or homemade strawberry jam. I'm glad my kids are enjoying the same tradition. They complain about so many of my meals, that when I get a thumbs up, it makes all my effort worth it.

Sawyer has been so bummed about the lack of snow in Kansas compared to Michigan. So, yesterday, after school, he couldn't wait to put his snow pants on and play around in it. I love it when the boys go outside and play. For some reason, I always feel like being outside is productive, even if they're not really doing anything. So, if that's what it takes to keep these boys outside all winter- bring on the snow!


I bought this nativitiy set in Israel several years ago while on study abroad there. Each Christmas, I've been careful to guard it from little hands. But, this year, Lucy beat me to it. Before I knew she was unwrapping it, both the staffs were broken. And now that it's on the mantle, she just can't resist taking it down to hold baby Jesus, look at Mary and Joseph, and rearrange it over and over again. Now, instead of being on the mantle, she's moved it closer to the floor and it looks like this:

Last year was the first time we bought matching stockings and an artificial Christmas tree. Before that, we had makeshift stockings and a real tree or no tree (especially when we travelled). So, breaking out the decorations these past few weeks has been really fun. The house feels cozy, we've got the Christmas music playing, and lots of yummy smelling things baking in the oven. Since emerging from six weeks of nausea, my taste buds are back, stronger than ever.

Thanksgiving

We just returned from a wonderful Thanksgiving in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Kim and Clark were terrific hosts. I’m grateful we have such loving families. Some of my favorite moments of the weekend were:

Watching people hit the Elmo piñata Kirsten purchased for her birthday. She doesn't care for Elmo, so she bought a pinata for the kids to whack away at in celebration of her 40th birthday. They had a ball.

Eating all the yummy food. Everything tasted SO good. I ate and ate and ate. This year I made a relish tray, cheese ball, mashed potatoes, and streusel topped pumpkin pie.

Watching the kids have so much fun with their cousins. They all slept in sleeping bags in Kim’s playroom. They stayed up late every night telling scary stories. Now that we’re home, the kids keep saying they’re scared to go alone to different places in the house.

Reading a good parenting book and having Spencer and Charlie snuggle up and fall asleep next to me on the couch.

Watching the kids play “Virus” in the backyard as well as football and other games. They had a ton of fun together.

Having a relatively easy ride to and from Oklahoma. It took three hours each way.

Relaxing on the couch with a book while the kids played.

Smelling the scents of Kim and Clark’s freshly cut Christmas tree.

Playing six- handed Rook.

Watching the grandkids wrestle with grandpa

Listening to Christmas music.

Eating Kim's yummy homemade bread.

Friday, we all visited Woolaroc, which is the ranch of billionaire Frank Wright. It was fun to see all the wild animals (especially one with an electrical cord wrapped around his antlers). Lucy was fascinated with an Indian display where several members of the tribe were dancing. She couldn’t stop talking (loudly) about how they “were sticking their bottoms out.” (But her word choice was different). Where does she learn such talk?