"one more time!"

Nora loves to run down the hall into the arms of mom or dad. This morning she did it approximately a dozen times before I had to try and get her to move on to something else :) Every time she ran into my arms she would giggle and say "one more time!"

 

100 days

The boys celebrated their 100th day of school in style this year. Jack's class was supposed to dress up like they were old, so his outfit included a turtle neck, sweater vest, fishing style hat, slippers, and a cane. He was nervous that he'd be the only one dressed up so he wasn't very excited, but by the time I picked him up from school in the afternoon he was excited to tell me about all the other kids who dressed up. He didn't love the outfit enough to wear it the rest of the day, he was in his pj's within 5 minutes (or less!) of getting home. 

Avery's class didn't have any special instructions so I made him a shirt using heat transfer vinyl and a font we made with his own handwriting. He loved it, but was a little frustrated that none of his classmates believed it was his handwriting. I guess we're just too cool for school. 

Nora Girl turns 2!!

Our sweet Nora Girl turned 2 in December! What?! She's still just as doted on, spoiled, and loved as she was the day she was born. She is so full of personality, she loves her big brothers, squeals with delight when daddy comes home, and keeps mom company (and entertained) during the day. We love her. Obviously. :) 

She talks nonstop, loves Curious George (though obsessed might be a more accurate word), gives compliments to everyone, she loves when we sing songs and read Sandra Boynton books, She's very bossy in a polite way, loves her blanket that has been named 'fuzzy' and still can't go anywhere without it, excuses people when they sneeze and is very concerned when she thinks someone is hurt or sad. She's perfect, and we love every minute being around her! (okay, 59 out of every 60 minutes! no one is THAT perfect!)

 For her birthday party I made a monkey cake. I *think* she liked it, she ate it at least so that's good. We had lots of family over for her party, we actually combined her party with Kevin and Suzanne since they all share a birthday. But who are we kidding, she was the star.

Blogging photo dump style - December 2013, Christmastime!

The last few years (since everyone moved away!!) we've hosted Christmas Eve at our house. The group isn't huge, so we all fit nicely. Our group 5 years ago would have been a different story. Standing room only wouldn't be an exaggeration! I think this year we "only" had 21 people. Which is tiny for my family! It was nice though, we ate (too much!), played games, visited, ate more, then we sang songs and opened a few gifts. We haven't quite figured out how to prepare enough food for a small group though. We easily had enough to feel all 60 of my parents kids and grand kids. Someday we'll figure it out??

 This is just the dessert area :) We had so.much.food.

After everyone left on Christmas Eve Andy and I got all the kids gifts out to put around the tree, we filled stockings and had some help from Christmas elves (aka Uncle Keenan and Aunt Suzanne) building some lego creations on the new lego table I made for the kids. Then we tried to sleep. :)

The boys woke up around 6:30 probably and we told them they could open their stockings, it wasn't long before the rest of us were up and ready to dig in to the pile of presents. We were all spoiled and the living room was trashed in a matter of minutes! The kids were happy with their gifts, and that makes me happy.

 We were pretty excited for Nora to see her gift this year. We had been collecting pieces for her doll house set throughout the summer at yard sales and thrift stores (yes, we're "those" parents. The kids don't care though, and we are able to get some good deals!). She did not disappoint. She was so excited and has pretty much spent a good chunk of every day since Christmas playing with her doll house. Girl toys finally, yay! :)

 My big Christmas gift project this year were quilts for the boys. They are super hero quilts, made with strips of varying widths of coordinating super hero fabric. They love them, and it's a good thing. It took much longer for me to make them than I thought, my poor sewing machine kicked the bucket right in the middle of the project. Luckily my mother in law had a machine I could borrow to finish up!

Blogging photo dump style - December 2013, Pre-Christmas

Andy and the boys got the chance this year to man the Salvation Army booth in front of Walmart for an hour. It was extra cold the night they did it, so Nora and I took them some cocoa to keep them warm. Afterwards we all met up at McDonalds for a family dinner date. 

 Attempting to get a good picture for our family Christmas picture. This was not it, but it was fun. :)

 Each year the kid's school has a Kindergarten Gingerbread house night. I got to go with Avery when he was in Kindergarten, and I went again with Jack. It's a fun mom/son date night. Jack decorated his house all on his own, there was plenty of frosting tasting happening as well. ;)

 The same night as Jack's school gingerbread activity we had our family chocolate house decorating night at Grandma Westover's house. The kids always love decorating their chocolate houses. And usually the next day I give them about 10 or 15 minutes to eat the house and candy, then it goes in the trash. One year Jack picked the whole house up and just started chomping it. He was serious about it!

 Andy decked out for his work ugly Christmas sweater party. Sadly, he won nothing. Oh well :)

 Both boys had Christmas concerts. Avery had a speaking part in his program, Pablo the reindeer. He was hilarious, and actually memorized all his lines. I wish we had been close enough to video tape it! He did an awesome job, and looked adorable. Jack did awesome participating in his program, Andy had to stay home with a pukey Nora. We were sad to leave them at home, but Avery and I loved watching Jack sing and shake some Christmas bells and tissue paper. Jack was pretty pleased with himself. I love this sweet boys of mine.

 We've had some good snow this year, I think so at least. When it has snowed it's been enough for the boys to go out and play in, without melting too quickly or being too cold to go out. I don't love shoveling the the driveway, but we try and make it a family effort. Makes it easier and more fun when we're all out there.