ME!

Today I had planned to take the kids to Build A Bear Workshop. They really enjoy going, and it is a fun kid activity. Plus I had a coupon, so how could I pass that up. We were having a lazy morning and no one had even gotten dressed yet. I walked downstairs with clothes in hand, and asked, who wants to go to Build A Bear?” I got two very excited “ME” with hands held high, followed by a little raised hand, I am sure was saying “me too, me too.” It was so cute! I tried to capture it on video later but could not recreate the crime. So will just have to trust me on how cute it was.

We went to Build A Bear, and Brian immediately picked out a camouflage bear, Emily looked around briefly and then choose a pink, sparkly unicorn. I helped Danielle pick an animal, there were several cute ones, but I finally decided on a puppy, she wasn’t much help deciding.

We waited in line, and then stuffed, cleaned, picked out accessories, and made birth certificates for our new friends. Here are some pictures.

What trip to Build A Bear could end without a splurge to its neighbor See’s Candy? I had to get a few things that were missing from my Christmas box. The kids got a butterscotch and vanilla sucker, and we also picked up a candy list, so I could pick my favorites for future purchases.

Springs and Sledding

Yesterday afternoon we headed down to Colorado Springs for dinner with Steve, Erin and the kids. It was nice for the kids to get to play with their cousins, and to be able to visit with Steve and Erin. We had wonderful appetizers, and dinner. Erin made homemade French bread, with honey butter (Brian loved it) ham, campfire potatoes, and green beans. However, just as we were sitting down to dinner, Logan, didn’t seem to feel well, and was running a temperature. I also noticed Emily was practically laying in her plate. She was also warm, and not feeling well. She spent the rest of the evening sleeping on the couch. I thought Danielle, wanted to play upstairs with the big kids, but really she just wanted to play on the stairs.

Today we planned to go sledding. Emily is feeling fine, and Erin called to say that Logan was alright too, so I guess they both just had some fleeting fever thing. I am glad it didn’t last.

We took the kids sledding after lunch, when it warmed up a bit. We decided on the sledding hill on Ken Caryl Road. Everyone had fun. Brian and daddy went almost up to the top a few times, but Brian was more comfortable down close to the bottom. He would sled down, and then pull the sled back up. Emily joined him for a few rides. I even took Danielle down a couple of times. We got some cute pictures.

Look at that face...

Grammie is the intended target!

Sledding is hard work, you must come home and take a nap.

Merry Christmas

This year we made the decision to get to Denver on Christmas Eve, and stay through New Years. It made sense with the holidays falling on a Friday, and with such a long drive we wanted to make our time there less hurried.

We left Little Rock in quite a hurry on Wednesday afternoon to try to beat an impending storm. We decided to close the office a couple of hours early, so we could get on the road. We came to the conclusion that we would have to avoid Kansas, and take the southern route. We made it though Oklahoma before the blizzard closed down all the major roads, and airport. Then on to Amarillo. We had hoped to make it all the way to Trinidad, CO, but the storm was coming and we felt it would be best to stay in Amarillo, and then drive the rest of the way into Denver in the daylight. We got to Amarillo about 9pm, and got settled in our hotel.

We got up early the next morning so we could get to Denver before dinner. The wind howled all night long and rattled the windows in our room. I was glad that we had stopped, but I was also worried about how the roads would be when we woke up.

Overnight Amarillo became covered in a blanket of snow. The wind was still gusting, and it was freezing. Our GPS guided us out of town, through the slick intersections where we saw cars slipping, spinning and getting stuck, out to a two-lane road in the middle of nowhere. After a quick glance at the paper map, I concluded that although we were not on the road I anticipated, we were headed the right direction on the most direct route.

I had a separate post titled Tumbleweeds and Tickets (in Texas), but it must have not been saved since I was using my iphone as my sole internet connection during this trip. As we drove through the Northeast corner of Texas, we were having a great time playing dodgeball with the tumbleweeds that were racing across the road in the gusty wind. Brian was enjoying seeing them crash into the truck. No one was really paying attention, and with the cruise control set at 78 (speed limit was 70)Eddie glanced in his rear view mirror to see flashing lights from a Texas State Trooper. Officer Jones (I'm not kidding) approached the passenger side window, asked for our registration, driver's license and insurance, and informed us that we were driving over the speed limit. Luckily he just issued us a warning, and we were back on our way, now a little slower.

We made great time the rest of the trip and made it to Denver about 3pm! We still had lots to do to prepare for Christmas morning. My mom helped me wrap the gifts. The kids left the cookies for Santa and the carrots and reindeer food that they made at Gymboree and for the reindeer. Brian wrote Santa a note. Oops, we forgot the milk!



Once the kids were in bed we finished all the Christmas Eve preparations, and settled in for a long winters night.

Christmas morning the kids were excited and we let them open their stockings before the rest of the family arrived. Once everyone had arrived, and we had some snacks, then it was time for the games to begin. I insist on an organized, orderly gift opening session where everyone takes turns so you can actually see what everyone receives and watch others open your gift. Danielle had fun opening her presents this year too! The rest of the day was spent as usual, eating, playing with new toys, visiting, and more eating.

The kids dressed in their new matching fuzzy polar bear pajamas.

Dressed up for church, Danielle was not too excited about participating in our photo session.

The other two kids sure look cute, and handsome.

My very handsome son!

My gorgeous daughter!

Danielle had fun opening her presents with grammie.

Emily likes her new pink hat.

Brian got real binoculars from daddy.

The whole gang, Logan, Brian, Danielle, Emily and Kaitland, I didn't get a good picture.

The first thing the kids wanted to do in Denver was play in the snow. Brian is making a snow angel.

Roaming in the back "woods"

Emily, all bundled up!

The End Of An Era

Eddie and I were released today from our calling as Primary Teachers. We have been in this role for 4 years. I can remember when we were asked to serve in this position, and I thought they were nuts, I had a newborn, and Brian would not go to nursery by himself. How on earth were we supposed to team teach a bunch of 3 year olds. That did not sound like fun at all. Initially I told them no. But then after pondering it for awhile, I made Eddie go back and tell them we would do it. That decision was one I will not forget. I have had the most wonderful, spiritual experience teaching those young children each year. I learned more about the gospel these past few years, and served with wonderful Primary leaders. It didn't start out all rosy. I cried after my first Sunday, and thought how on earth was I going to do this. It was tough teaching 3 year olds, they have an attention span that lasts about 3 seconds. But each week we made it though, and they grew and so did we. It was wonderful to see how much they learned thoughout the year. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching the Sunbeam class, and I am sorry to leave.


But, today we also have new callings, that I am also approaching with just as much trepidation. Eddie will be the webelos leader, and I am the cub master. A calling which I feel totally unqualified for. I am neither a cub nor a master. I no virtually nothing about the scouting program. I also feel that it really should be a priesthood calling. But, I will try do do my best, and I will at least be more knowledgeable when Brian becomes a cub scout in a couple of years. I hope I don't cry.


Emily also had her first talk in primary today. I gave the talk and Emily helped put the stickers on the Christmas tree. I based the talk off of this idea from the Friend Magazine.

Potty Notes

The other night after Brian had been in the bathroom, Eddie found this. So cute!

It says "I love you Dad, Brian."

Initiative

While I was taking a shower today, my little girl did this...


Got dressed

Cleaned her room

Straightened the family room

Cleared the dishes off the table


and you thought it was going to be something bad. She was so proud of herself, and I was so proud too. I just really love her!

What Do 6 Year Olds and 15 Month Olds Have In Common?

They are both cutting teeth at the same time.


Brian came home from school very excited today that he got one of his new 6 year old teeth. He made the discovery at school and asked one of his classmates for confirmation.


Danielle also had a new top tooth break through yesterday. I would not describe her mood as excited. I would call it cranky. So on top of having a baby sick with pneumonia, she is cutting teeth, bad timing.


We were back at the doctors office today, Danielle got her second shot of antibiotics today, she would not take the oral antibiotics. I also took Emily in because she was still complaining and started running a fever again. She has an ear infection. Two down, hopefully no more to go. Christmas is just around the corner, and I need everyone well.

Here In The South

Today was no exception to the general rule that people here in the South are very nice and helpful.

While picking up lunch today at Panera Bread, with my sick baby in my arms I had three people offer their generosity. The guy working behind the counter offered to carry out my order to the car, another lady by the drinks offered to help me, and a third commented on what beautiful children I have.

Not to mention the super-duper-smooper (sorry got carried away there, Emily always says that) nice people that work in the Chick-fil-a drive thru.

A few days ago, while shopping at Walmart, people offered to let others go ahead, when the line we were in was VERY slow! Shocking, yes, but here in the South, perhaps not.

Then, I headed over to the doctors office. Both of the girls have this terrible barking cough, fevers, and Emily complains about her throat and ears. We have not ever been able to get Danielle to take tylenol, she just pukes it up, so we have trouble bringing down her fever when it gets high.

After an examination, blood draw, and chest x-ray, it was determined that she has pneumonia. They gave her a shot and a prescription for an oral antibiotic. How is that going to work?? Probably not well.

But all of this got me thinking...I had just read Nie Nie's story here, I had been following her blog for quite awhile, but I never really had the all of the background. This is the part that really made me think.

"Gratitude began to grow inside of her. "I can be at my girls' weddings,"
Stephanie thought. When Oliver and Nicholas had their first dates, she could
stay up late and wait for them to come home, quiz them on being gentlemen. There
would be braces and birthdays, school supplies and makeup lessons. She would be
there for all of it. "I get to enjoy my children," she wrote on her blog, "even if my fingers don't work." To think she had asked God to end her life."

I need to have more gratitude each day about the three beautiful children that I have and the priviledge that I get to enjoy them every day.

Catch-up

A few days after Thanksgiving, once the wishbone had dried, it was a tradition growing up in my house to break it. This year we started this tradition with the kids. How is this going to work in future years when Danielle is old enough to participate?

Ready

Set

Go!

The Winner

Not the Winner

Here are some pictures that I haven't had a chance to post yet...

My flowers bloomed, this is very exciting. I first noticed these flowers when I was in Hot Springs when Brian was a baby. I loved them and later I found out it was a Camellia bush. I planted a couple of them in my front yard, and I have been waiting ever since for them to bloom. I had to document this so I would remember. I didn't realize they bloomed in the Fall.

They have an annual book fair at school. I get sucked in every time. The problem is they let the kids go to a preview of the book fair and make a list of things they want. It was especially bad this year because now that Brian is in elementary school, they have the older kids help them make a list. Brian listed this set about planets, where you could make your own "spaceballs." Brian also choose a Transformers book. Then of course I had to get books for the girls and pick a couple that I liked. Needless to say I went into debt at the book fair this year. Here is Brian and daddy making their own planets.

One afternoon, while Brian and Emily were supposed to be cleaning their room, they decided to play makeup that Emily got at a birthday party. Gotta love those well-meaning parents.

Occasionally they would have a theme at The Little Gym, today was beach day, it was a little cold for the middle of December, but Emily was happy to comply! She loves summer, wearing her bathing suit and playing at the pool.

Brian's school did the holiday musical performance, this is his class, Brian is on the right in the back row, but you can't see him very well in this picture.

Here he is sitting down looking straight at the camera. The performance was cute, but I am not at all impressed by the music teacher. She would not inspire me to want to learn to appreciate music. I was also not thrilled with the quality of the program, but it is still fun to go see your child, and hear what they have learned.

Emily is learning to write her name, so cute when you get to see this skill emerge.

I love it when Mrs. Halter sends home notes like this one.