Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun

I have never been so happy as I was today to see the Sun. I think it has been a full month since we have had any extended period of sunshine. We spent most of the morning outside today. I could just feel the Vitamin D coursing through my veins. I've always thought I could live somewhere like Alaska where it's dark a lot of the time but after today I've changed my mind.

Hoppin' Over for Kaylee's party

Kaylee celebrated her 6th birthday at home with a Frog party. The mascot of her Kindergarten class is "frogs" So she wanted a frog party this year. We had Frog cake, ate on green plates, drank green koolaid and made stuffed frogs.
Nana made Kaylee's frog cake. Don't ask Nana how much she paid for the frog cake pan which apparently now is a hot item on Ebay. Although Nana does plan to put the pan back up for auction soon, before the prices start falling. (I'll give you an hint we could have bought 3 cakes at Sams for the price of the pan.)

Stuffing frogs and getting them ready to be dressed. Each person had their own bag of "fluff" that had to be re-inserted back into the frog. Someone commented it looked like a mini-sweatshop. Not true, but it did resemble one.

The gift that left me speechless. Yes, I was speechless, I know most of you can't imagine that. Here's how it went..... (to the best of my recollection)

(Kaylee opening the present) "MOM, it's something you don't LIKE"

Me - (Oh No! What could it be?)

Kaylee - "It's a BRATZ doll"

Me - (Quick, Sheri, think of something to say) (NOTHING, I've got Nothing)

(Sheri, quick the mom who bought the present is sitting right over there)

( Still, I've got Nothing) (Great! Now too much time has passed) (Maybe I can smooth it over later) (Yea, Probably Not..... OK Smile and look amused)

(Note to self: time to go over gift opening etiquitte with Kaylee Lesson #147 If you already have the present you act like you like it anyway, Add on to the lesson, If you know Mommy doesn't approve of the toy act like MOMMY will like it anyway)

You Never Let Go!

The song Says "Oh No, you never let go through the calm and through the storm, Oh No, you never let go, in every High and every Low, Oh No you never let go,Lord you never let go of Me"

Well, After hearing the song a few times on the radio Mia changed the "Me" to "Mia" I'm sure Matt Redman,the original artist, has never heard his song like this before. I think we like the way Mia made it personal for her own life. Isn't that what we're suppose to do anyway?

****COOL UPDATE**** I got an email from Matt Redman the artist,he saw Mia on the blog and here is what his email said:
"that's cool! She's an inspiring worshipper!
matt"

Oh NO! a South Paw

It's Official we have a Lefty in the family. We noticed Mia preferred her left hand from the beginning but now that she's writing and coloring we're pretty confident she's going to be a Lefty. I'm not sure how I'll teach her to do things, but we'll figure it out. I guess eventually we'll have to buy her the coffee mug that says, " Only left handed people are in their right mind"

New Year

We welcomed in 2007 in a very low-key fashion. The kids did some sparklers, bottle rockets and roman candles in the backyard. Then we went inside for a few rounds of CLUE and Spiderman UNO. Uno is Trent's favorite game and one of the few he can play without assitance. Zane's friend Taylor came over and we had a nice time all the way until.....ten o'clock when it was time for bed. Sparkler Fun!

Draw Two

Mia's preparing for a Texas Hold 'em championship.

Hello.... anybody there?

Sunday night Kaylee had a low grade fever so we decided to let her stay home from school. But by Monday morning at 9 am the fever was gone and she didn't appear to have any other symptoms. So, she and I spent some girl time together doing normal Mommy errands. Trent and Mia had pre-school so it was just the two of us. We went to Sam's and I was trying to figure out something on my cell phone,while waiting for our big pretzel to cook, and we discovered all the different ring tones. She had a great time playing all the songs all over Sam's Club. Then, she was the offical phone carrier all day long. After a long morning of errands we got back home, about 5 hours later. I went to our home phone to check the messages and I had 5 messages. They went something like this.
"Hi Mom, This is Kaylee, I love you."
" Hi Mom, I'm just sitting in the car, talk to you later."
" Hi Mom, I love you lots, call me back."
"Hi Mom, I'm going to lunch with my friends, bye, I love you."
"Hi Mom, I'll be home soon, I love you."

I did not even hear her make all these calls. I asked her how she knew to call and she said "well I know the phone number and I had a phone" (Geesh! she must think I'm clueless)
Wonder if she'll call me that much when she's a teenager and I want her to check in every once in a while?

It seemed like a good idea

I read a tip in a magazine about making big sacks for Santa to put toys in on Christmas Eve. Santa has not in the past wrapped the presents just carefully arranged them under the tree in little clusters belonging to each person. But with 4 children and a limited amount of tree space I thought this was a grand idea. So, this year I purchased 4 different types of material and we cut names out of felt and put them on each person's "loot sack." In my excitement, I failed to think about Christmas morning pictures as evidenced below.... However Trent's sack did do a nice job of covering his little motorized Hummer.

14 years ago today...

14 years ago today David and I said "I DO" Who knew it would lead us where we are today. Since Christmas ended for the year, I really have quit thinking about the 12 days of Christmas but my friend Gayla did this on her anniversary and I totally stole the idea.(See Davis family on right) It was a personal challenge to try to remember all the numbers.

14 years
13 doctors
12 months spent in braces
11 days spent hospitalized (Family combo)
10 Pets owned
9 occupations
8 local Wal-Marts
7 countries visited
6 vehicles owned
5 lawnmowers
4 children
3 homes owned
2 severe sunburns
1 happy life

Humm...Humm... Hummer

On the 12th Day of Christmas...

My True Love gave to me...

12 hands to serve HIM

So many times at Christmas we focus on the incredible GIFT God gave to us by sending his son Jesus. While this is the correct focus to have, our pastor challenged us today to try to figure out what gift we can give back to God. Nothing earthly will suffice, He only wants each of us to trust in Him and to live in a relationship with Him daily.
To wrap up my 12 days of Christmas I can conclude that "every good and perfect gift comes from above." Including my children, my husband, my family and my friends. SO.... my "true Love" must be Jesus.
Merry Christmas!

On the 11th day of Christmas

My true love gave to me....

11 Peanutbutter Blossoms (wonder where the 12th one went? hmmm)

do you see a pattern here with the peanutbutter?

On the 10th Day of Christmas

My True Love Gave to me....

10 hands making Peanut Butter Ball Candy

9 Reindeer for Santa

8 hours of sleep

7 Synchronized Schedules

6 Candy Canes

5 Golden Tokens

4 on a firetruck

3 kids a crafting

2 reindeer antlers

and a cutie in a Santa hat

On the 9th day of Christmas...

My true Love gave me to me....

Nine Reindeer for Santa... (Think Rocket can pass for one of them?)

8 hours of sleep

7 synchronized schedules

6 candy canes

5 golden tokens

4 on a firetruck

3 kids a crafting

2 reindeer antlers

and a cutie in a Santa Hat

PAUSE

The 12 days of Christmas are officially paused until my "material" gets back from Nana & Paw Paw's.
I will still have time to complete the 12 days once they return. You know when you start thinking about the 12 days you begin to say everything in the song's tune....."I-m-No-t- Hung-ry" "Ti-me- To- Get- U-up" "Where-Are-You- Go-ing" It's a disease... "I-m Sure- of-it"

On the 8th Day of Christmas...

My True Love Gave to me....

Eight hours of sleep..... Since Nana took the kids back to her house for a long weekend.

So I posted a picture of Kaylee at her Christmas Recital last Saturday. She did a great job and tapped her way through Jingle Bell Rock.

I felt like last week was the beginning of a crazy week filled with parties, meetings, recitals and more. But we made it through and last night I slept like a baby. Sometime around noon today I even got out of my PJ's. We went to see "The Pursuit of Happiness" and did some last minute shopping at the mall.

On the 7th Day of Christmas....

My True Love Gave to Me.....

Seven Synchronized Schedules

(David, Nana and I had to get to Zane, Kaylee, Trent & Mia's parties)

On the 6th day of Christmas...

My true love gave to me...

Six Candy Canes

5 Golden Tokens, 4 on a Firetruck, 3 kids a crafting, 2 reindeer antlers

and a cutie in a Santa Hat

On the 5th Day of Christmas....

My True Love gave to me

Five Golden (ChuckECheese) Tokens

4 on a firetruck

3 kids a crafting

2 reindeer antlers

and a cutie in a santa hat

On the 4th Day of Christmas....

My True Love gave to me

Four on a Fire Truck

(I know it doesn't sound very Christmasy, but our friends the Fazzinos host an annual Fire Truck ride & toy drive for a local children's home. Everyone rides on an antique fire Truck through the neighborhood to look at lights and Santa comes along on the ride as well)

On the 3rd day of Christmas....

my true love gave to me

three kids-a-crafting

(with Aunt Darla)

2 reindeer antlers

& a cutie in a santa hat

On the 2nd Day of Christmas....

my true love gave to me

Two Reindeer Antlers
and a cutie in a Santa Hat

On the 1st Day of Christmas...

my true love gave to me a Cutie in a Santa Hat

First attempt at Video

Cookie Swap

Sunday night Kaylee and I hosted our 1st Annual Mother & Daughter Cookie Swap. We invited several of Kaylee's friends and their moms to our house for a cookie exchange and Christmas party. We ate yummy food and had fun exchanging presents with a little game. Each person brought 6 dozen cookies to exchange following strict guidelines on what was allowed, (I don't know anyone who would send out guidelines with an inviation do you?Especially not Eleven!) Then we all told about the cookies we brought to swap and took home a variety of delicious cookies.

14 different kinds of cookies were swapped. When the boys got home they were in heaven with all the cookies. There was almost a brawl over the peanut butter cookies with the hershey kisses on top.

Here are the girls exchanging their presents

Darla (David's sister), Toni (David's Mom), My Mom (aka Nana), Mia, Me and Kaylee
Enjoying yummy food!

Nana and Kaylee making a little frame that everyone got to take home. We used scrapbook papers and ribbon. Thanks to my cousin Amy for technical advice on the project.

A Star, A Star is burning in the night........

This may be the last year of our star tradition. Unless the kids quit growing or David can grow another arm. Neither of which sound appealing. Everyone always wants to be the "one" who gets to put the star on top. So, since Kaylee was born he's always held everyone while the star is put on. But it's just getting to Heavy. This year Kaylee did the ultimate honor. Although Zane had to give it a little push from the top. Next year will be Trent's turn. (I hope I can remember that)

Deck the Halls

Scenes from Monday's Decorating Night. Getting ready for Christmas.....

" Give me a red nose and call me Rudolph...."


Not sure if Zane is hanging ornaments or checking the transmission

Trent need a little "Booster"

Father & Son Cake Bake

We can do this!
Step Away from the Master!

We're Done, Let's EAT
Oh Yeah, Proper Gentlemen use Forks. Don't eat yet, it hasn't been judged
" Victory Is MINE!!!"
Zane's Boy Scout troop is raising money for a new Grand Prix track to race their pine wood derby cars. So this month they hosted a Father and Son Cake Bake. The cakes were judged and then raffled off. There were 35 cakes entered and Zane came away with the ribbon for Most Unique. He and David were very proud.

Caps to the Capital

My Bible Study leader made us aware of a movement that could possibly save newborns in developing countries. I did a little research and printed out the pattern a few days ago. Yesterday I wasn't feeling so well (allergies, sinus) so I decided to give it a shot. While I was crocheting David passed by me and said, "Hey, Granny!" My Granny is 94 and still crochets. (I pray I am crocheting at 94). Here are my results.

I am pretty pleased with them seeing as I haven't crocheted in quite sometime other than those beaded socks. (The purple one looks a little lopsided but it's really round, I promise)

It didn't take to long to construct so I think I'll make several more. I would like to also make some to send to the orphanage where Mia spent her first days. I have heard winter is a very hard time because the orphanages don't have heat.
If you knit or crochet here is the Info on the Caps if you would like to participate. www.savethechildren.org
"After Save the Children’s State of the World’s Mothers 2006 report highlighted simple, low-cost practices that could save newborn lives — like warming their heads with a knit or crochet cap —It is estimated that Four million newborns die each year within the first month of life. Half within the first 24 hours of life."

Little Miss Muffett

Little Miss Muffett
Sat on her Tuffett
All the way to school
But when along came the spider
that sat down beside her
She cried, "Mom it's scary! Not COOL"

So after the spider scavenger hunt successfully accomplished by Dad, Kaylee annouced she didn't like it. Frankly, it was a little scary looking. It was very big and very hairy. But I pinned it on her anyway and off to school she went.
At 8:30 when we arrived for the parade she made it out the door fine but when she saw me the tears began to flow. She wouldn't tell me what the problem was and finally I asked if it was the spider. "YES" it was the spider. So we un-pinned Little Miss Muffett's spider and the rest of the day was wonderful......