warm december!

C and E playing on a warm Dec day. She was blowing bubbles for him and he was stomping on them. It was truly a loving sibling activity!

goodbye old friend

today I said goodbye to a very loyal and trustworthy friend. We were best friends for years and it was hard to part ways. J made me though.

"tomfy toilet"

hehehe C is too funny. When we were in WI over Thanksgiving she was very impressed by J's Aunt's "tomfy toilet." (comfy toilet) It was just a normal toilet with a fuzzy cover over the toilet lid (not the seat so really didn't make it any more "comfy"). As soon as she saw it she got her usual look of wonderment on her face and exclaimed "tomfy toilet!!" Yesterday C became the proud new owner of a "tomfy toilet." Grandma from WI sent her one as a xmas gift. As soon as Av saw it she started cracking up. A true giggle that you can't fake. She thought it was the funniest things she had ever seen. C was not really all the impressed. I don't think she really remembered and didn't get the joke, but Av sure did. Av ran up and put it on all by herself. So here is a pic of their new "tomfy toilet."

Fun in WV

On Wed it was nice enough to play outside. My mom, the kids and I went on a hike! It was so fun and nice to get outside. The girls loved it and walked the whole way. They got so muddy and that was a lot of the fun. After the hike the kids found a mud puddle and splashed away in it. It was the first time E had ever splashed in a puddle. He loved it. He of course fell in a few times and was soaking wet from head to toe but he didn't care. He is all boy. After a warm bath and some hot chocolate we made some cookies. PB blossoms. The girls loved them. We made them during E's nap time so not to tease him with stuff he can't eat yet. That night the kids sat with their Pap and watched a movie.

I had found a craft on Pinterest that I wanted to try but I could not do it on my own. Thank goodness for AA's skills. She took me to a fabric store to pick out some fabric for tutus for the girls. We spent all afternoon making them. I thought my hand would never be the same from all the pinking but it was so worth it. The skirts turned out so cute!!

E loved reading with Grandma. They spent a lot of time snuggling together with a Christmas book. It was a book you could open flaps on and the last page had 25 ornament flaps. By the end of the week most of the 25 flaps were torn off. He's such a rough boy.

Another craft the girls did with AA was glueing ornaments on a Christmas tree. Unfortunately the ACE the elf got into the craft basket durning the night and buried all the gems in lentils. So to decorate the tree the girls had to pick through to find the gems. Bad elf!!!

The kids painted in the bathtub with shaving cream. The was another fun craft. Thanks again AA!!

We went to Pittsburgh on Friday to see my mom's family. We saw my aunt Jenny, Uncle Ron, cousin Mike and Dan, aunt Sally, uncle Chris and cousin Kate. It was so nice to see everyone. We had a blast staying at my aunt Jenny's house. My cousins Mike and Dan spent a lot of time playing with the girls. Dan made a bead necklace with Camille that she is still wearing 5 days later. We played a silly "right/left" gift game and the girls ended up with Tinkerbell coloring books while the rest of us got things like an ugly Christmas purse or huge fruit magnets. We also sang "the 12 days of Christmas" with everyone standing to sing their line. The kids slept great there and the next morning we headed over to aunt Sally's house for breakfast. They made us a yummy fancy breakfast before we headed back to my parents house. Oh and John also met us in Pittsburgh. The kids were sooooooo excited to see him.

They made sugar cookies for santa and made sure to put them out xmas eve. They put out milk and cookies for Santa and sugar and carrots for the reindeer.

Santa's "sleigh" came and even made tracks in the yard!

We were very blessed and had a wonderful Christmas morning. The girls didn't get a big gift from Santa this year so it was a lot of smaller things. We had so much fun after Christmas playing with everything. Such an assortment to keep them busy. Games, books, polly pockets, remote control car, busy ball popper, craft boxes, glow in the dark gears (my fav), tea set, barbies, princess blankets, nail polish (to dad's dismay), dress up clothes, puzzle, E got a backpack the list just goes on and on. Av had shopped for everyone at her snowman shop. She was sooooo proud. Wrapped the gifts and put everyones names on them. She handed them out when everyone was done with everything else. She got me a "mommy and me" cookbook, grandma got a "i love grandma" keychain, pap got a "i love my grandpa" tape measurer, C got a flower with a pop up monkey, E got a green stress reliever ball we had to throw away bc it was not safe for him and J got a "worlds best dad" pen. It was so cute.

We made salt dough ornaments w their handprints. They turned out so cute. I love them and will love them forever.

We also went to a paint a pottery place. I think AA and I had more fun painting there than the girls did. The girls were more impressed with the playroom there.

We had the most special Christmas and I am so thankful for it. My family is the best and we are so blessed. I am a very lucky girl!

Thank you!

Our time in WV has come to an end. We are heading home tomorrow. I can't believe how fast a week and a half went. Seems like we just got here (maybe not to my parents....hheheh....they are prob ready to have their house back). Even though this is not the house I grew up in or even the state I grew up in, it is home. It's not the house it's the people that are in it that make it home. I love being at their house. It's so simple and uncomplicated. Time moves slower bc we slow down and do not do as much. We are not running as much, trying to meet friends here and get stuff done there. It's all just family time. Time to sit on the floor and play game after game or do craft after craft. Time to really enjoy the special people my kids are. Time to cook a yummy meal together and include the girls in on the cooking. My parents made this week so special. I can never thank them enough. Then there's my sister. She went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. She is so sweet and thoughtful. I just can't get over how much she did for us. We did activity after activity that she put together. Thought of everything and included and brought over everything we would need to have a great time. Thank you mom and dad and Suzanne. You all are the best and I love you so much!!!

WV Christmas

The kids and I are in WV. We are having a blast. I think we have done no less than 6 crafts in the last 2 days. My sister put together these bags for the kids. Each day they can pick one and in the bag is a fun activity for them. So far they have taken a glow in the dark bath, made a holiday tablecloth and made super cute place mats. It has been a blast. We have also made cookies, stung beads, painted, played outside in the mud and colored our hearts out. My sis and I also made the girls a tutu. It was so fun and they turned out so cute. It's been so relaxing and the kids are sleeping well. J is still in KY working very hard on our house. We will be here for a week and a half. Very fun! Pics to come.

house update

Well it may not have been "the one." It does not look like we are going to get that house. We just cannot agree with the seller on a price. We put in an offer. Yes it was slightly low but you have to start low right. Well seller was not pleased and didn't even counter. So that was pretty much the end. For now. We are just not in the same ball park. We will see what happens but for now we are still working very hard on our house. It will go on the market in Jan.

Sleigh rides

After the crazy busy Friday day we had the night was just as fun. We went on our annual downtown sleigh ride. We had a BLAST. The masons went with us and I am so glad they did. Actually the sleigh ride tradition was theirs first. We copied it last year (our first year). So we met downtown for dinner. We ended up at a Mexican restaurant. The adults had HUGE margs (yummy!!!) and the kids had pizza (hehehe very Mexican but that's what they wanted) so everyone was happy. After that we found a sleigh big enough for the 9 of us. E was slightly hard at dinner. He just does not like to sit still so I was worried about the sleigh ride but no reason to worry. He did great. Loved looking around at all the lights and big buildings. He sat w J and didn't fuss at all for the 30 minute ride. It was a little cold but we bundled and cuddled under the blankets. Jessie the horse gave us a great ride! I think it was Av's dream come true, a fun night out, horses, her fam, her bff, everything she loves. We all had a good time though. So nice having great friends!

Friday

The Friday before Christmas break was CRAZY. I got Av off on the bus and then had to get the other 2 ready. After dropping C off at school E and I rad to Target to get some blankets to donate to Av's school. It was a donation drive I knew they were doing but just had not planned on participating. Av kept telling me over and over the last few days that she needed a blanket so since it was a great cause I wanted to support it. Boot camp started at 10 so I had dropped E off and was ready for that on time. I left a few minutes early though so I could get home, showered and back out the door in time to make it to the end of C's holiday party. It was so cute when I walked in they were making one of the crafts I brought. Beaded candy canes. The kids were having a blast. So glad I could be a part of it. After that we picked up Stella (her dad was having the v) and took her to gymnastics with us. After a fun time was had at All About Kids we left and I took the kids (including Stella) to John's work to drop them off. He took them home in the van and I took his car and left for Av's school so I could put on the holiday party for her. They had a blast!!! We did 2 crafts that I brought (the beaded candy cane and a ornament to color) and then they had juice boxes, ice cream sundays and a mini stocking full of candy to take home. I love love love that school. They other moms and kids are so nice. We really are becoming part of it all and at home there. When the party was over I got to take Av home with me. We got home just in time to start the night festivities. That will be another post!

C's plant

At school C planted a bulb and watched it grow. She brought it home and she is SOOOO proud of it. It has gotten taller and has 2 flowers on it. She screamed in joy when she saw the flower. So cute.

Av's winter program

Av had a winter program at her school. They got up on stage and sang 4 songs. She was SO excited. Not nervous at all. The days leading up to it she practiced over and over and told me how at the end they would take a bow. So cute. She got all dressed up in her Christmas outfit and of course C had to too even though she was just an audience member. When we got to school she went off to the library to join her class while we took our seats. Rachelle and Molly came to see her sing so that was SO nice of them. Her class took the stage and they did a wonderful job singing their songs. Afterwards she came to join us so we could listen to the first and second grade. It was a very nice night.

Av update

Av is doing ok. Better in school than she was. Things are looking up. Still not perfect or anywhere close but better. She is trying really hard and we are working really hard with her. Her teacher is also doing everything she can. I talk to her weekly. Av is happy though. She loves school and loves her friends and loves going. She rides the bus mostly and is very happy still with that. Her is a pic of work that came home today. They do one of these every day. This one just looked so good I had to take a pic and post. Small E's are hard so that makes me ever more proud. Look at her name at the top. Written so well just like the teacher wants her too. Her writing is coming right along. So proud of her!!!

C update

She is something else. Very strong personality. She wears her crown everywhere. Still. She has a mind of her own and no one is going to change it. She is doing well at school and likes it more and more. I think this weekend she is finally going to get her big girl bed!!! She is excited. She still says cold, "told." All her c's are still t's. She LOVES her gymnastics and is pretty good at it too. Somewhere she is picking up very fun phrases like "you are a bad momma" when I don't let her do what she wants to do or "you hurt my feelings" when I told her she had not been nice all day long. Good thing she is super duper cute bc it's the only thing that saves her. heheh

E update

Man he has become trouble trouble trouble. He is in to EVERYTHING. I get him out of something, turn my back and he is right back into it. The dog food, the dog's water, the toilet, the tree, the holiday decorations, the tv cabinet, you name it he is into it. He is at that very fun stage where he knows what he wants and wants to tell you what he wants but he can't so he just makes that super annoying hollering noise. All day long!!! He points at things and yells. If his sisters do something to him good or bad he yells. He just stands there and yells at you. It's kind of funny. He loves books all the sudden. One in particular. It's a big bright book with pics and first words. He demands you sit in his chair with him on your lap and look at it with him over and over again. No other book with do. He is still a TD too. Oh my he stinks. All the time!!! He is cute and sweet though and very happy. He loves life and all there is to discover.

new house

Well I've been MIA again recently. For a totally different reason this time though. We finally found it. We found our house!!! Now we are just in panic mode trying to get our house on the market. No we do not have a contract on the new house yet. It has been on the market for a year so we are letting them sweat a little before we make our offer. J is working on an offer as we speak. We hope to get our house on the market by Jan 1st. Since the new house has been on the market for awhile we are hoping they will accept our contingent offer and we hope we will have the time to sell our house. Our current house is a new updated house in an older very desirable area so we are very hopefully it well sell fast. The plan is to pack most of our stuff and put it in a storage unit while we are in the selling process. So between taking care of 3 crazy kids, getting ready for Christmas I have also been packing, packing, packing. I do it from sun up until well after the sun goes down. I pack while I eat and I swear I am packing while I am sleeping, at least I am dreaming I am. So keep your fingers crossed for us!!!!

Ace

Av said with a crafty grin, "Ace can't see us."

He was found hanging from the ceiling fan yesterday. This morning C said, "Ace gets into a lot of trouble."

they are cute!!

decorating the tree

The girls esp C were soooo excited to decorate the tree. C begged and begged to do it yesterday but the tree was wet from the rain so we didn't want to put lights on it until it dried. The first thing out of her mouth this am was "when can we decorate the tree?" As soon as J walked in they were ready to go. We listened to holiday music and had a great time pulling out all their ornaments. Only about 5 ornaments on the tree are J and mine. The rest are the kids. Each year I get them at least one so someday when they have their own tree they will already have a collection. So I guess someday when they all leave me my tree with be bare. (but they are never leaving me) They love seeing their ornaments from the past years. I love the holidays!!! We tried to take our Christmas card pic but no such luck. E was not a fan of decorating the tree. All we said all night was "no Everett" and everything he tried to touch was taken away from him. By the end he was MAD. Only his milk calmed him down.

Christmas tree

After driving all day Sat we turned around and drove an hour in the rain on Sunday to get our Christmas tree. We had to. J is having his big V this Friday so we can't do it this coming weekend. If we waited till next the kids and I would have one week to enjoy the tree before leaving for WV so it had to be yesterday!! So rain and all after our Sunday boot camp we headed out. We had the time of our life. It was like the best day ever. We arrive at Huber's and got all our warm stuff on. The girls and I have rain boots so they were perfect for the day. We loaded up onto the tractor and headed out to see the trees. We only say 2 other crazy fams out in the rain like us. It was kind of cold but super fun. We found a great tree, cut it down and then drug it back onto the tractor. J tied it to the roof and then we headed inside for some pizza and wine. There happened to be a group having a 60th bday party and a guy singing with his guitar so we joined right in on the dancing. We even got to play the hokey pokey and musical chairs. It was a blast. This is the second year in a row we have cut down our own Christmas tree. I love love love our holiday family traditions. Av was the only one that would go near Santa so she got her pic taken with him. E was way more into the tree than the camera so I could not get a cute one of the 3 of them and then he fell. Poor thing could barely move in the puffy jacket and the snow boots that were way too big for him.