Indoor Stick & Puck

In an effort to encourage the love for Hockey, Grandpa bought the girls an indoor hockey set. It came with 2 goals, 4 sticks, several different balls to hit, and a whole lot of fun. The cousins all got together for a bit of "hit the ball". There were some successful goals, a few thrown sticks, a couple of accidental clubbings, and a little bit of frustration as well. However, all that changed when Cool Uncle Brad stepped in for a little tutorial....complete with a demonstration of "tough guy" behavior. We have played with the hockey set since, but the girls insist that it isn't as much fun without Uncle Brad. He certainly made an impression.

Spoils for the Spoiled

There were lots of surprises under the tree this year! Santa totally came through with a Glinda Doll for Kayla and A Batman & Catwoman doll for Cass. The excitement over the unwrapping of the Barbie Diamond Castle could hardly be matched and it is quite possible that the toy enjoyed by all three children most was a fire truck Brogan got with all the whistles and bells a toy like this should have. Thank you to Grandpa and Lori for providing such fun filled activities and items to enjoy all year long. We have lots of new toys that sing, play music, make noise and encourage a general sense of "loud". Which we are totally okay with....the toy room is in the basement, after all. :) We also got some more subdued items....the clothes, books, coloring items, puzzles, arts and craft projects, pictures, etc. will be worn or done with gratitude. Thank you to everyone! We had a wonderful holiday. It is always a little bitter sweet to unwrap the last present, but it is wonderful that we can enjoy all the activities that will last all year long because we unwrapped those presents. Thank you....thank you...THANK YOU!!!!

Christmas Eve Traditions New & Old

When I was growing-up, Christmas Eve in my house was a big deal. We had so many traditions. There was always a BIG activity planned with the intention to "exhaust us". Swimming, sledding, the local gym...whatever was open and available to us. We would go caroling, come home and have hot chocolate or egg nog (for those who liked it..), sing a few songs, read Luke 2, and then we would get to open one present. It was ALWAYS new P.J.s sometimes hand made by my mother, and other years store bought. This would kick off a long night of anxious effort willing ourselves to fall asleep while contemplating the treasures skillfully wrapped and hiding under the tree...AND we were wearing evidence of the NEW and mysterious packages. I've tried to carry on some of these traditions in my own home. Caroling still doesn't go over big, but I'm hoping that next year I can convince the girls to accompany me to a few homes. The girls DID go sledding with Lori but we're pretty sure she was the one who got tired, as she was the one pulling the sled. There was some hot chocolate.....err...make that Luke-warm. The one tradition that is nostalgic is the new PJs. I buy them, as I don't have the patience or talent to sew them. The kids opened their jammies and, as is tradition, went to put them on right away. Then they came back in and were allowed to explore the value of new traditions....they got to open ONE more present. This year it was a collection of the Disney Princess barbies kindly provided by Grandpa and Lori. They LOVED them right away. Brogan and Dad had fun putting the wrapping paper on their heads. This year Grandpa read "Santa Duck"....a new "must do" every year. It is a funny, charming little book and we highly recommend it be added to your christmas book library. It will be a new tradition for us. So, there you have it......the honoring of Old Traditions and the celebration of New ones. Merry Christmas everyone. We love you and are, of course, thinking of you!

Hysterical!

So Brog had his very first play date the other day. We have friends visiting from out of town for the holiday season. They have a darling little boy named "Kip". The boys are about 2 months apart and could easily pass as brothers. They played with trucks and cars and followed each other around in "survivor" like fashion waiting for the attention of the other to be distracted allowing for the stealing of whatever toy the other had. It was entertaining and all was going well...until....a rouge purple my little pony comb appeared. Then all civility was abandoned in an all out battle to be possesor of the comb. In this picture Kip is keeper of the comb while Brog submits to being groomed. When it became obvious that the comb was going to come between the two of them and their friendly play, as all good mom's would do, we removed the comb from play. The result was two very sad little boys who needed to be coddled and calmed by the ever comforting effects of bottle time. Once Kip left, Brog found the comb and would not release it for the rest of the evening. Of course, to make Daddy feel better about Brog's obsession with the comb, he also carried around a matchbox toy car in his other hand. What a boy!

Dashing through the snow.....

Jingle bells, jingle bells.....our sled isn't pulled by a horse, but Lori sure does supply the power! The girls had so much fun on this sled ride. We try to do an activity every Christmas Eve that will tire them out....I think we may have tired out Lori though. Thanks for the fun Lori!!!

Who says I'm too big?

Brog outgrew this months ago and I pulled it out during one of our "de-cluttering" effort and was preparing to donate it or sell it on Craig's list. Well, he found it and for the next few days treated it like you would treat any old friend. Lots of love and attention, climbing all over it, eating with it, and just having fun. I've moved it to a secluded location in hopes that he will forget about it with all the confusion of Christmas. Then I'll sneak it into the car and dispose of it.

Korean Aristocracy?

Cass got this charming authentic Korean aristocracy costume from one of Bzr's advisees when she was about 2. It has taken a few years to grow into it and although we LOVE it, we just aren't sure where she can wear it. However, we figured it justified a posting on the blog if for nothing more then recognition. Cass wants to wear it to church. We're debating that. KK just wants to play with the fan. It's all about the accessories for that little one.

An early Christmas prestent

In an effort to add to the Fun Family building activities, we gave the kids an early Christmas gift. Yep...we finally got a Wii. The kids opened this gift on Friday....for a couple of reasons. 1) We will be in New York for Christmas where a Wii currently resides with Lori and Grandpa. We didn't think it necessary to have 2 Wii's or to transport this one. 2) It's school vacation. If you have children and are experiencing this JOY as well, you fully understand why we might have allowed this early gift giving. The girls LOVE it. AND, in an effort to encourage active gaming, we also allowed them to open a gift from Shan's parents. A Wii Fit!!! YEAH! All I can say is...Cassidy ran a mile yesterday and LOVED it. She has also mastered the hula hoop. Sadly, she is characterized as "underweight". Her goal is to gain. Kayla is pretty darn good at the soccer game. She dodges really well. If you don't have a Wii Fit, but do have a Wii....we highly recommend getting one. Bzr was obsessed with the ski jump last night. Bring on the virtual winter sports! I am enjoying the step program and the yoga. It's highly rewarding and addicting. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Harmon for this FUN, FUN, FUN addition to our lifestyle. :)

Daddy's Boy

It would seem that ALL my children are destined to be gamers. Brog has already learned how to turn on the X-Box, then he goes and gets a controller and sits down to stare at the screen. He has yet to figure out how to work the controllers. That will be the next step, and then he will learn how to play. Some battles I know I won't win. I'm okay with that. They spend a lot of time with their daddy and they have learned a lot about cooperation because of the two person player games. We'll just need to also introduce "time management" to the program. :)

The man in the red suit

We went to a fun get together the other night with friends. You can imagine the joy and surprise when Santa made an appearance bringing toys for all the good girls and boys. The kids were all thrilled and super excited. Santa told them that since they should be sleeping the next time he comes to town, he wanted to stop by and say "Hello" to them and remind them to be VERY good. It has provided us with some excellent leverage :) Thanks Santa!

Letters to Santa

The girls wrote letters to Santa this year. This is in NO WAY a hint to anyone who may be still looking for something for them!!! Santa has taken care of these items. In an effort to teach the girls that Santa is not the provider of endless toys the girls get to ask him for only ONE gift each year. So far, we have been abel to "guide" them in their requests and Santa has come through. One day, we assume, he won't be able to deliver....but we'll worry about that bridge when it comes time to cross it. For now, he is happy to oblige their wishes. They even made a cute letter for Brog. It said, "I would like Boy Toys". Very simple. Very easy to accommodate. Whew!

Brog's new favorite game

Mobility has granted Brog a whole new world of fun games. For some reason he doesn't like it when I hang a hand towel on the oven. He is constantly pulling them down. This clip is what happens AFTER he has removed it and is taking out his frustration on the towel. He will quite literally spend a good 10-20 minutes doing this. It's funny. I can't wait to share it with his dates someday in the future. I'm sure they will laugh, ooh and aaaawwww, and find it as endlessly entertaining as I do...at least, they better! :)

Snow Day Festivities

It's been a busy day. We did lots of projects. The girls helped make cookies. Frosting them was a sticky, messy, treat. Kayla got really excited....I believe her cookies are a little more frosting then cookie. Cass tried hard to make hers look special. Mom and I decorated a few to take to a party tonight. We watched "Home Alone", a classic favorite. We read lots of stories, "Diary of a Worm" topped the list. Brogan got more love then he wanted...a consequence of having Cass around him all day. My mother has been a real trooper...she loves her grand kids but it's been a while since she had 3 crazy little ones under foot. Bravo! I believe she actually held up better then I did. Thanks, mom. You've made this day manageable. Snow days are a lot of work.
Fun. But lots of work.

PJ Day

School was canceled for today. The roads are sheets of ice. Cars are frozen shut, so even if we wanted/could drive, we can't get in the vehicle. Due to this fun treat from Mother Nature, we have declared today a PJ Day. The kids may just stay in their jammies all day. And these are SPECIAL jammies. Grandma Harmon made them during her visit. They are perfect, much loved, and will be worn today until they are too dirty to do so...which may happen shortly. We have plans to make Christmas sugar cookies, create presents for their teachers, finish a nativity countdown craft and lay around watching Christmas movies. Should be a fun day....we'll keep you posted, as we are certain to take lots and lots of pictures.

Like Father Like Daughter

I'm afraid I'm loosing this particular battle. Kayla LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to game....be it on the xbox, my computer, or even a good ol' fashioned board game. Here we find Father and Daughter enjoying side by side computer time. Not only am I loosing my daughter to the world of technology, but it would appear that my computer is going with her. Sharing a computer with a 4 year old is NOT easy.
P.S. Play a game of I-Spy....see if you can spot Brogan. He has successfully emptied a small end table of all it's items and has managed to climb on top of it. Do you see him? Look over Brian's shoulder. Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky....
P.P.S. Yes, Brian recently got another hair cut. He insists that he didn't ask to go this short and almost demanded a note from his hairdresser expressing the NEED to go this route. Now honestly, how old does he look to YOU in this picture? Old enough to be a father of three? Old enough to be asking someone to go to Prom with him? Maybe a student home for the Christmas Holidays? Feel free to share your thoughts....

CANDY HOUSES

The kids helped Grandma Harmon (visiting from Washington) and Dad make a gingerbread house. You can't tell, but here's a little secret....when you can't get the walls to stay together use tape. Brian discovered that it really helps with the construction and decorating. KK and Cass wanted their house to look like the one on the box. They are pretty close! Broggie was also very helpful. The frosting-cycles were his effort to help.

Look what I can do!

Mommy is a whole mixed bag of emotions over this. Excited, proud, and a little bit sad as well. Baby is not a baby anymore. Although, the qualifications for "baby" keep changing. At first it was, "when he crawls", then it was "when he walks" now it's "When he runs...then he isn't a baby anymore." The reality: he's just not a baby anymore (and that makes us sad) but he is growing into such a fun little man (and that makes us glad).

Bring on the Holiday!

We don't waste any time getting into the Holiday Spirit here. To be honest, the girls have been preparing for this day since they went to bed on Halloween night. We put up the tree tonight for FHE. Tomorrow the girls want to make paper chains to hang all around the room. The tree is on our living room coffee table because our helpful little man wants to pull all the decorations off...and then try to put them back on but not be able to do so and instead he will have a temper tantrum. You can't see it, but we have actually secured the tree to the table....thank goodness for the beautiful tree skirt (lovingly made by my mother) that is hiding those efforts. With any luck, the tree will stay upright and Brog will stay off the table. What are the odds? Not good. The tree will probably fall at least once, or the boy will. It's a toss up at this point.

Ever the helper

Brog has progressed in his efforts to help do the dishes. He was "helping" by climbing in the dishwasher. That no longer holds the same appeal. NOW he want's to climb in the sink. Oh, what a lucky mommy I am to have such a helper.

Over the river and through the woods to grandpa's campus we go

We spent Thanksgiving in New York with Glenn and Lori at Five Pines. It was wonderful. The food was amazing. The company a real treat. And the relaxation couldn't be beat. So, what do we love so much about campus? Let's see, there is the endless supply of goodies (see Brogan eating a cookie), the Wii gaming system (see Cass & Bzr having fun), the cold winter walks (see KK, Glenn and Lori out for a stroll), the BIG christmas tree (we helped decorate this year), the family, the hot tub, Noggin, and NOW we are enjoying the endless hours we can (and will) spend looking at blueprints, flooring, counter tops, appliances, etc. for OUR new home on the lake. We are looking forward to spending even MORE time doing this and visiting campus regularly during the process. We took some "before" pictures, but I'm not going to post them until some of the construction has happened so that you can see some of the big changes.
Thank you, Glenn and Lori for a wonderful holiday and for all the amazing things you do for us. We love you!

Photo Sneaks

I downloaded photos from the digital camera today and these two popped up. Apparently one of the girls (no one is currently fessing up) decided to "borrow" the camera to take pictures of their 2 favorite stuffed animals. The sock monkey belongs to KK. The horse, of course, is Cass's. The 2 lucky animals got to travel with us to camp. These pictures were taken just before our departure as both animals were hanging out next to the luggage. It's anyone's guess which of the 2 girls is behind the camera. **Update....Cass has just cleared things up a bit. Turns out BOTH girls are guilty. Cass took a picture of her horse. KK, the monkey. I'm not surprised. Are you?

Visiting with Grandma R.

Grandma Reynolds came to visit! We enjoyed having her here. She bought the girls each a 6 inch Christmas Tree for their doll house. They decorated them, then the doll house, and then in the spirit of the season we got their 2 foot tree out and let them decorate that as well. Brog tried to help. The tree has been moved to higher ground in an effort to save it from his helping hands in the future. Thank you for coming to visit, Grandma. We love you!