December 6th:

Paint nutcrackers

Everyone really got into this activity.

The Final Results: Chadd, Me, Ashton & Lorelei

December 5th:

Write letters to Santa

Ashton's letter was pretty basic. He always starts out asking how Santa and the wife are. He asks about the elves and the reindeer. Then he gets into the things he wishes for because he's been so good- pajamas, art easel, clay, a couple footballs and matching kilt's for him and his dad. You know, regular ten-year-old stuff.

Lorelei took a different approach. She's been very curious about our elf, Shay, and his "activities." She saw a tag on his booty and commented that it was "suspicious." She asked if we (mom & dad) move Shay when her and Ashton aren't looking. She is also concerned about his welfare;  if Shay really does travel to the North Pole every night to give Santa a behavior report, does somebody feed him? So, she pretty much wrote an interrogation letter to Santa:

Dear Santa, I have been good. Your elf doesn't move or talk. Sometimes he looks like a doll. He looks plastic and he has a tag. Why do they have pointy ears and hats. Why are they so small. Do they have real names. Does Mrs. Claus make the elfs. How do you get different elfs.

And then she left a space for answers. 
(Insert Ricky Ricardo voice here) Santa, you got a lot a splainin' to do... 

December 4th:

Attend the Hurley Diabetes Support Club Christmas Party

As per usual, Ashton hit the dance floor as soon as possible (my camera was being a poop and all the pictures were blurry, but trust me, Ashton didn't hold back). Lorelei branched out this year by SITTING ON SANTA'S LAP FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! I was shocked and if I didn't have this picture I still wouldn't believe it. 

December 3rd:

Sort through toys to donate to Goodwill.

I don't have any fun pictures of this. We didn't empty out nearly as much as I had hoped, but we almost filled and Ikea bag and the kids didn't argue so I count this day as a win!

December 2nd:

Go to grandma and papa's house for a pizza dinner and to watch The Grinch.

Papa isn't always home for dinner and cousin Trenton only appears every other Monday so this was an extra special evening!

Christmas Activity Advent Basket

Now that I'm an official stay at home mom, I get to do all the fun and time consuming things that I never got to do before. This December, we are doing a Christmas activity advent basket. Every day has a dated bag or box containing some sort of activity to be done that day. They vary in time, detail and people- friends and family got involved to do special things with the kids. I can't wait to get through all of them!

December 1st: Decorate the Christmas tree and watch Home Alone.

The lights and my camera didn't quite go together. We got a lovely Canaan Fir this year- I swear, our tree really isn't purple.

Halloween 2013

Ashton read all the Harry Potter books this year and his excitement was so infectious that even Lorelei, who has not read the books, fell in love with Hermione. So here they are, Harry Potter & Hermione Granger.

Though it was raining, trick-or-treating was really fun. Lorelei went off with a friend so Ashton and I were able to put some speed on and we made it through the entire subdivision. Ashton stayed in character, even using his British accent when candy-givers asked him about his costume. Lorelei loves her tie and continues to wear it. She also loves  using her wand to throw curses at her brother.

The Purpose of a Laundry Basket

Ashton forgot to turn in some school-work, so I decided that if he was going to slack on his job, he could help me with my job. One of the tasks I assigned him was to collect the laundry from his and his sister's rooms. His was easy, he just had to retrieve his laundry basket. The tricky part was Lorelei's room. Her basket is often empty and it's a chore in itself just to find her dirty clothes among the bedding, stuffed animals, art projects, the list goes on. It didn't take long for Ashton to become frustrated with this. After he finished the laundry hunt, he wrote this message to Lorelei on the chalk board wall in the hall that connects their rooms:

Dear Lorelei, the purpose of a laundry basket is to put your dirty clothes into it, Lorelei. Not throw your clothes around it. So put your clothes into it next time, Lorelei. Love, Ashton

 

My Favorite Christmas 2012 Picture

This is what happens when you take a picture of a dog strung out on Christmas goodies. Christmas Demon Dog. You will do her bidding...

Skinny Jeans vs. Boot Cut

Chadd generally prefers a boot cut jean, but check out his right leg after 6 weeks in a cast. Oh, honey, time to bust out those skinny jeans! Except for the fact that his left leg has SUPER muscle growth from all the hopping he's done. Has any designer come out with a 1/2 boot/ 1/2 skinny jean yet? Could be a hot item on the spring runways...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween

For Halloween this year, Ashton choose to be a Star Wars Clone Trooper and Lorelei was Merida from the movie Brave. It was the first time we did a dye job on her entire head, so that was really fun. That morning her hair was much bigger and curlier, but the weather was not cooperating in keeping that look. Trenton trick-or-treated with us as Frodo Baggins. Our friend Eric came to loot the neighborhood, too, but I had forgotten about the camera by then so there's no photo evidence of that. Happy Spooking!

The first day of school

It was a day that was a beautiful shade of gray. Rain poured from the sky and ran like a river through the front yard. I think mother nature was trying to help ease the pain of having both my babies in school all day long. If it was all sunny and bright I don't think I could've handled this dreaded day very well at all. Instead, I got the kids settled in their classrooms and I savored the lovely break from the sun.

 

 





Chadd Got a New Toy

The First Day of School & I Only Cried a Little

Just Wishing

It's early in the morning, I'm once again headed to work instead of staying in bed and I'm wishing I were in a cabin up North. We were just there over Memorial Weekend, but that seems so long ago. Even though I don't fish and have no desire to do so, I can't help but have the old thought, "I'd rather be fishin'..."

Lorelei's Riddle

I'm not sure if this is a riddle, or if she's looking for advice, but this is what Lorelei asked:

"How does a real kid, that talks a lot, get in a dumpster?"

Tucker Owen Howard

5.7.98-9.20.10

Today we lost our dear sweet companion, Tucker. He loved to cuddle and was excited to see everyone. He had a good, deep bark without the bite; he was a lover. Tucker loved eating, car rides, getting into the garbage and hiding in places so small he couldn't get out. He loved winter and running through the snow. He liked when his mom sat on the floor so he could use her leg as a pillow and fall asleep during a good neck rub. And that's exactly how Tucker left the world today- his head on his mom's leg, enjoying a good neck rub.

He loved sitting on the small hill, watching the neighbor's house & waiting for his girlfriend Emma to join him outside.





He will be missed.



The Lost Files

Hey! It only took me 6 months to get back here- a new record! I started going through the kids blogs to put some back to school stuff up and found things that had been written and never posted. I have no idea why I did that. It's like doing your homework and then forgetting to turn it in.

Stacy Made Me Do It

It has been requested by an old friend that I resume my bloggings. I will do just that. Pretty weird that it was exactly a year ago that I said I was going to start blogging again. Must be a sign. (That sign might say "See Ya Next Year," but I don't know. I guess we'll see.)