Mission....Impossible??

So I am on a mission...update this blog!

I have another snow day post
...

a day at the zoo
...

2 days in Branson
...

Memphis zoo
...

and more I'm sure I'm not thinking about


Hmmmm...pass or fail this mission to update the blog? 


I'm giving myself a week...and by then Kylie will have had a birthday :)

Totally Unexpected

It's SNOWING!  It has been snowing since we woke up...it hasn't stopped...AT ALL!  I took the kids out earlier because I thought the snow may change over to rain as the day went on but it hasn't.  And, you can't even see where all of our footsteps were from this morning.  We did make a small snowman...my fabulous four year olds lost interest quickly...then my nine year old complained the whole time that she was cold really needed to warm her hands up (you can SO tell that we do not live in a climate where this happens regularly).

They did get a kick out of raiding the pantry for out of date snacks to use as decorations...they picked raisins, pretzels and cheese nips but they didn't really stick all that well so we resorted to the trusty sticks.

It is only 4 p.m. and school has been cancelled for tomorrow for several hours!  Yippee!!

Our deck at about 11:30 a.m.

Our deck at 3 p.m.--you can't really tell but there is SO MUCH MORE!

Gavin was disappointed that his snow angel wasn't pretty--I don't think they were heavy enough

Landon and Kylie and the snowman--Kylie had just yelled at Gavin and he was off crying

Hope everyone stays safe and WARM!

Ice Skating

I am beyond overdue for a new post...there has been a lot going on and I have been, to be quite honest, unmotivated.

But, I am trying to turn a new leaf in 2010 and **try** to blog more.  Here goes........

The boys went on a field trip ice skating today.  They have been so excited to go and it actually got postponed due to our snow day last Friday.  We were not on the ice but 1.5 seconds and Landon is bawling wanting to go home.  He was so scared!  Gavin went full force...so much so that he wouldn't quit moving his feet long enough to get his balance.  They did have some folding chairs for the kids to use to keep up so I got 2 and convinced Landon to sit in the chair so I could push him around.  He finally threw in the towel and went and sat with another teacher who wasn't skating...until the last 10 minutes or so...when he changed his mind and then didn't want to get off the ice when it was time for lunch...ahhh the joys of have two four year olds!

They were in 'awe' when they walked in and saw the ice

The skates are ON!

Gavin and Brooke

Wipeout for Gavin

Gavin thought a chair might work better...

Gavin going at it alone

Both boys spent the majority of the time being pushed in a chair...my legs are going to be SORE!

Landon took a little break but was ready for more skating

me and Landon

me and Gavin

They only lasted a few minutes in the car before knocking out...

The Break Is Over...

Today is my last weekday of Christmas Break...I can't complain...I have been home since December 14.  I have a few posts to make...we had Christmas with my in-laws, Christmas at home, Christmas with the Dallas side of the family, and Christmas with my mom and grandma. 

The house is fairly clean and I am ready for my routine again...

I blinked and she isn't a little girl anymore...

It has hit me in the last few days that my sweet Kylie isn't at all my "little girl" anymore.  She has certainly entered in the eye-rolling, attitude, I don't have to do what you say time of her life.  But, even with those moments (which are few and far between, thankfully) she has become a person that we are SO proud of. 

It is not easy for her sometimes being committed to so many things.  This past weekend, for example--Friday night we spend 45 minutes rolling her hair for a cheer competition--Sat morning we drove to Hot Springs, competed, ate and drove home.  I let her relax for about 30 minutes then she had to shower and I dried and straightened her hair (about 1 1/2 hours start to finish).  She got up early and sang with the choir at church at both services on Sunday.  She had enough time after church to get a quick bite before I had to put her nice straight hair in a bun with lots of hairspray and bobby pins (which pained me since I had spent so much time making it straight).  They she spent the next 4 hours at dress rehersal for The Little Match Girl ballet that she has a part in.

Looking through the last few pictures I have taken of her I realize she has a "pose" that she always does-- One leg bent, hands on her hips, and flashing a huge smile!

Here is my sweet little girl on one of her first days of kindergarten-

Little girl no more!  After her cheer competition on Saturday

And going to Little Match Girl rehersal

In her Little Match Girl costume

And before school this morning--see the "pose"??

Must be Santa...Santa Claus!

Gavin and Landon's class went down to College Square (an independent living facility owned by UCA) to visit with Santa.  They were really excited!  Santa gave each child a book...we came up with that idea a few years ago...rather than having a book exchange where you may end up with a book that is never read each parent sends a book for their own child that Santa gives them.  Everyone ends up with the "perfect" book.

On the way home from school yesterday Landon said, "I don't think that Santa was real".  I asked him why and he said, "well, his mustache wasn't even moving when he talked"!  So, we talked about how Santa is so busy getting ready for Christmas that he has helpers.

Gavin just kept talking and talking.  Landon talked but was much more 'too the point'.  So, the big question...what do they want Santa to bring them??  They both want a sword and binoculars.  Let me explain the sword...we have been to Hobby Lobby a lot lately and they have these foam swords.  That is what they want...they aren't going to get them but they are going to get binoculars.

Thanksgiving

What...I am caught up??  Last post of the day.  December is going to be a busy month so there will be many posts to come!

The boys had their Thanksgiving Feast at school on Monday.  And, my class had theirs on Tuesday.  Wednesday was spent picking up and Thursday my mom, grandma and brother came over for dinner.  I did not get one single picture of our actual Thanksgiving.  But, we all ate way too much and had a good time visiting.

I am probably the only person that does not brave shopping on Black Friday.  I hate crowds and chaos so it just isn't for me.  I am still in my pj's and having a great day updating the ole' blog (and cleaning and doing laundry--but that isn't so fun).

Landon (left and Gavin (right) with their grandma

Kylie was out of school the whole week so she got to come too

Landon putting a hurt on that turkey

Gavin was too busy eating to look up