2010 Christmas Tree

Steve took today off so that I was able to attend the funeral of my Great Uncle Glen.  Glen was truly a GREAT uncle too.  He was a very kind, Christian man and I respected him and his wife, Alice, greatly.  I hope that when we've been married for 60 years (like they would have been yesterday..) that Steve and I will be as much partners and best friends as those two have been!! 

Anyway, Steve was home this afternoon when I returned home from the funeral, so we had a longer evening together and time to put up the Christmas tree!! The kids were so excited for the tree, and Nolan wanted to know where the presents were!  Is that so cute??  I love the innocence.  We turned on How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the classic version) and had the tree up and ready for ornaments before it was over.   The boys did a GREAT job of putting the non fragile ornaments on before watching Mickeys Once Upon a Christmas and having hot chocolate!  We are certainly in the Christmas spirit now.  I love how cozy it makes the house!!

All 3 boys putting on ornaments.  All of Nolan's ornaments are RIGHT where he is standing in this picture.  You'll have to notice in the rest of the pictures :O)

Chaille was quite grumpy while we worked.  She followed me around crying, and wouldn't get near the tree for a picture.  I finally held her down.  And then... we got on pajamas and she went to bed early! Pardon my attire, I had already gotten cozy for the evening!

Nolan's ornament collection.  I love it!!! Oh, sweet little boy, please don't grow up!  You are too cute!!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!!

Today was Steve's birthday.  The kids had a lot of fun picking out his cake and gifts to make for him.  I wanted something that they could make for him themselves, and we searched the craft department.  I had hoped the perfect idea would hit me when I saw it.  I found a kit to make coffee mugs for $10 for 2 mugs.  SCORE.  Everything they needed was in the box! It was so fun to watch them paint the mugs, and they were so proud of their work.

You can tell by the teeth that Chaille was a little unsure of what we were doing.  Thankfully the paint was non-toxic.... I think!?!

He was very intent!  And I was impressed at him painting with his "cast hand!"

Nolan didn't quite get it either, but he had fun anyway.

Avery had a plan and stuck with it.  He wanted a camping scene with a fire and a tent.

All of the kids working, sans shirts, so that we didn't ruin any clothing!

Looks like it was a good thing they didn't have shirts on, huh?  She was "art" herself. LOL

Super Dad!  Happy Birthday!!

The finished products.  I'm sure Steve can't wait to drink out of these mugs... Ha ha ha...

We had to have cake and ice cream to celebrate the day!!  Happy Birthday, sweetheart!!!

Mom's Night Out

 I've been incredibly blessed with another opportunity to "re-charge" my Mommy batteries this evening.  After a day off work to go hunting, Steve came home and took over while I went to dinner with some GREAT friends.  We went to Panzarotti's in Shelbyville for some wonderful Italian cuisine along with some great laughs and fun conversation :O)  I treasure these moments away and the adult conversation with other women who are in the same stages in life.  Thank God for all of the wonderful friends in my life!!!  After dinner, we had the waiter take our picture outside.  (DISCLAIMER: There is a reason he is a waiter and not a photographer... LOL!!!)

Now THIS is tired:

Nolan had no nap on Saturday, and yesterday we were at Randy and Deb's and tried to get him to lay down.  He fought it with all his might and kept sneaking out of the bedroom.  Papaw Randy went to get drinks for supper and found him asleep on the floor just outside the bedroom door.  It was too sweet for me to pass up this photo opportunity.  By the way... he slept another 30 to 45 minutes AFTER I took the photo!

Busy days

We have had a busy few days here lately.  I'll catch you up briefly with some pictures that I have taken since Thursday.  First, on Thursday evening, I picked up Leigh Anne from the airport in the evening.  My mom helped me get her car up to Indy, so we all had dinner together.  Since we didn't get any pictures while Leigh Anne was here for a couple days in October, I made sure I got one with her:

Friday was a jam packed day for us.  After getting Avery and Silas off to school, we headed to Chaille's 18 month check-up.  Our girl is growing well.  She was 27 lbs. and 34 1/2 inches.  The doctor was pleased with her development and says that her verbal skills are quite advanced.  I believe it!!!  Here are some pictures from her visit.

 Nolan went along and he was VERY good the whole time! :O)

After her appointment, we picked up Grandma Darlene and headed to Silas' school for his Thanksgiving program and meal.  On the way, Grandma surprised Chaille and Nolan with some miniature Twix bars.  Nolan ate his without making any mess at all.  Chaille, however, well...

... She did the best she could!  By the way, she was awfully proud of her Dora sticker.  She had to get a shot to "earn" it.  She was a trooper though.  She cried a little but got over it quickly.

Grandma Debbie picked up Nolan and Chaille to play with her while Grandma Darlene and I enjoyed Silas' program.  I took the picture above of Nolan while we were at Silas' school, waiting for Grandma Debbie to get there.  Nolan loves to run down the ramp to the basement.  I stood above him and caught him goofing off!  Silas' program was really cute and I must say, he was the handsome-est one.  You can tell from the pictures just how handsome he was:

I'm so proud of Silas.  He is growing into quite the sweet little man!  At his school he kept coming up with things to take back to his siblings to let them know that he didn't forget them even though he had mom and grandma to himself!  After the program, it was home for naps and a little down time before we headed to an At-Home America party (home interior type stuff.)  Lyndsay was having the party and I took the younger 3, while Avery opted to go with Steve down to Grandma and Grandpa Fryes.  At the party, Chaille was so excited over baby Ellie.  She got to feed her, and that made her day:

Today, Steve had to work, and my mom watched the children so that I could go bridesmaid dress shopping with the girls for Melissa's wedding.  I won't reveal the dresses we picked out just yet, but I LOVE the choices that we made!  While we were out, we were sure to have fun too:

I know Shelley reads the blog, so... You are welcome for sharing this fun picture of you! ;O) Lots of hats and headbands were tried on today.  

Melissa and Lynsday enjoyed their beers.... Well, root beer and cream soda anyway...



We had a GREAT time.  I love these girls!!!  And I'm SO excited for the wedding in March!!

Big Girl Bed!

My friend, Teresa, and I just had a conversation a day or two ago about moving our children into bigger beds.  I told her that I was in no hurry with Chaille to move her into a twin bed, even though the boys did at her age.  WELL--->

Chaille decided last night that SHE was ready for a big girl bed.  We went upstairs and she laid down on our extra matress that was on the floor of the landing and said "night, night."  She seriously wanted to sleep on the matress on the floor!  But I couldn't let her do that, so I quickly unassembled the bunk beds in her room (Nolan sleeps on the bottom bunk) and got her bed ready.  I couldn't even get it made before she was on it and wanting to stay.  I envisioned a LONG night of putting her back in it, so I left the crib up.  But, I had to wake her to take the boys to school this morning.  She's had 2 naps in it today as well. Looks like she was ready after all. :O(

I think I need a tissue... This mommy is a little sentimental about no longer needing a CRIB in the house!!!

Dancing :O)

The children LOVE when daddy gets out his banjo and plays so that they can dance.  I HAD to get the camera out tonight when Chaille got her feet going so fast, dancing along.  Enjoy the videos:

Where is the Chief?

Where is the chief who belongs in this hat???

She thinks she is the chief, but this isn't it... This is the princess!

Little Bear here... No chief yet...

Another cute man, but Silas isn't him...

You can tell by the smile, that Avery isn't it...

THERE HE IS!  And he's missing his hat.  And making dinner too!!!

I enjoyed a wonderful treat last evening of having Steve come home early and making dinner :O)  I seriously sat with my feet up talking to him while he worked away.  To my defense, I did clean up the kitchen when he was done and then made caramel corn for us all.  (See, even with the chance to not HAVE to cook, I ended up in the kitchen anyway... I should stop complaining.  I actually like it when I can cook leisurely!)  He made breakfast for supper, which the kids always LOVE.  Thank you, Steve for being so awesome!!!

This is what Silas was doing while daddy cooked. Tom and Jerry was on and he was fully vegging while watching it!

And Nolan was too.  They love that show!

Avery was helping!!! His first time actually cooking over a hot burner!  He loved it and will gladly help again, he says.  Score!!!

And this is what Chaille was doing.  Hugging my leg.  This is her typical when mom is in the kitchen.  And this is why mommy was so happy to have a break from cooking for the evening!

A random picture from today.  Chaille in yet another hat.  She loves them, unless, of course, they were MEANT for her.  Then, she can't get it off fast enough...