Christmas - Part 1 of several...

The next few posts (over the next several days) will be random Christmas pictures and notes. To begin - here are gifts we made for neighbors, teachers, friends, bus driver, etc.

This particular picture was Ho Hos and Ding Dongs for the Bus Driver.
We also did one for our neighbors (Brett and Kelly).

Homemade Vanilla Syrup, Pancake mix, bowl, hot pad and spoon - (Neighbor gifts)

Teacher Gifts - Plate, Cookies, Mug with hot choc

Teacher gift - check out that bow (1st time for me...)

Homemade Vanilla (Thanks for the idea Joleane) - Friend Gifts

White elephant or curse?

       Last Saturday we went to a Christmas party. Every year our friends have a get together and we have a White Elephant gift exchange. Ya never really know what you're going to come home with - and often times it's put up to take the following year. We did our annual scavenge right before we left to see what we could find. We took a Whale CD that we got a few years earlier. The kids actually listen to it occasionally and were sad to see it go. I, on the other hand, had no problems letting a CD of whale sounds out of my house. Perhaps some other lucky person would want to enjoy the bellowing. 
       Instead of the regular method of play - where everyone draws a number and you proceed in order picking a new gift or stealing someone else's gift - we followed directions given to use through a poem. Steve was number 17 - "17 your choice is here. Find a box and hold it near. When you return and look behind. Swap with 11 if you don't mind."  I was number 27 - "Number 27 how lucky you are. You've seen all the gifts chosen so far. If a pretty box catches your eye. Grab it, make a trade, and don't be shy."  It was a fun switch up to the game. Steve had another Christmas party and gift exchange coming up on Tuesday - so he was looking for the "perfect" gift to take. 
       Behold our "prizes"...

Yes that is a bed pan. Brand new and in the box - never used (I'm told). No, that isn't a Santa pillow. that is a Santa toilet seat cover (with a bag of cappuccino). At first glance these gifts look funny and harmless. What we didn't know is what was hiding someone inside.  A small little parasite that infects the stomach of children - one at a time.
       Within minutes of winning our wonderful prizes, Jake informed me that he didn't feel so well. I quickly motioned for him to get outside since the bathroom was occupied. He threw up and then said he was fine. I shrugged it off and told him to not run around right after he eats. We waited about 30 minutes and i told Steve i thought i should go ahead and bring the kids home - it was getting late (9PM). Once we got home, PJs on, teeth brushed and in bed - Jake was sick again. EVERY 45 min - 1 hr he was up getting sick. This continued all night and a good part of Sunday. By Sunday later afternoon he was doing better and Kyler was laying around. 
       Sunday night before going to bed, I checked on Kyler - yes, you guessed it... he had thrown up all over his bed. Yet another exhausting night - Kyler didn't get sick again - but I didn't want to chance it, so every time he moved or would cough - I was up. (He was sleeping with a garbage on the floor by my bed).
       Monday morning - all is well and we're off to school and work. (I think that is where I went - I was too tired to tell). Monday evening - feeling neglected and in trouble for her attitude MaKenna was sent to bed a little after 7PM. Not to be outdone by her brothers - she told us she was not feeling well. I'm sorry to say - we didn't exactly believe her (to much drama in her voice). She decided to show us, and as I was getting ready for bed, she threw up on her way up the stairs (passing several garbage cans and a bathroom). 3rd kid - 3rd night. I'm a pro at this now and quickly made her a bed in the hall way (by the bathroom) with sleeping bags covering every bit of carpet. She doesn't always wake up - so every noise she made - all night - got me up running to make sure she hit the garbage can.
       Tuesday night - I told Steve I didn't have time to get sick and if it was his turn - he would be on his own. Some how, we managed to escape the bug and not get sick. The kids were all well enough to go to school and their Christmas parties. Their last day for a couple weeks was Wednesday. They now have " a lot of stay home days" according to Kyler.
       Hope your holiday season is happy and healthy.

Tis the season to be jolly...

Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

I love Christmas time. Christmas time to me is Thanksgiving to New Years. Why do I love it?
1. Christmas Songs - So awesome to have 2 radio stations playing 24/7 Christmas music - since Nov 1st!

• Favorite Church song - With Wondering Awe
• Song that makes me cry every time - Christmas Shoes
• Favorite Traditional song - O Holy Night
• Favorite instrumental - Joy to the World (Mannheim Steamroller)
• Least favorite (gotta change the station when I hear it) songs - I want a hippopotamus for Christmas and Santa Baby

2. Feeling of Happiness and Hope in the air
3. Giving to others
4. Baking
5. Decorations
6. Christmas Cards
7. Stockings
8. Christmas Lights
9. Friends and Family
10. Christmas Movies
11. Fond Memories
12. Christmas stories
13. EVERYTHING - I love this time of year.

I better add some pictures - since that is really why Mom reads my blog. Here are some of the kids decorating our Christmas tree. We got a live tree so we could plant it at the property after Christmas (and the fact that we will likely have a Rose Bowl tree, Valentine's tree, and possibly a St. Patrick's Day tree).

Holidays in "Full Swing"

How to tell your holidays are in full swing?

1. Too Cold to go outside.

We finally broke out Risk. I've had it in the closet for a few years. I had a good time playing it the other night and teaching the kids how to play it. I was texting Daniel and he reminded me about making treaties. How could I forget that part - and of course the most important part of treaties (according to Daniel) was breaking them! Kyler and Jake set it up again today and pretended to play. I think its a hit.

2. Snowball fights

3. LOTS of Christmas movies.

Between Lifetime, ABC Family and the Hallmark channel MaKenna and I watching lots of Christmas movies. I think we've seen a few too many - Kyler was telling me at dinner tonight that the girl and guy were going to fall in love and kiss. When I asked him how he knew that he said "O, because I feel it" in a snotty voice.

Yes, that is MaKenna wearing shorts and a tank top. Yes it is only 15 degrees outside.

The boys watching Christmas movies

Thanksgiving "break"

Who ever decided to call the period of time children are out of school a "Break" - didn't have children. We were busy and on the go go go (or it at least felt that way to me). Here's what we did...

• Wednesday - errands getting ready to cook on Thursday
• Thursday - cooked all day (Ham, Jello Salad, Rolls, Apple Nachos). Had a great Thanksgiving dinner with Dave and Dee and family. Followed up with some Midnight shopping.
• Friday - Back to Dave and Dee's for lunch (leftovers) and the Nebraska game. More errands (get parts for Steve's loader). Ended the day with an Eagles Hockey game.

• Saturday - Dug out the homework folders; finished assignments. Holiday lights parade and Greeley Tree Lighting

• Sunday - Christmas lights on our house

• Monday - back to school and work for a real break.

Mr. Turkey

Kyler came home from school Tuesday signing a new song.

(tune of Mr. Thumbkin)

Mr. Turkey,
Mr. Turkey,
Run away,
Run away,
If you are not careful,
You will be a mouthful,
On Thanksgiving Day,
On Thanksgiving Day!

I love Thanksgiving and all it means:
Family time
Fall is in full swing (Perfect weather for Hoodies)
Long weekend
Baking
Fireplace
Black Friday ads - the quiet time it gives me when the kids make their Christmas List pictures

Most importantly: Time to reflect on my many blessings

** My 3 little Turkeys - o how they drive me crazy most of the time, but they are worth it
** Steve and all his crazy ideas - I love how hard he works to give us everything we want
** Family - immediate, extended, memories of Grandpa and Grandma; everything about family
** Friends - we've been blessed to have wonderful friends in our lives
** Our jobs - we're fortunate to have jobs; when many people don't
** Our little farm
** Amazon - can I be thankful for that? What about online shopping in general?

Tuesday, Kyler's class had a Thanksgiving feast with the other kindergarten classes. His class were Turkey's, the other classes were Pilgrims and Indians.

Kyler also had to make a feather that showed what he was thankful for. Any guess which is his?

Yes, the painted Green and Yellow feather

Jake's class has been studying about immigration, explorers and the early settlers. His class put on a play about the Southern Colonies. Him and his friend were "Miss States".

Friday Date Night

It's not important where you go or what you do... it's just about spending time together that matters.


Steve and I don't have "Date Nights" as often as we should, so last night I decided it was a great time to have one. We started out with a family adventure to Fort Lupton to get a snow blower for the skidsteer. Since we had the kids - that doesn't technically count as a date. So.... about 7'ish I suggested Steve call Dee and see if she could watch the kids while we went "out". Of course she was willing to help us out. We dropped the kids off and away we went.


Where to you ask?



Like I said - it doesn't matter what you do, as long as you're spending time together. Steve was awesome and very supportive last night. I have never been in so much pain. Who knew that something so tiny and small like a Kidney Stone could cause so much pain! O MY GOODNESS it was awful - way worse then child birth.


It started with sharp pains on my left side - sort of in the back, sort of in the front. Then in moved to the front lower stomach. After about 4 hours of pain not going away, and nausea starting, I decided it was time to go get it looked at. The ER was busy (of course) so we waited and waited. Finally they took me back, gave me some pain meds and put me on the list for a CT scan. Everything turned out "OK - just a kidney stone". We got home about 12:30am.


Morale of the story - Drink lots of water.


All in all - today is much better. We're off to see HP's showing of Puss in Boots.

Volleyball Recap

MaKenna played Volleyball this Fall with the Rec Center. It was her first time doing a rec center sport. She did very well and had a lot of fun. The team was small and lost every game but 1 ( I think). She learned a lot about teamwork, sportsmanship and patience. Specifically, MaKenna learned is very competitive and has no patience for other girls who don't have the same level of enthusiasm and "go get'em" attitude. She couldn't understand why a couple girls would just stand there and not get the ball. I'm not sure she is cut out for Rec sports.

Here are some pics.

Serving

Serving

... it's over!

Speaking of competitive...

Yes that is Jake playing on MaKenna's team and she is LESS than happy about it. There were not enough girls on her team at the last game (and the other team wouldn't let them borrow any), so we were grabbing anyone we could from the spectators. Jake did very well actually. It just didn't sit well with MaKenna.

Halloween - 2011

Just like every year before... we begin Halloween planning with big hopes and plans. Jake wanted to be "The Oregon Duck", MaKenna wasn't exactly sure, but knew she wanted to be something "sassy", and Kyler planned on being Jack Sparrow. Things got crazy and busy - before we knew it we had a week to get things done. The kids were great and came up with different ideas that would be easier and use what we had already. We only had to get a few things.

The end result...A rodeo clown, a Rodeo Queen, and a Bullrider.

Winter? Already?

Fall is my favorite season - cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon - perfect jeans and hoodie weather. Colorado has a wonderful fall season. One of the reasons I love living here is all the seasons we get. Where else can you have all 4 seasons in one week. The previous post showed nice fall colors on a beautiful and warm Friday afternoon.

They say in Colorado - if you don't like the weather, wait a little bit... it will change. Here are pics of Tuesday night (10/25) / Wednesday (10/26).

The first snow of Fall/Winter 2011 came in Tuesday night, after a very warm Monday. It started out as rain and turned to snow. The snow was very wet and heavy. Branches were snapping and breaking by 10pm Tuesday. You can see branches down and the weight of the snow on them from the pictures. Both of Steve's trucks had branches laying on them. The kids has a snow day due to all the branches and trees down.

We lost power somewhere between midnight at 2AM. We didn't get it back until after 6pm on Wednesday. We did have hot water because we have a gas water heater. The furnace is gas, but the blower and all that is electric. The gas fireplace doesn't have a pilot light - uses electric start. The pellet stove has an electric feeder, blower, and start. Amazing how much we rely on electricity. we did get the generator out and get the freezers and fridge hooked up. We managed fine and it wasn't a big deal to "rough it" for 16 or so hours. Believe it or not - there are still folks without power scattered through out the area.

Fall in Colorado (10/21/2011)

Friday (10/21/11), we took a little road trip over I-70 to Grand Lake and back to Fort Collins via Hwy 14. The kids were on Fall Break so we thought it was a great time to go look at the fall colors (and pick up a small dump trailer).


Grand Lake, CO


Rand, CO



HWY 14 - Poudre River

Easy Whiteboard Menu

I saw this on a blog and thought it would be a great activity for MaKenna and help with the chaos here at home. It was a great idea and MaKenna enjoyed making it. As for the chaos... hasn't helped much - but then again we modified the menu the 2nd day we had it. It's the thought that counts and I thought it would help.

It's just decorated paper in a cheap photo frame. The glass is the whiteboard.