All wrapped up and no place to go!

What a great family-filled couple of days!

Christmas Eve

We enjoyed a candlelight service and then off to bed we went! ~After we put out cookies and milk for Santa. Supergus was bound and determined to catch Santa in the act this year, but was snoring before 10:00 p.m.! He fell asleep with the flash light in his hand. So cute!

Good for Supergus!

Supergus made "WOLF" in Cub Scouts!

He's been working hard and was excited to earn this patch!

Way to go!

There's snow way to have more fun!

We've been enjoying the newly fallen snow at every opportunity we get! One afternoon we walked through our woods listening to the "Winter quiet" and writing our names with sticks in the snow. Today we went sledding and tried out Supergus's new snowboard. I crashed and burned, but he caught on pretty well, actually. (Boy, I still hate snow up the back when you slide down the hill!) Cupcake's unsure of the fluffy, cold stuff, but she's investigating it.

It's been fun-filled days of making memories. Loving it!

New favorite toy!

Who needs fancy toys when we have a food container to look through? For several days now, Cupcake has been "wearing" this around, giggling! Too funny!

Christmas ought to be easy~we get her a lid for it!

Thanksgiving

Cupcake helped Supergus make the stuffing. Okay, she ate more than she helped, but it was cute! It was a great day! We indeed have a lot to be thankful for!

Truth through the eyes of a child...

"And despite busy schedules, this Christmas we are celebrating everyday! As we took our children to Kraynaks to see all the beautiful displays, lights and trees-- I cried. I couldn’t help it! For years, we wanted to take our kidS to this and celebrate the love of Christ with them both and the reality was emotional. At the end, a breathtaking display of the Nativity was made perfect. Cupcake stood at the feet of Mary and Joseph (who were holding baby Jesus) with her outstretched arms and grasping fingers indicating, “Please, baby? Please!” If only more people wanted Christ so simply..."

Light Up the Night with Excitement!

What a great night for a parade! Especially a light up parade! The kids enjoyed all the moving lights and YES we go more candy! Shouldn’t we spread the joy of sugar throughout the summer a bit more instead of cramming it into a 3 month fury?! Oh well, all that more to share!

As they finally stopped the 4-lane traffic on the usually VERY busy main street, Supergus and I crept out to stand on the double yellow line! It was such a weird feeling, almost eerie, standing there looking up and down the deserted street with thousands of people anxiously awaiting the arrival of the parade. My adventurous little one!

As non-appointed judges, we thought that the mini-van completely dressed like a Christmas tree that opened to reveal the entire cast of the Wizard of Oz was really cool! Also the fire trucks were completely lit up too! From dancing twirling presents to electrified tubas & trumpets, the night lit up with fun! And thankfully, the only snow and ice was on the floats and not nipping at our nose!

Welcome wonderful holiday season~marching your way down the street and into our hearts! We’re ready to celebrate~our family complete!

Build-a-Memory

Today, we welcomed a new member to our family~Hermie (Herman) the Monkey! He began this morning empty and lifeless, but with the help of Supergus he came to life! We stuffed him with love all the way to his toes and sealed him with a kiss & a wish~ Supergus kept the wish a secret! Hope it comes true!

Then we made a personalized t-shirt that proudly exclaims “and the crowd goes wild!” complete with a glittered “H” on his back! Since we were one of the first five people to show up for the event, Hermie also won a complete Santa outfit, beard included! He looks very cute! What a styling Monkey!

So, tonight as I tucked my two little Monkeys into bed I reflected, realizing that best of all~we got to spend the day together....laughing, snuggling, smiling, sharing, and loving each other.... That is priceless.

Twisting the Night Away!

We tried something new, just for fun! We made some cinnamon pretzels! It's not as easy as it looks to make them twist like pretzels should, but we sure got some good laughs!

We spent the evening watching Madagascar bring in the holiday season

and munching on our homemade sweet-treats!

Yummy!

Motherhooded

The other day as we were hustled out the door to another busy-busy day, I was slightly overwhelmed by the details that make up motherhood. ~Things that in a few years from now, or even possibly after a good 15 minute time out, would be funny.

This day, I was not more than surprised to find a petrified peanut butter sandwich in the front closet. Of course it was in there. Why not? We found the missing MILK sippy cup weeks later under the van seat, so why not find a stone-like sandwich next to my coat? ~So bad the dog wouldn't even go near it?

So as I finally found two shoes that matched, or at least were both white and looked similar enough to pass for a pair, we grabbed our jackets. Little Miss Growing More Independent wanted to help with hers. As we got to the van, I welcomed a good moment of laughter when I noticed her hood was on her bottom and smile was on her face. Just another day in my Erma Bombeck style life! Love it!

Square Dancing

Love that new sideways smile, Supergus!

Do-see-do and promenade'r home!

Friday night we got to put on our dancing boots and go kick up a good time at the high school at a real square dance! It was a nice turn out and the kids got to show off their newly polished skills they had been learning in gym class. Supergus was a little worried when his partner didn't show up but he quickly found a new one. He even had the principal of his school in his square! There was a lot of fun and quite a few dizzying moments for everyone. We even got to do the "chicken" and show off our talents during the Hokey Pokey.

Cupcake crashed early in the evening and snuggled up with Granny and Pappy Moo when they weren't helping groups with instruction or snapping pictures. The kids were moving so fast to the live music that taking photos was nearly impossible. We look forward to next year's square dancing celebration! Yee Haw!

Honoring Veterans!

There are very few things in this world more precious than an entire elementary school and their families saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag simultaneously ~led by kindergarten! Everyone reciting it at different paces...the mumbled message of dedication was refreshing! Today as I sat and enjoyed the Veteran's Day program I said a silent prayer of thanksgiving. Thankful that we live where we do, in this quiet, sleepy town where family values are still present. ~Where you have school leaders that aren't afraid or prohibited to say God during speeches and where Veterans are referred to as Super Heroes. As an ambitious Francis Scott Key boarded his cardboard painted boat and declared that our flag was still there, we all felt a little prouder. And as our son bravely recited his lines as "Narrator #2" we held our breaths, sucking in the pride because there was so much it was leaking from us. We were reminded of flag etiquette and how the flag still stands for freedom. ~How important it is to realize how free we are, including voting. And where students could ask real soldiers from the audience, some even in uniform things like: "Have you ever driven a tank?," "What kind of guns do you use?," and "Are you ever afraid?" If they were ever afraid, it didn't show today, it was pride and honor that they were outfitted in today, and every last Veteran deserves that kind of respect. I just wish they could have all attended our elementary school program because I know that those children would have thanked anyone who came. Praise God for America, its brave and praise God for the freedom to honor those who insure it!

Happy Veteran's Day & thank you!

Boo!

What fun Halloween was! Dr. Pepper and Lil' Duckie got enough candy to keep us content until NEXT Halloween! and then some... Super Daddy and I wore all blue and wore name tags that said "Hello, my name is Jean (Gene)" ~we were a PAIR of BLUE JEANS!

Cupcake wasn't too sure about trick or treating (actually we went Trunk or Treating-out of people's trunks). People looked funny to her with all the makeup and costumes on, and it was dark & noisy. She did like playing some games that were indoors at the event.

Supergus, of course loved every minute of it and thinks that every holiday should include getting candy. He and his friends enjoyed hanging out in costumes and celebrating at school too. Trunk or Treat and the annual Halloween Parade were a success and the weather cooperated, too. Our annual Fall Festival had almost 500 people in attendance! The great indoor-warm and dry event was such fun!

It was fun dressing up! I think we should do it more often! However, I wear my tiara on a regular basis anyway, so I guess that's pretty close! It makes cleaning and chores a little bit more bearable. I encouraged my kids to enjoy being creative. For the longest time, Supergus would wear safety goggles and a dinosaur costume wherever we went. After that it was a cape... and goggles! Do you know how hard it is to get dinosaur feet through the feet holes in a shopping cart?! He is so funny! And one day, rather recently, we were walking together and he was all hunched over while he was walking. I asked him what he was doing and he very seriously replied, "I'm being aerodynamic". But of course you are!

Three days, three events, 4 exhausted, sugar overloaded people.

Who says Halloween is only on October 31st?

Togetherness

With the leaves at their peak of colored glory, we ventured out again to one of our favorite places~the bike/hike trail! The path was camouflaged into the forest by a blanket of golden leaves. The kids wondered together exploring fall's greatness and natures wonders of sticks, bugs, nuts, and fallen leaves. The afternoon was an awesome opportunity just to spend some quality time together.

Watching our kids grow closer together is a gift I cherish more every day.