Happy Birthday, my girl!

"A little girl can be sweeter (and badder) oftener than anyone else in the world. she can jitter around, and stomp, and make funny noises that frazzle your nerves yet just when you open your mouth she stands there demure with that special look in her eyes. A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot."
-- Alan Beck







Happy Birthday, my beautiful princess!

The Monster has been slain.....again.....for real this time

A few days ago my husband saw a beautiful Axis deer at the feeder near our house. Because he's been hunting such big game lately he couldn't tell if it was a large Axis or not, and he let it go. He did take a lot of pictures, though, and sent them to a few of his friends. Turns out from the pictures that it was quite possibly a gold class trophy.

Then, the hunt was on. Every morning and evening Carl has faithfully sat at the window (yes, our upstairs window) waiting for the trophy to re-appear.

This morning, his patience paid off. And Carlye and I were awakened by a huge "BOOM" as he shot the deer from the window in our upstairs office. Yes, my house has now been turned into one big hunting blind.

Carl shot this beautiful 152 Gold class trophy (gold class starts at 140). It scored 152 on the Boone and Crockett (the scoring chart on which all animals are scored that are shot with a rifle). His antlers measure 34 1/2" on the main beam length, brow tines are 13", and the secondary beams are 11 1/2". For a free range axis this is almost unheard of. RIght now this axis would be in the top 50 of all time - and I am really doing my best to get him to have it put in the record books. For now, it is enough to share it with you!

And the best news of all is that now I get to have another deer hanging on the wall in my living room! We are so close to accomplishing my dream of having our very own dead animal zoo. It's just so exciting!

Congratulations, baby! I love you!

Wal-Mart the day after the day after Christmas

Today, I went to Wal-mart. We needed a few things, including laundry detergent and supplies for Carlye's birthday cake. I brought my two boys and bravely faced the throng of angry shoppers. After spilling their drinks, running into people and tripping them and ramming my cart into someone's wheel chair I decided that I did NOT want to be there any more. Sadly, my prayers to be beamed up to another planet were not answered, and I had to face the long line of people waiting to check out and the friendly teller at the end of it who loves her job.

I seriously wish that I were Amish.

Meanwhile, I didn't find the Peeps that I needed for Carlye's birthday cake, so I will actually have to go to another store at some point today or tomorrow. Ahhhhhhhhhh!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve!

2007:

Christmas 2008: Our cookie plate and mug that we use every year say "Dear Santa, we hope you will join us to say 'Happy Birthday' to Jesus on this Christmas Day!";




Christmas 2009:




May your Christmas Eve be filled with God's love as you celebrate Jesus' Birthday.

May yummy food with 1,000's of calories surround you, and children who have eaten too much sugar and are about to explode with the suspense fill your home! I hope there will be an Aunt or Uncle so and so who is always a little ornery and never thinks that you are quite as successful or accomplished as you should be, the cousin or niece or nephew who won't share their toys and then tattles on your children and gets them in trouble. I hope that tonight the kids will open 'just one present' and then be either delighted or distressed when it's pajamas! I pray that tomorrow the kids will wake you up before the cows do, to ooh and ahh over all that they have. When you get to the in-laws I hope that there will be someone who cries because their gift is so amazing, and inevitably the one spoiled child who says 'this is it?' There will (hopefully) be rolls and potato casserole, Christmas ham and pumpkin pie. Someone will sit on the couch with the guys watching the Cowboys game while everyone else washes dishes and cleans up the mess and talks about how she never helps. But most importantly, I pray that there will be family and friends. I hope that tonight, you will read the Christmas story by candlelight and cuddle close with your children. I hope you will sing Christmas carols and reflect on the miracle of that birth long ago. I pray that you will sit and be thankful for the family you have. Those sitting in your living room and those so far away that it makes your heart ache. And I pray that this year - with all of the people and their flaws and perfections - you will enjoy all of the little things that are your Christmas miracles. And THAT will be the perfect Christmas.

Note to Self

You should never go on vacation to a large city the week before Christmas and tell your family. Otherwise, you will be the one buying every one's last minute Christmas gifts - thus submerging yourself in the week before Christmas shopping melee that you should have no reason to face because you yourself finished all of your Christmas shopping WEEKS AGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or, if you do go on vacation to a large city the week before Christmas and you DO tell your family, turn your cell phone off.

Fiesta Texas Part 2

Guess what?

I don't like roller coasters.

No, really. I have ridden nearly every one that they have at Fiesta Texas, and I still don't like them. I am petrified of heights, and I close my eyes the entire time we are on the rides. All I can envision is the car jumping off of the roller coaster and killing my entire family as it smashes to the ground. Morbid? Maybe, but I can't help it!

My children, however, LOVE rollercoasters! Nathanael has ridden the awful inventions, the Goliath and the Scream (where they bring you crazy high and then drop you forever before bringing you back up to do it again), and Carlye and Noah have ridden all of the others. I've ridden several of them as well - mostly because Carl and the kids want me to and I'm trying to be a good sport. But, I have learned that I would rather watch whales jump out of the water than rush down crazy hills as fast as I can. Here are some pictures of our day:

Nathanael won Rudolph playing a darts game:


Riding on a Carousel:


Airplane ride (they did this one for Noah - he was sick of waiting for them to do rides he couldn't do! Mommy LOVED having him as an excuse not to have to ride the horrible ones!):


Family picture:


Leaving the park - aren't the lights beautiful?:


Noah, ice skating on the iceless skating rink. It was plastic tiles with soap sprayed all over it. Not kidding. Nathanael joins him at the end so they can fall down together:

Stolen

Last night we became the victims of theft while innocently eating at Chick Fil A. The horrible part is that we didn't know it until this afternoon. When we left the restaurant to get back in our car we noticed that the back door was open. We are so naive that we thought one of the kids had left the door open, scolded them, and went on. Then today I went to pay for lunch and noticed that all of my cash was gone. I started to scramble through and noticed that my credit cards (only for emergencies) were gone as well. As we thought back on it, we realized that the kids couldn't have left their doors open, or we wouldn't have been able to walk by the car (you people with kids know what I'm talking about) - and Carl set the alarm with the keychain. Long story short, we started making phone calls and found out that over $2,000 worth of charges had already been made on our credit cards. I ran our and started checking the car, and all of the cash that I had stashed in the glove box (including my tithe money) was stolen as well. After many, many phone calls, I then realized that my checkbook was gone, too. Thank heavens that they didn't get my garage door opener! We are very blessed that our credit cards are covered by insurance, no checks were written, and we are only out the $530 cash that they got.

All I can say is that I am very, very thankful for two things:

1) That no one in my family was hurt
2) That they stole it from us and not from someone who may have gone hungry or not had a Christmas because of it

What an awful feeling.

An awful, awful feeling.

Christmas Vacation

Today is thefirst day of the kids Christmas vacation, and my incredible husband surprised us with a mini vacation to San Antonio! He booked us a room in a hotel with an indoor pool, and bought us season tickets to Fiesta Texas. Today we had so much fun! The boys rode roller coasters for the very first time, and I learned that Ferris Wheels are horrible, awful scary things! I also learned that roller coasters can make children cry - either on them or because they can't be on them, and good old fashioned funnel cake is just as yummy as ever.

Oh, and spinny rides are inventions from the pit of Hades that can almost give you migraines and make you sick for an entire evening!
Seriously, in this picture I may look like I'm smiling, but I am really fighting off a full fledged panic attack. At one point I almost started crying hysterically, but then Carlye started to freak out, too, so I just ended up laughing hysterically. Both signs of insanity, I'm sure! Did you know that they will stop you on those things? At the top???? They do - it's horrific! I am posting this picture so that my children will forever believe me when I tell them that I DID ride a Ferris Wheel, once, a long, long time ago.....




Evil tea cups that spin:



I must say, though, that it was great. Beautiful weather, incredibly short lines, and lots of smiles! Fiesta Texas has changed so much in the past several years! It has literally been 21 years since I was here last (I was 12 years old!), except for the one time that I ran in with Carl, we rode like one roller coaster and came home - but I don't count that! Let me say, though, that it has REALLY changed! We have a couple of more days here - which is nice because we don't have to hurry through all of the rides. We can just take our time. Tomorrow we are going to go ice skating on a waterless rink (?) and then ride some cruel invention called the Scream. I'll let you know how it goes.

The Monster has been slain.....and baking cookies!

Our entire family enjoys hunting. As a matter of fact, I never have to buy meat - we live off of the venison (elk meat is VERY close to beef). Nathanael really wanted to go bow-hunting with Daddy, and Oma needed some venison, so yesterday morning the mighty hunters departed. And succeeded. Here's the monster - okay, it's just a young buck with good meat, but it IS a great shot!



Today all of the cousins got together at Nani's house to decorate cookies for Santa. We know have about 6 dozen sugar cookies that were decorated by small children. None of them were dropped on the floor, licked, bitten off of or sneezed on, so please let me know if you would like some!

One of the artists hard at work:


Chloe laughing:


The whole gang (almost - Bristol was already done and wouldn't come back, and Chloe can't paint cookies yet!):

Christmas Parties

Today, all 3 of my children had their school Christmas parties. At 1:45, 2:00 and 2:15, respectively. Before I continue I feel the need to tell you that I VOLUNTARILY AND ON PURPOSE had my children as close together as they are. Today, I began to rue that decision.

Noah's party was at the back of the school in the kindergarten wing. I was supposed to bring Ziploc baggies.

I forgot them.

Nathanael's party was in the middle part of the school, but off to the side. I was supposed to bring hot chocolate, cups with lids and peppermint stir sticks. I made the stirring spoons with white chocolate and crushed candy canes. THEN, I went to Starbucks and picked up two carriers of hot chocolate and 24 cups. Without them, I fear that my son's class would have been hot chocolateless. I rushed to drop it off in his room before Noah's party and was asked to return to serve it. Just in case you were wondering, I didn't make it back in time.

Carlye's party was on the complete other side of the school - as far away from Noah's classroom as possible. All I had to bring for her were plates and napkins. I dropped them off after the hot chocolate and before running to Noah's classroom. I then proceeded to spend a few minutes in each room before running back to one of the others. When I arrived in Carlye's for the first time she informed me that she was annoyed that I was late, but then proceeded to ignore me the rest of the time I was there. It was great.

Nathanael refused to leave with me when I came back for him because he wanted to finish playing Bingo.

Noah was playing pass the parcel when I arrived in his class. As the music played you pass the parcel, when it stops you get to open it. Noah held onto it and refused to let go of it when the kid next to him grabbed it. I was so proud.

All in all it was a very successful day. I brought 75% of what I was supposed to bring, and made 33% of my children smile. I'd say that's pretty good.

Haircut

Before:


After:

My Beautiful Girl

Here is a picture of my beautiful girl at her violin Christmas concert. (she's the one on the right)

Gold, myrrh and

(Noah singing Christmas carols at the mall - and no, the bow is not in his hair, it's in the hair of the little girl behind him!)


"Mama, what was it the Wise Men brought to Baby Jesus? Oh, yeah. Gold, myrrh and horrendous." - Noah

My husband is amazing!

While I was in Las Vegas staying with my little sister and her family, my husband and my kids redid our bedroom. It is beautiful! Carlye picked out the curtains, and this is the first time I've owned a bed since our water bed exploded when I was pregnant with Nathanael! My mattresses aren't on the floor anymore! I love it, and had to share it with you, too!

Thank you, baby! I don't deserve you, but I'm so thankful that I have you. I love you forever!

Pink Car Seats are Devastating

Today, Noah had to ride to school in my nieces booster seat. Normally, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Her booster seat, however, is pink. And not just any pink - pink with flowers.

"Carlye, Nathanael, I've got an idea. When I get out of the car, turn the car seat over so the teacher can't see it." Noah pleaded.

"Nope," his loving siblings replied, the concern in their hearts effectively masked by the grins on their faces.

After many pleas, his older brother and sister chose NOT to come to his rescue.

Since I wasn't there, I can only say that according to Daddy, Carlye and Nathanael, poor Noah cried the rest of the way to school.

Noah did tell me later, though, that everything turned out fine because he jumped out of the car before the teacher could open it.

Phew.

Today

Today, in a complete and total display of my mental insanity I took 4 animals to the vet. A 2 year old yorkie, a 14 year old cat, a 4 year old cat, and a several months old kitten.

It was soooo much fun.

I'm not sure if my favorite part was when Emmaline jumped out of the car barking and chased a stray cat out of the parking lot, or when Petunia (the kitten) used my backseat as a litter box.

Oh, wait - I've got it! my favorite part was when Molly (the 14 year old) threw up all over my car after getting carsick and having a panic attack. (She never has liked cars).

All I can say, is that when no one in our house gets rabies from the crazy things that Spiderman drags up on the porch, I better get a big thank you!

I'll let you know when that happens!

Christmas shopping

Christmas shopping in December is like herding cats. Fun at first - you may even get the giggles - but ultimately leaves you frustrated and ready to hurt something.

Seriously, though, I had so much fun today shopping with Jodi. At least, for the most part. I was able to get most of my shopping done, and I am very excited about everything that I bought. My favorite purchase, though, was 100% completely selfish.

It was a Charlie Brown nativity set. And it is awesome.

Sometimes, Hot Chocolate Before Bed Can Be Bad

This morning St Nicholas came - and even though our Carlye is sick all of the children were thrilled with what they received. The boys were given Bakugan 4 packs and Super Mario Bros candy. Carlye was given a Littlest Pet Shop girl and some Bunnies in My Pocket (tiny bunnies). It was a wonderful morning and a wonderful day.

Until this evening. You see, Noah received a coupon in his lunch for a cup of hot chocolate, any time he wanted it. He chose to have it after dinner.

And to share it with his siblings.

Now normally, this wouldn't be a problem. Nathanael, however, cannot handle sugar. And the mixture of the hot chocolate with the colored marshmallows simply proved to be too much for my 8 year old. He crawled around on the floor, tackled his brother several times, sprayed Carlye's body spray in Noah's face (Noah retaliated by spraying it back into Nathanael's mouth), and ran around like a crazy person. After peeling him off the ceiling for the fourth time we have made an executive decision that Nathanael is never again allowed to have hot chocolate before bed.

Well, maybe after he's married.

On a completely unrelated note, Noah brought me one of his light sabers today to donate to charity. And let me explain the importance of this by saying that this is Noah's favorite toy.

Carl and I were so proud!

Advent

I am really big on teaching your children about the true meaning of Christmas. I take any and every opportunity that befalls me and tell stories, sing songs, and share gentle reminders. Our children each have an advent calendar, and as they open each day a suggestion is given of a way to celebrate the season. Feed the birds, write a thank you letter to someone who is special in your life, pray for others, etc. Today, it suggested giving a toy to charity. With all my heart I wish I could say that all of my children were thrilled with the thought and quickly ran to their rooms to bring back a toy. And, I can proudly say that my older two were ready and willing. My youngest, however, thinks that it's simply a mean suggestion from an evil Scrooge who desires to slowly deprive him of all that he holds dear in this world. Apparently we have a tiny bit of work to do in the selflessness category. As of this moment, I'm still waiting for his toy.

Today we celebrated our first night of Advent. Advent is a tradition that I brought with me from my family (they adopted the tradition during their time spent living in Germany), and since Carl's family is German as well it has been fun to continue it on with our own kiddos. I think we may be off by a week, but we will celebrate for three Sundays (including today) and then on Christmas Eve we will light the fourth candle. For the first night of Advent we always explain the history of the tradition, and then we read the story of Wally Purling and sing Christmas Songs. Trouble at the Inn has been one of my favorite Christmas stories since I was a little girl, and I love being able to share it with our children. Since Carlye is the oldest she was the one who lit the candle for the first week, and was even the one who blew it out as well!! Apparently this privilege is equivalent in importance to being crowned king or queen, because there was much 'flame envy' coming from the siblings. At the end of it all we closed with a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells, followed by the oh so spiritual Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and then Silent Night for our grand finale. I absolutely love Christmas time, it is one of the most amazing times of year!

And - on a completely random note - here is a picture of our newest family member, little Petunia:




TROUBLE AT THE INN

By Dina Donahue


For many years now, whenever Christmas pageants are talked about
in a certain little town in the Midwest, someone is sure to
mention the name of Wallace Purling. Wally's performance in one
annual production of the nativity play has slipped onto the realm
of legend. But the old-timers who were in the audience that
night never tire of recalling exactly what happened.

Wally was nine that year and in the second grade, though he
should have been in the fourth. Most people in town knew that he
had difficulty in keeping up. He was big and clumsy, slow in
movement and mind. Still, his class, all of whom were smaller
than he, had trouble hiding their irritation when Wally would ask
to play ball with them or any game, for that matter, in which
winning was important.

Most often they'd find a way to keep him out but Wally would hang
around anyway not sulking, just hoping. He was always a helpful
boy, a willing and smiling one, and the natural protector of the
underdog. Sometimes if the older boys chased the younger ones
away, it would always be Wally who'd say, "can' they stay?
They're no bother"

Wally fancied the ideal of being a shepherd with a flute in the
Christmas pageant that year, but the play's director, Miss
Lumbar, assigned him to a more important role. After all, she
reasoned, the Innkeeper did not have too many lines and Wally's
size would make his refusal of lodging to Joseph more forceful.

And so it happened that the usual large, partisan audience
gathered for the town's yearly extravaganza of beard, crown,
halos and a whole stage full of squeaky voices. No one on stage
or off was more caught up on the magic of the night than Wallace
Purling. They said later that he stood in the wings and watched
the performance with such fascination that from time to time Miss
Lumbar had to make sure he didn't' wander on stage before his
cue.

Then the time came when Joseph appeared, slowly, tenderly guiding
Mary to the door of the Inn. Joseph knocked hard on the wooden
door sat into the painted backdrop. Wally the innkeeper was
there, waiting.

"What do you want?" Wally said, swinging the door open with a
brusque gesture.

"We seek lodging."

"Seek it elsewhere," Wally looked straight ahead but spoke
vigorously. "The Inn is filled."

"Sir, we have asked everywhere in vain. We have traveled far and
are very weary."

"There is no room in this Inn for you." Wally looked properly
stern.


"Please, good Innkeeper, this is my wife, Mary. She is heavy
with child hand needs a place to rest. Surely you must have some
small corner for her. She is so tired."

Now, for the first time, the Innkeeper relaxed his still stance
and looked down at Mary. With that, there was a long pause, long
enough to make the audience a bit tense with embarrassment.
"No! Be gone!" the prompter whispered from the wings.

"No!" Wally repeated automatically, "Be gone!"

Joseph sadly placed his arm around Mary and Mary laid her head
upon her husband"s shoulder and the two of them started to move
away. The Innkeeper did not return inside his Inn, however.
Wally stood there in the doorway, watching the forlorn couple.
His mouth was open, his brow creased with concern, his eyes
filling unmistakable with tears.

And suddenly the Christmas pageant became different from all the
others.

"Don't go, Joseph," Wally called out. "Bring Mary back." And
Wallace Purling's face grew into a bright smile. "You can have
my room!"

Some people in town thought that the pageant had been ruined.
Yet there were others....many, many others...who considered it
the most Christmasy of all Christmas pageants they had ever seen.

Merry Christmas!

For some reason this video cuts off the words, but it says: "At noon on November 13, 2010 these unsuspecting shoppers got a surprise while enjoying their lunch........."

Good-Bye

Right now I am sitting in the airport, waiting to go home and see my incredible husband and amazing children (who I missed like crazy!), reflecting back on the last week. It almost seems like a dream because it went so quickly. I am thankful and blessed to have 3 sisters whom I love, brothers-in-laws whom I consider to be good friends, and the most beautiful and brilliant nieces and nephews. Here's some pictures from today.


Cuddles with Mallory and her bear bum! (haha!):


The stockings that we made while I was here - without a sewing machine I might add! Aren't they great?:


A Christmas picture!:


My beautiful and incredible little sister:

Last night in Vegas

For my last night in Las Vegas we celebrated by making Christmas ornaments, eating popcorn and watching Elf. And yes, it is one of the best Christmas movies of all time. We are ending the night with yummy Hershey pudding cake (but that's just for the adults).


I have the most amazing family! Which of course means that my nieces and nephews are incredible as well. Since I can only be in Vegas for a short amount of time, I felt the need to leave a reminder of my awesomeness with them. Here's a picture of my with our newest family member, Mally Mo (or Mallory Hope).

Her shirt says "My Auntie is Awesome" - and yes, it means ME!



We've also been making super awesome Christmas stockings, which I will hopefully post pictures of tomorrow.

Parting is such sweet sorrow. Really. I'm trying not to cry. And I'm not just saying that.

Happy Birthday, Heidi!

I don't think that I've spent a birthday with one of my sisters in years! It has been so fun to be here and celebrate with Heidi and the kids. We made spice cake cupcakes with red (okay, pink) whipped topping icing, went to breakfast at Egg Works (I LOVE that place) and then had dinner at Metro Pizza! It was a crazy busy day, with crazy busy stuff - but we were together, and what could be better than that?!?

Sooooo, Happy Birthday, old lady! You have finally hit the big 3-0. Here is my advice for a happy life. Eat lots of chocolate, pray constantly, love continuously and enjoy every moment as it comes - you'll never get another one.

I love you!

Letters to Santa: Part 3

Dear Santa,
Can I have a Mario space wii game for Christmas? and uh, a webkinz please, could you get my dad a football wii game and my mom a candle please? and I would want another harder transformer game and also a bb gun. And victoria a ballerina dress.

That’s all,
Noah

Letters to Santa: Part 2

Dear Santa,
I wold like a jeep and a mote control helacopter and a wii game get my brather a super mario otr spase wii game. get Carlye a doll get Victoria a tent and a dress.

(Nathanael)

Letters to Santa

Dear Santa,
I would like some things for Christmas. First, I would like a sister. Second of all I would like a doll/Barbie from the Nutcracker. I would also like a blue and brown sweater, make shure it’s light blue! I also want Mallory to get a pair of pajamas that match the other girls.

Your Friend,
Carlye

PS - Please get emmaline some presents, to. Just because she’s a dog doesn’t mean she doesn’t need a present.

Viva Las Vegas

Yesterday I flew into Vegas to spend time with my little sister and her family. It has been so much fun! I am getting my baby fix - I mean, what is cuter than a 3 week old baby girl? Even her cry isn't annoying yet! Heidi and Andy went on a short date last night, and the kids and I cooked dinner. Everyone helped with everything, and it was delicious! Today we celebrated Lukers birthday. I miss my family soooo much, but I LOVE being here!






Top 10 things I learned yesterday about flying:

1) When you're a mom, alone time is alone time - even an airport waiting room can feel like a vacation.
2) Flying alone is much simpler and less traumatic than flying with children under the age of 3.
3) It is super awesome to have both of the seats next to you empty - you can kind of lay down and chill out.
4) Airplane bathrooms are not fun to use
5) People are nicer when you have small children with you than when you don't
6) People are also nicer to you when they think you are older than when they think you are younger (ie - mean when they think you are 23, much nicer when you find out you are 33)
7) Las Vegas airport is not some place I would voluntarily bring my children without a blindfold
8) When you check your bags they actually give you a baggage claim ticket - these are important
9) Walk out the wrong door of the Las Vegas airport and many, many, many limo drivers will begin offering you rides to random different locations throughout Vegas
10) A two hour difference can really make a difference (haha -get it!)