Happy Holidays

I have been slacking on taking pictures.

Just trying to enjoy the moments.

Here are a few of the few I have taken.

 The Night Before Christmas

 There's a skeptic in the house

 The children are nestling in their "sleepover" beds

 The Stockings were hung but now are full of goodies

Yes, we are geeks.

 They got an origami polyhedron book with paper

 Zoob Challenge Thingies

 A Lap Loom

Molecular kit

He was explaining about the carbon, hydrogens, etc

ummm,  I forget what it was. 

I think I need a remedial course.

Sorry, kids.  I hope when you read this years from now, you will remember this Christmas fondly.

Especially, since I didn't take many pictures and most were blurry for whatever reason.

Funny, with all the gifts you got, these are the ones that made the biggest first impression.

Dad and Lad

Another Year

Another Dad and Lad BakeOff

Judson made S'moreish Brownies

Turner made Bugle Bites

Both were tasty!

We had another movie night too.

For the record:

The kids prefer Desk Set to Holiday Inn.

Family Movie Night

This year we've decided to start a new Christmas tradition.

Watching Christmas Movies!

Tonight I chose the movie.

Spencer Tracy

Katherine Hepburn

"Desk Set"

Wasn't sure how they would respond

But

I was pleasantly surprised.

The liked it!

Seriously, they did.

(and it had nothing to do with the fact I told them they could watch it

or they could go to bed)

Best quote:

Ansley:  Is that a computer?

Judson:  Yes.   That is what they looked like in the Nineteen Hundreds.

It was a good night!

Best Kind of Prize

Is a SUR-PRIZE!

We told the kids we were going to surprise them today with something fun.

The criteria being, it had to be fun for everyone.

Here they are trying to guess...

And the SURPRISE?

A Movie!

FROZEN

 

They Loved It.

Then we went out to eat!

 

It was a great day!

Always Busy

One thing we try to do,

Is keep life as

"NORMAL"

as possible.

These are some of the normal things we do:

 

Where's Waldo?

Scouts!

(remember, "normal" is a relative term)

This year, like last, the kids' scout troops marched in the local 

Christmas Parade.

Of course, when the opportunity arises to do something extra special,

we JUMP on it.

The folks at Aflac and Delta offered Sawyer a trip to the North Pole.

He had a wonderful time.

 In our limo

 From our limo.  There were an equal number of limos behind us.

Sawyer apparently made the 'nice' list.

Santa must have missed him trying to kick me in the shin this morning 

because I wouldn't let him jump line.

Fun Stuff

After a stressful week with Sawyer's health, we have had a fun few days.  We celebrated Merry Turkey Day with Nana and Pop.  And we've started putting out the rest of the Christmas decorations.  The kids have loved setting out not 1 but 2 Christmas villages.  Not 1 but 2 trees. (Although I don't have a picture of the silver aluminum tree)  Today they are setting up the outside decorations.  Or at least they are trying.  What I'm hearing most is, "Turner, WORK".

 The kids have done most of the decorating.

It is quite fun listening to them decide how to do things.

I hope as they get older, they will have warm memories of the holidays.

Family, Friends, Fun, Food

Merry Turkey Day

This year we are unable to travel for the holidays.

So the holidays are traveling to us.

This year, Christmas with Nana and  Pop will be on Thanksgiving.

So two holidays in one.

A two-fer.

We put up the tree today.

Don't worry.

All blowups and other outdoor decorations will wait til next weekend.

Except for my planters.

I painted them red and made some tomato cage trees.

The trees may or may not last if we get a strong wind but it was fun experience.

Here they are getting the tree ready to decorate.

We are in the holiday spirit at our house, for sure!

Game Night

This weekend we just vegged and had a good time.

Friday night we had Wii game night.

A bowling tournament to be precise.

I am the SILVER medalist.

(No one could even touch Judson's 8ish strikes!)

Then we played Wii Fitness.

According to Wii, I'm 46!  

(I'll take it)

Don't ask Randy what his score was.

Suffice to say, I'm MUCH younger by Wii standards.

 You can see that Sawyer was not feeling well but he wanted to watch.

He also wanted to have a sleepover with the other kids.

Radio Silence

Excuse the silence.

Just haven't had much to report.

Same ole same ole

School

(Quote of the week:   Nobody knows what I've been through.)

(by Turner)

Swim Lessons

Turner is doing well overcoming his fear of water in his face

Sawyer

Read the Caring Bridge Posts

(Link is on the side bar)

Scouts

Ansley did a 3 day scout camp

SleepOver

Judson had a buddy over

Pictures to follow, soon.

Halloween Party

Today we went to our first halloween party of the year.

It was held in honor of cancer patients.

Wow!

 There was another little girl in the same costume as Ansley.

But Judson was the only nerd, Turner the only Stitch, and I don't think I saw another pirate.,

Buzz and George were the only things for which he left the jumpy house.

Food: S'more making area, cake walk, candy of all shapes and sizes,

hot dogs, chips/salsa, pop corn, soft drinks and water.

Crafts:  jewelry, suncatchers, pumpkins, etc.

Games: all sorts.

The kids had a blast and we got acquainted with the Sunshine House who do a lot for cancer families.

Whew....Glad That's Over

Is it the weekend, yet?

So happy this week is over.

October is always our busiest month

And this year is no different.

This week we had:

Swim lessons on Monday and Wednesday nights.

Soccer practice on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Girl Scouts on Tuesday night.

Home school co-op on Tuesday.

Art on Thursday.

Home school M,T,W,Th,F

And Sawyer had an all day chemo on Friday.

Hey WE SURVIVED!

 

Today is Turner's last soccer game.

It is 35 outside right now.   brrrrrr!

I won't be at the game, so I'm reusing an old pic!

It is also Sawyer's birthday!

He is going to help me make his cupcakes after he gets finished watching 

Home Alone 2 Lost in New York!

 I woke this morning to Judson making a sign for Sawyer's birthday.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Another Day in the Big City

I love living in the metro area.

Lots to do.

We did a repeat performance today,

Taking the kids to the Carter Museum.

I took 3 of the 4 kids this summer prior to our cancer diagnosis.

Today we decided it was a good day to return.

Everyone had a good time

and learned something new!

Sawyer did pretty good.  

He got a wee bit tired but overall, his energy held up.

Since I was in charge of Sawyer, I didn't get very many pictures.

It was great getting out as a family and even GiGi got to go.