Grandma is in town!

My mom got a rare chance to come into town for a few hour visit on Sunday and the kids were thrilled!! They so enjoy having company at their house to show off all their things. We really travel a lot and so we are often not 100% ourselves and at home the true colors shine. Brie attached herself to my mom as soon as she arrived and would not be put down! They all had such a nice time with her. They got in a few games and lots of snuggles! She made the kids day and brought them her yummy chocolate chip cookies! I even let them dunk them in milk, not something I always say yes too, but grandma was here I had to say yes :~) Love you to pieces mom and am so happy we were able to spend time together! Thank you so much for your unconditional love! Miss you dearly!

the big red guy....

We had a visit with Santa at Santa's workshop, compliments of the local Bass Pro Shop. It included an arts table, games, model train set, craft table, and a free photo with the big guy himself. This is us waiting in line to see Santa. PJ is so excited he can hardly wait. Maggie was trying to be skeptical of the whole situation. Makayla really is just a good kid because she just went with it. Brie was trying to feed off of PJ's excitement but had to deal with so nervousness first.

PJ was thrilled to finally get to tell him that he wanted a Buzz Lightyear scooter!

Maggie struck a pose and then asked for a phone! I have no idea where that came from! Santa looked at me and said "mom's get the final say on that one" I replied, maybe we talk about it next year.

Brie had to be bribed with a candy cane and then she wanted down immediately! at least she is not screaming I guess, not thrilled but not screaming.

can I do my hair.....

Miss Maggie comes up to me Saturday morning all excited and says: can I do my hair? sure have at it I am headed out with Makayla. I come home to see Maggie's creation! She is SO PROUD of her hair! We counted no less than 23 hair pretties! Needless to say Maggie will need a lot of beauty school training before being released on anyone else's head! This is just so her personality, she would have totally wore this in public too and been completely comfortable! crazy kid, must have a lot of her father's genes :~).

Best Friends Forever

Makayla and Anna have been friends from the moment they meet in kindergarten. It has been a special friendship from the start! They really have a lot in common and get along so very well. Lucky for Pete and I we really like Anna's parents as well. After girl scout caroling Anna was nervously wanting something from her mother. We went off to a little corner by ourselves and little Miss Anna pulls out a best friends bracelet for Makayla. She was SO THRILLED! It was such a neat moment to watch these two little girls exchange that serious we really are best friends talk. I do not think the smiles could get any bigger on either one of their faces! I had to share this post because I have a feeling these girls are going to be in each other's lives a very long time and what a neat memory to have of this day.

Girl Scout caroling

Makayla's school does not do any kind of Christmas program, much to many parents disappointment. However, her Brownie troop did go Christmas caroling at the retirement center near us. Maggie has a singing video on the blog, thus Kayla requested a singing one as well. Enjoy.

Maggie's Christmas program

Magdalene had her Christmas program on Tuesday and Wednesday. Not quite the loud leader I thought she would be. Do not get me wrong she still sang but not with the personality we have here at home on a regular basis. None the less it was a cute little performance by 3 to 5 year olds. Believe it or not this is our only program this year. It makes my heart sad that Makayla does not have a program. I hope the video plays for you to enjoy.

snow much fun

We have had snow since last Saturday and the kinds were finally able to get out in it. Pete and Brie went to church this morning and I bundled everyone up and out the door we headed! Why don't they make gloves that stay on 3 year old hands! ugh! Anyway, an hour later we had our driveway clear and two snow people constructed. The one below is a girl with pink hair, lollipop eyes and a corn cob pipe! IT made the kids giggle to add such funny things together for a snowman! It really was a nice day today, low 40's and sun. It sounds like our weather is headed in not such fun directions this week so we will see.

Fun with friends

We had our friends over Saturday for a visit. I think the kids saw each other last in August so they were happy to play! Quite the crew when we collect our 4 and their 5 for a photo! We so enjoyed their company and wish we were able to get together more often!
It was quiet and I went looking for Brie. I found her next to the tree playing with the little people nativity set. I asked "what are you doing?", she replied "playing baby Jesus" with a giggle! So sweet

St. Nick

St. Nicholas day is Dec. 6th and it is also my birthday! A quick snuggle with the kids and then off to the St. Nick stuff. Good 'ol St. Nick left a bag of stuff again on the front door. Brie had a great time dragging the bag of goodies around, stating loudly "MINE!".

They immediately put on their new robes and open the bag of treats and divided them out! Brie got the candy, Kayla the nuts, Maggie the clementines, and PJ wanted everything that was green! I think they each were pleased with their bag of fun!

cookies....

Christmas cookie, monster cookies, and chocolate chip cookies were on the agenda Sunday! We had cookies on every counter, table, stove top, you name it, it had cookies on it! At any rate the girls and Pete decorated cookies. Brie was only a taste tester, not a decorator.

Look at the determination on that little girls face! Maggie had a little learning to do with the decorating part but in the end had the hang of it.

a little Christmas around here

The four kids waited ever so patiently with their parents this morning to get ready to convert the house to Christmas! PJ was told he was placing the angel this year and so that was his only focus today! Usually the angel goes on after decorations but in attempt to make him be quiet the angel went first!

The usual after decorating the tree photos. Please pardon my photos as my flash card is breaking and I need to go buy a new one! that to do list never ceases.

A little help from daddy makes it just right!

This year we have new lights for the tree and they are LED lights. Makayla was so impressed by the reflection she said we HAD TO have a picture of it for the computer so we could show everyone!

playdate

Maggie has this little friend Lilly at her school who is VERY shy. She has not spoken a word to date at school. However at home she is a chatterbox and is a very fun little girl. I work with Lilly's mom so we arranged a play date thinking this may encourage talking between the two girls. IT WORKED!!! about 40 minutes into the visit Lilly spoke and Maggie's jaw dropped to the floor, she was totally amazed that she could talk. It was a priceless look. Even tonight toward the end of the play date the girls are playing "school" and Lilly was shouting the number answers the loudest! I am so happy the day went well. Next time we may even discuss an overnight stay!

monkeys

So I was busy dusting, washing clothes, vacuuming, you know day off cleaning and catch up stuff. At one point when I turned off the vacuum I heard giggling ( the kind that warrants further investigation). I walked into Brie's room to find the two monkeys jumping in her bed! I promptly said Dr. Shawn says NO MONKEYS JUMPING IN THE BED!! they both giggled and then PJ crawled out, and close behind was Brie crawling out the same way. It is only a matter of time before we are saying good bye to the baby bed at our house! bittersweet... Little ones you have to stop growing up so fast! please. I love you just the way you are, even with all your monkey business!