Christmas Recap

Our Christmas celebration kicked off Friday Dec 19 with class parties where Brielle was wrapped as a reindeer mummy and Blake performed the Christmas songs he has so diligently practiced while Brady was a "bystander" to the events. After a festive weekend the new week started with a surprise visit from an elf who came while we were sleeping and left the kids gift certificates to the Brewery (they are fascinated by factories), a visit to the Magic House (per Brielle "mom, this isn't really magical!"), a visit to the Science Center accompianed by our favorite Ms Rachel and Ms Andi!, dinner on the landing at the Spaghetti Factory and a night stay in a hotel which ended up having an indoor/ outdoor pool that the kids were able to swim outdoors while never leaving the indoor pool. Everyone was in the best of spirits and it was really a great couple of days away. I need to write the elf a thank you so maybe he will make this a tradition!!! We got back home Tuesday afternoon just in time for another of Blake's indoor games- I must say that he is quite the athlete!! We came home and made Christmas cookies for Santa and read our Christmas books before snuggling in for a long winters nap before Santa arrived Christmas Eve morning. Their list was answered by Santa with new bikes, football clets, a doll certificate and trucks. I was surprised to see a card from Santa to Brielle that told her with his own voice to go to the doll store to adopt her baby- Thanks Darren-it was a hit!! At the doll store Nurse Nancy weighed and measured the doll and Brielle was excited to hear that she was 19 inches long with her response of "MOM SHE IS 19 INCHES LONG!!" with much enthusiasm. She filled out the required paperwork, had her picture taken for the wall and picked out an outfit before leaving the store with our new addition Elizabeth Gracie! We ended Christmas Eve with church and dinner at Schulte Nannys. Christmas Day was spent at Black Nanny's with Aunt Kim and Uncle John and family. The weather was awesome and we were able to let the kids ride their bikes and take a walk before driving around to look at Christmas lights and carol at the Fishers- quite a show ah!! Today is a day of relaxation after an awesome 5:30 am workout and a shopping spree- hope to get the house cleaned and read a couple more pages of my book!! Hope you all are enjoying yourself!!

Saturday was a soccer game where Blake was a star with a goal, a playdate with Aidan and a visit with Santa at Fitness Plus.

So lets chat about this visit with Santa. When we arrived there was only 1 other child that was about 1 year old. Therefore Brielle and Blake had Santas ear for all of their questions that ranged from where were they reindeer while Santa was visiting with them to what were the elves doing and if he brought any with him. Poor Santa- I really hope he got paid well for his visit with the kids this morning- he earned it. When the kids were not quizzing Santa they were decorating cookies, making a list for Santa, making ornaments and placemats. Finally more children arrived and Heather and her crew arrived about 1 hour late- but we won't talk about that slacker!!

Afterwards I was one of the smart people in the post office waiting for stamps- i really wish someone would have given me the heads up that Christmas is next week and everyone is as the post office this time of year!!!

We came home and had a nutrious lunch of leftover dominos pizza and popcorn!! And then the crew went to playing and I cleaned up after them until a SHRILL came from the basement and hear them screaming that it is raining in the basement and then i hear brielle say that it is raining on my scrapbooks- agh!!! Thankfully we were able to get everything out of the way, contact a handyman and have the garbage disposal replaced all today- AMEN! But get this- you are not suppossed to put lots of food down the drain nor should you put spaghetti, rice, potato skins, macaroni or grease residue down the drain!!- what is it good for then????

A week at a glance

The snow began Monday at 2pm- it was so pretty- big white snowflakes. Unfortunately it was short lived and was followed by sleet which made the day not so pretty. I decided to stay at work until Brad could come and get the boys so that I would not have to drive so far in the ice only to come back to Cape to watch Brielle in the Nutcracker. Brielle was out of school on Tuesday and was able to be my teacher assistant for the day- I really wish I could pull her from her school and just teach her the trade of teaching preschool- she would be a scholar- she is pretty much the boss of my colleg girls already :) Anyways- she enjoyed the day and at nap Brad came by- since he was out of school also- and picked up Brielle and Blake to take them for ice cream and then home for a playdate. Tuesday night Brad, Gram and I went to watch the Nutcracker production again- what an experience to see your child on the stage with professionals!! I told Brad this is equivalent to watching Blake or Brady play with the NFL! When we left the show it was icing again- it took us 3 tries to make it up the driveway- I am surprised that a friend of mine did not have the video camera set to record the event!! Needless to say Brad and Brielle was out of school again on Wednesday. Brad drove us to school and he went into the office for a short time before going home to fold all of my clothes- what an awesome husband! Heather's son Parker was able to hang with Brielle and Blake for a bit at school before Heather collected the three of them to go to her work for a while- thanks Heather- they had fun!! Thursday came and went and Friday was a whirlwind between Christmas parties at school and a flat tire that leaded to needing a new tire (on the tire without a warranty- go figure!!) 4 wheels realigned and balanced, tire rotation, and a new battery- Merry Christmas to ME!! (thank goodness I had bought my awesome new camera the day before or someone may have tried to pull that one over on me!!!) Friday night I babysat my aunts foster children and played with the kiddos!! and

Where does the time go?

I can't believe that today is Dec 16 and the last time I posted was November- oh my gosh where has the time gone? I keep saying that I will post "tomorrow" and then something else comes up. The next excuse is for my camera to cooperate- well I am no longer waiting for time or cameras so here goes:
1. Brady had tubes and adenoids on Dec 4- he recovered quickly and has not smiled so much in the past 2 years!!
2. "The Girls" participated in LFCS Home Tour and had a blast and enjoyed lunch at the Gordonville Grill- mark it on the calendar for next year girls!
3. Blake played his first indoor soccer game for the year!
4. Brielle has practiced, practiced, practiced and then performed in the Russian Moscow Nutcracker Ballet- what a princess she was!
5. Heather and her crew shared in some Snowman Soup and cookies
6. I ran a 5K in the Jingle Bell Run for Arhritis at Fitness Plus and my awesome husband ran right next to me!!!! And I finished while still running- yeah me!!

All this fun along with day to day happenings has made for great memories. Thanks for checking in and don't forget to post!! (The more you post the more I will share :)