Merry Christmas!

Hi everyone,

We are in full swing with the Christmas season. We have met with Santa at the mall and that went great, our best picture with Santa ever! The shopping is almost done for the kids, I say almost, because the way I buy for the kids, it is really never done. The tree is purchased and beautiful, the kids did most of the decorating! We have decorated cookies with friends and family arrives next week. The kids are of course crazy excited, Brendan wants an air hockey table and Madison wants an American girl doll.

This year we started a new tradition, with Charlie our very own elf on a shelf. I have thought this would be fun to do but worried that it would scare the kids. Madison has issues with the tooth fairy creeping so I thought that a elf that moves from place to place while you sleep would put her over the edge. Madison found out 2 friends had an elf, she investigated thoroughly and asked a ton of questions and finally decided she would like to invite an elf to live with us. We named him Charlie and the kids were very excited to find out where he was hiding this morning.

So with just 2 weeks left! Happy Holidays I hope you are enjoying the Holidays as much as we are!

So sense last we spoke, the summer has ended and school is well under way so here is the recap.

This summer we went to a baseball game, went to the zoo, lost our first tooth, I ran the Army 10 miler, hung out at the pool, spent the night with MG at a hotel, ate dessert in bed, went down water slides, B turned 4, ate cotton candy and started Kindergarten.

There is so much more, but it is all a blur already. The kids were at a fun age to hang out with and our fun far out weighed our whining.

Once again I will try to do better but make no promises.

SPORTS CENTER

This morning I am enjoying my usual cup of coffee, Steve and Brendan were up first today and as always they are watching Sports Center. Steve wanders off to get ready to walk the dog and I grab the remote to flip to the news.....the little man then proceeds to tell me to "leave it on sports center for me" What? are you kidding, me it is still 2 weeks before he turns 4 and apparently he is trying to get his man card by watching sports center! Ughhhhh.

Just something I don't want to forget.

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day and the kids were playing on the swing set in the back yard. Madison was chatting about how she was going to show Grandma how the daffodils that they planted the last time they were here had come up, when they visit next week. She went on to tell me that she tries to remember lots of stuff from when Grandma and Grandpa visit so that she can think about them when they are not here. It was so sweet to hear her say that. It was just one of those moments that you want to capture and remember for as long as you can.

Bike Ridin

Earlier this month Brendan decided he was ready to ride with out his training wheels. Sure enough he rocked it and there was no turning back. He is a great little rider just like his sister. He has his own bike but is still sure that his sisters old princess bike is faster! It takes a real 3 1/2 year old man to ride a pink bike :). I am one proud mommy looks like bike riding is in their genes.

She can Swim

The things you find in Madison's Bed

Last night Brendan was having a hard time falling asleep. I put him back to bed several times and thought he would finally stay put so I went down stairs. When I came up to go to bed myself and kiss the kids good night, I got quite a surprise in Madison's room. At some point B decided to snuggle up with his sister. I am not sure if she was awake or sleeping when he did it. I think she was probably already asleep. I guess sometimes we all just need someone to snuggle with.