New Years Eve Snow Day

We spent the last day of 2010 playing in the snow. It was super-duper cold up at nt. Charleston. The temperature in the truck read 9 degrees. I knew it was going to be bitter cold so I brought extra everything for the kiddos so they wouldn't have any excuses. We had it all extra hats, mittens, socks and even a change of dry clothes for the kids when we were all done. We invited our friends the Russo's to join us. Even though we were frozen it was a great time.

The snow was so fresh and new, we found a great spot no one had touched yet.

Reece was dragging the sled up the hill, he didn't even complain.

Raine held on for dear life as she flew down the hill.

She was so light she went farther than anyone.

Fun family photo after changing the kiddos out of wet clothes into warm dry ones.

Raine loves climbing up and down the huge mound of snow.

Reece packing a snowball ready to throw it at his daddy.

The girls having a snack on the bed of daddy's truck.

The Batcave By: Reece Hauguel

Reece was given this awesome present from Pe Pere & Noni. He and his daddy have spent a few hours building all the different parts of it. Yesterday, Reece started reading the direction book and followed each step in hopes of building the Batcave all by himself. Daddy went into his bedroom to help him but only on a few parts. Reece's replica wasn't the same as it said in the book but he was so proud of his creation. Today when it was time to read books and rest, he decided to journal about it on his new white board. I love his inventive spelling of 'stuff' and 'guys' and his messy left-handed penmeship. I love that he took the time to write six sentences about something he loves, Batman. I love this creative kid sooo much.

SPOILED

Our kiddos are very blessed, or shall I say spoiled! Whenever someone asked Reece what he wanted for Christmas he would say, "A DS but if Santa can't make that then I want a skateboard." Good thing Santa made the DS because it probably cost less than the visits we would have to make to the emergency room. Except Santa didn't make this one; Ma Mere, Mom Mom, Uncle Travis, and Uncle Andy all sent us Christmas money or gift cards. We told Reece this was a very special DS because it was from everyone who loved him.

"HOLY COW, I can't believe it, a DS!" he shouted.

I couldn't spoil my son without getting something just as awesome for my daughter. Black Friday online shopping was a success when I found the pink Leapster 2 for half price. Raine was just as excited as Reece.

She shouted, "A Leapster, I didn't even put this on my list."

Now look at what we've created; zombies who stare in to their magical little machines!

Christmas Song

This is one of the best songs ever written. I love it, almost as much as I love Reese Peanut Butter cups and pretzel m&m's. Listen, read the lyrics and enjoy on the Eve of our Saviour's birth.

She was his girl, he was her boyfriend

Soon to be his wife, make him her husband

A surprise on the way, any day, any day

One healthy little giggling, dribbling baby boy

The Wise Men came, three made their way

To shower him with love

While he lay in the hay

Shower him with love, love, love

Love love, love

Love, love was all around

Not very much of his childhood was known

Kept his mother Mary worried

Always out on his own

He met another Mary who for a reasonable fee

Less than reputable was known to be

His heart was full of love, love, love

Love, love, love

Love, love was all around

When Jesus Christ was nailed to the his tree

Said "Oh, Daddy-o, I can see how it all soon will be.

I came to shed a little light on this darkening scene.

Instead I fear I’ve spilled the blood of our children all around."

The blood of our children all around

The blood of our children’s all around

So I’m told, so the story goes

The people he knew were

Less than golden-hearted

Gamblers and robbers

Drinkers and jokers

All soul searchers

Like you and me

Like you and me

Rumors insisted he soon would be

For his deviations taken into custody

By the authorities, less informed than he.

Drinkers and jokers, all soul searchers

Searching for love, love, love

Love, love, love

Love, love was all around

Preparations were made

For his celebration day

He said, "Eat this bread, think of it as me.

Drink this wine and dream it will be

The blood of our children all around,

The blood of our children all around.”

The blood of our children’s all around

Father up above,

Why in all this anger do you fill me up with love, love, love?

Love, love, love

Love, love was all around

Father up above,

Why in all this hatred do you fill me up with love?

Fill me love, love, yeah

Love, love, love

Love, love, and the blood of our children all around

Parenting

Today while we were eating lunch Raine said, "When I grow up I want to be a clown." Trying to hold back laughter, I responded with, "Really, why is that?" Smiling she said, "Because I get to be silly all the time!" I turned and chuckled to myself and then she said, "No, I am going to be a heart and star and a rainbow."

I love this girl so very much. She makes me laugh right out loud, smile ear to ear and frustrates the heck out of me all in one day. She is very independent and strong willed just like her mother. ;)

During our holiday shopping she had a serious meltdown in Target because she couldn't get lip gloss. One where I had to carry her out of the store while she screamed and kicked her shoe right off. I was a good mom sticking to my guns but boy was I embarrassed. I know all of the other people watching had been there before but seriously, Raine is 4 and 40lbs. That was too heavy and hard to carry out into the parking lot; where she continued to yell, "Your hurting me!" Rightfully so, I was squeezing her legs so she would stop squirming and kicking. I finally was able to set her down in a dark spot and beat her. No, not really, but I asked her if she was ready to walk to the truck or not. While standing there with an ugly look on her face, I said you can stand there and pout while I walk to the truck. She didn't like that, she screamed wait for me and ran up along side of me. I took her hand and tried to make her walk fast with me because the parking lot was really busy. She purposely walked super slow. I scooped her up and carried her again. She wasn't real fond of that. When we got to the truck I beat her, no not really, but I was so annoyed. I really wished I had a wooden spoon in my purse.

Why is it I have to have parenting moments like this?

Gingerbread Houses

I love to watch my 5th graders make these tasty little homes in school, so I thought I would start a new family tradition. Reece made them in his first grade class so he knew what to do. Raine was very excited about the patterning of the m&m roof. We built snowmen out of marshmallows and even added some Phineus & Ferb gummies to play in the snow surrounding the house. Daddy would come in from welding a cool Christmas present for a friend and add the peanut butter cup shrubs and Hersey Kiss chimneys. It took the kids a good amount of time to perfect their masterpieces. I wonder how many pieces of candy they ate when I wasn't looking.

Looks like they ate a lot of candy when mama wasn't looking. ;)

A Visit to Santa at Bass Pro Shop

After a joyful musical at church this morning, we headed south to Bass Pro Shop or BPS according to Reece. Santa's Wonderland is a really neat place to play while your mama stands in line for an hour. Seriously, I earned some major mom points today. I joined the line at 11:10 and the kiddos sat on Santa's lap around 12:13. Yes, I timed it because I would call the hubby and tell him to bring the kiddos over to join the line. At least I was able to follow the Eagles game and enjoy their amazing comeback.

Daddy had no problem letting the kids practice with the Red Ryder Rifle,

yep the one from A Christmas Story.

I guess Daddy has the magic touch on how to get the kiddos to pose nicely for pictures,

look how sweet they look.

Santa had some serious words for the kids, look how intently they are listening to him.

All that time spent in line was well worth this priceless picture.

I will be one sad mama when my kids are too big for Santa's lap.

Christmas Decorations

This is the little Christmas Tree Reece made from a branch of our real tree. He came in with this branch and asked for some paper so he could make the ornaments and candy canes. I love how it turned out. Reece enjoys drawing, coloring and crafting all the time. When I went into his room to see where he placed it, this is what I saw...

I love that he set up all of his little stuffed animals to sit in awe and splendor. I had to zoom in to get a close up of the detailed candy canes.

Below are some pictures Reece took before we started decorating the tree. We were enjoying Sunday night football the Eagles beating the Cowboys, when he asked to take the pics.

Cute huh?

I bet your house looks just as festive. I love this time of year, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Our visit to magical forest

We headed over to Opportunity Village after school on Monday and had a very interesting visit. The kiddos were a bit tired after our very busy weekend, so they were somewhat cranky. Daddy and Raine had to wait for Reece and I to get there after my parent teacher conferences. We were all feeling a bit stressed; so much for joyful holiday fun.

YAY for the stuffed doggies on display.

They loved petting the reindeer in their cute little stable.

This is how the kiddos pose when I tell them to get ready for a photo opp.

This is how they pose when I tell them to stand and smile nice.

She wanted to sit by this super tall dude. Reece did too but his pic looked a bit too silly.

A crazy tall balloon guy that loved chatting with the kids while making their balloon creations.

Reece and Raine waited a long time to ride down this super slide

and then said they wanted to go again.

Crazy poses on the pretty red sleigh. Why oh why won't they cooperate?

Two cute snowman who are almost as cute as my kiddos!

All in all it was a fun night, lots of people and lines but the weather was perfect and the kids had fun. Hope you are doing something memorable with your family

Decorating the Tree

I was so excited when we finally picked out our tree and brought it home to decorate. We went to Star Nursery (daddy's favorite place) and picked out the cutest tree for $20.00. We are on a strict Christmas budget this year and didn't want to spend that much on a tree anyway. Someday I will have a huge Douglas Fir and hardly enough ornaments to fill it. For now, I have the perfect tree, just tall enough for my peanuts to reach every branch and fill it with all of our fun craft ornaments. Raine was very sad, every time she went to hang one, it would break. I think we had to super glue 4 of them back together. Reece loved putting all of them on the same branch or one general area. They also liked hanging them off the bottom branch, so the ornaments hung down to the ground. I was very teary when I saw that because it reminded me of how Dublin Dog loved laying under the Christmas tree; whenever she would get up three or four ornaments would fall off the tree. We sure do miss her this Christmas season.

Reece is singing, "Oh Christmas Tree". He loves listening to Christmas music, probably because it's all I listen to in the car and it's the first thing I turn on when we get home.

I love my little elves in their Christmas jammies!

Raine getting ready to hang Pluto and Nickey before she broke him.

Reece with his trains, ready to hang.

Daddy took all the pictures so we don't have any of him. He was very cozy on the couch watching all of the excitement and snapping away the silly moments. It was an awesome evening full of laughter and a few tears.

Cozy Christmas Proofs

I love my friend Jess so much, but especially because she took these amazing pics of my precious little ones. She has the cutest studio and makes taking photos so fun for the kids. These are just a few of the tons she took. I really love these four and will buy copies for our home and the extended family for sure.

I am so THANKFUL for

an extra day off yesterday because Reece was getting over a 24 hr flu bug.

lunch with daddy at his school and then some fun holiday bargain shopping with my lil man. We scored some great deals!

a super fun Christmas Card party last night. I sat by my friend Jenene for the second year in a row. We ate a ton of yummy treats and laughed quite a bit!

my kiddos are getting their Cozy Christmas pictures taken by the best photographer in the land today. They are wearing their new Carters feety Christmas jammies and Santa hats.

that I got to lay in bed while my hot hubby took care of the kiddos.

yummy Starbucks Breakfast Blend coffee with delicious peppermint creamer.

Christmas music sung by my favorite artists.

my kiddos love to jump on their trampoline at all hours of the day, not matter how chilly it is outside.

my hot hubby who planted a beautiful Palo Verde tree in our backyard.

the fact that we have saved enough money to buy out the lease on my Saturn Vue; due to the various extra tutoring opportunities, landscaping jobs and GOD.

my very blessed little family who bring me such joy and laughter.

for the weekend...

Happy Thanksgiving

We hope your Thanksgiving was as relaxing as ours was. We watched the parade, painted a super cute Turkey craft from Auntie Tina, watched football and ate HAM!!! We wanted something different this year, the kids and Mo love ham so we cooked that instead. Well, Mo cooked that. I made the simple side dishes. Everything turned out to be super delicious. It was a very low key but oh so enjoyable holiday!