Santa Claus came to town... finally!

This Christmas was so much fun! I will bullet point the highlights... Feel free to skim:)

• Partied it up from the school secret santa party at 7:45 to finals to a math teacher shindig to a Tops performance to the Church Christmas party on the last Friday...
• Leading to a lazy day on Saturday of relishing in the lack of anything urgently pressing to do!
• Snuck in a trip to Northpark and the Princess and the Frog with both my Princess and my Frog and a very courageous math teacher friend on Sunday afternoon.
• Thoroughly enjoyed the combination of mine, Jana and Allison's circus! Fun times, fun memories, and only a couple meltdowns...
• Long nap to recover from all the fun on Tuesday was enjoyed by my circus!
• Gingerbread Decorating Day for the kids on Wednesday at Nana's finally arrived! Both kids were beside themselves with excitement of (a) getting to be around that much candy (b) permission to make a mess and (c) fun times with their favorite cousins! Nana let me slip away to run the errands I had been neglecting AND a perfect lunch with a kindred spirit (even if Anne of Green Gables is inappropriate for some, the phrase describes our friendship perfectly!)
• We (mainly Chris) decided we should open our family gifts on Wednesday night since we wouldn't have time before the Hiser Christmas Eve Game Extravaganza. It was so fun to see the kids enjoy giving their gifts and of course getting some too! Please note that t-shirts were worn on this day of fun due to the balmy temps...
• But not on Thursday! We woke up to really cold temps and snow started falling (or blowing!) very soon. We braved the storm to deliver some baked goodies, visit with our special friend and get some really awesome gifts! We raced home so Ross could have a good nap before the Extravaganza. And for once, my plan succeeded!
• Much fun was had by everyone at Aunt Kim's for yummy mexican food and then at Aunt Heather's for desserts. She even made yummy sugar free strawberry pie and cheescake just for me! Everything was very tasty! The championship game was postponed until today so that we could get home before any ice... And NANA won!! Yea!
• Anna woke up throwing up about midnight, narrowly missing Santa's deliveries... but everything worked out and she seemed fine today.
• The kids were thrilled with their finds this morning! Ross has only put his chainsaw down a few times today, and most of those times were to eat... Anna got some neat things from Santa, too... And didn't even act disappointed about not getting her request (the Wii)... but she was sure excited when she found it hooked up to the tv!
• Nana and Grandpa spoiled us all rotten with tons of thoughtful gifts! And tons of great food!
• This has definitely been a time of counting our blessings - good family, good friends, good times and some really good presents:)
• Now we are all ready for the next phase of our break!!

Loving life...

We have had some fun times lately. Aunt Nette came to visit last weekend, and we even managed to visit with Aunt Neen a little. Very fun times!

The kids are totally in the swing of Christmas! As we were pulling in just now Ross asked if it was Cwistmas time. When I answered yes, he wanted to know why noone's lights were on... Is that a sign that we haven't been home during the day time in a while?

Tomorrow is our annual visit to Santa at Chris' work party. Anna is excited to see him, since he is the 'real Santa'. She informed me last week that she knew the real Santa wasn't coming to visit Ross' school, but (1) she didn't want to hurt Ross' feelings by telling him and (2) she was glad she would get to see the real Santa at Daddy's work party. She also informed me that the way she knew he was the real Santa is because he brings elves. And she pointed out that some people think elves are small, but Santa brings all sizes to the party.

Their lists are short this year. Anna has been set on the Wii for awhile now. But she is holding out to ask Santa, not us. She declared this was because she knows the Wii is expensive, and she doesn't want us to have to spend a lot of money. So thoughtful! Ross has added 'huntin gun with bullets' to his 'chainsaw, blower and another weedeater'. Hmmm...

Since this serves as my journal... I'll share this interesting conversation in the car earlier this week while listening to baby Jesus Christmas songs on our way to visit our newest miracle Camille.

Anna: How did they have babies back in the old times?
Me: Well... it was really hard.
Anna: Hmmm...
A few more songs.
Anna: Was it like when a sheep has a lamb?
Me: Well... kind of...
Ross: Ewww! Gwoss! That stinks!
Anna: (very seriously) Ross, it doesn't stink. I was there.
(keep in mind this was probably 2 years ago)
A couple of seconds later...
Anna: Is that how they have them now?
Me: Not me, remember, I got cut open. (never more thankful for a c-section!)

Pretty sure some puzzle pieces were put together for my little thinker... pretty sure more of that conversation will happen sooner than later... Definitely not ready!

Needless to say, life is always interesting with my circus!

Future Farmer of America

In the car after leaving the barn this afternoon, Ross made a bold statement. Completely unprompted and out the blue!

He very emphatically said, "I need to be a farmer when I grow big!"

When I questioned what that meant he would be doing, his list includes, "digging, piling hay, scooping poop and feeding animals..."

Looks like he is well on his way to being a 7th generation 'agriculturalist', as Aunt Nette would say...

He also likes to tip his hat and say, "Yeeeee-haw!"

Thanksgiving 2009

We finished a lovely lunch at Nana and Grandpa's celebrating Thanksgiving today. Everyone was there, except Uncle Troy who was at the fire station. I am so thankful the cousins enjoy playing and spending time together!




















As soon as the food was put away, the dishes cleaned, a little more visiting, and animals fed some of the fam headed to the deer lease... By the looks of the picture can you guess who didn't go? There's always next year...

Happy Thanksgiving!

The winnings from the horsing!

A couple of weeks ago we got all dudded up and headed to Southern Junction for the awards for the horsing that Chris and Anna and his family do. We had a great bbq meal and clapped for all the friends. Ross was mesmerized by the cartoons Chris downloaded to his iphone (praying that works for a very long car trip we will be taking in a month!)

Chris won all kind of things - including 2 belt buckles. Before we left for this shindig our neighbor was giving Anna a hard time and telling her that he needed a new belt buckle. She quickly quipped that he should talk to her dad since he was about to win 2 new ones and he can only wear one at a time!

Anna began competing towards the end of the season, but they kindly recognized her efforts with a new halter and a bag. She was very proud!

How can you be at a place with a mechanical bull and not at least try...

The craziness that is my life...

While I was checking my email just now, and Anna is frantically dusting to earn money for the latest Junie B Jones book at the book fair, Ross has been playing with a small box. Over the past 5 minutes or so, I have heard the phrases, "meet my new fwend" and "I have a new pet" and "oops, where did you go?" and "do you like your new home?" I assumed he was using that amazing imagination that is emerging... Unfortunately, it wasn't all pretend. He just held up the box to me and happily said, "Meet my new pet, Mama." As I looked down planning to pretend right along with him, I am introduced to a crazy skinny moving bug!! I rained all over that parade by grabbing his boot and smushing his 'fwend'. He didn't seem the least bit phased as now he is 'tying up the telescope with the cord for his pooter(computer)'. Actually the pooter just became the new pet... He is leading it around as we speak, telling it to 'not be scared!'

I love my crazy life... Even if it doesn't leave much phone time! I promise to call on my way home tomorrow, Mama!

Here's to embracing the craziness of our lives!

Sweet Seven

This past week included lots of celebration for my Anna Banana.

Monday she (and a few favorite people) got to ride in a limo to the next town for pizza since they sold 15 boxes of overpriced cookie dough. (Chris called in his favors of years of buying fundraisier junk over the years.) She said it was very cool!

Tuesday we watched Cousin Tyler play football. I started a game where Ross had to yell "Go Tigers" in his loud voice to earn a sip of diet coke. His lungs were really proving themselves!

Wednesday, Chris put his cake making skills to the test to create his 7th masterpiece for his sweet girl.

Thursday was the big day!

It started with a lovely breakfast prepared by Nana. Spinach quiche (requested by the birthday girl herself), banana bread/creamc cheese sandwiches, homemade mini muffins, fruit and yogurt parfait, hot tea and milk. It was all laid out beautifully, even placecards.

She took 'zebra cakes' for her class at school. Little Debbie is a great stand in!

Then I picked up she and 4 friends, and 3 others met us at the movie theater for a Sweet Seven birthday party extravaganza! They giggled, played, giggled, oohed and ahhed, opened presents, listened to a story, put on their party favors (gaudy beads and rings) and of course ate cupcakes. Then we settled in for "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." It was a really cute show that only drug on about 20 minutes too long:) Then we loaded up and headed home.

Chris watched the little ones and Allison and I took the A girls for a little Italian Birthday supper. They even got to play for a little while after.

We ended the week cheering on the Pirates at the Pink Out game. It was quite a site to see the football boys with pink tights, all kind of pink shirts in the stands, pink goal posts, pink paint on the field... perfectly pink!

We are thankful the crud didn't hit until Saturday, and we even got some medicine, so we are hoping to kick it before this exciting week begins.

Happy October! Trying to enjoy the whirlwind as it passes sooo quickly!