The Easel

Well, the art easel that the kids got for Christmas is a hit (Did I mention that I was up at 10pm putting it together on Christmas Eve? Eric had "forgotten about it" but thanked me profusely for doing it for him.).

This morning I had Elly on one side with her chalk and Aiden painting on the other side. Elly not only enjoys covering the board with chalk, but she likes erasing it just as much if not more.

Elly has a red nose because she had just got done falling on the kitchen floor and having a quick cry. The green slime on her arm is paint residue from one her failed attempt to cover her entire body in paint.

What a Christmas!

Well, we had a wonderful Christmas. Aiden came downstairs at about 6:45. Daddy and I were hiding in the livng room. Aiden looked at the tree and stockings and exclaimed, "Santa came!" Then he came over to us and the day began (I still can't figure out how he know we were there.). Santa did come and ate his two cookies and drank his milk. Also, his reindeer had come and eaten the reindeer food that we left out for them.

The kids got presents they loved. Aiden seemed to love his Bob the Builder Scrambler the most. Now, two days later he is enjoying his other toys and the Leapster has emerged as a popular item. Right now, he is sitting next to me coloring on it. Elly loved her little pink stroller. She immediately started strolling around the house as soon as she opened it. Since, she has been strolling her Care Bear and Cabbage Patch around. She calls the Cabbage Patch "baby."

I loved my goodies and so did Eric. We spent the day enjoying our new treasures and eating finger foods (made by mommy). We watched A Christmas Story (Eric having only seen it once or twice laughed a lot!). We wrapped up the night by getting a movie from blockbuster. It was a very nice day.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Reindeer Food

Today, Aiden and I made reindeer food to leave out for Santa's reindeer. I thought I had oatmeal, but could not find any in the pantry. So, we used a mixture of cereal, brown rice and blue cookie sprinkles. And for a little extra stick, we threw in some glue. Now, at the time I wasn't thinking. I should have used syrup or honey, but glue was the first thing that came to mind. Well, Aiden loved the whole thing, but decided that reindeer food is as disgusting as green beans. Tonight we will sprinkle some out in the driveway so that the reindeer get a snack.

On a side note: Why do I look nothing like my children???

The Christmas Calendar & Acts of Desperation

Aiden has finally grasped the concept of the Christmas calender. He moves the number each day and gives the latest update. This morning, I was told that there are two more days until Christmas.

Last night we decided to make "Doodie" aka Cider sleep with Aiden. Aiden has been sneaking down into our bed off and on for months. Lately, it has gotten worse because he bangs on the door and screams, "Mommy, Daddy can I come in and sleep with you!" Normally this occurs right around 1am. So, last night we closed the doors in his room and put Cider in his bed. Cider escaped once and Aiden was screaming, "My Doodie, my doodie", but once I secured the door again, she stayed in with him all night. So, a good night's sleep for mommy and daddy. I am sure it wasn't quite as restful for Cider but after all she is a dog.

It's 1:58 AM. Why Can't I Sleep!!!!!

I hate when I wake up in the middle of the night and am awake. It happens maybe once or twice a month. I will sit on the computer for a few hours before I can make it back to bed. Then, unless it happens to be day off from work, I have to get up shortly after.

Just so happens that I have this week and next week off. So, today I am lucky that I won't be getting ready for work at 5 am.

Yesterday. Aiden helped me make cornflake holly balls for most of the neighbors on our street. (I made gift labels on the computer with some software Eric had gotten with a deal. The labels were so cute.) He was very into packing them into the baggies and delivering them to the houses. He ran up to each house and kept saying, "I love delivering Christmas cookies." Last year, I made a few different kinds of treat for each baggie, but this year I was being lazy! I also hit the grocery store for all our holiday treats for Wed and Thur. Since it's just us (as usual) I am not making a big meal. Just snack type stuff. Not that Eric has any issues with finger foods. :)

I also set up Aiden with his Christmas coloring stuff (A Christmas art kit that I got some hot deal on a few years ago, but had just now opened.). He colored some stickers (all one color of course) and Elly tried to color, but she mostly got frustrated. I put a Rudolph tattoo that Aiden picked on his hand, and Elly got a snowflake. Elly screamed through the whole 30-second procedure.

Today, I hope to get some presents wrapped and under the tree. It is still barren underneath. I am excited to see how the kids like their gifts this year. I got Aiden a Harry Potter wand. He LOVES Harry Potter. For about 6 months he has been in this phase where he runs around the house pointing his "wand" (a little wooden skewer from the kitchen playset) and screams, "expectamay psssshhhhhhh" and "annnnnaaaaconntrolllaaaaa psshhhhhh". I got Elly her first Care Bear this year. She loves stuffed toys (even though we only have a few), and I can't wait to watch her reaction.

Aiden had his four year checkup last week. I was working, so daddy had to take him. The doctor said all is well. He asked Eric if we had any concerns. Eric told him no way; Aiden is as smart as a whip. Oh, and he is. Being a teacher AND a mom I can attest to the fact that Aiden is way smarter than the average four year old. And, way more athletic and coordinated. My big worry is by the time he gets to kidnergarten that he will be bored out of his mind. He can't start till 2010-11 because of his birthday. So, he will be almost six when he starts.

Well, this is one of my longer posts and you are probably sick of reading it. So, I will wrap things up.

Merry Christmas!

(Just for fun - a picture of my class at our "Winter Party" on Friday.) As you will see, my hair is now brown. I got sick of the whole fake, trying to be something your not mentality.

Wow - It's Been Awhile - Tis' the Season

Well, it's been awhile since I have posted. Things are busy, busy at work, and there just never seems to be enough time in the day to get all the things done that I want to! All of us our in good health. Eric, is doing well at his home business (not that I ever doubted he would). I am looking forward to two weeks off from work.

Lately, we have made Christmas cookies (yes, I said Christmas, not Holiday), decorated the house for Christmas and went on a sleigh ride with some families that live on our street.

Our holiday plans are to stay home and celebrate. I do miss being around family doing the holidays, and hope maybe other people will come to visit in addition to Grandma.

Aiden is a smart as a whip. His latest obsession is on body parts, particularly on his not so appropriate to talk about parts. He is obsessed with rhyming too. He will go around the house saying, "____ rhymes with _____." It's really cute.

Elly is so beautiful, and very smart. She can feed herself now with a utensil, and knows the words: mommy, daddy, dog, book and Aiden! She gets around really well for such a teeny thing. She needs to be tough in order to keep up with big brother.

What are we getting for Christmas? Toys for the kids of course. They are both at the age where they like pretty much anything. I asked for a few odds and ends and picked up a few things for Eric. The big thing we are getting is a patio cover and extra concrete to have a "porch" in the backyard. The sun is so bright here, even in the winter that it blinds you if you try to sit in the backyard. Right now,we are in the process of getting bids, but hope to have a decision made next week.

Christmas Lights! You wouldn't believe the light displays that people put up here. If you drive around any neighborhood, at least half of the houses have lights galore! I guess it speaks to the money people have here; or at least think they have. ;)


Well, that's all for now. I hope to post again soon.