Christmas Pictures, Argh!

I don't know how big families take family pictures - it's always a chore with just the four of us. Wednesday morning my sister came over to take them for us, and once again, it was interesting. Kade is always the one who is not in the mood for pictures, it's either too bright outside, or he doesn't want to stand, or he doesn't want to be by his brother, or he wants to go play, or any other excuse you can think of, so can he. Noah is usually the easy going one (he's had a lot of training from little on), when the camera come up, his smiles come out, of course there are a few exception on family picture day, like putting his hands up when Kade is finally smiling, or looking away, or smiling so much his eyes are closed. Then there's my loving husband, he just doesn't know why I have to take so many pictures, and when we're done, we're done, no re-takes. Luckily I was able to find a few that I liked and picked a couple for Christmas cards. Just so you can appreciate the fun we have, here are some of the out-takes. Argh!!!!

Giving Back

For the past few years some friends and I who graduated high school together have been purchasing strudels from our church's fundraiser and giving them to the nuns at the mother house in Victoria. It's a two part gift of giving, one we support the church by purchasing them, and two the sisters are the Incarnate Word can enjoy homemade strudels through the year. These wonderful women taught us so much over the years, and this is our small way to give back to them. This year only two of us who donated were able to personally deliver the strudels, and I'm so glad I was one, I always come away from there with so much. I also love that my boys are a part of it, not only do they see the gift of giving in action, they also see the sisters who taught me when I attended the same school they are now at.

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The Day After

Happy Thanksgiving (late).

We went to my parents for the day, and had a great time.
Last night Debbie, mom, Brooke & I decide to go shopping this morning, but I needed someone to keep the boys. Brian wanted to go to the deer lease but said they could go with him. Everyone laughed that he wasn't going to see anything with both of them, but they proved everyone wrong. Noah called me that they got one - he saw it first, Kade looked through the binoculars and said it was a big one, and Brian shot it - it's a nice 8 pointer.
Oh, and I did get a little shopping done too.

New Project

Last weekend we removed the yard fence at Brian's parents (aka PoPo & MoMo) - and during the week the guy came and put the new fence up. Look how nice it looks. . . . So, this weekend we started the new project, a metal building for PoPo's work shop. They already have a lot of plans for it, and can't wait to get it finished and start filling it up. It's coming along nicely - not quite finished, but close.

Spread the word

Our sister-in-law, Stefanie is a wonderful person who has a huge heart. She and Chris (Brian's brother) not only have four biological children, they also have adopted four special needs children from China. Each of their adoptions have amazing stories of how God lead these precious children to their forever family with Chris & Stefanie.
She has created a new site No Hands But Ours as a resource for prospective special need families. So, if you or anyone you know would like to have information on special need adoptions, or you just want to read touching stories, check it out. You can click on the link in this post, or the one on the right side - the adorable little boy in the picture is one of our nephews.

Chicken Little or Simon?

The boys were being silly and putting on Brian's old reading glasses. We were trying to decide if they look more like Chicken Little or more like Simon from Alvin & the Chipmunks. What do you think?

Dogsitting

With taking the fence down at MoMo & PoPo's this weekend, they needed a place for one of their dogs, so we brought Copper home with us. Now Wiggles has to share with her for a week or so. She not only has to share her backyard, she also has to share food, water, affection, and attention, but at least she has company when we're not there.

look at Wiggles sweet face

Copper is a sweetie too.

Watery Eyes, Runny Noses. . . .

When a cold front blows in, so do the allergies. Poor Kade is usually the most effected. This morning in addition to the coughing, sneezing & sniffling by Noah, Kade & Brian, my poor baby also had one eye almost swollen shut. Thank goodness we still have his refillable prescription.

Fence Removal

PoPo & MoMo are getting a new yard fence so this weekend we helped take the old one down. We all pitched in and helped by removing wires, and clamps, and steeples, and anything else that was holding the old fence together. Along with the taking down was some cleaning up and of course some playing in the dirt and building things with stuff found in the yard. Using their imaginations Noah & Kade building a worm mansion - only Kade stretched the worm too far before it could enjoy the mansion :) Boys will be BOYS!

The weather would have been perfect, except for the wind. A cold front blew through Friday night so Saturday morning it was in the low 40s, and the afternoon was probably in the 60s, but the wind chill probably made it 10 + degrees less.

Success

I would have to say that my weekend was pretty successful, tiring, but successful.
Saturday Brian & the boys left about 10 am to go with PoPo to the Aggie game, and I had the day to myself. I dove right in and started cleaning. I re-arranged Kade's room, cleaned out his drawers and closet, changed everyone's sheets, picked up the rest of the house, and did the laundry. I would have liked to continue, but our church had the annual strudel bake, and I had told a friend that I would be there to help, so I went around 3. I help out for a couple of hours, then went back home to finish the laundry, and chill on the couch watching chick flicks. Today after church we went to my parents, I was looking at the paper, and I saw some of the wish books and sale papers. This just added to my fever to go shopping, so I suggested to mom and my sister and we went. The three of us went to Victoria, met up with my other two sisters, and had a fun shopping day (well maybe not fun for everyone, Net's not a big shopper, but she didn't complain too much). I had a very successful day. I still have to finish shopping for the boys, but of my 17 nieces and nephews, I have Christmas gifts bought for all but 2. I think, this is the earliest I've every gotten this much done.

Go Fish!

A few weeks ago Kade receive a small deck of cards in a goody bag from school, so all he's been wanting to do is play cards. Last Thursday he and I played battle, and the little toot beat me, not just beat me, but kicked my butt. When Brian came in that evening he said "dad, I kicked mom's butt in battle", and all I could do was nod my head in agreement. The next night we had a re-match, and he once again beat me. And I wasn't even trying to let him win!

Then this weekend he got Brooke, Adam & Noah to play with him, and he was defeated in battle, so they moved on the a new game - Go Fish!

This evening when I walked in from work he was challenging Brian to another match, so after supper we all four played a couple of games of Go Fish! - and yes, he won one of the two matches.

So, beware if you come to our house you may be roped into a game of battle or go fish.

This and That

Today is the day to Vote!!! and hopefully everyone did.

Brian & I went this evening after work. Noah said they did a mock election in school and the numbers were pretty overwhelming. Both boys are pretty interested in how it all works and had a lot of questions so we did our best with answers. Now we just pray that all elected officials do the best for our great nation - one nation under God.

This past weekend we did a little trick-or-treating, some fence building, and birthday celebrating.

On Friday we took the boys to town for some trick-or-treating, actually I just drove, Danette took Noah & Kade from house to house, and Beau & Courtney waited for them to get back in the vehicle to see what kind of candy they got. We had a lot of fun.

Saturday we helped dad and Donnie put up a new fence at one of our aunt's. Kade had the fun of being the one put down in the hole dug for the posts, and Noah did very well with helping. He and I worked on putting the ties or clamps to the t-posts, my hands hurt so bad that evening, but he was fine. He said he actually enjoyed it.

That evening after the guys got back in from deer hunting, we had hamburgers as mom & dads for Adam's birthday. (in case you're wondering, the shirt says "BTHO Obama")

Sunday after church we went to MoMo & PoPo's for MoMo's birthday. After lunch we went to the tank and did a little fishing. We all had a lot of fun, just hanging out and enjoying the afternoon outside, while we still had day light :)

These first few days of time change has been kind of nice, the boys wake up with no problem in the mornings. Monday Kade got up and went to the computer room, closed the door and started playing Wii like he does on a Saturday, so I had to remind him that he had school that day. He was fine with it, he just finished his game, got dressed and was ready to go.