Spring!!!!

Spring Break and beautiful spring weather!!  With all 5 kids home all week, this week has been a bit nuts!!  We've kept ourselves busy with piano lessons, playing with friends, choir, meetings, missionary discussions, a sick daddy and of course, Easter!  We had all sorts of spring break plans - library, museum, play dates, visiting teaching... etc - but most of it didn't happen.  The kids have mostly just had fun playing - especially as the weather got warmer, playing outside.  They also had fun changing sleeping arrangements and having sleepovers with each other.  James' favorite toy is my phone - he thinks it's the funniest thing when he pushes the button and Siri talks to him.  

The kids all had fun coloring, building things and reading/being read to.  I didn't get hardly anything useful done - but we had fun anyway :)

Any time I pull out the camera, the kids all want to have their picture taken - Evie just wants me to take her picture so that she can see the picture.  Aaron just kinda stands there grinning at me, Eileen and Anna both want to build stuff to take a picture of first (or grab a stuffed animal to take a picture with) and James is figuring out that when Mommy grabs a camera and points it at him that he needs to raise his arms in the air and say "CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE"  Course, he does it so quickly, that I rarely have the camera ready in time :)

Friday afternoon, Dan came home from work not feeling good - he slept all after noon and roused himself long enough to have the second discussion with Dwayne and Nicole and get a blessing from the elders, and eat two bits of the soup I made for him and then he went back to bed. 

Saturday, Dan was still feeling pretty sick and so he slept most of the day - so the kids and I decorated eggs (or tried to.....) and then when Dan got up for a bit, he went out and hid Easter eggs so they could hunt for them - the kids had a blast and Eileen declared that she LOVES Easter - They had fun anyway - and we had a nice time talking about what Easter is REALLY about the next day 

The kids with their cheap $5.00 Easter baskets - which they adored since they came with bubbles, crayons, paints and chalk - amazing how little things can make a big difference and a big impression when you make the effort to spend time together.  We also all enjoyed eating spring colored egg salad sandwiches and deviled eggs today :)

We went up to Newell and Becky's house to have an Easter dinner with them and Deb and Marion. The kids all had fun running amok - James ate half the food there and we all had a fun time together.

And there it goes again....

Well - the weather got beautiful and sunny and we were loving being outside and playing in the sun and it was really starting to feel like spring..... then starting Friday night, and going through most of Saturday, we lost out back yard again under 6-7 inches of snow.  We do need the moisture and the snow is beautiful.... but I am ready for spring!!!!  Especially since Spring Break starts tomorrow.  Dan and I got our Tax Rebate check and used it to get a play set for the back yard - we planned to have friends over to help get it built on Saturday so that the kids could spend all of spring break outside playing on it - instead it's sitting in boxes in our garage.....  Eileen braved the snow (which is already turning slushy under warmer weather) and made herself an ice castle - it's a mini ice castle.....  but she is very proud of it :)

Our week has been busy with piano lessons, choir concerts and family fun.  On Monday for Family Home Evening, we had the missionaries over for dinner and Dwayne and Nicole's family over for dinner also - we talked about the gospel with them and sent them home with a Book of Mormon!  It was a fun and wonderful evening!

Friday was my final Easter concert with the Chorale - the concerts this season went so well and were so much fun - we had a brass quartet play with us and it added so much to the performance - it felt like one of our most solid concerts (at least that I've been in!)

Saturday, we spent the whole day cooking and cleaning - however our house is now clean (even after 2 days it's still mostly clean)  It's so nice to have it looking good again!  I had a bit of a talk with Anna, who was throwing a tantrum about hating to clean, about how cleaning is just part of life and how she had better get used to it since she will be doing it for the rest of hers - and she certainly spent all day Saturday doing it.  I know I was no better as a kid - but I keep hoping that this time when I tell them to put their dirty clothes in the clothes hamper, that maybe, just maybe, they will do it.

Today was exhausting, as usual, I got a new calling - I think it's my 4th since we have been in this ward (which is just about a year and a half) but I will probably be in this one for a while.  The bishopbric offered the calling to me over a month ago - but between Stake Conference, a Snow Day with no church at the building, and the necessary time needed for calling counselors, I was just sustained and set apart today as the primary president.  This should be an adventure - but one I'm nervously looking forward to.  I've come to love these kids so much in the past few months as their chorister and I'm excited to get to stay with them!

I had a good time visiting teaching this week - I was finally able to get over to see Jill, and the kids had a blast playing over there with her kids and we had a nice chat.  She and I get along so well and have fun when we get together, but it always takes a few tries before it works out!  I also was finally able to really visit a sister that has been on my route for awhile now, but due to phone number issues, i was never able to get a hold of her - I am SO glad that I was able to spend some time chatting with her and getting to know her better!!  I am already looking forward to next months visit!

Here Comes the Sun

And yes - as I type that title, I can't help sing the Beatles song....  We have had some beautiful weather for the last few days!!!  We got a bit more snow this week, but soon it all melted  (including our big old snow man - prompting many renditions of "Once there was a Snowman") and we have been enjoying days with highs in the 60's and lows in the 50's - we have been having a blast playing in the back yard, working in the back yard - running around and riding bikes!

Friday was the Colorado Mormon Chorale's first Easter concert - it went really well!  I really enjoy singing with the group - often I have people who hear that I sing with the group and wonder how I manage - but really it's my escape - it provides me with a place to go be an adult and do what i love for a couple hours a week and to do it in a way that spreads the gospel message to all who hear it and brings me home almost as refreshed and ready for the next day as Church does.

Saturday, our ward had a luau - we all got dressed up with our sarongs and flowers and went for food and fun.  The primary kids did some Hawaiian dances and were so cute!!!  Evie was so funny to watch, since she really didn't know what was going on, so she stood there for the first half and just stared, then she realized that she was supposed to be dancing and she started dancing (but always a step behind of course)  So here we are - all us girls in our Hawaiian get-up.

Here are the boys lined up for their dance - they did an awesome job!  Aaron's favorite part was at the end where they all jumped off the stage.

And Dan and James - James found a ball early on and spent the whole night chasing it.   You can't tell from the picture, but Dan is wearing the sarong that he got from his parent's when they came back from Malaysia - he got lots of comments about wearing a skirt - but we all had fun getting dressed up and hanging out with friends!

.....And Snow Again

 Most of the week has actually been sunny and mostly warm - we even managed to get rid of our ice slab in front of our house (just in time for the snow to create a new one....) The kids had fun playing out in the back yard and most of the snow back there had melted.  With Dan still out of town, it was kind of a crazy week.

Tuesday we went out for piano lessons, then stopped at Pizza Hut for a quick dinner before heading to a little surprise birthday for Grandpa Francone.  We couldn't stay for too long - but we wanted to do something for him for his birthday!  Then Tuesday night, after the kids were in bed, Susan dropped off my quilts!  She really did a gorgeous job with them!  This quilt was started by my great great grandmother or my great great great aunt (we're not sure which)  I found the blocks in varying states of done-ness after my grandma passes away about 7 or so years ago.  I finished piecing the top about 5 years ago, and now it's finally quilted - all I have to do is bind it and it's finished!!!  I'm so excited to have this piece of family history done!

Wednesday was my choir practice, Tina came over to watch the kids and I enjoyed a couple hours of singing!  I think i must have been starved for adult conversation by that point, because I talked off the ears of my car pool and of poor Tina when she was trying to leave :)

Thursday morning, we had some friends come over to play and have lunch with us - Brigg and Emery came and played with us while their mom went to go run an errand - the kids really get along well together - and the only negative consequence was in the mess that the play room became before long.

Thursday night we started having problems - James had had a high fever when i left him with Tina on Wednesday night - but it seemed to be gone by the next morning, however, that night, James wouldn't sleep - he was up fussing for half the night and I only managed about 4 hours of interrupted sleep.  That always makes the next day rough!

Friday was long and exhausting - I had a doctors appointment in the morning - It was my follow up with the allergist who ended up giving me a new prescription (which i still haven't managed to pick up....) So hopefully this works out - the kids were really good during the appointment, but James was really tired and in need of a nap, so he was a bit cranky.  That evening we had a vacuum salesman show up and entertained the kids for a good solid hour with his demonstration and we ended up with a new vacuum at a really good price.  The kids all thing it's the best thing since home made jelly.  Even James who kept trying to chase it around and check out the light on the front while Dan was vacuuming on Saturday.

Friday night/Saturday morning, the snow started - thankfully it stayed off long enough for Dan to get in safely - but we had blizzard warnings and we got 4-5 inches of snow - it is already starting to melt off though - the kids had fun building a snowman with Dan today and he's already "melting small, small small."   But they had fun!  We had stake conference today and there were some really great talks!  One recently returned missionary told a really neat story about 4 men who each grabbed hold of a different part of an elephant - one grabbed the tail and decided that elephants were like ropes, one grabbed the foot and decided that elephants were round and rough, one grabbed the trunk and decided that elephants were like large snakes and one grabbed the tusk and decided elephants were like spears - each man had a small portion of the truth - but not the whole picture - so often we get bogged down in little details that we miss the bigger picture - this last week, I got bogged down in my little fatigues and sometimes forgot the bigger picture of the wonderful family and home and friends I have.

Here are some fun pictures of our snow adventures - the girls had a fun snow fight with Daddy and Aaron stood by and watched because he couldn't find gloves - but he obligingly smiled and the camera for me :)

....And Snow....

We got more snow this week - but as the week has come to a close - it has gotten warm and lovely - now we just need another 2 weeks of this to melt all the snow and ice in our shadowed front yard!  :)  I'm about ready for spring!  

Our brave little James has become a climber - he loves going up the stairs (though can't go down them)  and he has discovered how to climb up the stool we keep in the kitchen for the kids to use.  He decided after watching Aaron help with the dishes, that he wanted to help also.  :) 

Wednesday, Dan had to leave for his first trip of the year - it's been so nice having him around this long - and now we are all missing him a lot.  Plus it was kinda a rude surprise since we all thought (inclduing Dan) that he wasn't leaving until Thursday - however on Monday we found out that we were wrong....

On Friday, Anna had a Dr. Seuss Day Snuggly Read-a-thon where she got to wear pajamas to school (and bring a doll and blanket and pillow) She wanted to bring her American Doll, and to help counter the disappointment at not being able to go to the Skate City Night on Thursday, I made a little set of pajamas for her doll to wear too.  

 Well we managed to survive to the weekend - Saturday was busy with Play and primary stuff - the kids had an activity where they got to learn a Hawaiian dance for the ward Luau in a couple weeks.  I had to wake James up to go to it and he just sat there in a stupor for the first 45 minutes or so.  I've never seen him sit so still for so long!

The kids spent the afternoon playing outside - the weather was beautiful and sunny and warm - but there was still plenty of snow to play with in our front yard (which is in the shade all day so it takes forever to melt)

Sunday has been exhausting  - it always is - standing and waving my arm and running around and being enthusiastic for 2 hours (and that's after battling my kids during Sacrament Meeting) always is - but it's about a million times worse when Dan isn't here - because then there is only one person to battle with all 5 kids - one being a very tired and wiggly baby and because I have to try and contain and hold said wiggly baby while doing all the other music stuff!  The kids really are good kids - but I have a finite amount of energy and it was gone by the end of Sacrament Meeting - I'm just running on fumes now.

So now just one more week - Dan will be back on Friday - at which point i'm taking a 1 day vacation.... even if it's just to lock myself in my craft room for a day!

I finally managed to get 2 quilts that I had done to a quilter to be quilted about 2 months ago and they are done!!!!  I'm so excited to get them back and get the binding done!!  Plus I have another one to drop off!!  Yey!

Let it Snow!

It's been a snowy - blowy week - Monday and Tuesday started out nice enough - we made it to piano lessons and back just fine, and the kids had fun playing outside and enjoying fairly nice weather.  However, on Wednesday it started snowing and dumped 4-5 inches on us.  Enough that my choir practice got cancelled due to snow  - but then it was warm enough for the next 2 days that most of that melted.  Then Saturday night it began again - in the afternoon, blizzard warnings went out on our side of town and it snowed all day Sunday - church was cancelled and we have all been house bound all day.  Now we are awaiting the news as to whether or not school is cancelled tomorrow.  

 Wednesday morning, we had a fun play date at the Young's.  Apparently we haven't been to play with them in awhile because Evie asked on the way over "Is Emery a boy or a girl?'  I explained that she was a girl who was 3 like Evie and she was happy.

Friday was a fun eventful day - with the break in the weather, Becky came down to hang out and play - she stayed with the kids for me while I went to get Tina at the airport and then we all had a really nice lunch together.  I got to show off my Valentine's day present and we had what tasted like a fancy sparkling grape juice along with our grilled cheese and tomato soup.  

Saturday morning, before the snow hit, I had a primary meeting - it was a nice breakfast and meeting about how to teach better - it was wonderful!  The spirit was so strong and it was so amazing to feel just how important these little kids are to our Heavenly Father, and how important our teaching is!  Eileen had an Activity Days Girls Activity - they went to go see the local high school production of Aida - which happened to star a great many kids from our ward.  Eileen had a great time and in the mean time, Anna, Evie and I went to Costco.  

Aaron needed a hair cut - here he is about half way through looking like Grandpa Jones!  

On Sunday, with Church cancelled, the kids wanted to hold their own primary - Eileen wanted to lead the music and do singing time, Anna prepared a talk and a lesson and Evie and Aaron gave prayers.  Daddy conducted and Mommy played the piano.  It was so fun to watch the kids get excited and wanting to have a church experience on the Sabbath, even if they couldn't go to the church building.  After, we had fun playing Apples to Apples together and doing other Sunday activities.  It is so funny to watch Evie play Apples to Apples - she doesn't really understand what is going on, but she has a BLAST anyway!  This is a picture from Anna's Lesson.

Evie gave us a bit of a scare earlier this week - Dan and I were downstairs and we heard someone screaming at the top of their lungs (when they were supposed to be asleep) I went upstairs to check on Evie (because she is the only one who screams like that) and she was sitting up in bed - half asleep, sobbing and half way to hyperventilating and screaming at Aaron "STOP THAT!!!! STOP MAKING THAT NOISE!!!!"  I went to her and held her and calmed her down and looked over at Aaron (who was still fast asleep) and explained to Evie that he was just snoring (he'd been a bit congested for the last couple days)  and it was ok and wouldn't hurt her.... I held her until she calmed down - tucked her back in and she fell right back asleep.  

Eileen has a new favorite stuffed animal - she got a new and bigger stuffed penguin who is also named Waddles (just like the small one) and she also has me making clothes for this one - I started out rolling my eyes and feeling rather silly - but then I kinda started having fun with it and enjoying trying to get creative and so the other day, I texted Dan "I'm pathetic - Waddles has more clothes...."  Eileen has been having fun picking yarns and I have been having fun making up new way to make outfits for this silly little stuffed animal..... 

Still Sick....

Well - I'm finally starting to feel back to my normal level of ickiness - but Dan is now sick - so sick in fact - that at 9:00 PM he's going to bed.  James woke up on Thursday night a bunch of times - he was running a fever of 102.5 and tugging at his ears - so Friday, we took him in to the doctor's office to make sure that there was no ear infection - his ears were fine and so all we could do was give him Tylenol and wait for the fever to pass.

Valentine's Day this year was rather uneventful - Dan did his best - the kids got bathrobes/pajamas which they loved and our usual Valentine's breakfast biscuits.  He got me a soda maker which looks like it will be a lot of fun.  I made him his usual heart shaped cookie - I tried to make Pink cupcakes for the kids, but Eileen turned off my timer so she could use it to practice piano and they burned....  We had plans to go out for dinner on Friday - even had a babysitter planned, but we didn't want to leave a sitter with a very sick and cranky baby, so we got some take out from Outback and had a night in.

Paul and Candace were out this way for a neice's baptism and they stopped by for dinner and games and playing tonight before heading home - it was fun to see them - the kids all get along so well together and we all had fun playing.  We also got to chat on Skype with Grandma and Grandpa Jones for a bit - the kids just loved talking to them and telling them all about their lives.

Eileen sang a musical number today in Sacrament meeting along with the other Activity Day girls - it was so funny to watch her - she kept taking her shoes on and off and dropping papers.  At one point she lost her place, then when she got to the chorus she just gave up finding her place and started singing - despite all her goofing off - she seemed to know the song well and sang it beautifully - but it was rather amusing to watch.  :)

Saturday we went to the baptism of a friend of Eileen's from church - it was fun to go and she had tons of nieces and nephews there, so the kids had a blast playing after.  I was glad to go support a friend of mine (her mom) and be there to try and help out when I could.

Now on to another week and another set of adventures!

Ickie Sickies :(

This week has been full of ickie sickies.  Eileen was sent home from school on Monday with a fever and though she never really acted sick, and we couldn't ever get a temperature over 99.6 from her - still she had to stay home on Monday and Tuesday.  Wednesday we had hopes that life was getting back to normal, but that night, mom got sick.  And could hardly leave her bed or eat anything for the better part of the next 3 days.  Which was kinda tough on Friday when Dan HAD to go back to work (he worked from home all day Thursday to let me sleep) and Eileen and Anna had no school.  But we survived - and mommy had to spend Saturday recovering..... Sunday - as fun as my calling in primary is, is always rather tiring - today is was downright exhausting!!  Standing up in from of 30 kids or so for the better part of 2 hours and trying to act excited and full of energy can wear a gal out when she is still recovering from a cold.... :)  

Anyway - other than that, our week has been full of the normal - i think - i don't remember much of Thursday, Friday or Saturday..... 

This week - I introduced Eileen to a children's fantasy series that i really like - and she has been reading them non-stop ever since - it is so fun to watch her get into books I love and talk about them with her! Anna is also trying to read - she always wants to keep up with her big sister - which is great for her since it pushes her to work harder - I'm not sure how much she understands, but it's great to watch her try.

Eileen had her 8-year old check up this Friday afternoon - she is growing well - she is beautiful, smart, silly, and healthy!

James is quickly growing out of all his clothes and breaking mommy's back... his doctor's appointment is on Monday - so we will see how well my big boy is growing.  We turned his chair around in the car (there is not a doubt in my mind that he is over 20 lbs and he was kicking the seat.)

James got this fun peek-a-boo book from Grandpa and Grandma Jones for his birthday and LOVES it - he watches eagerly through every page - then when he gets to the last page with the mirror, his whole face lights up and he then proceeds to eat the mirror.....

The girls had a blast playing and building on their day off - i just kinda watched in a stupor and took pictures when they told me too.  :)

Welcome February!

I can't believe that it is February already - we are all eagerly looking forward to Valentine's Day!

This week has been fun and busy.  I started out this week with a visit to a Chiropractor.  Monday morning I met with him and while he didn't want to do anything with my middle back because of my rods, he adjusted my lower back and my neck - and though a little sore, some things are already starting to feel better.  I went back on Friday and have high hopes for getting back into the swing of things!

Tuesday morning we went to a birthday party for a little girl who is being baby sat by a friend in our ward - her parents (between health issues and working multiple jobs to make ends meet) were unable to do so - so a few of us in the ward got together and celebrated with her.  We all had fun playing together, eating pizza and making a sweet young girl happy!

On Thursday, Anna fell asleep at school, and so her teacher sent her to the nurse who found her with a temperature of 102 degrees.  Dan picked her up and brought her home.  She spent the rest of the day napping, and was starting to feel a bit better by the end of the day, but we kept her home on Friday, and while she napped some - she felt good enough to build a big block castle....

Becky also came over on Thursday with Zoe and Adena - and we had fun making crochet flowers and chatting!  

Saturday was Aaron's second round of testing and hopefully he will be at Quest this coming year with his sisters.  Thankfully it was a much less busy day than last Saturday, but we did make a trip to Costco with all the kids for some necessary items.  

Sunday was it's usual peaceful/busy day - church was wonderful and after was nice and relaxing.  Now for another week!  

James Turns 1

I can't believe my baby boy turned 1 this week - this past year has gone by so quickly!  He is such a fun little personality - he smiles and lights up the whole world!  He had no idea what to do with that candle (which was why we didn't let it any closer to him that this....)  Bu he had NO problem figuring out what to do with the cupcake - once Dan handed it to him (minus candle) he quickly shoved half of it into his mouth.  He's such a sweet happy boy - and best of all - he likes to take naps.... :)

Evie has been rather sick this week - she was running a fever for a few days, and spent those day wanting to do nothing but cuddle with mommy - and take naps... in daddy's chair.  Other than the fever - she had no symptoms though - so all in all - it wasn't a bad little cold.

Saturday was rather nuts - we were hardly ever all together at home - it started out with me singing at a funeral - and a rehearsal before to get ready.  Anna had a birthday party to go to in the morning, Aaron had his testing at Quest, Eileen had a birthday party in the evening and around 5:30 we were finally all able to be home eating a quick dinner of leftovers before doing baths and sending the kids to bed - it was a very busy day - but still a good one - we managed to have an adult home at all times (since we found a flat on the car in the morning - we kinda had to have an adult home) so James' naps were not interrupted and even Evie got a little nap in.

The weather today was just beautiful!  We walked to church and even walking at the kids slow pace with a light jacket on - i was getting a bit sweaty - it was that warm - the sun was shining - the birds were singing and it was a lovely Sabbath morning!

Cold and Warm

This has been a fun week - the temperatures have ranged from -9 degrees F to 65 degrees F - the first half of the week was just FREEZING!!!!!  But around Thursday it started warming up and Friday, Saturday and Sunday have been GORGEOUS!  After going stir crazy for the first half of the week ,we have all been having fun outside in no more than a light sweater - having a nice walk to and from church and truly appreciating the wonderful world that God has given us!

This week Frank and Tina were out of town at a Gun Show in Las Vegas, so Frankie came to stay here for a few days.  He is pretty self sufficient - all he needs is food and a few reminders here and there to work on his homework and such - otherwise, he was happy to entertain himself on his iPhone and play Black Ops with Dan.  He is a good kid and having him around was fun!  He came on Monday morning and hung out with us until Wednesday afternoon when he went to Grandpa's house until Saturday.

On Monday, Becky and Adena came down and Newell and Dan came and met us for lunch - it was fun to have Becky over - we talked and enjoyed ourselves.  Evie, Aaron and Adena got out the Play-Doh after lunch and had a blast for a while with Evie's Christmas present.

 Tuesday was piano lessons as usual - Wednesday was choir and Grandpa stopped by for a few minutes to pick up Frankie.

I got Aaron some new pajama pants - he's about grown out of his 4T clothes and needing the next size up - and they kids had a blast pulling stickers off the clothes and sticking them on themselves and on their brother.
 

James was rather confused by this sticker - he couldn't quite figure out what was on his head or why we were all laughing at him - but he thought it was a great joke. 

Friday, the kids did a movie night/pizza party.  Basically we lay a big blanket out downstairs in front of the TV and the kids pick a movie to watch while they eat their pizza and pop corn - they love it - they love eating somewhere other than the table and they love watching movies.  

Saturday we all kept busy cleaning the house - I LOVE it when we can get the house nice and neat!  Apparently we tired Evie out though - i came up and found her after she was supposed to be in bed - crashed in the middle of the floor - this is unusual for her - she almost always sleeps on her bed - but apparently she was so tired, that she just dropped and slept where she was - which happened to be in the door way to her room with the lights on.... She was so cute curled up there on the floor!

Dwayne and Nicole and kids also came over - Dan and Dwayne were gonna talk shop for a bit and we all had fun playing and chatting and enjoying the beautiful weather!  

Today was church, Dwayne and Nicole came to church with us - it was fun to have Anayia with us in Primary - we had fun acting like animals during singing time while we practiced our songs.

Happy Birthday Aaron!

Aaron turned 5 this week.  I can't believe how big and smart and unique he is.  He loves lego's and building things - especially with Grandpa, and after getting 2 lego sets for Christmas and 1 for his birthday - Aaron and mommy spent 2 whole days building lego sets, and ended up with a police station, a fire department and a hospital.  We have a whole lego city now.  :) I neglected the house and a bunch of other things, but Aaron and I had fun.

Aaron wanted a truck cake - and daddy made him a very awesome truck cake for his birthday.  He got to go out for Ice Cream with Grandpa on his birthday.  When grandpa got there, i went down to get him and told him to go get dressed.  He poutingly asked why - and I said so you can go get ice cream, he continued to pout and not want to get dressed.  Then i told him that Grandpa was here to take him out for Ice Cream - his whole countenance changed and he ran to get dressed.  Grandpa got him his hospital lego set, Grandpa and Grandma Jones got him some pirate finger puppets, Grandma and Grandpa Cox got him some clothes (at mommy's request) and he also got some clothes from Grandma Penny.  Daddy got him Angry Birds on his iPad - Aaron LOVES angry birds, and the kids all eagerly watched him play before bed time.

On Friday Night - the kids cleaned up downstairs, then we watched Tarzan, after which, the kids had a glow stick party.  Dan pulled out some glow sticks for them - we turned off all the lights and the kids had a blast chasing each other around in the dark.

Saturday night, Dan and I got a baby sitter and we went up and met Newell and Becky and watched Les Mis.  I LOVE that musical, and the movie was done well enough that i really enjoyed it and I am now feeling a desire to pick up the unabridged version of the book that i got about half way through.

Today was a normal Sunday - fun but exhausting.  For some reason, Dan and I always end our Sundays totally exhausted and needing naps....

Oh and James got another tooth - he now has a grand total of 5 teeth - 2 on top, 3 on bottom.

And a Happy New Year

We had a pretty uneventful week - on New Years Eve, we sent the kids to bed at the usual time and I did a puzzle while we watched a movie - then we popped the lid on our sparkling cider right before midnight took a couple pictures and went to bed.  The next day, Eileen realized that it was New Year's Day and kept asking about how we were going to celebrate - were we going to a party?  could we watch a new years movie?  What could we do???  She was not very happy that the grownups had their own little party after they were in bed.  :)   

The kids were out of school all week - so they are going TOTALLY stir crazy - weather has been too cool for doing much outside.  Dan went back to work on Wednesday - which meant that he went to work in the morning, then got home around 5:30 - ate dinner with us, got the kids to bed - then went downstairs and worked a 6 hour night..... He's thinking of asking for overtime.... :)  He even had to spend most of Saturday working.

On Thursday, Crystal came over so we could meet about the primary music and get the program figured out - (It's so nice to have that all organized now!!  I love being organized!)  and she brought her kids over to play.  They all seemed to have a fun time and poor Crystal must have thought that I was stir crazy too - since i kept her there overly long with my talking after we were done and kept giving her recipes and food to take home....

Saturday was my turn to go help clean the building that our choir rehearses at - the girls all wanted to come - so we went and cleaned windows and bathrooms and the kitchen and in less time than we imagined, we found ourselves done and on the way home - the girls were great though - so helpful and cute.  :)

Today was an adventure.  Our first week with church at 1:00 pm - it wasn't nearly as painful as we were afraid.  James actually got a decent nap in before church - the kids had lunch, so they weren't hungry, And while James wanted another little nap after church, he did fine during church.  Evelyn had her first day as a Sunbeam - she was so cute - she did such a good job of sitting reverently and paying attention - she sang during singing time and waved at me while I was sitting down.  :) Nursery was much easier without my 3 year old daughter hanging on me - demanding my lap and climbing on my back.

After dinner, we all went downstairs to play - Dan got out some blocks and Aaron's "Angry Birds" Hot Wheels stuff and we spent an hour building 'castles with pigs' and knocking them over with flying Hot Wheel Angry Birds.  The kids had a blast - They totally got into it and we had a nice evening playing together.

Dan asked Eileen and Anna if they were excited to go back to school tomorrow - and both gave an emphatic yes - I guess I'm just too boring now.  :)

Merry Christmas!!!

Well - the week started off busy!  Monday we spent getting ready for Christmas and then Monday Evening, we all went down to Frank and Tina's for our Christmas Eve (and Bagna Caulda) party.  The kids had fun playing with cousins and friends and the adults had fun talking and eating.  We brought Dwayne and Nicole and family with us to celebrate and to introduce them to Bagna Caulda.  We had a fun time and stuffed ourselves with junk food.  :)  That night it began to snow!  We had a beautiful white Christmas by the next morning.  After the party, we put the kids to bed and played Santa and set everything up and went to bed!  

Christmas morning was a bit bigger than we usually do since my parents were here.  We opened stockings, and ate a little breakfast while we chatted on Skype with Grandma and Grandpa Jones.  The kids had fun opening their presents from each other and giving their presents to each other.  It was so fun to watch them get so excited over everything.  After that we called Grandma Penny and Aunt Pam on Skype so that they could watch the kids open the presents from them.  It was really neat to be able to connect on the holidays even with family that weren't near by!

It was cute to watch my Dad help James open his stocking and presents - he made funny faces the whole time!  

My parents got Aaron some lego (type) sets from Costco and he had fun building with my Grandpa.  Those two get along so well - it is so fun to watch them spend time together.

James has learned what to do when he sees the camera - he now gives me his biggest cheesy grin any time I get the camera out!  He's such a sweetie and such a smartie pants!!  

Christmas night, we had dinner at our house.  We had Grandpa, Frank and Tina and Frankie and Stuart and Rebecca with kids, along with Dwayne and Nicole and kids and Newell and Becky and kids. We had a full house, but the kids had lots of fun playing and eating and opening more stuff from Great Grandpa.  Great Grandpa went big this year and I spent the better part of the next day building a kitchen set for Evie and a Tool Table for Aaron.  

Evie was very excited about her kitchen set and from the time we opened it - she spent about every waking minute asking me when we would make her kitchen!!  All the kids got into playing with the tool set - they used the plastic saw to cut up old cardboard boxes....  

On Wednesday, we went to Ikea to get a dresser for James (the changing table doesn't fir his clothes....)  And came home with the dresser, a kitchen island and a bunch of plans....

For Christmas, Dan made me some bags to carry my crafts around with me - then he gave me the better part of the rest of the week to work on my crafts - he took care of the kids and kept them busy and happy so I could have fun sewing and planning.  I have finished the top of the quilt for the guest bed and some cute pillows to go with it.

The kids spent most of the week cooped up in the house (it's been kinda cold) so on Saturday, Dan took them to the Chick-fil-a play area and let them get their wiggles out.  He took the older two on bike rides, but they both came back saying that they were freezing and didn't want to do that again until Summer!  LOL

Holidays Here we Come!

My mom got in late Sunday night to help out while Dan was out of town.  Thank goodness for her help, I am not sure that I would have been ready with out her here!  Her being here allowed me time to get the Christmas shopping done and to keep the house in some sort of order.  Dan got back on Wednesday - after a bit of a delay, since it snowed all morning on Wednesday.  Wednesday we met my Grandpa and Frank and Frankie for lunch at the Olive Garden, and made it back just in time to get the girls from school.  

I managed to snap this picture of my mom and Aaron reading together that I just LOVE - Aaron loves his Grandparents and loves to spend time with them - stealing their phones to play Angry Birds and building with the Legos with Grandpa.

My dad got in on Thursday night - just in time for a late dinner and to say good night to the kids.  Thursday was also the girls last day of school.  They both had parties at school that day, and since Dan was home and kinda had the day off, I was able to go in and see them at school and help out in Eileen's class party.  

Saturday we went caroling down at Great Grandpa Francone's house.  The kids had fun ringing bells and singing songs and ringing door bells.  James was happy the whole time getting pushed around in his stroller and Evie and Aaron only had one or two minor falls...  

After caroling, we went back to Grandpa's house for Chili and Corn Bread and hot apple cider.  James's favorite part of the evening was when he found the bells while the grownups were still eating - he walked around happily ringing the bells for at least half an hour 

The most amusing part of this week though?  It is 9:30 PM here and my dad is sitting at the lego table working on the marble chute that he started with the kids before dinner - and has been working on it (without the kids) for an hour and a half now.  :)