I'm Leaking!

While driving home from school, Landry was suddenly screaming hysterically from the back seat, "I'm leaking, I'm leaking!" There was a time when I would have come close to wrecking the car, thinking that she really was dying. She had scratched her leg and the tiniest drop of blood had barely oozed out of her. She has a flare for the dramatic.

Life Rules by Landry

While eating dinner, Landry took it upon herself to educate the rest of us in her list of life rules.

RULE #1 - Don't sit in Dad's chair.

RULE #2 - Don't look out the window when Santa is coming.

RULE #3 - Always be nice to your husbands. (Notice the plural.)

RULE #4 - Always watch movies at night, not grownup movies. (As she points at all of us with her longest finger, while Hayden screams, "That's the bad finger!")

RULE #5 - No talking about toilet stuff at the table. (I have said this one SEVERAL times.)

RULE #6 - No talking in the kitchen. (At the table. Evidently, I am a hardcore mother.)

There were more. The game went on for awhile. :)

Daddy and Daughter Dance 2013

Shane took the girls to the his first Daddy and Daughter dance last year and it was a huge success. The girls were both really excited to go again this year. Last year was a princess theme complete with horse drawn carriages, a paparazzi lined red carpet, dance floor and more. Word got out and this year was packed!

My husband must really love me because they went with a Downton Abbey theme for this year. (how cool is that?!)

They arrived with "servants" to take their coats at the door and then walked up to take "tea." The girls all put on hats and corsages. They still had the carriage rides, dance floor and of course lots of food.

 We bought new dresses for the occasion.

It always helps to have other girl friends when you go out with your dad!

Kindergarten Fun

I have always loved my kids kindergarten year. I appreciate their teachers and how hard they work to make mundane things seem so very special. At my kids current school, they have Gingerbread Man day and the whole school gets involved with making a huge gingerbread man that escapes from the oven and then the students travel the entire school on a scavenger hunt to find him. The scavenger hunt is to actually help the new students find their way around the school.

At Christmas they make gingerbread houses before their Christmas parties.

For the 100th day of school, they have to cover a t-shirt with 100 of something. I die cut butterflies from vinyl and covered Landry's t-shirt with 100 butterflies.

The very next day is the 101st day of school (naturally) and the kids and teachers dress as Dalmation puppies. You can't really tell from this picture, but she actually has big dots on her t-shirt that I, once again, cut out of vinyl.

How can we forget Dr. Seuss' birthday?! I also love the fact that I am on campus with my kids and get to poke my head out and see them in action during the day. I was hurrying past during my busy day and found my little love in the cafeteria with this cute little get-up. I was happy to snap a picture because by the end of the day all of the cute whiskers were gone.

How can you resist the cuteness?!

Party Bath

While we were cleaning up the pool and supplies, we ran across our fountain that we use in the pool during the summer. Landry was so excited about the pool and swimming that she nearly jumped in the still green water with her clothes on. Dad took her inside, filled up the bathtub, turned off the lights and she has been taking "party baths" for the last two weeks. She has her own personal light show and sings at the top of her lungs until she's wrinkled and pruny.

A Rough Week

Hello...Is anyone there?...

I have been absent for quite a while...

Spring Break is finally here and maybe I will have a chance to catch my breath and fill in the gaps since Christmas! We have been busy!

This last week was a little rough. Gibson has been practicing some new tricks on his bike. One of his tricks ended with him head first into his handle bars. He hit the front door as if he had been shot. Blood was everywhere. (Dang head wounds.)

He and Dad took off for the clinic and stitches.

They ended up just gluing it together and putting some tape on it. We could have done that! He has had a cool injury to show his friends at school. His injury happened on Monday.

 On Sunday night, Landry was jumping in the backyard with the kiddos and fell off the trampoline. She cried a little bit, we inspected her arm and shoulder, she ripped off her shirt and wrestled with her brothers, and she went to bed. The next morning, she was favoring her arm, crying that it hurt and couldn't move it very well. I had to take her to get x-rays and sure enough, she fractured her clavicle. She has spent this last week in a sling. Once again, there's not really anything that they can do. She has been a trooper and we have loaded her up with ibuprofen.

I'm hoping to stay injury free for a bit!

Christmas Happenings Part II

We had so many activities in December, that I didn't squish them all into one post.

 As part of our Snowfest festivities, Shane always makes sure that there is a great fireworks display and this year was no different. As soon as the switch was flipped to light the community tree, a choreographed fireworks show complete with music followed. It was very impressive and was met with tons of "ooh and ahhs."

 The kids met up with our personal Santa - Santa Joe. In fact, they never question whether he is real or not. He has a beard year round and we run into him at a couple of different events each year. He always has a petting zoo, remembers the kids' names and brings a reindeer in December. He is fantastic!

 Hayden lost his first tooth and had his first visit from the Tooth Fairy.

 This year we started a new tradition that was really special for the whole family. We went out and bought stuff to make "kits" for the homeless people that we see regularly in our area. We filled each kit with toothbrushes, toothpaste, flashlights, snacks, and other goodies.

 Shane and the kids filled them while I fixed dinner. Then we took off and delivered them. It was truly one of my most favorite things that we have done as a family.

 Landry had several really great days at school, but this one was by far the best. 

 In addition to pajama day (and they all watch The Polar Express and drink hot chocolate), the day of their classroom parties, they get to make gingerbread houses. All of the teachers help them with their antlers and paint their noses red like Rudolph. It is just about the cutest thing ever.

We enjoyed our church cookout, light watching and hayride. It was super cold and I have decided that if the temp outside is not above 70 degrees, I may die.

We attended our church's Christmas Eve service and it was really special for all of us.

 We finished all of our special holiday happenings with a favorite - sausage rolls. I can't say that Shane married me for these, but they sure have helped to keep him around! :)