Loving on Cole

 Chase especially has all of a sudden figured out that Cole is more "playable" now.  He loves to carry him by his armpits.  Every time I turn around to tell him to stop, Cole is grinning and Chase says but he likes it.  What do I say to that.  He takes him over by the TV and plays with him.  So cute.  k

So Cole has had his two center bottom teeth for some time.  AFter this last illness he had two more teeth thru - what appears to be his two top eye teeth????  They seem too far out to be the two outer teeth but maybe - not sure.  I am calling him my vampire for now!

A different post

I wanted a necklace like this for Christmas but the key question for me was whether to put Connor's name on it or not.  No doubt I have four kids but the reality is that i am raising three here on earth.  I have a ring with just Connor's name engraved on the back.  I have a necklace with his thumb print on it.  I have a bracelet with Callie, Connor, and Chase on it - will get Cole just haven't yet :-)  If I get a mother's ring it will have all four on it.  But for the names listed on this necklace somehow it wasn't an easy black and white thing for me.  My reality is I don't want to have to explain it all the time to random people when they casually look at it or make a comment.  I don't want to be slapped in the face with it and have to decide how much to explain.  And I knew it would bother Shannon to see his name on it and be confronted with it that much more.  But to leave him out seemed wrong to.  And in the end I felt I would be judged either way.  Not that that matter too much to me it was just I couldn't and still can't decide what would feel right for me or be the best for me.  This is what the end result was - the three on the outside and Connor on the back.  But obviously I am still not sure.  I haven't worn it yet.  I love it and don't want to seem unappreciative - it was my decision.  I just don't seem to be able to make it and stick with it.  I plan to wear it tomorrow.  We'll see how that feels.  I am thinking I need to get in to have Cole put on the bracelet and then if I wear them together I will feel better.  I wear his ring all the time and don't feel weird I dont' have a ring for the other kids... but no one knows...so is it about feeling judged.  Or being sad to "move on".  Or feeling like I am not being fair to him - he doesn't care!!!!  So many thoughts.  I could go on and on.  ANd this may make no sense as I have gone over and over it in my head but am quickly writing it here with not everything.  Not even sure why.

Christmas

On Christmas Day we were to be at Shannon's parent's house at 10AM for presents and lunch and then mid afternoon drive to my parent's house for presents and supper.  We had nothing on Christmas Eve.  So I approached the subject to Callie of Santa coming a night early.  I assured her he could do that as he had done that for Alea many times.  With her on board we moved "Santa" up a night.  It worked out wonderfully.

The boys had been sick and Cole super fussy so I had no presents wrapped.  On the 23rd I left to go to a 3 PM gathering for a friend who adopted a baby.  So fun to visit with them and meet their precious baby.  Then I was off to the Mall to meet up with Jenny.  We had a great time and she decided to go back to help me wrap gifts.  Shannon had the kids at his parent's house.  So what I had kinda dreaded as a big chore turned into a great night of wrapping and visiting!

On the 22nd we had gone up to mom and dads to bake cookies.  So once the kids got home, Callie got out a chocolate chip cookie, a sugar cookie and a banana muffin for Santa and 9 carrots for the reindeer.  Chase then decided he needed to get out the same cookies and muffin.  He sat them down and proceeded to eat the sugar cookie....only some of it.  Callie was applaud.  Then as I sat feeding Cole a bottle while Chase watched a tv show and Callie and Shannon were in the other room probably playing her DS:  I hear Chase say I probably need a couple of Santa's carrots too.  He ate two carrots.  I ratted him out to Callie so we could replace them all.  Back in bed we had to read several Christmas books, sing Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer, and then Callie ask if she could say a prayer.  It was awesome - she said Dear God thank you for sending santa and the presents but w know that is not the real meaning of Christmas it is you sending your son Jesus to us to die for our sins - amen. 

We had an absolutely great day on Christmas Eve.  The kids slept in well.  Enjoyed opening presents.   Played together for a long time and then separately with their toys.  We had naps and in the evening went to the Church Christmas Eve service.  After that the kids wanted to go thru a drive thru before looking at Christmas lights - I assured them nothing would be open but I was wrong - to McDonalds for fries and Braums for ice cream we went.  But looking at the lights didn't last long and home to bed we went.  By the way when I asked Chase if he saw Santa bringing the presents he said he saw Santa's legs :-) 

Christmas Day the kids again slept in pretty well.  We had a great time at John and Linda's and then at Mom and Dad's.  It was another great day!

I always look back and wonder what they got that Christmas so a partial list is:
Moster High Dolls, Cutie Pops, Penny Pons, Imaginex Space Shuttle, Legos, Balls, Battery James Engine, Wii, Outside Basketball Goal.
On Christmas morning we had such a hard time getting Chase to keep opening gifts as he wanted to play with each thing he opened.  Callie was thru hers way before him.  By the time we got to mom and dad's he was ripping thru them with no clue what he was getting!  Cole opened very little.  He would like the paper every once in awhile but mostly he was still a little grumpy from not feeling good.

Ginger Bread House

Shannon bought this kit and I wasn't too excited about doing it.  Both boys had been sick and Cole was especially fussy.  So I got it out and let Callie and Chase have at it.  I helped very little as I had Cole in my arms most of the time.  They had fun and Callie was excellent to include Chase.  It was so great to watch. 

Church Christmas Play

Callie was so excited to have a part in a play.  It was a very cute play about the real meaning behind the song the 12 days of Christmas.  Chase could have had a non-speaking role but chose to remain with me in the pew (during the practices and the performance).  After the play the kids sat with us for a small Sunday evening service and then during the last song they went up on stage to sing Away in a Manager.  Chase wanted to join Callie then so I let him go up.
These are not good pictures - this camera is yet to be figured out by me and Shannon is even worse - my lap was full.  Plus it looks like Callie isn't having a good time at all and I promise she was loving it.  But she is very serious about it!

Brothers

They were being so cooperative but still it was impossible to get a really good pic of both of them!  Mary got them matching holiday shirts that she gave me when Cole was born.  They look so cute.  And yes Chase has on green oscar the grouch socks that he would not take off - I picked my battle and it was trying to get a pic even if there were green socks in it!  He really has a sock thing right now. 
Also a Chase funny - he hit his head the other day and came over to me showing me the back of his head and asked if it had a crack in it.

2nd Grade School Program

 I don't know why I can't rotate these pictures.  She was so excited about her Christmas program and she had a "special" part where she got out front with a couple other kids to lead the class in a dance/song.  She even let Tracey braid her hair - which is a BIG thing for Callie.  She was quite excited about it!

Callie's 1st time playing basketball

 They had practice/games on 6 Saturdays.  Callie learned a lot and seemed to enjoy it.  It was a lot of fun to watch.  She had no clue and really didn't understand the difference between offense and defense but most of the others didn't either!  They would tell them to guard their person and keep their hands up and when they were on offense they were still doing that ;-)  She did get a lot better on dribbling the ball.

Cole just wanted to eat Grandpa's hat during the game.

 

70th Anniversary

My Grandparents, Orville and Margaret Ellen Rogers, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Sunday.  The following pictures are them with Cole, them with 8 of their 9 Grandchildren, my cousin Karen's three kids and our two older ones, Chase hanging out with Daddy.

Bud 90 years old in June, Margaret Ellen to be 90 in later December, and Cole at 7 months.

Karen, Mark, Sara, Julie, Tom, Dennis, Beth, Emily

Chase & Callie with Ellen, Jenna & Sam

This isn't a good picture by any means but I LOVE how Sam and Chase are checking each other out!

so so so so CUTE!