Thanksgiving: We had Wed-Fri off so on Tues night I had a late hair appointment. I really wanted to go eat so we went to Applebees to eat before I went to my hair apptmnt. To our surprise when the waitress came to give us the bill she said we were free to go, our bill had been taken care of. Wow! Had never had that happen before. I have an idea of who it was but am not sure whether to say anything or not when I see him next. I mean it might not have been him?!?!
We went to Mom and Dad's on Thanksgiving. Grandma and Grandpa were there and Tom's family. It had been awhile since I had seen Grandma and Grandpa so we spent the day there. Shannon and the kids headed home after supper and Mom and I drug Dad to walmart for the shopping specials. We have always had good luck and fun meeting super nice people. Well this year we did get all we went for but the store had it VERY poorly arranged and just asked for a "mob" mess. It was not good at all. Dad was not impressed but really it had never been like that before! We went back and slept for awhile before Mom and I headed to KC for our fun day of shopping. Even though the sales had started the night before we still got a lot of good deals and all we went for. Mom and Dad took me home that night.
Mom had gotten the elf on a shelf to take the kids home. They were so excited. We knew Chase would be as he had one at preschool and was so excited to tell us Miss Lori had gotten an elf from santa. Callie was over the top excited too. I guess a lot of the kids in her class have one and they all talk about it. So we started that that night. The elf was such a hit but just moved around for the first week or so. Then he stepped it up and moved to their countdown to mark off some they had not. From there he had a barbie pool party, etc. Nothing too much. Callie has pictures of each one. spelling in candy, snow flakes. The last night I had no ideas but Shannon took over. He tapped stuff to the ceiling. I have no idea. But they liked it.
Back to Thanksgiving on Saturday we went to Shannon's Grandma's house for the Montee gathering.
Holiday prep:
The elf was major at our house this year - they got up to see him!
They wanted a ginger bread house again this year - callie did the front and one side and Chase did the back and the other side. It turned out cute.
We had one snow day on a Tuesday the second week of school.
Santa Train - it was so cold and the line so long! But we did it! Then went to the Deli to eat and the big kids and I went to practice while cole and Shannon went home.
Church Christmas Program - we had practice on Wed nights. Chase had practiced and knew his line well. In fact I told Callie to let him say the first one alone and then she could do the rest. When the night came, he did not do it at all. He had said all day he wouldn't and he never changed. Didn't even go up for the songs. Callie did great and I didn't push him - no point. I think Cole would have loved to run around up there had we let him ;-)
The Wed night before break after Callie had music practice at Church Shannon took her and Chase to school skate and I took Cole to walmart for some last minute gifts. Roy and Vesta brought by presents for the kids. We let them open them that night and they had an absolute blast playing.
Holiday Train in the COLD.
LONG line.
But pretty.
This hat was too much.
Cole was cheesing it up for me here.
The best I could get of the three of them in front of the tree. I had some really good ones that I lost off my camera - it made me sick.
Waiting before the Church Christmas program looking cute.
Callie did a great job!
Posing with Henry the Elf the day he was in Chase's space shuttle.
Ice breaking the tree out our front window.
The kids are loving having a fire - this is the first year we had done it for a long time.
Waiting to get this Christmas celebration started!!!
No chairs to sit in...
Christmas Break: Callie went home with Catheryn for a sleep over when school was out at lunch time. The boys had their party at Christy's house. Friday night John and Linda watched the boys while Shannon and I used a gift cert to Jims. It started freezing rain that evening. By Sat we were iced in and it continued all day. We had hoped to go to Moms and bade cookies but obviously did not. We baked banana muffins and some premade cookies and had a nice restful day and prepared to lose power. It went off about 8PM. Cole was already asleep and I got the kids to bed pretty quickly. By 8:45 all were asleep. So I went to the basement and wrapped all the presents for the kids by lamp light! A prefect time to do it. Sunday the power come on about 7AM - perfect and I can't believed looking out that it did - I figured we were in for a long time! We stayed home as we weren't sure of the roads until evening then went to eat to get out for awhile. Monday Shannon went to Riverton to play games. The kids and I huge out and I let them open a present from each other then after naps Linda came to watch them while I ran to Joplin for a dermotologist appt. I ran to walmart for some last minute charger, etc.
Tues. Christmas Eve - We went to John and Linda's at 1. The kids opened their chairs here before we went. We had lunch, opened presents and enjoyed the afternoon. We all went to Christmas Eve service. The kids were nice and tired so went to bed pretty easily really.
Wed. Christmas Day - Callie was the first up but made it till almost 7:30 so no complaints here! We opened presents, played, took a bath with all new stuff, ate eggs and sausage then headed to Shannon's Grandma's house for awhile before heading to Mom and Dad's house. Everyone got there and we did presents, ate, and played till bedtime. Very nice day!
I always want to look back to what they got so here are some hightlight from Santa or grandparents one: kindle fire, tablet, chairs, zelfs, bedding little mermaid and cars, bat cave, octonauts, camcorder, camo clothes, boots, hat (or as chase calls them hunter clothes), thomas train battery engines, and jamies, shoes, etc.
Christmas morning.
Look they have new chairs now!
The best family pic we got this year.
And now Cole is ready to go.
Aunt Stephanie helped them use their new rubber band bracelet makers.
ROTTEN boy!
Thursday we played at home and ate out in the evening.
Friday we played at home and Chase had Cooper and Callie had Sydney over to play for a while late afternoon.
Saturday was the Underwood gathering at John and Linda's house for lunch.
Sunday was church, pizza, naps, then the kids went to play with Shelby at John and LInda's house while Shannon and I ran to Joplin to exchange Callie's camcorder and to get Chase's birthday presents. Callie and Chase ended up staying the night.
Monday I ran to work for awhile, Mom came down to play for the day, and the big kids got home right after lunch.
Tuesday was new year's eve. We just played at home. Cole went to bed alittle late at 9. Callie really wanted to ring in the new year. So the rest of us stayed up. They did great actually. Around 11:30 Chase did come to me and say don't you think I should go pee, use my nose spray and we can go lay down! But he held out. We counted down and then Shannon shot off some old, quiet fireworks left over - fountains, etc.
Wednesday we again played at home but went to the mall to eat at supper to get out.
Thursday we decided we needed to get out a little! So after naps we headed to Joplin. Callie used her Justice gift card from her birthday, I got Cole a couple DEALS from Gymboree, we ate at the food court, then headed to Tilt to play mini golf and games, ride the ride there a few times, etc. They had a blast and Callie won with a hole in one at the 18th hole!
Friday Shannon had to go in to work for a work day. The kids and I played then in the afternoon the big ones went to play with Shelby at John and LInda's while Cole and I ran errands and got ready for Chase's party. We were home for the evening.
Saturday, January 4th - Chase's 5th Birthday -how did that happen!!!! Family all came for a noon pizza party. Chase wanted to decorate his cake as Callie had decorated hers. He said he might need some help though. but really he didn't want any. It was Jake and the Neverland Pirates and he had big thoughts as he talked about doing all the characters. I talked him into the sceen and we put candle characters on. The kids had so much fun playing. They all ate then continued playing. I got the back to do the cake by saying they all had to come. As soon as I had pics, he blew out the candles, and we sang they ran right back to playing. After 2 I had them come up the same way to do presents. Literly as soon as he opened the last present one of the kids said back to playing and off they went. Mostly they played downstairs but outside some. Chief was good with them and they loved him and the cat!!! Shelby had a 5PM basketball game so they left a little earlier. Weather was coming in so Dennis's family left soon after 5 and then Tom's family and Mom and Dad about 6 or so. Chase has such a good day. He loves playing with his cousins!
He opened the presents from us in the AM - a bb gun, gun case, glasses and bbs. Callie and Cole got him a chain saw. From family he got a sleeping bag, camo hat and pack, toy gun, imaginext castle stuff, air hog rocket, tool box & real tools to help daddy, ear phones and case for his tablet. He loves it all!!!! I had ready about someone getting their child a tool box and real tools and when I couldn't think of anything for JOhn and Linda to get him I told them about that - he LOVES it!
Chase opening his bb gun from us the morning of his birthday.
All the cousins except one somehow seems to be missing from the picture???
Chase's birthday cake that he helped decorate. Blowing out candles.
Opening presents from all the family.
Cole was in practice from opening Christmas gifts and really couldn't understand why Chase was the only one getting to now! So Chase kindly let him open one.
I am writing this on Sunday evening - Callie was supposed to do the special music at Church but it was cancelled due to weather so she will do it next Sunday. I ran her and I out to urgent care in the snow - she has pink eye and I have been fighting a sinus infection since Christmas Eve. We were all supposed to go back tomorrow but the weather has called off school.
Some funnies I want to remember:
Chase did not call it hoho this year hardly at all - sad. But one day he did ask me something like what his first name was hoho or santa. So he hadn't completely forgotten.
Cole started saying hat because of Santa's hat and is obsessed with hats now.
I had Chase at the ent one day in Dec and to pass the time was asking what he thought Santa would bring him - he looked at me and said I already ordered. (they had written letters and sent them with Henry the elf - Callie wrote hers and then wrote what Chase told her for his).
Cole even noticed the elf and would look for him and point him out!
Then on Christmas morning they were just starting by looking thru their socks - he had Toy story socks and he loves socks. I said wow and he said and I didn't even order these!!!!
Today when when we were at urgent care I told Callie I hated that I had napped more than normal lately due to the sinus infection and the over the counter meds I had used knocking me out. But I said you didn't really notice as you and Chase were playing. She said not really. We dont' play as much any more since I have Chase to play with. Kinda sad but they would let me if I wanted. Really they just play together so much and have the entire break!!! Cole is getting there a little.
Chase loves to do puzzles and is pretty good.
Callie loves doing webkinz, reading, and playing games on her kindle. Chase is enjoying his tablet more now that I have preschool games, letter tracing and puzzles. At first I had just put the games on his I had on Callies. BTW I stayed up way late one night setting those things up!!!!
It has obviously been deer season and each time Shannon gets home Chase runs to him and asks him if he caught a deer. It makes me giggle each time as I envision Shannon leading a deer up our driveway. Chase is very into wanting to hunt and loves the dear hunter game on his tablet. Callie says she could not kill one. But when he gets one and brings it home she loves it. She is so into science and how everything works. It was a total disection lesson with the deer. So funny.
On a total side note - Callie asked if you had to do more than get married to have a baby. I knew she wants to know how everything works enough that my standard God gives you a baby might not work. So while I washed her hair I told her it was pretty old stuff but we could talk about it if she wanted - she had heard in school some I know. So I went thru a lot of the science DNA, what happened, God, Faith, Morals - we hit it all a little and that was enough. I had to laugh as I was telling Shannon - what a mixed up world here I am explaining this to my nine year old who still believes this elf is flying to the north pole to report on her each night!!!!!!!!
I know there is a lot more that I am forgetting. I am not posting this till I get pics uploaed so maybe I will remember more. I hate that but at least go this down before I forget it all!
