Monday Musings..........

Bailey (5): "Brennan's shirt is all wet.":

Me: "Well, I guess she just spilled something all over herself."

Bailey: "It's called water, Mom."

Christmas Tour of Homes!

Well, I was debating whether to even join Kelly's Christmas Tour of Homes, because most of my Christmas decorations look like this......

or this.......

.

and then I decided I would just keep it real and join up anyway, with my headless Joseph and my blind owl.

I guess in the grand scheme of things perfect decorations aren't really that important. As long as my kids are celebrating Jesus, that's all that matters

But, I did make a wreath this year that I've managed to keep in one piece so far. It was my first attempt at a wreath and I LOVE how it turned out!

Michael's had their burlap on sale 3 for 1 and the ribbon 50% off, so with a good deal and a you tube tutorial.......success!

So, I made this book out of Christmas cards a few years ago and I brought it back out this year to read through. Each of the 26 days has a verse to correspond with a letter of the alphabet and an activity. We didn't stick to all of the activities, but did a few new things this year.
What we did new this year.........

Made Candy Cane Popcorn

Made Frozen Themed Muddy Buddies

Made The Easiest Christmas Candy

Went Ice Skating

All of these were things we would do again! It was the first time the kids had been ice skating and they were so tired, sore and had blisters, but they were asking to go back again next month!

An icy pig nose.......

Poor Travis couldn't stay upright and they didn't

have any of those little walker thingies, so he

was a little cold and wet.

Saturday night the older kids had their youth Christmas party at church. There was an ugly sweater competition and they all made their shirts. Bethany spent all week crocheting that Grinch vest.

All last week I have been taking the kids to do their secret Santa shopping for each other and Saturday morning Brittany and I drove up to Bartlesville for a friend's college graduation.

The good news is that I am DONE Christmas shopping except for one thing for one child! The bad news is that I ate all the Christmas tree cakes I bought for the kids' stockings.

Just keeping it real.

Merry Christmas!

Trace is six months old!

Trace is already six months old, well he was on Nov. 28th. And, he is 20 pounds! I can tell, because back pain, and my arm about breaks off when I'm carrying him.

Look at those fat baby thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving was basically uneventful.

And, for that, I am thankful.

Travis crushing crackers for the corn casserole.

Making turkeys.....

Sleeping turkey........

This little guy made his way to our table this year.

On the menu.........

David's famous ham

mashed potatoes

corn casserole

green beans almondine

Ree's sweet potato casserole

bread and butter

pumpkin pie

apple pie

Monday Musings: Country Edition

After a very long, exhausting day of homeschooling........

Me: "So, tell Dad what we learned about in homeschool today."

Travis (4): "Penguins!"

Me: "And where do penguins live?"

Bailey (5): "In the country?"

Field Trips

Every year the kids to the library reading program, and every year they get free tickets to the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and the Tulsa Zoo.

While the older kids had a youth activity at our church for fall break, I took the younger crowd to the Air and Space Museum......

Put your seat in the upright position.

Buckle your safety belt.

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed. It is a rather small museum to begin with, but we have gone almost every year since we moved here and every year they've taken more exhibits out. I don't know if stuff is just worn out and they don't have the funding to replace it or what. They were supposed to have a big jumbo jet that you could walk into open, but it still wasn't. Oh well, It was crowded when we first got there, but about half way through we were practically the only ones there, so the kids got to do the flight simulator, operate the robotic arm and launch the space shuttle!

A few weeks ago we went to the zoo.........

I do love the Tulsa Zoo, but I have to say Riverbanks in Columbia, SC is my all time favorite!

Trace's first visit to the zoo!

I wonder who the cut-ups of the family are?

Monday Musings

Right now Brennan is very into books and songs. But, she combines all the songs she knows into one big song that goes something like this.......

"Itsy pider, wassshhhh, down,
cccc, eee, ehhh, geee,
bus go wish wish wish, all town
ashes, ashes, fall down!"

Trace Emory is FIVE months old!

My, how times just flies by!

Just five short months ago, we got to meet this little punkin in person.

Don't you just love sleeping baby pictures? (And, just sleeping babies in general?)

He is a little Sanchez for sure. Looks just like his brothers.

Trace can rock the faux-hawk.

What did we ever do without him?

(Of course, I say that about all my babies!)