COLD

I just love the weekend and this weekend was so fun. We had a fire and hot chocolate on friday night with some neighbors and then Saturday was breakfast with Santa. Here are the photos, the kids loved that Santa likes Pancakes!

I don't know if its my years going up in Canada, or living in Boston for one very cold, wet year but I absolutely hate being cold. This morning Bobbie and I went out running as we do every weekend and IT WAS COLD. I knew this for 2 reasons. First, Johns car had frost on it and my hands were so numb I couldn't get my laces tied but the second reason and most profound was that normally Jack who is attached to me physically at all times and never wants me to leave or to leave me and every weekend cries to come running with us - today he says Mommy are you going running? Yes Jack I am, I will be back soon, he says "OK mommy close the door its cold!"

and that was it. No fussing or whining...

We had a great day, it did warm up nicely into the 60s - much more my idea or December. The kids played outside and then we went swimming and Ella and I took a Pilate's class at the gym. I loved having her with me and its so fun to remember that when I was five I was just as flexible and of course i smiled at her and told her how awesome she was and is and all the moms thought she was just the cutest thing and my face is still hurting from smiling so much at my baby girl.

After church it was my turn to pick where we ate lunch so we went to Raising Canes and as we were leaving, a man said hi to Ella. Jack comes up to him and says "I am 3 and a half". Ella looks at Jack and says why did you talk to him, and Jack says to her, "because, I am going to talk to everybody today"

Happy Birthday Jesus

Try to avoid focusing on the food in the mouth and enjoy Christopher singing - he is so excited to sing in his school play.
Today we went to a happy Birthday Jesus party and they just thought it was awesome so they have been singing all day to Him.
Jacks version is a bit different - just use your imagination!

FREDDY'S BACK!

The kids have been begging me to step it up on the decorating front. It has just been crazy as always so today we started the rest of the house. We manage to only break a few ornaments so far=

Our Elf "Freddy Nicholas North Pole" has come back to our house. This week he has been observing the kids behavior and bringing little treats. We love him and Santa himself sent a letter with Freddy last night to the kids. So fun!

Happy Birthday John

Golden Oreos with frosting and sprinkles, we have been celebrating Johns birthday since Sunday with cakes, cupcakes and now cookie cakes. Now I just have to figure out what to buy him for a present, any ideas???

Here's to you Dad! Ella told the kids at school it was her dad's birthday and that her dad is awesome. Couldn't agree more!

Typically John is away for my birthday not his own, but this year he missed waking up to birthday breakfast in bed. We missed you very much lover boy and the kids wanted to sing to you so here they are and we made cookie cakes in your honour! Delicious!

Happy Birthday John, You are all my dreams come true. I love you!

RUN THRU THE WOODS

Happy American Thanksgiving! I started the morning off with the GE 5 mile Run thru the woods with my running buddies. It was great and the highlight was coming around towards the finish line and seeing John and the kids cheering me on, it might have cost me a few seconds of time but Oh it was so worth it. He fought the crowd and the parking and waited for me to come. They were so proud of me and I was so pleased. I have them to be thankful for. Ella said to John, Daddy when I am older and running who will watch my babies? John says, I will Ella, Nah she says maybe Tyler or Ashley will.

Jack is going to run with me next year he says!

Here are my beautiful loves playing "I'm the king of the castle...."

Thanksgiving Feasts

This morning I dropped the kids off at school and then 1 hour later I went back to Ella's school to see her Thanksgiving performance and be with her at lunch for their feast. It was so cute and I enjoyed seeing her sing her heart out! I then left her school and went directly to the boys school and had lunch with them. They were so excited because they are used to coming with me to have lunch with Ella, but I never go to their school for lunch. This is such a fun time for me. To see them do performances and watch them learning, growing and enjoying new things. We had swimming lessons tonight and we have definately found Ella's event. It has appeared that she doesn't want to do much, she liked ballet but didn't want to do it again, same with gymnastics and other activities. However, swimming she loves. She was so excited to have her lesson and can't wait till her next. The boys are little fish too.
My camera - (which I remembered to bring) died so I don't have too many pictures... As guilt trips go, and I am famous for them with Ruthie, you will just have to come see them in person!

If you can find her in her I will give you a $1000, well not really but Good Luck!

SPA

It was a spa day actually its spa week and next week at our house. For those of you who know about my crazy week and AHHHHH the one thing that could bring me to my knees, you will get a laugh at the idea of SPA. However for those of you who don't, I will save you the details and you can imagine that my kids and I are enjoying this "FUN".

Grease ball is the way to go!

Run for Ruthie

This morning Erin and I did a fun run. A 5k run to help stop Diabetes. It was such a pretty trail and the best part was we had fun and felt great. Then we picked up our packets for this weeks Turkey Trot. A five mile race, the kids get excited about these runs and I am excited to have them come cheer us on. So today I got a sticker and said I was running for Ruthie, my lovely mother who is diabetic.

Christopher was digging through my bag and found a pedometer they had given us. Here is his picture with his "FOOTPRINT COUNTER".

Belle

For those of you who have had children, a hot topic is potty training. Well since I guess i didn't get enough of it, I am doing it again. This time with our newest family member Belle. She is Ella's princess Belle and Christopher's Jingle bell and Jack calls her a Christmas bell. She was nameless, as most of my children are for awhile but Belle it is. She is so cute and the kids could not be more enamored with her.

Merry Christmas to me and my family. Our house was so empty and lonely without some four legged fun! John was excited that I decided to bring joy to our kids who have been begging for an animal for awhile. Jack even thinks she's better than a frog.

I love Shannon

There are some people in the world who are just great. In my little world its my friend Shannon. I think my kids are gorgeous and every single time I look at them all I see is how beautiful they are. When Shannon takes their picture, she captures what I see. Here are some examples of her pictures. I just love them... Love them! Love her!

Wonder Pets

There is a kids tv show called The Wonder Pets and these cute little creatures save the day for lots of distressed animals. Well today we saved a turtles day. The boys and I were driving to meet my parents and I saw in front of me a turtle trying to cross the road. Well he couldn't get up over the curb and he was feeling trapped and wouldn't survive much longer walking in the middle of the road. I stopped the car and the boys and I got out and helped him to safety. We waited till my parent arrived so they could see our turtle and then my dad put him in the woods safely out of harms way. Wonder Pets Wonder Pets we're on our way to save the turtle and save the day!!!!

Jack

Pumpkin Carving

We took our little pumpkins and went to the Stirmans annual carving contest... Knowing the kids would each want a pumpkin we designated one to carve (John's job) and we got potato head stick ins for the kids to do so we could all enjoy a whine free evening. It was such a fun time and the kids played way into the night in the big bounce house. Same time same place next year!

I purposefully took a picture of John holding a bag of fritos. This is frito pie and maybe I am just unaware of this but apparently its quite the thing that all the cool kids are doing. You make a big pot of chili and then pour the chili into the bag and add shredded cheese. No mess no fuss! Sounds like a plan to me.

Daisy

Today we had our first Daisy (Girl Scout) meeting. My friend Kim and I are the leaders of the troop and we planned some fun activities for the girls. They got their uniforms and their first badge since they learned their promise. Another older troop came by and assisted the daisies. All in all it was fun and everyone seemed to enjoy!

Gentlemen

Years ago John and I worked for a family who were so great to us. The dad one day told John that he should bring me Friday Flowers and that is something husbands should do. So John always the gentlemen took this idea and ran with it. Well ladies just so you know he has passed on this info to our little boys. Now the boys love to give mommy flowers. Today Christopher asked Daddy "can we go to the store and buy Mommy flowers, please?" They both picked out flowers and then on the way home fell sound asleep. John took a picture because he said it was so sweet - they were so thrilled to surprise me.

Well Girls, these two boys are going to be charmers!!!!