Last Christmas Post (I Promise) & Project 365

Bryce & Caleigh Grace

The Boys with their big gift.

Surprise!

Dad, James, Mom, Millie & Stella

My Stylin' Princess

I promise, this is the last Christmas post! We went to my parents' house for Christmas in Longview on Tuesday (just a tiny bit late; mom hasn't been feeling too good). Anywho, little sister chose to wear her new cowboy boots with her beautiful smocked Christmas dress....and she would not put on her dress shoes...what is it with these girls! My 9 year old boys could still care less what they wear! Well....off we went boots & all and had a really nice day. My kids are spoiled. ROTTEN! They got lots of fun things & even some really cool things for our home classroom. Excited!

I've decided to do the whole Project 365 for the year. I really want to document our year homeschooling & having all 3 kids growing up together. I'll try not to bore you to death & some days there will just be a picture because I'm sure I don't have enough interesting things to say for a whole year! Maybe a week if you're lucky!!! I plan to print it into a book at the end of the year. So....may 2010 begin & may it be a wonderful one...ups & downs & all! God Bless!

Christmas at MaMaw & PaPaws

Christmas at my in-laws is C.R.A.Z.Y.! It's fun too....my oh my....tons of folks, lots of cousins, lots of food & lots of presents! Christmas night about 5:00 we all gathered at MaMaws & PaPaws for the party....this year was so nice; everyone made it & no~one was sick. Such a blessing! All of the cousins draw names & buy for each other, then we play a game with the womens' and mens' gifts. I don't have too many pictures of Blake & Bryce from the night; they were all huddled up with their cousins that got Nintendo DS for Christmas.

Christmas Morning & Happy New Year!!!

She's figured out the gift process!

Drawing Transformers

Opening presents!

Bryce & his Santa gift.

Blake with his Santa gift

Caleigh with her Santa gift

Christmas morning

PlayDoh is my favorite of the day.

Bryce & his books....my little bookworm

Blake & his favorite of the morning....until he opened his gun that is!

Christmas morning is always loads of fun! The kids always get something off of their list from Santa & then gifts from mom & dad & from each other too....heck, even the dogs got them a present this year. The favorites this year were: Caleigh & her PlayDoh, Blake & his leatherman tool, Bryce & his Diary of A Wimpy Kid books. Caleigh got a fun new spring horse from Santa (who didn't think ahead about where to put it!) and the boys got 22s from their dad & hope to go to the gun range Saturday to try them out with target practice. The weather is dreary....no fireworks tonight. Happy New Year Everyone! Hope 2010 brings you all you may dream of & more! Tomorrow....Christmas at MaMaw & PaPaws house....hope to get those downloaded next!

Christmas Eve Fun

Things are settling down & I'm finally getting some pictures downloaded & edited....I've only gotten so far as Christmas Eve...it was fun! We had some snow during the day & we really enjoyed it. Snow in our area is rare & it's been so nice to have it twice already this winter! We went out & drove through a Christmas Lights Wonderland...all of the kids loved it! We came home & had dinner then let the kids open their traditional 1 gift on Christmas Eve before bed & set out cookies for Santa. Blake & Bryce got a cool Star Wars Pop Up Book & Caleigh got a new baby that "looks like me". Everyone was excited for Christmas morning.....

Merry Christmas!

May Your Christmas Be Bright!

Proof That I Can Turn off my OCD!

Well, another one of my "I want to do this with my kids at Christmas" has been accomplished! And, I must say, it was my favorite to watch thus far! I laid my OCD self aside...you know, the one that wants everything clean, perfect in it's place, etc., etc. (by the way, this rarely happens anymore!) and the kids went to town decorating their gingerbread house! And you know what? It turned out adorable! The boys are very proud of it and Caleigh liked tasting all the candy before it got stuck on the house! Tonight...I think we'll venture out to the drive-thru Christmas lights if it isn't raining...It's supposed to be 70 today & 50 tomorrow....gotta love East Texas weather!

'Tis The Season

Loving Christmas~time this year. Having fun cooking, baking, last minute shopping & all around holiday 'stuff'. The shopping is not really too bad since I finished up pretty early...just a few more things to 'top it all off'...I'm a wrapping, wrapping, wrapping fool! Now that I've gotten to the back of the closet I've decided I have enough....surely...I think! James took Blake today to buy his "secret gift" for Bryce & Bryce will go & shop tomorrow. We'll see if they can keep it a true secret until Christmas...they think the whole idea is pretty cool, so they just might pull it off! Maybe I'll let them exchange on Christmas Eve after Church...that might be fun! We put together the gingerbread house tonight before bed & are letting it set up....decorating will be in the morning! WOW! We'll start the day with a sugar rush!!! Please pray for our VN Travel buddies who are awaiting word from Ethiopia regarding the adoption of their new son...the court date is right now, Ehiopian time, and they pray for good news come morning!!! We are praying guys!!!

School's Out For Christmas Break! WooHoo!

On this day, Caleigh decided to dress up in the boys' shirts & bring them snacks from her kitchen while they were hard at work!!! She's so funny!

We are celebrating today because school is out for Christmas Break!!! We have learned so much in the past few weeks & the boys' progress has really shown me that we've done the right thing for now by homeschooling. They are reading so much better & with more fluency...it really is fun to watch. We are still struggling with Math, but I am hoping it comes along with a little more practice & self confidence! One thing that has been so nice is for them to be able to finish something in one day...they can write a rough draft of a paper, edit it & then re-write it nicely by the end of our school day. They can see their ideas come to life, jot them down, and have their finished product in one day....it really has been fun for them to see how they can "finish" a project with a little effort! Caleigh loves having them home...she is learning how to leave them "lone" when they're working hard or in their rooms reading. She brings me books to read & now has her own desk with her markers & crayons & colored paper. She likes to play school! The boys were invited to come to their old classes' Christmas Parties today at 2:00....so, I'm off to wake the little one & get her ready to go! They've been ready all day!!! Have a great weekend.

Wordless Wednesday...I Think I'll Try It!