Mission accomplished!

Sarah has been asking me to teach her how to braid. We finally sat down and practiced on her barbies. She is so proud of her new skill. She even learned how to put the little band around the hair. She's growing up so fast!

Only a Mother.........

Might see a future artist in this act, rather than just another naughty act by our mischievous little HANNAH!

Hannah showed me her little jewelry box and with great pride exclaimed,

"Mommy, look, I decoupaged it!"

Oh, Hannah!!!! She keeps me busy!

While we are on the subject of Hannah.....

Conversation I overheard,

Sarah: Daddy said that we can't play with our toys today because we didn't put them away last night.

Hannah: I can, but though, because I am still just a baby. (the child is almost three!!!)

Why I dread taking Hannah to the Grocery store lately.......

A man is walking just a few feet behind us in the store, ( he is a little on the heavy side)

Hannah: Mommy, look at that man, he is walking so funny and so slow.

In the cereal isle

Hannah: Look at that lady! Look at her hair, look what she is wearing...(giggle, giggle)

As we walk by the water fountain where someone is currently taking a drink

Hannah: Oh, yuck! She is drinking so yuck germs, right?!?

at the check out where we are assisted by a very nice girl. Her bangs are swooped over one eye.

Hannah: that girl has such a weird thing on her eyes

(I ignore her)

MOMMY, I SAID, THAT GIRL HAS SUCH A WEIRD EYES!

(I continue to ignore her, but my face is flaming red)

She is such a weird teacher.

( I finally respond very quietly, she is not a teacher)

Ohhhh, she is such a weird payer, she is such a weird payer!

Seeing RED
I have been attending a photography class for the past month. While I can't say that I have become a "photographer" (yet), I am excited to report that I now know how to use the settings on my camera and I don't shoot on Auto (which I hate using because the flash always goes off. I HATE that).
I have been having LOTS of fun!!!!
Our assignment for last week was something red, this is what I came up with.

I had a lot of fun ideas, but time only allowed me to take pictures of the boring berries in my front yard. We did have a day of snow which allowed me o experiment with different lighting.
Sarah insisted that I take a picture of her red sock. (she knew all week that my assignment was red. We were at the store one day and she saw a red design on the floor so she layed on the dirty floor and said, "mommy, take a picture of me, I'm on red." I didn't have my camera, darn!)

Does this move you?????

Each week the instructor judges our photos. Keep in mind, this man speaks his mind. He has been known to tell people their photos are garbage. This week, mine was deemed stupid! The red umbrella one made it to the pile and he said to get it out because it was stupid and didn't move him. He chooses a picture because it brings him in or moves him. Well, I admit that there is nothing special about the umbrella alone, but I think the subject behind the umbrella is pretty dang cute.......And that moves me!!!!!! I think it's a keeper.

Look what reading the manual can do for you!!!

Another assignment was to read our manuals. I did, and look, I know how to shoot in black and white now. We took a drive out to Star and the girls and I played in the car while the boys shot their guns.

Have you ever watched a bunch of 7 year old boys bowl?

Well, this group of silly boys sure did make it entertaining to watch.

The anticipation is so great, it is better to be seated while cheering your ball down the lane!

A strike!!!!! Caden won a free game because he got a strike when the red pin was in the front. (I guess this is called a "monte carlo"?)

More Strikes and reasons to cheer!!!!!

The boys were really all so supportive of each other. And while they DID keep score, they cheered each other on and did the whole guy thing with high fives, chest banging, yelling etc.

Caden loved all the gifts! We started out telling him that he could invite 2 friends to go bowling, but he could not pick and his list grew bigger and bigger. He told us that if we let him invite more people he wouldn't ask for presents because that would be too many presents and he would rather have more boys and no presents. In the end I gave in. We had to take two cars to fit so many boys, but Caden had so much fun. And he even got to open up gifts! I have a feeling he didn't mind though ;)

Happy Birthday Caden!!!!!

Caden turned 7 today!!! Has that much time really gone by?

We celebrated his birthday all weekend with a bowling party with some of his friends, skiing and dinner on Saturday, and family over on Sunday.

Caden still loves the military and really wants to be a Navy Seal. After playing football this year though, he has added football and Soccer to some of the things he loves. Him and Sarah play football together nearly every night, and he is so excited about the new soccer goals at school.

Caden is an amazing brother to his sisters. They really love and look up to him.

Caden really LOVES to laugh! He likes to read JunieB. Jones books and play with his friends because they are so silly and make him laugh.

We love you so much Caden!!!!

I know, I know....

It is probably very naughty to let your kids jump off furniture, and even worse that I take pictures condoning such behavior. It's winter and this girl is an energetic gymnast. I think we'd be in for a lot more danger if we forced her to keep this energy cooped up.

I did move the coffee table, just to be safe.

No, they aren't upside down!!!

Crazy hair!!!!!!!!

We just got our new couches, and boy do they cause some static!!!! Sarah had her friend over and as they were playing in the living room I noticed that their hair was going CRAZY!!

How could you tell this was the kids tree?

Every year we put a little tree up in the play room that we let the kids have total control of the decorating. Hannah is at the age where she can totally get involved, but apparently she just puts ornaments at her level. I LOVE it!

(PS. I do also let the kids decorate our downstairs family tree, of course!!! I'm not a total scrooge. Just in case you were wondering)

He's back!!!!!

It looks like Mr. Peeps liked our family enough last year to come again. He arrived the Saturday after Thanksgiving. He even brought Christmas pajamas! I was of course relieved because I have not yet finished sewing the ones I started a few months ago. Always so thoughtful, that Mr. Peeps!

We were busy cleaning up dinner and toys when Caden noticed him in the computer room. The kids were so delighted that he came back this year. Even Hannah remembered him.

Caden reads Mr. Peeps letter. It seems one of the things he enjoyed last year was watching our tradition of reading a new Christmas story every night of December, so he brought new pajamas for the kids to cuddle up in. He reminds them to be kind to each other because he will be watching.

The kids made Mr. Peeps a bed time snack to thank him for the PJ's. You will often find Hannah next to Mr. Peeps telling him how much she loves him, being very careful not to touch him.

He seems to find new and creative places to move to every night! Thanks Mr. Peeps. The lids are trying really hard to be good so that you can give Santa a good report.

Thanksgiving

We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner At Grandma and Grandpa Smith's house.

No, they don't usually serve such a feast in mess kits. Caden is just in constant training for the military, so he insisted on bringing his mess kit. Grandma didn't seem to mind.

Grandma made crafts with the kids.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa! We had a lot of fun.