Visit with Santa

Last night we took the kids to our Church to see the Christmas Program (they didn't want to participate). The show was very cute and all the kids did a great job. Afterwards there were treats and Santa made an appearance. It is a well know fact that my children are terrified of Santa. Last year Ryley didn't even want Santa to come deliver gifts. So I didn't really think they would want to see Santa, but like always they surprised me. Ryley told Santa she wants a princess doll. Santa gave her and Jodie a stuffed puppy and some reindeer food for Christmas Eve. Mason told Santa he wanted a football and he got a checkers game and some reindeer food too. When we left Mason explained that he was thinking about the movie "A Christmas Story" and that was why he asked for a football. We just watched this movie on Friday for pizza and movie night, it is one of Mason's favorites. We got home right before the sleet hit so it worked out great.

Ryley holding on tight. Ryley wanted to talk to Santa, but not sit on his lap.She was excited to have a gift to open.

Jodie always smiles for the camera.

Mason was a little nervous, but happy not to have to sit on Santa's lap.

Quick Brag and Funny Story

***For those who can't read what it says here you go.... "If I lost a mitten I would look in the potty".

This is the paper that Mason brought home from school last week. First I was very impressed because it is an entire sentence, a lot of the words are spelled correctly, and I can read it. Plus, at the start of school he didn't even know all his letters (I hear the gasps, Mason was just too busy to care about writing!) Then I was curious why he would look in the potty for a lost mitten. I asked Mason and he just laughed. Why are little kids obsessed with the potty, and everything having to do with the potty? My kids still laugh when someone says toilet, toilet paper, poop, pee, etc.

Also, Mason's teacher sent me a sweet e-mail on Thursday telling me what a great boy he is, how much he has grown since the beginning of school, and how patient he is with the other kids. Ryan and I are very proud of him.

Lastly, wanted to ask everyone to keep Mason in your thoughts and prayers. On Monday Dec. 22 he has to have surgery to repair a hernia and remove a cyst. The Dr. says it is a very simple procedure and he should be up and going in a few days. However, the recovery time is supposed to be six weeks Ha ha ha. We will see how long that lasts.

Gingerbread House and Ornaments

Here is the gingerbread house we made. My Mom bought the gingerbread house kit and the kids couldn't wait to make it. I did the icing work and then let the kids do the candy, but I wanted to help too so I did the front and they did the rest. It was lots of fun, and the candy was yummy (the gingerbread was not that good).

Jodie didn't get to help with the gingerbread house or the ornaments, but she is too cute not to include a picture of. When Mason was a baby I decided that every year at Christmas I would buy an ornament for him to color/paint, and we would write his name and the year on it. Then when he is all grown up and has a tree of his own he will have some ornaments to put on it. So when the girls came along we started their collections too. The kids love looking at the old ornaments and painting the new ones. I painted Jodie's this year.
Ryley's is pink imagine that!?!

O Christmas Tree

Last night we put up our Christmas tree. Every year we say we are going to go to the tree farm to cut a tree down (we have done this once), and every year we get to busy on the weekends to go. So Ryan and Mason stopped and got us a tree. I love putting up the tree, it makes the house smell, and look like Christmas.

Mason puts the star on every year.

Ryley loved putting on the ornaments, taking them off, and putting them back on. Mason was standing on the window sill so he could reach the top. Jodie refused to sit by the tree for a picture, she prefers to sit in the sleigh.Jodie helping Ryan wrap garland around the banister. Sitting in the sleigh. She loves taking all the toys out of it and sitting in it.This is our new Nativity Scene. Thanks Mom it looks really pretty!

God's Most Precious Gift!

I truly believe that children are the most precious gifts from God. Everything about having a baby is miraculous, and each new baby that comes to our family is wonderful, special, and amazing. With that said I would like to share some pictures of our new niece Regan Lee. Ryan's sister Sara had her baby on Saturday Dec. 6. They are all doing great, and head over heals for her. She weighed 9 lbs. 4 oz. and was a little over 21 in. long (this is exactly how big Jodie was at 2 months). Congratulations Sara and Ashley!! Regan is gorgeous and we can't wait to see her again soon!

Proud Uncle Ryan, he loves kids so much. I had to practically beg to get to hold her!Mason loves babies, and was mad that we wouldn't let him see her right after she was born. He also wanted to just sit and hold her. Ryley like the rest of us also loves babies, and has asked all day today when we can go and hold baby Regan again. She keeps telling me how much she loves Regan and can't wait to see her soon. After she finished telling me that she turned to Jodie and said "I love you too baby Jodie!!

Snow Fun!

This is for those of you who check our blog regularly and have been very disappointed. I promise to try to keep the blog updated each week, I have just been slacking!

Here are the pictures of our "big snow!" Like all kids my kids were so excited when it started to snow. Ryan got them up out of bed to show them it was snowing and we were hopeful that some snow would stick. As luck would have it we did have a little snow on the deck so the kids went out and played for a little while. Yes they are not dressed for being out in the snow, no they are not wearing hats or snow boots, I am a terrible mother Ha ha ha! I didn't want to have to get them dressed so I told them to get themselves dressed and this is what they came up with.

Devilish grin!

Mason hit Ryley just right with a chunk of snow, but she got him back.
This is her "I'm going to get you pose". Oh and she had to lay down on the deck and make a snow angel. When she came inside she told me her pants were all wet, but she had no idea how they got wet. Crazy girl, she is a hoot!!

New Pictures

Sorry for not blogging for awhile. Here are some random pictures of the kids. We had a really nice Thanksgiving, we ate too much, and were glad to get back home. I didn't take any pictures of our time spent with the family, we were just too busy.

Ryley enjoys getting in the suitcases when I am trying to pack.
Mason loves to have his picture taken!

Jodie was eating potatoes and then rubbing them all over her head. Thank goodness for bathtubs and hot water!

This was one attempt at a Christmas card picture, oh the joys of trying to get three kids to look at the camera and smile. Lots of fun!

Jodie always smiles for the camera. She is the happiest baby except when it is time to sleep!