Christmas Jammies

For the first time ever we got matching Christmas pajamas.  It was quite a feat running to several stores to round them all up in seven different sizes.  It was worth it though. The nestlings love them.  We're officially elfs. Ha ha.

Merry Christmas 2014 from our elf family!!!

What makes you happy?

For Thanksgiving this year it was just us.  We had a quiet, uneventful day in our pajamas. It was wonderful.
Before we ate the simple meal I prepared, we wrote things that make us happy on post it notes and put them all over the dining room mirror.  
Then I asked the "nestlings" why they think I'd ask them to write things that make them happy instead of things they are thankful for.  
Miss A figured it out right away when she responded, "We are thankful for the things that make us happy and it is easier to think of things that make you happy than it is to think of things that you are thankful for."  It's a little mind switch that works well. 
I loved seeing what the nestlings wrote down.  
C really wants one of those plastic reindeer that drops candy out of its tail area.  I like how she spelled it raindeer pooper.  Ha ha. 
D put that he is happy about teeth.  He has a loose one right now and can't wait until it falls out so the tooth fairy will come. 

G put Mickey Mouse (with our help), of course.  He is obsessed with anything Mickey. We really need to take him to Disneyland.
This will definitely be a new tradition, but we'll do it throughout the whole month of November in future years.  It was a great way for all of us to recognize all the things we have to be thankful for.      

Traditional Balloon Launch

Just so Santa knows what the "nestlings" want for Christmas, they wrote him a note, tied it to a balloon, and let it go.  
Their balloons flew up, up in the sky until they couldn't see them any longer.  I hope they make it to the north pole;)

What would have been our Christmas Card picture

Once again we didn't send out Christmas cards.  In fact we took these pictures on December 20th, that's why we look so cold.
I still had plans to send out cards, but then I found out the cards I thought would take a couple of hours would take a week:(  My plans were foiled.  Bummer.  At least I didn't have to decide which picture to use.  Merry Christmas!!!

Advent Calendars and More

The "nestlings"got these Lego advent calendars this year.  One for the boys, one for the girls.  They get so excited each morning to see what little Lego creation awaits them.

 Billy, our elf on the shelf, has arrived.  He tries to find creative places to hide each day;)

 The little boys love to go outside and play in the snow. 

 Except Baby G hates it when I try to take his picture.  I asked him to show me his eyes and this is what I got.
The Santa at our church party was awesome, so great with the kids.
He brought big letters that spelled "JOY." He told the kids that the J stands for Jesus, the O for others, and the Y for you.
Gotta love a Santa that talks to the children about the real reason we celebrate Christmas. 

Hyper for Halloween

The "nestlings" have been super excited for Halloween.  Especially these two below.  They make me laugh, the way they love each other one moment and don't want to speak to each other the next. The "husbird" and I went to an adult only Halloween party last weekend.  We felt pretty ridiculous in our costumes, especially the "husbird"--since he was technically in a dress.  He did have shorts on underneath:) 

We didn't feel so silly when we got there and every body else was dressed up.  There's nothing quite like adult games to bring out your buried inner child.  Fun times.

Here's an attempt at a fox costume for acting/dance class for Miss "C" this week.  The fox craze lives on. Ha ha.

 

Superman trying to fly with a photo bomber clown in the back ground, aka Alyssa.

All my crazies:  Steve Jobs, A Clown, A Doctor, Superman, and A Monkey (so fitting really). 

We survived another Halloween parade, half day of school, and trick or treating night.  Now we just need to survive all the sugar highs from the candy collected.

Independence Day

So thankful for all those that make freedom possible...

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