Farewell

Here are some highs and lows of 2007

• Beasley was dog napped and never recovered
• In the beginning I was very sick pregnant
• Everyone celebrated a birthday making the older girls 6,3, and 1
• We bought the camper and spent most of the summer (7-9 months pregnant) outdoors
• We adopted our kitty Fiona
• The King and I celebrated our 8th anniversary
• Chiggie played t-ball for the first time
• We became official members of our Church and spent the Summer being youth sponsors
• Braddie Boo was born
• Chiggie started Kindergarten
• I met Elizabeth in person
• We were all struck with a terrible stomach virus that landed Boo in the hospital for several days
• The King started a new job, that while it involves fairly extensive travel, holds a lot of promise
• We had an awesome holiday season!
  

I'm sure a lot more happened, but these are just what I can think of right now. I'm excited for 2008. Only a few more hours!

Back to Normal

Whatever that is. Today we got up and took down the tree, all the decorations and the outdoor lights. It looks so bare in here now. Like we just moved in and need to get some stuff. Very weird. The New Year is always kind of weird like that. All the build up to Christmas and then the fizzle afterwards. I have a lot of plans for 2008. I really am starting my diet and exercise plan on the 1st and I plan to return to our "active family" routine that got shoved aside during the holidays. This will include walks, trips to the pool, and family game nights. I'm looking forward to the new year, but it always makes me just a little nervous. A lot can happen in a year.

Beary Spoiled

These last couple of weeks have spoiled us all rotten. We've gotten gifts, had meals prepared, and gone places far more than usual. Next week will seem weird I'm sure, just hanging out around the house. The girls received "bear bucks" for Christmas, so today we took them to Build-a-Bear Workshop. They had a fabulous time. They chose a bear, Midge chose the dog, had it stuffed, bathed, brushed, and then picked out an outfit and a pair of shoes. They're hooked that's for sure. They wanted to get purses and sunglasses for their new creations, but we had to stop for today. Boo still has her "bear bucks." We decided to wait until she is just a tad older and can choose for herself. We're going back pretty soon anyhow as the girls pointed out that their bears really do need pajamas. Now that the holidays are coming to a close I hope to start blogging more. I know I haven't really lacked as far as posts go but I hope to have more content next month. I love the pictures they just don't do everything justice. I'm sure I'll have more time at least I'd like to think so.

We're Back!

We got back from Leadville late this afternoon. It was a good visit but it was freezing cold. I think the warmest it got was maybe 20, and that might be pushing it. That didn't stop the girls though. They enjoyed sledding and playing in the snow. It was a nice time!

Merry Christmas

More Traditions

Tonight we decorated our annual gingerbread house. The girls did the majority of the work by themselves and I'm pretty sure the majority of the candy made it on the house this year.
It was another busy day as far as finalizing our Christmas preparations. I did a lot of cleaning, wrapping and sorting just getting ready for tomorrow.
Then this evening we headed out and looked at Christmas lights. It didn't seem like there were as many this year, but we still had fun looking. It's amazing how into it some people get!
Tomorrow we will have a relaxing day and then go to the candle light service at our church. Afterwards the girls will open all of the presents under the tree and then off to bed. In the morning, if they were good this year wink wink, they will have had a visit from Santa. I can't believe it's here already! Hope everyone is having fun and enjoying themselves.

Done!

I am officially done. Items shipped, packages mailed, no more shopping! Talk about cutting it close. Some things will not arrive until the big day is over, but at least I can sleep knowing that they've been purchased. Every year I promise the next year will be different, but this continues to be the way it goes. I'm very pleased with everything that we bought and I'm excited to see the reaction from the girls. Two more days......Wow!

Party Time

School's out. Yay! I am so ready for this break. So are the girls. Now, on to Christmas!

Dropping Off

Cause sometimes you're just done......

4 More Days

Of school until Christmas Break that is! I can't wait. Sleeping in, having Chiggie home all day, and the King off for a week are just a few of the things that I am so excited for. Friday is Chiggie's school party and the little girls and I are going. I'm trying to think of something fun and maybe festive to do afterwards to kick off the break but I'm kind of stumped for ideas.

Yesterday was insane, even more so than most "normal" Mondays. I helped out at the school "Santa Shop" from 9-2. During this time a friend from church had Tea and Midge and Chiggie went home with a school friend. Braddie Boo was with me and dressed as Baby Claus to boot. She was a hit that's for sure. By the time I got everybody picked up and home it was almost 4. We hung out and relaxed, briefly, before I had to run them all to my Mom's so that I could go to a Girl Scout Cookie meeting. The meeting lasted just under 4 hours. I had to rush to go pick them up and have them in bed so that Chiggie wouldn't be too exhausted today. Normally the King would have them home, but he's out of town for the week so no such luck. I hope Friday comes quickly!

As Good as it Gets

The North Pole

Brrrrrr. That's the word that I would use to describe today. At the very highest I would say it was about 18 degrees outside. So we did what any crazy family would do. We loaded up the kids and took them to the North Pole to see Santa.
They had an absolute blast! Riding rides, eating junk food, and seeing the "Man in Red."

This place is incredible. The rides are top notch and you only have to be a year old to ride most of them, including roller coasters. Seeing Midge holding her hands in the air on a roller coaster was quite the site.
My Brother, Sister In-Law and their two little girls came, along with my Mom, Step-Dad and two little sisters. I can't think of a place that would be more fun to take a troop of little girls their ages. They were all 100% convinced it was the real deal.
We didn't spend any time waiting in line as hardly anyone else was crazy enough to venture out in temps like this.
They saw reindeer, elves, and of course Santa. My girls looked only. They all 4 refused to sit on his lap so I have no photo. The other girls all hopped right on. I couldn't believe mine wouldn't.
The Candy Cane Slide was one of Chiggie's favorite rides. She remembered it from last time and has talked about it ever since.

It's amazing how well the girls get along and interact. It's nice to have such a large family.
Boo was a real trooper. The only time she cried is when she got hungry.
Tea was afraid of many of the rides. She spent a lot of time hanging out with Uncle E.
Midge was great until she got cold. Then there was no turning back. She had a meltdown in the lobby that I am positive convinced any in the lobby considering sterilization to go for it.It was a Christmas memory that I will remember forever!

7

7 teeth that is. Chiggie lost another top tooth today. Lost and knocked out are the same thing right? What really happened was Tea jumped from the coffee table to the couch doing some sort of a jumping front kick and pop, out she came. There was quite a bit of blood as the tooth wasn't even wiggly yet. Chiggie was just excited for more Tooth Fairy money. The tooth fairy can leave a post dated check can't she?

Snow Daze

I think dazed is kind of how we all feel today. All this snow is amazing. We have well over 6" and it's going strong. Chiggie had school this morning and the little girls played out a bit.

They got cold fast which was fine with me. On days like today I'd love to curl up in front of the fire and read a book. It's hard to want to do much else. I am fascinated by the snow. Last night while I should have been sleeping, I watched the flakes fall out my bedroom window. Never gets old. Well maybe in March....

Smarty Pants

With all the Holiday hub bub and what not, I haven't had much time lately to talk about Chiggie and how her Kindergarten year is going. I can't express how far she has come in such a short amount of time. Socially, emotionally, and academically she has grown in ways I never could have imagined. She has mastered basic phonic skills and just recently tested at a first grade reading level. She loves P.E. and jump ropes for practice at home. On Monday's and Wednesdays she checks out a book from the school library and we make it a family affair. She chooses her books very carefully and then waits with great anticipation. I admire that in her as it is a trait we share. She has made lots of friends but always tells us that she is "friendly" to everyone. I'm so proud of her, but I'm also happy for her and her new found independence.

Santa Baby

Winter Wonderland

We got snow last night, all day today, and it shows no signs of stopping. The girls love, love, love it. Very festive. The only negative is that the King has to drive back in forth in it which makes his long days even longer.

The girls and I had a really nice day today. They stayed in their pajamas and had a Christmas movie marathon. They played with Barbies and I made cookies. Then tonight we all went to a birthday party at the bowling alley. They're all asleep now and I'm just relaxing. Can't ask for much more than that.

Growin' Up

Midge got her first haircut today courtesy of my Mom. Here's the before and after. She looks so grown up!

Lucky Me

My kids have become more picky over time. Things that they used to eat they now turn their noses up at. Last night they didn't touch their dinner. None of it. Not even a bite. Since it was an all out strike I decided to cave, fed them all pb&j and enjoyed having the dinner to myself. The King, who is actually kind of picky as well, came home and opted for a sandwich too. I shrugged it off and made a mental note that this particular meal was not a hit.

Shortly after dinner I made a quick run to the store to grab a few things we were out of. It was a perfect opportunity because the King was home and I really didn't want to drag everyone out in the cold. I paid and was on my way to the parking lot when my stomach started to really hurt. Thankfully I made it to my car before I lost my dinner. I hardly made it home and to the bathroom fast enough. I spent the rest of the night hovering near the bathroom or a bucket.

Eventually I realized that I had food poisoning. Luckily the kids and the King trusted their "gut" feeling and stayed away from it. The culprit, pinto beans, ugh never again, never again!

Tub Troubles

Lately Tea has really been wild. I don't know what it is exactly that's going on but she's about to drive me insane. Tonight during their bath her and Midge got enough water on the floor to easily constitue a lake. Unfortunately I didn't know this (the bathroom is right off the dining room and I was cleaning up after dinner) and when I stepped into the bathroom I slipped and fell. I now have a sore wrist and a huge knot/bruise on my shin. This is just one of her many "slip ups" today. She's a wild child that's for sure.

19 Weeks

But always my baby!

Countin' Down

As Promised

Pictures, pictures, pictures, I HAVE PICTURES! We had a wonderful day. The parade was great and we had fun at dinner afterwards. Enjoy!