I'm Back
11 years ago
Photos I forgot to add from round 2 of Christmas. Brandon didn't get as many as I thought, but I wanted to have all the kids on here. We had a great time at Mimi and Papa John's spending the night with all the cousins.
Jingle, our elf, in one of his many hiding spots.
Christopher finding his new firetruck Santa brought him.
Sophie playing with her new dollhouse.
The kids opening a new present they got.
Christopher hugging Papa John.
Campbell, the baby of the family. She's so sweet and good!
Camille, the middle one. She is four days older than Sophie.
Sophie giving a high five b/c she's excited about a new present she got.
Precious Cameron, the oldest. We love getting to see her. She's like a big sister to my kids and I love playing with her too! She's the best little shopping buddy you could have!
It is so cold here! I think they were saying that it's the coldest the entire country has been in years and I believe it. Our highs this week are 40 degrees. At night, we are at 20. To some of you up north that may sound great compared to the negative temperatures that you are experiencing right now. They even said the "s" and "f" words this morning. "Sleet" and "flurries" on Friday afternoon are a possibility. (Maybe that crazy real estate agent we had here wasn't so crazy after all in talking about the kids sledding down the driveway.) But I wouldn't mind those temps if I had this to look at:
But I don't. I have water to look at. With sand. And ugly, scary trees with no leaves. It looks beautiful and warm out, but it's not. And I can figure that out without even opening a door or a window b/c our house is freezing!
Have you ever been so cold in your own house that you wear thick socks and slippers to try to warm up your feet just a little? Have you ever wished that you hung on to all those granny panties you got rid of years ago? Or better yet, that you were a guy and had boxer briefs b/c then your bottom might not be cold? Do you look like a homeless person in your own home b/c you only wear your sweatpants and your husband's sweatshirts b/c they are bigger and cover more? Do you have to buy several gallons of milk at a time to keep up with your new hot cocoa habit? I do.
I try to stay in the middle of our house b/c it's the warmest part. If you go within a few feet of a window or door you will feel the coldness hitting you. I don't even open the door to the laundry room b/c the vent in there doesn't work. I've actually turned on the dryer to try to help warm up the room. And our bathroom.... doesn't even have a vent. Yup, you got it. You have to pee in the middle of the night and you will wish you just had on a diaper or a whole in your pants just so you don't have to pull your pants down. (Yes, I said that.) Our bathroom in our house in Huntsville was great! They placed the bathroom vent right over the toilet which made it nice and warm in the winter.
I'm off to play games with the kids. And maybe vacuum too. Maybe that will generate some extra heat in the house. Hope you all are staying warm!
Yesterday we were out for a family walk and decided to let Brick go without a leash just to see how he'd handle it. I had the leash and knew we'd only make it to the end of the street, but something caught his eye and he was off in a flash. You can only guess what it was... a squirrel. These little "rats" are everywhere here. The outside of base housing is concrete that is textured. It's ugly and a fabulous surface for squirrels to hold on to and run around your house.
When Brick took off across the street after this one squirrel, I followed with leash in hand. I left Brandon with the kids and they slowly went on their way, waiting for Brick and I to come out from around the house. We never did. See, I was too scared to go up to Brick and put the leash on him. I was afraid the squirrel would think my head was the perfect jumping pad for him to escape. They have no fear. We went back and forth along the back of the house, that thankfully is not occupied at the time.
Finally the squirrel found the only bush next to the house that he could jump into. Problem was, it was shorter than me. He goes for it and Brick flips out! He circles the bush and I'm backing up b/c I'm too afraid of what direction that "rat" will jump out and go in. Suddenly, it happens. The squirrel jumps out and runs towards the next house for escape, but Brick is too quick. It takes two leaps and he's won. I hear a horrible sound and take off after Brandon not sure whether to laugh, cry or be totally grossed out. I think screaming and grossed out won. He takes off to where I told him Brick was and I swear I see a grin across his fac. I just take the kids on the rest of their walk and pray the people aren't home who's backyard Brick is now in, with his reward, doing who knows what.
The kids and I get home and see no signs of Brandon or Brick. I look over and find Brandon and Rob (one of his residency buddies and our neighbor) near his trash can. The kids and I walk over to find out that Rob helped get rid of the evidence and then we spend the next 20 minutes watching Brick chase their dog Scuffy, who isn't much bigger than a squirrel, all over her backyard. It was the funniest thing I've ever seen. Christopher, Sophie and Della were all standing on top of their picnic table with us surrounding them laughing at the two dogs of completely different sizes chasing each other.
I think it was the most proud that Brandon has ever been of Brick. He's been trying to get him to catch a squirrel since we brought him home this summer. I had no feelings on the subject, partly b/c I hate squirrels, but I really didn't want to have to deal with what could potentially happen if he did catch one. I'm just glad they avoid are backyard and have enough trees in the front yard to get away.
Brick: 1
Squirrel: 0
we had three kids???
This is what we'd look like. This photo was totally unplanned. We were all sitting around and I was holding my niece while I had the chance. Brandon's mom was snapping photos and I told her, "Get a picture of this!" I died when I saw the face that Brandon was making. Every time I looked at this later I kind of panicked a little. I don't plan to be pregnant again, but every now and then, entertain the idea of adding more to our family. At least I know my kids would welcome with open arms any child that we brought into our home. Christopher tells me all the time that he wants me to have a baby and Sophie fights you for a turn to hold the new babies that were born into our families over the summer. Well, whatever happens it'll be a few years from now. But enjoy the photo!
I was talking to my friend Tiffany this morning and we were talking about how we'd love to see each other, but it's too cold to go outside. This morning when I checked the weather it was 32 with a wind chill of 22. We live in FLORIDA!!
Now, I don't mind cold weather, but what is so funny is that Tiffany and I were both saying during the heat of the summer that when winter rolls around we are not going to complain and just bundle up and go play outside. You know, be thankful we aren't roasting out in the sun. All we could do was laugh b/c neither one of us wanted to bother going outside to walk the 3 houses it would take for us to get to each other's houses.
So, we are going to stay home and let the kids play with their new toys. They've done really well so far playing with each other, but I have a feeling that's all about to end soon. But I'm enjoying the quietness of them getting along and no tv or radio playing in the background. Now, if only my feet would warm up I'd feel much better!
First, photos from my parents' house. Aunt Jenny and Anne Morgan came on Tuesday to visit and open presents. The kids and I LOVE to see AM and how much she has grown. Christopher always gets to hold her first and would take her home with us if her parents would only let him. She is so sweet and learned how to sit up all by herself a few days before we saw her. It was fun to see her new tricks!
Pop and Christopher sat at this table for about 4 hours playing with the new legos he got. They could make different trucks with them and both boys were as happy as they could be!
Sophie's hair the next morning. It was bigger and bigger every day and we just laughed b/c it was so huge I thought it would never go down!
On Wednesday we went to Mimi and Papa John's to spend Christmas. The kids were so excited to see them and knew that meant Daddy would be joining us soon.
Christmas morning, after early naps and the cousins arrival. Sophie wasn't sure what to think of everyone at first, but warmed up quickly.
It was a Wii Christmas for the grandparents and cousins. Brandon brought our remotes so we could all play together.
Sophie using Christopher's new toy on her new toy.
4 of the 5 cousins playing in Mimi and PJ's room. These kids had more fun together! It was cute to see them interact with each other. We had a great time visiting with everyone and were so blessed to be able to live close enough to see them.We are home. We had a fabulous Christmas with lots of family and lots of gifts and lots of food. I'll post photos when I get them on the computer and have a chance to go through them. We have 2 cameras worth, so be patient.
This year, since Christopher is getting older, we really wanted to push that Christmas is about celebrating Jesus' birth and not Santa. We still did all the Santa stuff, but told him that we get presents b/c it's baby Jesus' birthday and he loves us so much that he wants to share his day with us. We made a birthday cake for baby Jesus and never cut into it, so we brought it home with us. Last night we lit a candle for each kid to blow out and sang happy birthday to baby Jesus.
Well, I guess all that talk about baby Jesus sunk in b/c last night when I was putting Christopher to bed he said the nightly, "What if I get scared?" (I'm thinking it's now said b/c he's stalling.) I told him that he can pray to God again b/c God is always with him. His reply was, "Is Jesus a big boy now?" I laughed and told him, yes, Jesus is already grown up and can take care of us now.
We have been at my parents' house since Monday and it has been fun seeing them and having some Christmas time with them. Yesterday Jennifer and Anne Morgan came over and we opened our presents to each other. It was great b/c it wasn't chaotic like Christmas Day can often be and the kids would sit and play with what they got before opening another gift. It was sweet b/c it was just a few of us sharing with each other. Don't get me wrong, I find the chaos of wrapping paper flying, shrieks of joy and "thank you's" being shouted fun to be around, but it has been a bit overwhelming for the kids to have so much going on at once. I like the idea of spreading out the love a little. (I have tons of photos, but will had later.)
Today we are going to stay with Brandon's parents and will await the arrival of Brandon tomorrow night and then his sister's family on Christmas Day. I'm really looking forward to today b/c we have decided as a family to sponsor a family in need and we are taking the mom shopping for their Christmas gifts. I hope that I will be totally and completely humbled by this experience. I'll admit, it's a little scary to put yourself in a situation that can maybe feel a little uncomfortable, but we need to do that. If God wanted us to be comfortable all the time we'd never learn anything He wanted to teach us.
I pray that all of you have a wonderful Christmas and are safe in your travels and full of love when it's all done! Merry CHRISTmas!!!!
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