More family fun!

After a lazy start to the day, we started digging out some of our Christmas decorations. I got our felt Christmas tree out and put up and the kids seemed to enjoy it right away.

We then later gave the kids a present of Christmas goodies.

 

 

"hooray!"  Killian is very excited about the goodies inside.  

 The present had a couple of books, Christmas pjs, and some Christmas movies.  After we explored the goodies, we had lunch and then Killian took a nap.  The girls and Kelly played some of the games and I napped with brother.  

After nap, we started decorating our tree and house.

 

 

Grandma and Killian working on the lights.

Brent and Courtney sorting through ornaments.

Keeley with her little backpack decorating.  Her backpack holds her necessary supplies - notepads, pencils, pens, pencil sharpener, tape, eraser... She wears it everywhere.

Kayden adding a Santa hat to our bear on the front porch.  I promise Kayden is wearing a dress, it is just apparently really short!

Grandad, Uncle Brent, and Kelly decorating the front yard.

Killian with his two hats on (They are hats Grandma made the girls a couple of years ago) while he was decorating.

After we decorated the house for a bit, we headed to Gloria's for some dinner.

Grandma and Keeley working on the word scramble.

Uncle Brent, Aunt Courtney, Grandad, Kelly, and Killian.

Mom and sister! 

Grandma came over the next night to watch the kiddos while Kelly and I went to the movies.

 We had a such a wonderful, family filled few days with our family.  We are so very lucky to have so much family so active in our life.  We love you all!

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving we went down to Houston to spend time with the extended family.  We were planning on having a Thanksgiving lunch with Oma and Grossmama and then headed to my cousins' for dessert.  We were making Oreo truffles.  The kids like sprinkles.  Lots and lots of sprinkles.

We started out early on Thanksgiving morning and arrived right around lunch. Before we left we had ordered Boston Market that was picked up by Oma and Grossmama so lunch was ready when we arrived!

Oma read to the kids while we got the food all plated for lunch.

 After we ate, Kelly took Killian into the bedroom to try to take a nap and the rest of us read and played and rested.  Killian actually took a really long nap.  Kelly woke up and came out and let me go back there and rest with him for a bit.  After everyone woke up we had a light snack dinner and headed out to play for a bit and then over to my cousin's house.

When we got there, the two girls (2nd and 3rd grade) were making some cute snacks and my girls joined right in.

Killian headed straight up to the playroom and wanted the playhouse, and the dinosaurs.  Kenna was watching him place all the dinosaurs.

Our girls and Maren were upstairs playing Fibber.  Adorable.  I think Maren enjoyed being the "boss" because she hung out with my girls and was the oldest of the three. :)

Keeley enjoyed Kenna's lizard.  Yuck!

We love Grossmama so much.  Coloring with Killian...

Such a great trip!  We loaded up and headed back up to our house.  It was a long day but we don't sleep well in hotels so we decided it was better to make it a long day and have everyone sleep well in their own beds.  Other than the fact that Killian woke up about 15 minutes from home and started screaming, which woke up the girls, and then Kayden started fussing for him to be quiet, the plan was great!

Random pictures

Some after church playtime with Kayden taking the pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

Girl Scout field trip to the fire station.  We took them dinner and then got a tour/fire safety lesson.  Keeley was sick so she wasn't able to attend.

 

Kayden's ideas on how to cook a turkey.  So funny to me.  I giggle every time I look at it.  It is on the back of her Thanksgiving placemat.

 

Oh my goodness I love them so much.  Killian has started to be really interested into Kayden.  It is amazing how much he watches her in particular.  I love it when the love is returned so freely.

Pierced Ears!!!

The girls have asked off and on for the last couple of years if they could get their ears pierced.  Every time they have asked, I have have said yes.  Their follow up question has been whether it would hurt.  I've always said yes and pinched their ear a little with my nail to show them that it would be like a pinch and then done.  They've always said "nevermind."  

Shortly after Keeley started school this year, she started asking and was even willing to deal with the pain.  Kayden said she wanted to do it also.  Then Keeley said she didn't want Kayden to watch.  So, I needed help, preferably help that didn't have to be chasing Killian. We called Oma and she was happy to oblige.

Our friend told of us a great place to go where there is a trained person that uses a needle to help control the size of the hole and placement.  I thought that sounded great.  The idea that the ears were done at separate times didn't seem great to me but I was willing to go with it.  Our friend gave us some numbing cream and we made the appointment.  The day of the appointment Keeley had a birthday party so Oma came over early and had a special Cherry Berry date with Kayden and then had some playtime with her.

Showing off their finished magnet work.

After Keeley and I got home, we headed down to LaLobe.  When we got there, we watched a girl get her ears pierced and got a lesson on earrings and piercings (I learned so many things).  Then I went to pay for the piercings and earrings.  The lady said she'd let me wait until it was actually done because a lot of kids don't actually end up leaving with both ears (or either) pierced.  That combined to watching the girls' faces while they were watching the other piercing did not reassure me.  Keeley went first and wanted Oma to stay with her so I didn't get pictures.  Kayden and I walked up and down the hall.  I kept peeking in and she seemed to do fine.  Eventually I walked through and she was done.  I was so happy!

Kayden was next.  She is a brave, brave kid.  After stitches to her face with no "happy juice", I was pretty sure she'd be okay.  And she was!

 

And, Oma was up next!  She wanted to get a second piercing.

Watching Oma so intently.

I felt a little left out not getting anything pierced! 

They are still so adorable but I'm so sad how much older the piercings make them look.

Legoland Playdate

Keeley's class planned a playdate at Legoland and siblings were invited.  We'd never been there - so much fun!  We went on a Friday and the kids that were old enough were able to take a little class about building a tall tower and then play.  Killian was too little so he and I played.  First stop - the cupcake/castle/karaoke space.  Killian was fascinated!

Here he has discovered the words for the karaoke.

It didn't take him long to get up there and take the microphone.  He must have gone back 5 times.  When his sisters met up with him, he wouldn't even share with them.

Trying to climb the giraffe in the little kid lego area.  I can't imagine how they make those things!

Then he found this section where he could build cars and then race them.  He wasn't into the building but he was really into racing the ones that he found and he HAD to push the button.  Fortunately, even when the bigger kids came around they deferred to him.    

Kayden driving the little police car.

And Keeley driving.

A rare picture of Mom with all three kiddos.  We had a great time!

Photo update

Big boy hair cut!  (with the cheese face) 

Hard at work at a Daisy meeting.

Very focused.

Cheese face in his uniform (right after he stole my Larabar a his snack!)

Keeley working on her research project.  She is putting all her research onto colored paper before putting it on her display board.  Incredibly focused and I thought she chose a very creative chair!

Holding hands.  Love these two.  They are definitely kindred spirits...for better or worse. :-)

Two pairs of pjs and a pose for Mom.