Christmas Week Photos

(More words later...) We have been having lots of fun the week before Christmas, but right now I am soooo tired. I worked everyday this past week (and I know many of you do everyday). School was both wild with excitement as well as burdened with a deep sense of saddness (due to the Newtown shootings). My emotions have been raw and I felt a change in my desire to love the children I teach more and to do more to make each day special. This, along with finishing my community college  semester and preparing for next, along with taking care of my own very EXCITED children has worn me out! I am going to try to rest so that I can enjoy every minute of this precious season. In light of the unimagniable tragedy, I feel luckier than ever to be able to celebrate with my sweet sweet babies. I am thankful to God for giving them to me and for giving His son to the world. I wish each of you a wonderful Christmas!!

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Mommy and Uncle Mike

For the first time in many years Michael and I celebrated "our birthday" together. Mom was so happy to have both of us on the actual day. He invited us to his condo for a delicious meal, fun and presents, followed by Blue Moon Bakery cake (yummy)!

Grilling on the rooftop!

Laying out by the pool! (Just waiting for one of them to hop in!)

Checking out the skyline...

Helping Uncle Mike in the kitchen

With daddy

Cards for Uncle M ("Coolness never ages!)

The "Big Booty Ho" Michael requested for his bday

Chilling

Touching everything!

With my best-ever birthday present!

 

To See Santa...or Maybe Not

Morgan had always told me about the great Santa visits at Bass Pro Shop in Concord. We decided to take all the kids on our way home today. The second Sunday in December is probably not the best choice of times to visit Concord Mills, but the BPS gave us a "bass pass" (ha ha) to come back instead of waiting in line. What a great idea. We went out to eat and then to hang out at the store. It was decorated so beautifully and was full of fun stuff for the kids to do.

 

The store had amazing fun stuff set up for the kids to play...like shooting games, a train table, race track, remote controlled cars, coloring station etc..

 

 

Juel loved all of the lights...Please check out her BOW that I made!! Morgan is a bow making expert (even with her own etsy site "Cute Cupcake Clippies") so this weekend she taught me how to do it. Now I cant wait to shop for ribbon!

The boys loved the fish!

Juel loves "hee hees" so of course she had to take one for a ride. Then everyone joined in. I love these pictures of all four "giddy-upping"!

Yee Haw!

They also liked to feed the horses snow. BPS may never be the same again. 

Aunt Moo aka "Mr." Morgan?! ha ha

Mr. "Shedrick" showing Juel Santa and giving her a pep talk about sitting with him...here we go! Almost our turn!

And after waiting 3 hours...Gabriel happily sat on Santa's lap. Elizabeth talked to him from her mommy's arms...and then Tyson and Juel screamed and refused to even look at him! GREAT!

 

Oh well...we still had a wonderful time!

 



On our way home from a great trip!