Before and After

Remember these pictures?of our Christmas tree all decorated?
This is what it looks like now after Jensyn un-decorated it. We have slowly moved all the ornaments out of her reach. I guess it is time to come down!

..and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Leighton has been going around singing the 12 days of Christmas, NONSTOP. The only thing that keeps me sane is her version. There is only one verse:
On the {enter any number here} day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Five Golden rings,
Three turtle ducks,
Two friendships
and a partridge in a pear tree.

Grandma Young let her borrow a book with the correct words. It's not near as fun to hear it now that she knows all the right words.

What are the Odds?

Note: If vomit makes you....vomit...then skip this post.

Dee's brother came down from DC for the Christmas holiday. Between the two of them there are seven kids. You would think that the odds would be fairly even when it comes to vomiting. But if there have been 100 instances at the dinner table, 99 would be my kids and of those 99, 98 would have been Carly.

Tonight Carly had a tickle in her throat. The fact that she was sitting next to her favorite cousin and was talking and eating and laughing all at the same time didn't help either. Anyway, she started coughing and threw up, at the dinner table. I jumped up and rushed her to the bathroom. She threw up in the bathroom and then turned around and tried to go out the door, back to the table. I stopped her and told her she needed to get cleaned up. She had vomit all over her shirt and pants. She let me clean her up a little and then tried to leave again. I told her that we were probably going to go home. She was very upset and started crying.

I said, 'No one wants to sit by someone who is throwing up in their food.'
She stomped her foot, crossed her arms in front of her and yelled, "We'll just see what Dad has to say about this!"

I know what her dad would say about it....BBBLLLAAAGGHHH!!!

My Favorite Part of Christmas!

This video of Jensyn rocking out to the Barbie Camp Out Trailer is the BEST!

Santa WUZ Here!

The girls had a wonderful Christmas. It started on Christmas Eve. Grandma and Grandpa Young came over and brought cold cuts and Cherry-O-Cheesecake for dinner YUM!

The girls opened a present, Kerplunk!, and we played! We watched Santa on NORAD and about the time he reached South America, Leighton started to get concerned that he wouldn't come if they weren't in bed. She and Carly started begging to go to bed. They fell asleep quickly and I think I heard hooves on the roof before I went to bed.

The next morning the Carly came down and was so happy to see that Santa had finally arrived. I took mostly video of the girls opening their presents and Blogger does not like my videos. I will try to upload some this week, but wanted to get this post done before the new year.

Jensyn got a kitty that purrs when you pet it. She has played with Leighton's until the batteries are dead. She loved it and her new baby doll. She wouldn't hardly stay still for me to take any pictures. She tucked one under each arm and was off.


I think Santa is not making good decisions in his old age. He brought TWO water toys to the girls. Leighton got the Polly Pocket Roller Coaster that splashes and Carly got the Barbie Salon that you wash the Barbie's hair. Maybe Santa better think long and hard next year.
Leighton and Carly were so cute to share each other's presents.
They really enjoyed the Barbie Camp Out Trailer. So did Jensyn. But, when she was enjoying it, they didn't like it. She got kicked out of everywhere. Poor Baby! Look at that scowly, crying face!
The aftermath!
As usual Santa, Mom, Dad and Grandparents went overboard. Then the girls headed to Grandma and Grandpa Young's for more presents.
I think this is a present for me. too. No more bending over to push Jensyn on the big girl trike.

Grandma and Grandpa Young got us a Wii for Christmas. This is how the girls and Dee will spend the next week. FUN!

The Best Christmas Present EVER!!

Dee was offered a job with a local company today. He starts on January 4th. It is a chemical company who makes non woven fabric. He will be doing the same thing he did at his previous job, before the promotion, which led to the layoff.

We are truly blessed. I would like to thank all of you who have supported us during this difficult fourteen months. We have such good friends and family. I know that many of you were praying for us, always on the lookout for an opportunity to help Dee find a job, or even just a shoulder to cry on.

Thank you again.

Christmas Lights

The entire gang headed out to The Meadow Lights last night. Do you think eight is enough? Jensyn will make it nine next year.
(l-r)Top Row: Jordan V, Madison R, Makenna H, Taylor V, and Ryan R
Bottom Row: Leighton, Riley H, and Carly.

Carly enjoying the carousel.

Leighton and Jordan. Leighton has developed a crush on Jordan and must be constantly by his side.* It is cute now, but I am not looking forward to her 'crushes' when the boys will be interested back. Jordan is so sweet to always let her tag along.Can't you see the adoration in her eyes?The gang on the train. The train takes you out into the lights. It was beautiful. The only thing it was missing to make it perfect.....SNOW!! (Note Leighton is sitting right next to Jordan and smiling VERY big.Just a small sampling of the lights that we were able to see. The lights are free and the train ride is only $2.00 a person. They have an old fashioned candy store where the kids all got rock candy. Then they were able to see Santa, again. If you are at all close, you must not miss this.

We left Meadow and headed to Lake Myra in Wendell. We didn't take any pictures, but that was only because we were enjoying the show so much, I forgot. A sweet gentlemen has decorated his and a couple of his neighbors' homes with over 220,000 lights. He then programs them to music and broadcasts it so you can listen on your car radio. It is absolutely amazing. We missed the magic show and Santa, but we won't next year. We have already planned; lawn chairs, blankets and dinner. Can't wait!

* Leighton informed me after I posted, "I am NOT going to marry Jordan. I am going to marry Camden. After I die and Jordan dies then we can play together, in heaven, with Jesus."

I hope that is a VERY long time from now.

It's Official!

Today at lunch, Jensyn was not eating and started porpoise squawking to get down. I nicely showed her (again) the sign for 'all done.' Then in a sing song voice said, "Tell me all done." All I got in return was more squawking and squirming. The previous one sided conversation was repeated at least two more times. At this point I was irritated and under my breath, in a disgusted voice, I said, "That's fine, you can just sit there until you sign it." She looked at me, smiled and signed all done.

I wasn't sure whether to be happy or mad. She can sign and communicate, she is just either stubborn or lazy.

Spelling

Leighton was awarded the Mid-Year Spelling Award for her class. Dee and I had bets on whether she would actually go up and accept the award or just put her head down and cry when they called her name. Well, she did it! I won't tell you who lost the bet.
She was presented a certificate and a charm from her principal and asst. principal.

These are all of the award winners for kindergarten through second grade.

A close up of her award.

How she really feels about it.

This award is a shock to me. Not because she can't spell, she can. It is just that my family is not known for their spelling. My dad, brothers, uncles, cousins can't spell. There were plenty of times my mom had NO IDEA what my dad had written on the grocery list (and sometimes when he didn't know either.) Dee is not the best speller either. But, my girl can spell. I guess she got some good genes along with the rotten ones.

Is That How That Works?

As I tucked Leighton in tonight, she mentioned that she forgot to tell Santa Claus that she wanted pants for Christmas.

Me: Maybe, I can let him know somehow.

Leighton (looking to the heavens): "Santa, Can you please bring me some pants?"

Me (laughing): "You can't just talk to Santa like you can to Jesus and God."

Leighton (still looking to the heavens): "Jesus, can you tell Santa that I want some new pants?"

I guess in a five year old's world..........

plus...equals...

Sleeping Under the Tree

One of the activities on our advent was sleeping under the Christmas Tree. This one struck me as so much fun. I would have LOVED to have done this as a kid. Why you ask? I have no idea, but it just seems so magical. The girls were just as excited as I would have been. Dee set up their sleeping bags and they snuggled in. It took them a little longer than usual to calm down and fall asleep, but can you blame them? I took these after they had fallen asleep.
Carly was a little disapointed that Santa hadn't come in the morning.

Snowmen Candy Bars

I was looking for a quick, easy and cheap gift for Carly to take to the volunteers at horseback riding. I came across the most adorable snowmen from Laurie Fernell. You can click here for her instructions AND the best part-a free pdf.

They are a Hershey's chocolate bar wrapped in plain printer paper. Laurie's pdf has two snowmen to a page. You use a baby sock for the hat and scraps for the scarf. I cut up one of Carly's dresses that the seam had been torn out for scarves for the ones with pink and yellow hats. I used an old wool sweater for scarves for the others.

Leighton wanted them for her class. Maybe next year. She had already decided on the candy cane mice from Martha Stewart. (I had to steal this from some one's blog. Martha no longer has the pattern on her website. We used foam sheets and mixed and matched the colors. But, forgot to take pictures.)

Here they are all bagged up and ready to go.

This would even be cute for a 'thank you' in January.

Caroling For Cans

The Girl Scouts went Caroling For Cans at the State Capital tree lighting. We rode down with Amanda, Madison, Michelle, and Taylor. My girls LOVE Amanda's minivan, so they were in heaven. This is the girls after we bundled them up, it was ccccold.

(take no notice of Leighton's hair-she lost her Santa hat at least six times before this picture) They gathered together to carol their hearts out.Leighton singing.Carly was cracking us up with her antics. Here is a little taste of her hand motions/choreography.

The girls were able to take a carriage ride after caroling. We waited in line for about an hour and a half. We piled them all in. Leighton is on the left side, right in the middle.

Carly was very excited, even though you can't tell from this picture.The look on the girls face was so worth the wait in the cold. It was even cold enough for me to (gratefully)borrow Michelle's hat.Amanda was completely covered as well, but wouldn't allow pictures. There was a picture of Michelle, too. But, it is not appropriate for family viewing. She wasn't happy with us at the time, so I will let you venture a guess at her hand motions/choreography.

Graduation

Jensyn has graduated from this.....To this.......... She loves sitting at the table.

I love the crossed ankles. She has sat like this from day one.

I think we even got a picture during an ultrasound with crossed ankles.Her favorite part of this graduation is coloring with the girls.

Cookie Party

One of the advent ideas we had planned was a cookie decorating party. I made the sugar cookies and let the gang decorate them today right after school.

Riley and Leighton

(doesn't Riley look focused?)

Carly, she was very precise.Jordan and Taylor-Yum!Madison-happy girl!The group.

(Makenna is on the left of Carly and Ryan on the right)The aftermath.

Eight kids, frosting, sprinkles, jimmies, non pareils, colored sugar, red frosting that squirts out of a can, M&Ms.........yes, I know I am crazy.

But, they actually didn't make near the mess I thought they would.

Even Jensyn got in on the decorating. Okay, not the decorating, but she did enjoy the M&Ms.