The days before Christmas!

This might be a long post with lots of pictures.  I use to be good at doing these posts right when these events happened, but for some reason, I forget a lot.  So, let's start with the week before Christmas.  First up....  Emilee's choir performance.  This is the second year that Emilee has been in the school choir.  I find this funny because she really hates singing in front of people, but she does like to talk in front of people.  The show this year was, "SnowBiz".  She had the part of the translator.  She translated for a snowboarder who had his own language of talking.  She did a good job of course.  She looked like she was upset at times.  Come to find out, she had what she called her "nervous pee" and had to use the bathroom the whole entire time. LOL...You gotta love Emilee!

Next up....Ice Skating once again.  We had so much fun ice skating last time that we had to do it again.  This time though we would bring friends.  Emilee brought two friends and Megan brought one.  So, we had ice skating, Christmas music in the background and even a small snowball fight with the ice that was kicked up from the skates.  

Emilee and her friends were hilarious.  I think they felt big staying out late and hanging around the old ice skating rink.  I know I had a blast watching them.

 Megan is really into the cosplay thing.  Her and her friend were "My Little Ponies".  And I thought they lost interest when Megan turned about 8.  She tells me they are different now and much cooler.  What do I know.

Every year we see Santa.  This has been going on since Megan was just a little baby.  Usually we do it a little earlier, but things had been really crazy this year so we got there just a few days before Christmas, but Santa was still taking orders.

Megan tells me that she is too old to sit on Santa's lap.  She did not want to go, but I told her I needed one more picture and then next year she could refrain.  I did compromise with her.  This particular Santa, if the child is so upset about seeing Santa, will come around the back and look in the window.  Then a picture is taken of the child with Santa in the picture.  I told Megan we could do this for her then I still get my last picture of her with Santa and she doesn't have to sit on his lap.  I think the picture turned out real cute.

 Of course Emilee and Hunter still don't mind sitting on Santa's lap and are excited at that.  Every one told Santa what they wanted, now all they have to do is wait.

Christmas Eve!  I was out most of the day.  I still had shopping to do.  Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute.  I told you that this was one of those seasons where things were just nuts.  So, usually we start making cookies for Santa around 1 pm.  This Christmas Eve we waited to start about 6 pm.  Crazy, I know!  It got done anyway and we had a wonderful Christmas message and thought about our Savior before they got to open one present.  Then off to bed they went with dreams of  sugar plums dancing in their heads.

Christmas Day!  I have to hand it to the kids.  They waited until 6:30 am to wake us up.  Usually it is a lot earlier.  It started with Hunter.  He noticed that he had the biggest present under the tree and had to open it right away.  It was very heavy as he pushed it to the couch and he was glad to see that it was an electric scooter.  Can't wait to charge that baby up.

I have always said that my children will not have a cell phone until they are 16 years old and driving.  Woops!  I guess I have changed my mind.  It is a different world now and I find that I worry a lot more then I thought I would.  So many times I have wanted to get a hold of Megan.  Now I can.  She was excited to see it.  Now, it is not a smart phone.  Defiantly not ready for her to have one of those, but it does have unlimited text and can get on facebook.  She does have rules that go along with the phone, but I am sure she can deal with it.

Emilee thought for sure she should get a phone too.  Sorry Emilee.  Not yet, but my guess is you don't have to wait until you are 16 so just be a little patient.  Your time will come.  She has wanted a camera though and was very excited to get that plus a Hermione wand, Taekwondo shoes, Hello Kitty lava lamp and even a doorbell for her room.  I think she will be OK.

It was a very nice morning with fun presents to open, a great breakfast, a very relaxing day which I took full advantage of and a fantastic Christmas dinner.  We are so blessed and had a very wonderful Christmas Day!!

Hoping that you all had a wonderful Christmas Day and will have a Fantastic New Year!!

Ice Skating

The other night, I took the kids ice skating.  Emilee had gone once before with a friend, but Hunter and Megan had never been.  I think for the most part the kids had a blast.  They had some ups and downs, but they had fun doing it.

Hunter had a lot of fun at the beginning.  He just took off.  They had these walker thingys to help them learn balance on their skates.  He just took off slipping and sliding along.  He fell sometimes, but he would get right back up.  Then he fell once and just couldn't get up for anything.  He kept sliding too much.  Megan had to help him to the side of the rink.  By then, he had enough.  I should have been prepared to skate with them, but I did not have the socks on my feet to get skates.  I wish I would have gone.  Anyway, Hunter has decided that ice skating just isn't for him.

Megan and Emilee on the other hand had a blast.  They started out a little shaky but they were old pros by the end.  They took my camera out on the ice and took pics of themselves trying to look like official ice skaters.  It was very funny and very cute.  I had so much fun watching them.  

I want to take them again, but next time I want them to bring a couple of friends.  I think that it will be so much fun.  And hey, maybe next time I will even skate myself.  It has been years, but why not??

That's Right!! Halloween in December!

So, I might just be a little slow in getting these Halloween pictures on.  What can I say, but sometimes life is just like that.  The kids are getting older, but they still love Halloween.  They weren't at all what they said that they would be in September.  Each chose a very different costume, but they look good, don't they??

Megan had said she wanted to be Katniss from "Hunger Games".  After thinking about it, she decided that if she was Katniss, that was one to many.  Her and her friends decided to be Gangsters.  Funny.  I think though that she made a very cute Gangster.  

She went Trick or Treating with her friends again this year.  I think they were hoping to go by themselves, but us parents followed closely behind, trying not to cramp their style.  

Emilee was suppose to be a policewoman.  Now last year, I saw this costume a lot, but couldn't find it.  Saw the adult version, but that is highly inappropriate for a 10 year old I would say.  (Though I think it was inappropriate for a 25, 35 and even a 45 year old.)  We were just getting ready to make something up when we saw this costume.  Emilee loved it instantly and she made a very pretty Japanese princess.  She followed Megan and her friends.  She tried to stay back with Hunter and me, but I think she liked hanging around her big sister and friends and they were all good to her anyway.

Hunter was suppose to be so many different things.  He changed his mind all the time.  It started out as a banana, then an alien but then we came across the Grimm Reaper and he was sold.  He said he wanted to be scary.  Death just might be scary enough.  

Poor Hunter didn't get to Trick or Treat very long.  He had been suffering from some bronchitis and it acted up that night.  He wanted to go home, but we did manage to get him some candy anyway.

Well, that's Halloween.  Done and over with until next year.  Hope you all had a fantastic Halloween.

Lyons Farm, TN--2012

 Aw!  The feeling of fall.  I love it.  If it could be fall for six months and then spring for the other six months, this would truly be a perfect place.  The last three years, we have taken the kids every October to Lyons Farm.  This is just barley over the TN line.  Many people around here usually go to Tate Farms, but my kids like Lyons better and so that is where we go.

 The Corn Maze is always the big hit.  They usually have two mazes inside.  One easy and one more difficult.  Of course Hunter just likes getting lost in the maze on purpose.

 Every year it seems like a few more things are added.  The chair was a big hit this year

 It was a beautiful day.  You couldn't have asked for a better day.  

 The pigs are always a big hit.  Hunter says he wants a pet pig now.  Hmmmm....I will have to say no on that one.  They were cute though even if they do smell.

 And of course the rat races.  This makes me laugh every time.  The kids get going so fast in those circles and then their feet come out under them.  It is the funniest thing to watch.  I love it.

 It really was a great day.  They got their pumpkins, played a ton, ate some funnel cake.  It was a beautiful day!

New York City 2012

Ah, New York City!  The place that they say never sleeps, where fashion is at the utmost important, the home of many of the rich and famous, the theater and food, food and more food.  In August, I had the chance once again to go to New York City.  Jeremy had yet another class there for work that he needed to take and of course, I needed to come.  This time though, I invited my cousin Joanna to come with and enjoy the sites with me while Jeremy was in his class.  I did have a good time, though I will admit that it was not as exciting as the first time that I went.  It was much hotter and the people.....where did they all come from?  Oh ya, the US Open happened to be going on while we were there and the end of summer.  I know that Manhattan has a ton of people living there, but there were more crowds this time then when we went in the middle of September last year.

 I did get to do some different things though this time.  We got to go to the 9/11 memorial this time.  I have to say the fountains where the twin towers were, were amazing.  Like before, being down there was humbling.  It must have been so terrible to be there while it was happening.  Me, who was clear back west in Las Vegas, can't even imagine.  It is for sure a place to reflect and remember those that were effected. 

Last time I was in New York, I wanted to walk the Brooklyn Bridge and didn't get to.  Jeremy does not get why I even care.  I really can't tell you why, except it is a famous old bridge you can walk across and it's free.  Joanna got it.  We took the subway over to Brooklyn and ate at a pizza place underneath the bridge which always has a line in front of it.  Finally, I found a great pizza in New York City.  Last time, I honestly didn't see the big deal.  I liked this pizza.  It was yummy!  Melted Mozzarella cheese melted all over it and topped with fresh basil.  So Good!  After that, we walked back to Manhattan across the bridge.  It was quite pleasant.  So many things to see I might not have seen before.  If you are ever in New York City, I recommend it.

Let's see what else did we do.  We saw a show, "Peter and the Starcathchers", which comes from a book that I have read.  It was pretty good, though I don't like how they portrayed Peter.  They made him the exact  opposite of how he is in the book.  We ate tons of food, which I have to say I think I might have had the best gyro from off the street and the most delicious big cupcake.  We walked a ton and we even got to see a taping of the David Letterman Show in which before we could go into the studio, they gave us laughing lessons.  Now I really am not a huge fan of the guy, but it was cool to see a taping of the show.

I think Joanna had a good time.  We saw some crazy people on Time Square, including the naked cowboy, topless grandma and even a man taking his goat for a walk.  Jeremy says he is done with New York.  He has no desire to go back at all.  He has to take one of these classes every year and can choose various places to take it in.  He says next time that it won't be New York.  Me, I don't know.  I always like the big cities.  I wouldn't mind going back, but I do like the fall better then the summer there.  Who knows when I will make it back, but if I do, I am sure I will have a great time.

First week of school 2012

It was the first week of school this week.  This I feel is always an exciting time.  How could it not be.  New school clothes, lunch boxes, back packs, and all the essential materials to make it a fantastic school year. The kids would never admit it, but I think they were just as excited.  

 Hunter is going into the third grade this year.  Can you believe it??  I hardly can.  I mean he is my baby and I swear I feel like I was in the hospital the other day having him.  He so doesn't seem like he is in third grade, but he is.  Third grade and up is upstairs in the school so that makes him feel big.  He is one of the big kids now.  I think I may cry.  

Oh Emilee.  She is a big fifth grader this year.  She gets to switch classes each school day.  She has three teachers.  One for reading and language arts, one for science and history and on for math.  This will be a different year for her, but she came back the first day loving it.  I hope she keeps that momentum.  I have already heard from one of her teachers how much they just love her.  That is how it always is with Emilee.  Her teachers always stop me in the hall just to tell me how much they enjoy her in their class.  I have good expectations for Emilee the year.  She will do awesome.

Emilee and Hunter are at the elementary school while Megan is at the middle school this year.  It sure is different to see them catch the bus at different times and come home at different times.

This is the one that really makes me crazy.  I just cannot believe that Megan is now in middle school.  She is my big 7th grader.  12 years old and has the attitude to match.  She has grown up to be a beautiful girl, even though I try really hard to imagine she is still little.  It is hard for me to let go.  She seeks for so much independence and I try to keep her from it.  She for sure has found her individuality and even though I may shake my head and even roll my eyes, I love it.  I am so proud of her and I hope she has a wonderful year.

Family Reunion -- Las Vegas, NV

I am so behind.  Oh well, better late then never.  This summer our family drove all the way back home to Las Vegas, NV for a family reunion.  It has probably been three years since the last time the kids have been back.  Normally I save up for about 6 months and fly.  This time, Jeremy was going and he said we were going to drive.  I was not looking forward to that.  Three days there and three days back.  I wish I could say that I enjoyed the drive and I loved seeing the country, but that would be a lie.  I did not like the drive at all.  I found it very exhausting and tedious.  We did make it.  Right before the fourth of July.  

 I usually stay at my dad's house, but we thought it would be too crowded at my dad's and I thought it would be good for the kids to spend some time with there cousins, so we stayed at my brother's home instead.  It was a treat.  My sister-in-law kept saying she is not a very good  host, but I beg to differ.  She was a very good host and it was way fun to reconniect.  We spent the fourth of July with there family.  We went out to the airport and watched the fireworks go off.  The kids rode in the jeep with my brother.  They thought that was the coolest thing ever.  I don't think they have ever driven in a vehicle where the wind blew through their hair.  In the past I have usually been impressed with the firework show that the hotels let off, but not this year.  The music they had to it was weird and it was over in minutes.  But we had fun spending time together anyway.  So afterwards we went and got frozen yogurt.

My brother has a pool, so the kids were in paradise.  They swam everyday all day long.  In Vegas, that is a huge treat.  My brother likes to scuba dive and let the kids bring out the tank and scuba dive in the pool.  He has this cool camera that takes pics underwater.  The kids took tons.  It was a pretty cool.  

Finally it was time for the reunion.  Family was finally getting into town and the festivities were beginning.  One day we spent the day up at Mt. Charleston.  Now I know some around here and Virginia where we were before think there are mountains and hiking here, but they would be wrong.  There are things I like about all regions of the United States, but the West gets it for the best mountains and hiking activities.  It was beautiful and the weather was fantastic.  Emilee made it too the top first and I think she amazed everybody with her athletic capabilities.

Of course there was more swimming, games to play, food to eat and talking, talking and more talking.  It was good to see everyone.  I think I am the farthest away, so of course I am always the last one to know about things and sometimes I think I might even be forgotten about so it was so good to see the family.

One of the last nights we were there, Jeremy and I decided to take the kids down to the strip to see the lights. They were all born in Vegas and Megan was about 5 when we left.  I thought it would be cool for them since I don't think I ever really took them to the strip.   I mean I grew up here.  What's the harm in that, right?  No big deal.  Either I am not desensitized any more, things have changed and not for the better or I just am plain more sensitive with the kids around.  Probably all of the above.  Megan says I scarred her for life.  Also since it had been the fourth of July, it was a madhouse.  I don't think I have ever seen that many people and it made it even hotter then it was.  The kids noticed everything that they shouldn't have and it for sure has gotten worse.  Let's just say, our trip down to the strip was not a good one.  Oh well.  They did get to see some of the lights and attractions like the Mirage volcano, the Bologio fountain show and Caesar Palace, but as soon as we could we left and ended up at 7-eleven for some much needed Slurpees.  

A couple days later we were back on the road.  Again, not my favorite thing, but three days later we were home.  It was nice.  The rest of summer was pretty much just every day life.  

Cub Scouts and AL. Sports Festival

Man, when I first started this blog, I was always on top of it.  Too many things to do and not enough time to post.  For now,  I guess I will start with Cub Scout day camp.  Hunter turned 8 at the end of May and is now in Cub Scouts.  He is a Wolf.  His first experience into cub scouts was day camp.  They needed some volunteers to be den leaders for day camp and so that became my job.  I have to admit though, I was not looking forward to it.  I'm not sure if you realize this, but it gets quite humid here in the summer and this desert rat does not like it one bit.  That being said, it really wasn't that bad.  Don't get me wrong, I was exhausted and very glad for it to be over by the end of the week, but I did enjoy being with Hunter and many of the boys made me laugh a lot.  I probably had the biggest den among the wolf group and considering that, they were really all pretty good.

We were the Lizard den.  We called ourselves the "Leapin Lizards".  Of course we had a cheer.  It went like this..."Leapin Lizards Rock you... Rock you...Leapin Lizards, Rock you...Rock you..."  I think you can guess what tune that goes to.  Let's see what are some of the things the boys did.  They cooked Hobo meals,   sling shots, bow and arrows, bebe guns, made wooden crafts, leather, musical instruments, learned magic, went on short trail hikes, learned about citizenship, played soccer, sword fighting, learned about how to use a compass and the list could go on and on.  They defiantly had the boys busy.  I have to say, I was tired just watching them.  I think Hunter had a great time and really, that's all that matters.

As soon as cub scout camp was over, Jeremy and I had to take Hunter and Emilee down to Burmingham for the Alabama Sports Festival where Emilee and Hunter would compete in the Taekwondo event.  It was quite the event.  I guess they have been doing this for about 30 years now and is a little like the Olympics with an opening ceremony and everything.  Opening ceremony was even televised on NBC here in Alabama, which Emilee and Hunter both participated in the opening ceremony parade.  Kind of cool.  See them there holding up the sign right up front??

Both Emilee and Hunter participated in two events with Taekwondo.  They did forms and open sparring.  Emilee and Hunter both got third place in forms and Emilee also got third place in sparring.

This was the first time the either of them have competed in TKD.  I think it really surprised them.  They learned that it is quite fast and very challenging.  Both of them had a hard time, but they did so well.  I am really proud of them.

I have more to share.  Our family just got back from Las Vegas for a family reunion and so soon I will put those events up.