Strange ways my kids have fallen asleep

We have caught our kids asleep in the strangest ways. Lacey tends to be creative in her positioning and Aidan just seems to fall asleep mid bite of his favorite things (Cheetos and popcorn). Notice his hands still in the Cheetos bag and in the popcorn bowl.

Family Home Evening

For Family home evening tonight we took the kids to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. Ryan and I had been years ago but we had not taken the kids since we moved here. They were mostly excited to see the big bat. The tour of the factory wasn't very long but it was cool to see how the bats are made and hear the other tid bits of info they shared. The kids paid attention enough. They really don't know any baseball players so nothing really wowed them about the bats for the players that they saw. Lacey was thrilled by the pink bats and Aidan loved the bat they showed us that they had made for Carrie Underwood for singing a song with the word Louisville Slugger in it (Before He Cheats). The best part was at the end when the kids were given small bats. They actually gave one to each of us, even Cassidy. It was a fun little activity.

Gap photo shoot

In Cincinnati there is a Gap Clearance center that can be quite dangerous if you have an hour or two to shop. Well, I went there last week with the kids (which helps lessen your time shopping significantly) and found some cute things for Lacey. She picked the hat and I picked the sweater and boots. She just looked so dang cute we had to take some pics. She loved being a little model and kept asking me to take more. I am so jealous of how cute she looks. Why couldn't they have those boots and sweater in my size?

Happy New Year!

We were without Ryan for New Year's but tried to have somewhat of a party anyway. Somehow the tradition started two years ago that New Year's Eve became Crazy hat day. That's what the kids call it now. Why? Well, two years ago for New Year's we didn't have any of the traditional New Year's hats so I put cowboy hats on the boys and tiaras on the girls. Aidan remembered and thought wearing crazy hats was part of New Years. Well now it is officially a part of the fun to wear crazy hats.

Tonight, we had treats and watched a movie. We were going to countdown to the New Year at 9:00 but Aidan kept falling asleep during the movie so we counted down at 8:39. We had fun throwing streamers, blowing our horns, and twirling sparklers. Ryan called soon after and we counted down again with him.

Happy 2009!

December 27th, 2008, REALLY?

Today Dec. 27th, 2008 was 70 degrees. What is up with that? It was pretty windy but we had to take advantage of the warm temp and go to the park. It was so nice to be outside and play!

Merry Christmas!

Our Merry Christmas began at 4:30 A.M. with two little anxious souls sneaking into our room to wake us up. We told the kids 7:00 but that just didn't fly with them. We really tried to hold them back until 6:00 but they were just too excited. So at about 5:30 we started in to the living room. Ryan and I figured it was payback for all those Christmas mornings we woke our parents up at 4:00.

The kids were so cute to watch. They really did a good job of taking their time opening presents and looking and playing with each one. I have such a hard time when they just tear open each present, don't give it a second look and are reaching for the next one. So thankfully they didnt' do that this time. Lacey's favorite present was the Barbie she wanted with brown hair (we didn't know that she wanted a brown hair barbie until two days before Christmas. Thank goodness the one we had already bought did have brown hair). She was also thrilled with Little Pet Shops and a Tinkerbell Fingernail Station.

Aidan's favorite presents were Pokemon cards, Bakugan, and a Darth Vader Space ship. You know when your kids are getting older when you no longer understand their toys nor do you think they are cute. I so desperately want Aidan to still love Lightening McQueen and Little People but I have to remind myself that he is older now and has moved on.

But the best Christmas surprise and gift was to Aidan and kind of Ryan too from Ryan's brother Derek. It was an XBOX 360. Aidan's dream. What happened is Derek had bought an Xbox 360 a couple of years ago and it broke. So he ended up buying another that had some upgraded features. One night while he was talking to Ryan he realized that the old Xbox 360 was still under warranty. So they made the arrangements to send it back to the company to fix it and then give it to Aidan. We didn't think this would all happen before Christmas but somehow it did. That was the package we were waiting for on Christmas Eve that Derek and Arden so kindly overnighted to us. It seriously was such a great surprise for Aidan. He told us later that maybe Santa told Derek that he wanted an Xbox 360 and that is how he got it. I'm sure it is Aidan, I'm sure it is. Derek is king and uncle of the century to Mr. Aidan boy for fulfilling his Christmas wish.

We had such a great Christmas. I missed being with our families but completely enjoyed doing Christmas in Kentucky.

Christmas Eve

Ryan got home from work late last night and I was so happy to have him back in time for Christmas Eve. We were prepared for Christmas so we had quite a relaxing day. We were anticipating a package from Derek that was overnighted to us with a BIG present for Aidan. We were so happy that the post office worked with us and called our cell phone when it did arrive (even though it was after hours for them).

We had a great night. We always act out the nativity and read the scriptures relating the story of Christ's birth and sing songs. The kids did a great job acting out the parts. Once our family is bigger I guess we will have more characters in our nativity.

(Do you like how Lacey put her teeny in her shirt to be pregnant?)

Cutest little Mary and Joseph you ever did see? Cassidy wouldn't sit still to be the baby.

After we opened our Christmas Eve pajamas. What a cute little bunch I have!

We made some fudge and rice crispie treats for Santa then had the kids write Santa a note. Lacey made sure the reindeer had some carrots and then we attempted to put the kids in bed. It took a couple of times of putting the kids back in bed because it was too hard to fall asleep, but they eventually did.