Christmas Day 2009

Christmas this year was different in many ways. First, we weren't sure what we would be doing for Christmas with Rick being out of work since September. Mom and Dad hall and the Howells really helped to make sure the kiddos had gifts under the tree to open on Christmas morning. We were also able to get TCA from DSS and were able to get the kiddos the gifts they wanted from Santa.

Secondly, Grammie and Poppy were in VA for Christmas with the Lamarres, so we had lasagna for dinner instead of ham.

Thirdly, it was just four of the five kiddos on Christmas morning since Josh and Ashley were with us on Christmas Eve.

Kari and Noah did not wake up until 7:45 AM! We actually slept in a bit this year. The kiddos were very eager to see what Santa left them.....

Finding their gifts from Santa - a new DSi




Opening their stockings




Devin opening her gift - a batman kite - from Q and Alan




Cody opening presents


This Zhu Zhu pet got caught in my hair when Noah put him on my head and turned on play mode! Thanks for sending those, Q and Alan!!


After opening gifts and breakfast, Devin headed to a friend's house and Cody holed himself up in his bedroom playing with his new iPod Touch and XBox game. Kari and Noah went from playing their DSis to watching G-Force a time or two or three. Rick napped while I made some more Santa Whiskers cookies and cleaned up a bit.

Reading Amelia Bedelia


Playing with Noah's gift from Secret Santa - a tractor trailer truck filled with and to hold Matchbox cars


Once Rick was up, I laid down for a bit and Noah joined me. We took a nice long nap and got up just before dinner was ready. Rick baked a lasagna and sliced some Hawaiian sweet rolls.

After dinner, we read Luke 2 and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. The kiddos love doing this every year!

Jesus' birthday cake - vanilla cake with holiday funfetti sprinkles and green buttercream icing with green, red, white and silver sprinkles on top


Blowing out the candles on Jesus' birthday cake


I am so thankful for everyone who had a part in making this Christmas possible for the kiddos. We are earnestly praying that God supplies the right job for me and Rick in the New Year and that we are able to bless a family next year like we were blessed this Christmas.

Christmas Eve 2009

On Christmas Eve this year, Tara and Co. hosted the annual Christmas Eve Open House since Mom and Dad Parker were heading to VA to spend Christmas morning with Nicole and her family. The kiddos and I did some baking and fixed the BBQ* and trifle, while Rick and Devin finished up the shopping.

We headed over to the Wyatts' house around 2 PM. There was a lot of great food and even better company. We got to see Janie and her crew and my Uncle Butch and Aunt Pat. Josh and Ashley even come to hang out with us.

Before the Christmas Eve service at LHC we headed back to the house for Josh and Ashley to open their gifts. We even got a book and some socks for the baby even though they were not able to find out if it is an Audriana or a Jayden yet. I think I will spank him/her when she comes out for being so stubborn =)

The service at church was very nice and we got to see the Siars who moved a few months ago.

We took Josh and Ashley home and then headed home ourselves to open the traditional one gift on Christmas Eve. The PJs were a hit! Rick read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and then we set out some milk and a plate for Santa with some cookies and a pickle** for the reindeer.

The kiddos headed to bed (even Devin and Cody) without too much trouble. Kari came out a few times to go to the bathroom, saying her stomach was excited, but she did not get sick this year!

I had a few things to wrap and Rick headed to Walgreen's for something last minute.

Around 11 PM, there was a knock at the door. When we answered it, "Secret Santa" had left some presents on the steps for the kiddos. We put those under the tree and were in bed by 1 AM. I think that is a record for us!

Here are some pictures from the day***.....

Some of the cookies we made


Josh and Ashley opening their stockings


Josh and Ashley opening gifts








Noah makes a cute present!


Opening the traditional PJs








Rick reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to Kari and Noah


*Sloppy Joe for all you Southern folks
**Why can't I ever remember to have carrots for the reindeer on Christmas Eve??
***Of course the pictures are of bad quality. Santa didn't bring a camera and my cell phone camera stinks!

Merry Christmas!

Football is in his Blood

Cody started training for the JV football team in August. His first practice lasted for 9 hours. He was at every practice and even went for some extra conditioning. He made the first cut and was able to play in the first scrimmage and had a really good game. But, after the second cut, he did not make the team for NCHS.

So, he decided to play community ball* for the Andover Apaches. He played on the Fresh/Soph team and was the starting quarterback for the first few games. He moved around to several other positions playing on both defense, offense and special teams. I think one of the only positions he didn't play was kicker!

He played his best at linebacker and had incredible tackles, sacks and other defensive plays (I probably should have let Rick write this post so it would be technically correct).

Cody is not born a natural athletic, but has the desire to be an excellent athletic. He practices hard and plays even harder. It is neat to see him out on the field in his element doing his thing.

Rick was able to coach him this year and loved it. He was able to spend quality time with Cody and meet his friends and their parents, building a foundation for the future and strengthening a bond with his son.

The Fresh/Soph team made it into the play-offs and were only knocked out due to unsportsmanlike conduct by an out-of-county team. Had that team not taken a few of our players out of that game (they literally left the field, two by ambulance and one by his father taking him to the hospital), I believe they would have made it to the final game and swept the championship.

I know this was a learning experience for Cody in many ways and for Rick, too. It was a good season and I can't wait to see Cody play for JV next year.

Here are some pictures** from the season (Cody is #10).....























*Thanks Papa and Nana for making it possible for Cody to play this year.
**All of the pictures, but the first one were taken by Amy Feather during the game she attended the weekend of 10/16/09.

Catching Up

I still have not developed the pictures from the kiddos' field trips, but I do have a few of Kari's field trip to the Aquarium from Rick's cell phone. He was able to go on the trip with her which she was very happy about again this year. He went with her when she was in K-5, too.

They loved the dolphin show and enjoyed the new jellyfish exhibit. They did not, however, like having to wait to eat lunch until they got back to the school. Rick was very jealous of the mom with the backpack full of snacks. Next time, he will be prepared!

The Numbers of the Blizzard of '09

55 - the number of minutes it took the banana bread to bake

24 - The number of inches of snow that fell in our yard

12 - the number of sugar cookies consumed

10 - the number of grilled cheese sandwiches I made

8+ - the number of times I dressed, undressed and redressed the children in their snow clothes and the cups of hot chocolate consumed by the children

4 - the number of times I washed and dried the children's snow clothes

2 - the number of naps I tried to take over the last two days

1 - the number of days off of school the children have so far

0 - the number of snow plows that have come down our street

Here are some pictures* for your viewing pleasure.....























*I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures since they were taken with my cell phone. Maybe Santa will bring me a camera for Christmas!

Not Me Monday Blizzard Edition

I did not dress, undress and redress my children 8+ times over the last two days in snow clothes.

I did not let my husband make the hot chocolate when the kiddos came in from being out in the snow. This was not the trade off since I had to peel the wet layers of clothes off of them.

I did not feel bad that I had not baked anything until I read FB and all of the posts about being snowed in and baking cookies etc. I did not then fall to the peer pressure and bake sugar cookies with the kiddos that turned out blah and bake a banana bread that burned on the bottom.

I did not tell my 7 year old to see if she could just hold it when she came to the back door after being in the snow for 5 minutes saying she had to pee. I had not forgotten to ask her and her 5 year old brother before I dressed them in their snow clothes if they had to go to the bathroom.

I did not take a chunk of ice off K's jeans and put it down the back of Rick's pants. He did not squeal like a little girl.

I did not let the kiddos have queso and chips for lunch for two days in a row.

I did not wish a dozen times over the last few days that I actually liked the snow so I could go out in it with my kiddos. I did not also wish that my husband was not sick so he could go out in it with them since he actually likes the snow.

I did not thank God a million times that we have a warm house to be in during the blizzard even though I was stuck inside of it with my husband, three kiddos and my parents =)

What didn't you do??

Check out MckMama's blog for more NMM fun!

Not Me Monday Cookie Edition

I did not make sugar cookie dough the other day just so I could get some of it raw. I have not still not made any cookies with it yet.

I did not add powdered sugar to a recipe that only called for the cookies to be dusted with it when done baking. It did not ruin the look of the cookies, which I did not try to fix by squishing them into ball while they were still hot. This did not result in them looking like won tons instead of snowballs. I did not still take them to the cookies exchange at church.

I did not take two of the cookies from the exchange that I thought were the same kind as the cookies I ruined to only find out that they were not the cookies I ruined.

I have not made any other Christmas cookies yet this year.

Join in the NMM fun at the end of her post today!

A Boy and His Blankie

If you have been around our family for any amount of time you are familiar with Noah and his blanket. He started carrying Blankie (or Blankie Boy) when we moved to MD in 2006. He and Blankie became inseparable on that four day trek. By time we arrived in MD, Blankie was black from being dragged across gas station and hotel parking lots. But, after a good wash he bounced back and has been Noah's faithful companion ever since then.

Since turning 5, he has been leaving Blankie behind a bit more. He normally has him in his book bag while he is at school. Noah doesn't take him out, but he normally has Blankie with him. As soon as he gets home, out comes Blankie and he is with Noah until bedtime, next to him during homework time and through dinner. So, you can imagine, he sometimes gets dirty and a little bit smelly. But, Noah has become accustomed to the smell and the image of his beloved Blankie. As you can imagine Blankie is also a little worse for wear. He is threadbare and torn and rubbed away with love on Noah's special corner.

But, that doesn't make Noah love him any less. If fact, he loves him even more fiercely and does not like me to wash Blanket. Ever. I have to sneak and steal him if Noah is home. But, the other day he left Blankie home while he was at school, which he has done three times in the last two weeks. So, I took advantage of the opportunity and washed Blankie Boy.

My plan was to make sure he was washed and dried before Noah got home and in the same place that he was when Noah left him. But, I got sidetracked and forgot to get him out of the dryer before Noah got home. When he came in he immediately asked for Blankie and I told him that I had to get him out of the dryer. Wailing and gnashing of teeth ensued and he followed me down to the laundry room crying the whole time about the unfairness and injustice of it all.

"I told you NOT to wash him. Don't EVER wash him! EVER!"

"But, I have to wash him sometimes, Noah. He gets dirty and a little smelly and he needs to be washed."

"I like him dirty and smelly!"

"Well, I talked to Blankie while you were at school and I asked him if he wanted to be washed and he said yes. He doesn't like to be dirty and smelly"

"Well, he is MY Blankie and I ask him the questions around here!"

I held my laughter in until he stomped up the stairs, dragging Blankie behind him.

Cyber Cookie Exchange

Jessica at The Mom Creative is hosting a cyber cookie exchange. Grab a button, post a recipe and link it on her site to be part of the fun. And you just might get picked to receive a dozen of her favorite cookies in the mail!



Here's my favorite recipe.....

SNOWBALL COOKIES

1 lb. butter
1/2 c. sugar
4 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. chopped nuts
3/4 c. confectioners' sugar

Cream butter and sugar in bowl; add vanilla. Stir in flour and nuts, blending well*. Shape teaspoonful dough into balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool. Roll in confectioners' sugar.

Dough will be thick. You can chill the dough for an hour or so before making into balls and bake.