Super Boys!!

    The boys love to dress up and pretend to be super heros. One night after we had put them to bed and we thought they were going to sleep, they came running out like this. Silly boys.

    Logan

   Sam

These boys are so stinkin' cute. I love them.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

     This year decorating the tree was a chore. I love to decorate it and I want to do it so it's done my way. I want tons of lights, Dave doesn't care. Remember I'm really sick at this point and really just stay in bed all day but Logan convinced me to try to try to get the lights on so we could decorate for FHE. I was able to get 2 strand on and then I had to stop. Ambitious, I know. When Sam got home from school he was so excited to decorate but I told them I was going to try to put more lights on so we could decorate the whole thing. Clearly that did not happen, I think my medicine kicked in and I slept on the floor until Dave got home and then we let the boys decorate the bottom half. Have I said what an awesome Mom I have been lately? They had a good time so that's what matters right? Within the week I was able to finish the tree so it did look good for Christmas, but just barely. 

The Boys decorations.

Our family picture in front of the tree on Christmas Eve. Next year there will be 5 of us! AHH!!

The Only Snow

    One morning we woke up to snow. The boys were so excited, but I didn't let them play in it. Sam was going to be late if we didn't hurry so I told them no and rushed them out. I told Sam on the way to school that the next time it snowed a good snow, I would let him skip school to play as long as he wanted. Little did I know that this was ALL the snow for the whole year. Good thing I took a few pictures of Logan after we dropped Sam off.

Christmas Programs

     Sam and Logan both had their Christmas programs on the same day. It was great, when Logan's was over we ran across town to Sam's. They both did such a good job!

    Before the kids came in, Mrs. Penny told the parents not to worry if the kids came down off the stage. There were loads of people there and some of the kids would be nervous and it was normal. Logan was the first one to walk through the door, like this. Turns out he had tripped on the way from the class and was hurt. We convinced him to go back up after the first few songs and then he did a great job.

  

     Santa came and gave all the kids candy canes, they were pretty excited.

    I love this nativity. I always take a picture with the boys in front of it.

     Logan and Santa.

     At Sam's program they had K-2 at the same time. The kids were already sitting in their spots when they let the parents in so it took us a while to find Sam. They sang some really cute songs. Sam's favorite is the Grinch song. He watches the video of it all the time.

    We finally found him, in the dead center of the room.

The next day we had Sam's Christmas party at school. Those kids LOADED up! The school gave every child a book, a good book. Mrs. Mileham made all of the kids stockings and most of the parents sent things to stuff them. Then all the kids brought treats to share, so they ate and ate all day. It was also Polar Express Day so the kids got to wear their PJ's, they loved that. 

Logan turns 4

   Logan had his 4th birthday on December 3rd. We always let the boys a few presents first thing in the morning. Well we really can't hold them off, so we let them open a few and then save the rest to open after cake. Sam and Logan's best friends are brothers, which makes parties really easy. We had their family over for Japanese food and cake. The boys had a blast so we won for another year. We love Logan so much and are so lucky he is in our family. He is growing so fast and into such a good boy.

   I don't make cakes anymore. I can, I just don't. Sam's Club cakes are so good and so cheap, there is no reason to fight it. They want Character Cakes and I can't do that so, we just buy them. And look at that face, my cakes don't do that.

Sam turns 7

    Sam had his 7th birthday in November 30. We really didn't do anything big this year. Sam had his best friend, Ben come over to play after school. I will just say I'm a terrible Mom.....I forgot to take pictures of his morning presents or of his cake- he wanted cupcakes this year. We got them to take them to his class but I was so sick I couldn't get them to his class so we had them at home for like a week. We love Sam so much and he was such a good sport and was so nice about me not being able to take them to his class. We saved a few presents for after school to open. He got LEGO'S, which he loves, so always a winner. I can't believe how big Sam is getting and how old. Can I really have a 7 year old?! We are so blessed to have Sam in our family. 

Thanksgiving

   Last Thanksgiving Bo, Cassidy and their kids came to our house so it was our turn to go up there. Last year Cass was pregnant with Derrick so it was fair that I was so sick with this one. We drove the 8 hours up to Indy on Wednesday for a long weekend. We love being with them. I love that we are related so being together isn't intruding and we can stay as long as we want and still have a blast. We always spend way to much time playing cards and not enough time sleeping but it's so worth it. I have to give a shout out to Dave; he is AMAZING!! He kept the kids the W-H-O-L-E time. I didn't help cook, I didn't help clean, I didn't have to discipline, nothing. Dave made breakfast every morning for the kids and helped Cass with Thanksgiving dinner. He makes killer pies. He is so great, seriously BEST. MAN. EVER. OK back to our story. Cassidy and I headed to Walmart and Target after the kids were in bed that night, Black Friday Baby!! Can't miss that, we got some great deals and worked off our dinner. The day after Thanksgiving we went to the Children's Museum in Indy. They open their Christmas Exhibits on Black Friday and we wanted to check it out. I wish we lived there, that place is awesome! We could have been there for 2 days and not seen all of it.

     Dave, Sam and Logan. There are giant Dinosaurs outside that had there heads stuck in through the windows.

   Bumblebee.

   Sam, Logan, and My Uncle Kevin (Bo's Dad)

  In this Dinosaur part they had a simulated thunderstorm, it was really neat and so real it scared Logan.

   Logan dug for Dinosaur bones.

   Sam  dressed up tried to keep some eggs warm.

   Sam got to wear scuba gear and check out these underwater cannons.

     Logan did too.

   This was a room full of blown glass. There were plastic ones that the kids could create their own masterpieces.  Dave could have laid there all day. it really was neat.

   This blown glass sculpture was 4 stories high.

    This is the 2 story Christmas Slide. Logan and I. Zofran is amazing.

    Dave and Sam

    Sam and Carter ice fishing.

   We built this arch thing out of foam blocks.

    Logan drove a bulldozer with his hands.


       The next day we went to one of the cool parks by their house. The kids needed to get out of the house and dispense some energy.

   Logan and Carter climbing a rock wall.

    Logan and Sam climbed this ropey thing. Dave climbed it too.

   Sam was able to swing his legs up and make himself hang upside down. He was so proud of himself.

    Sam and Carter.



                  Sam and Megan.

   Cassidy and me. We didn't take a lot of pictures, mostly because we stayed in our PJ's the whole time. We had such a great time, I love that they moved closer to us so we can see them more often.

On our way home we found Metropolis, the home of Superman. We had to stop and take a picture. There is a museum and all sorts of things to do there. It was Sunday, so it was all closed.

Ward Campout

  The weekend after Halloween our ward (I say ward but only the 6 or 7 'standard' families that come to camp fires and BBQ's came) had a camp out. We had a blast. I refuse to camp in Tennessee, it is gross, and the bugs and snakes, YUCK! Dave helped plan it for in November so it would be cold enough so most of the bugs and snakes would be gone. I was happy about that, so I agreed to go and let the boys stay the night. We went to Bass Pro and bought everyone a sleeping bag and drove the hour out there. It was chilly but the boys didn't seem to notice, that was good. The Daddy Long Legs were unbelievable!! Every where, like they were falling from the trees, seriously disgusting! Over all the camping was successful and the boys would like to go again. Father and sons it is!

  The men made us all breakfast. Camp breakfast is always the best!

    The kids played down on this dock that they pulled out of the water for the winter.