Sunday: Christmas party #2

Tonight was our second Christmas party.  I actually took some pictures this time.

Joshua got a puzzle and showed it to everyone.

They did the grab a cool new way.  There were 10 questions, and if you answered 'yes' to the question you got to pick (or steal) a present.  Then everyone unwrapped it.  Then there were 10 more questions and you could steal a present.  (However, I once again had one of the last wrapped presents picked.  If I wrap them normally no one picks them.  If I wrap them funny no one picks them.  I don't understand how people can not chose the presents we bring until the very end!)  Ben ended up with a hat that Isaac loved.

Cheryl with her cheese smile.

Laughing about the cheese smile.

Trying to figure out Isaac's brain teaser gift, which ended up being a bit harder than expected.

On the way home the boys tried to get us to say "choo choo train."  For a year or so now I have refused to say it.  (I think it started on one of those days were the kids just kept wanting me to say something and I finally said no and then never started again.)  They thought we were hilarious, saying "choo choo plane" or "shoe shoe train" or "choo choo plop" or whatever.  There was laughter the whole way home.

Saturday: Christmas party number 1

This evening was Christmas party number 1, with Ben's Mom's side.  It was nice to see everyone again.

The kids played well together, especially enjoying getting to go exploring on their own. 

Besides this, it was really only an ok day.  I woke up in a grumpy mood.  I finally got rid of it only around lunch time only to have Joshua come down with a really bad stomach ache.  I was about fifteen minutes away from deciding to go to urgent care when it started to get a little better.  I had forgotten to get shredded chicken at the store.  I had gotten chicken breasts though, so I put that in the crock pot to make my own rather than brave the crazy grocery store right before Christmas.

Friday: responsible

Yesterday I was thinking of all the animals that I'm actively responsible for...

1.5 adult humans
2 small humans
2 cats
1 adult fish
9 small fish
1 bird feeder
2 totes of worms

Now, many of the animals don't really take much effort.  However, I saw a woodpecker at our bird feeder yesterday and immediately thought, "we should get a suet feeder!"  So yeah, I did.  Hopefully the woodpecker comes back.  What's one more bird feeder to take care of?

As for the day in pictures...

We got Christmas ice cream for Joshua as a Christmas present from Aunt C.  He loved it and told me every time he got a piece of candy cane.  (Side note: I don't like peppermint ice cream and so this somewhat mystified me.)

We went to a sing-a-long at Isaac's school.  We didn't get to sit with Isaac, as expected, but we did get to wave to him quite a bit and take him home a few minutes early.  His class all had elf hats, so it was easy to spot them in the crowded gym.

Joshua and Horizon cuddled on Ben's lap.

Thursday: gifts and parties

I finished wrapping presents today, although they still need nice name tags and there are a few extra small ones to do but the "hard" part is done.  I had some helpers.

This afternoon I helped out in Isaac's classroom for his Christmas party.  It was rather chaotic and you could tell the teacher was a bit overwhelmed because there were a few things that weren't quite working and the kids were extra ...excited.  However, everybody did all the fun things and the kids had fun, so I'd call it a win.

Tuesday: brothers

We let the cats into Joshua room for a short time tonight.  Both boys really wanted both cats to be on the loft at the same time, and they finally obliged.

I also got the last of my grades in this morning.  Woo-hoo! 

Monday

Well, Joshua stayed in his loft all night.  He wasn't very happy about it several times, but fell back asleep within a few minutes.  He was up about a half hour early though.

Joshua went to gymnastics today with complaint.  I'm not sure what changed over the last few weeks, but he doesn't want to go.  This time he said he didn't want to do the beginning song, and I said that was ok.  So he just stood there while others walked around.  After that he started participating again.

Annual picture

Isaac came home with this in his folder.  I found it a bit...absurd.

Sunday: kitties and loft

The kitties did a much better job of behaving themselves in the office tonight.  They are slowly learning the few rules that we have.  Tornado 

I also got Joshua's loft all put together and Joshua is sleeping in it tonight.  I had some pictures, but they didn't get automatically uploaded yet.  We talked about how he should try really hard to stay in it all night.  We'll see what happens.