Christmas 2008

Santa...not EVERYONE loves him!!!

Sitting on Santa's lap is alway's an adventure for every child, especially if they don't like him very much!! Quaid was really excited to go see Santa this year and has really gotten into the magic of Santa. At school, they had 2 little elves in their classroom, everyday they were somewhere different. Quaid would come home from school telling me all about these sneaky elves. Here's his letter from school that he wrote to Santa:

As you can tell he is really into Santa this year, however I keep stressing the fact that he's MAGICAL...so that when they do find out he's not real, but he's just Magical.
Although Bailey is a totally different story, she doesn't like Santa ONE BIT!!! She didn't want any present's from him, just for her birthday she kept telling us. When it was time to go see Santa and sit on his lap, she had told us that she might sit on his lap, however didn't want to even go past a certain point to see him. We told her it was alright and Santa still gave her brother a candy cane to give to her :)
I only managed to get a picture of the 2 of them standing by a pole, not by Santa this year...lol Quaid did go see Santa though...he didn't sit on his lap though, guess he's getting too big :(

Jedi Master

That's right, we have our very own Jedi Master living in our house!!! Quaid has a book from Star Wars and apparantly think's he really is one day going to go off and leave us to be a Jedi Master...lol The other night he wore this hilarious outfit with his robe (that is way too small) and his hood from his winter coat to bed. I asked why he wore this, his reply was because he's getting ready to be a Jedi Master! Oh the imaginiation's of a child :)

A look into the day's of our live's

*On the way to storytime after a snowfall, I asked Bailey if the tree's were pretty with their fresh snow cover.

Her response "Mommy, when do they talk?"

Me: "Ummm, when does what talk?"

Her: "The tree's, when do they talk"

Me: "Sweetie, Tree's don't talk"

Her: "No, when will they be able to"

Me: "Tree's won't ever talk, they just get bigger"



*One day after breakfast she run's in to her room and get's some tight's on. I asked her why she put them on, she said, "Because they make me healthy"...lol I think she meant warm...lol



*On our way home from Awana one Sunday evening, we were talking about Santa and Bailey said she didn't want to sit on his lap, she didn't want any presents and she just doesn't like him. Quaid's response, "Bailey, Jesus doesn't like that, He wants us to love everyone"...lol



*When Bailey goes to bed at night, she usually ALWAY'S has to go potty one last time after I tuck her in, so she run's to the potty and I have to wait to shut the door until she get's in her bed, then she always says "Wait Mommy, I have to ask you a question", it's alway something totally bizarre, like "Can we go to the Zoo sometime" or "Mommy, Quaid forgot to go to school today", when it was Saturday...lol

*The kid's were getting ready to go out to play in the snow, Quaid is all dressed and waiting by the door as I got Bailey's mittens and hat on. Bailey say's to Quaid, "You know why I'm smiling at you", "WHY", "because I love you"...no they are not like this ALL the time, they do have their moments just like any other brother and sister, but how I do cherish those moment's when they actually act like they love each other...lol

*Quaid has been reading ALOT lately, he just finished his first Chapter book!!! I'm so proud of him :) He also comes home after school usually on Monday's they get their spelling words and homework (about 4/5 pages) that is due back on Friday (test day), Quaid get's his homework done right away (after playing in the snow and doing his chores) He is sooo eager to learn right now and it just warms my heart!! So the other day he was telling me a math problem (they have to make up a story to go with their addition or subtraction). I told him he did a great job, he say's, "I know and I learned it from nowhere"...lol

*Bailey is becoming very independant lately and loves to do things on her own. The other day she decided she was going to fix her hair, here she is putting a barrette in her hair, she really didn't do too bad, looked kinda cute :)

*Our house is CRAZY on the weekend's, especially now it's colder outside and the kid's can get out but for a little bit. It's ok sometime's though because they both have great imagination's. They will play doctor, school, games, house or superhero's (Quaid get's his choice in too) So here is Quaid dressed up like Indiana Jones, not sure about the sword, but I thought he was pretty cool, just had to snap this for when he's older...lol

Snow, Snow and more snow

As most of you know we had a VERY snowy winter last year with over 100 inches of snow!! This year it has started earlier and is looking like much of the same. The kid's however are LOVING it, when we get Quaid on the bus, we all bundle up and head out a little early so they can play in the snow together. Then when Quaid get's home from school, I don't see him for at least 30 min after he get's off the bus, he will play till it get's dark and sometimes later (of course it get's dark here between 4:30 and 5)

Here are some pic's of the kid's enjoying the snow!!!

Awana Program

We have such a great program at our church for kid's, Bailey is in Cubbies and Quaid is in Sparks. They have a book and read from it each week, then have to memorize and recite Bible verses to get patches for their vest's. This past week, our story for each night is a chapter in Quaid's Spark's book, then I quiz him on his verses. He memorized a total of 6 verses this week and earned his wing's and a green jewel for his vest, he also earned his red jewel however has to bring a friend to get it next week. I am sooo proud of him, he is so eager to learn more about God's word.

Christmas Baking Day

We had a GRAND day of baking on a snowy day this year. Let me tell you it was a looong day with ALOT of paitence! We managed to get sugar cookie's, candy cane cookie's and Buckeye's made. The kid's had so much fun helping me and decorating the cookie's. Bailey had a little too much fun with the icing, Daddy had noticed a little green around her mouth and asked if she was eating the icing, her response, "NO", then she finished piling on the 2in of icing she already had on her cookie, then I catch her out of the corner of my eye, sneaking down under the table and licking the knife (plastic knife...lol) So immediately she was DONE!!! So I set apart her 2 ginormously high icing cookie's then finished the rest with Quaid who was taking his time and decorating his cookie's. It was a fun day, I love cooking with the kid's, just takes alot of patience!!!

Christmas Tree Lighting

This is our annual tradition as well to go downtown for the Christmas Tree Lighting. In the community center they have different business' that have different craft's for the kid's set up, cookie's & hot chocolate and secret Santa set up upstair's, then Santa comes in on a Horse Drawn Carriage at 7 to light the Christmas Tree. This year was quite fun, as Bailey is able to do more, or so we thought. We sent them to do the Secret Santa, filled out their list of people to buy for and gave them money. Quaid has always done such a GREAT job at picking his gift's and staying within his budget (most items are $.50-5.00). He is really so thoughtful in picking out his gift's for everyone, this year he even took the time to write out all his gift tags. Bailey however was a TOTALLY different story. She came running out within 5 minutes and obviously without wrapping the gift's. She was soo excited and said, "Look what I got", meaning for HERSELF! She managed to get 2 whole gifts for herself and wanted to open them right away. She just didn't get it, that she was supposed to be shopping for everyone else and NOT herself. (I was telling my Mom about this and she was cracking up, she said I was the same way..lol Apparantly it took me forever to get this concept as well) I managed to talk Bailey into giving Quaid one of her gift's and then she could have the other one, only she had to wrap it up and open it on Christmas. It's so funny to see how their different personalities develop and see how different they are in so many things. Like they were also decorating cookie's with icing and sprinkles, Quaid quickly got the icing on then dumped a spoonful of sprinkle's on his cookie, then rubbed them in with the spoon. While he started eating his cookie, Bailey was still putting frosting on, then she took her spoonful of sprinkle's and put them on the plate, then she proceeded to individually pick them up one by one to put them on her cookie. Let's just say Quaid was finished eating his cookie when she finished decorating her's.


Santa arrived at 7, so we went outside to see him, even though Bailey doesn't like him at all!!! I managed to squeeze in behind the platform he was going to light the Christmas tree from, I was soo excited (like a kid...lol) Here he came down through the crowd of people, stands on the platform and turn's his back to us...ARGH, and he didn't turn around either, which was probably for the best because when Bailey saw him she started crying and just wanted to go home!!! After he lit the tree and headed inside, the girl with the microphone said to Bailey, "Do you want to say Merry Christmas", then she said it...sooo cute :)

Grand Prix Race

This was the first derby car race for the Horton boy's and they took it very seriously, well maybe not Quaid, but Johnny sure did. They worked on this car for an entire month!!! With a few minor setbacks they ended up getting it finished and on the track with hopes for 1st place. Quaid's Buckeye car ended up finishing 2nd place, so he got a trophy and was sooo excited!!!

Meanwhile Bailey and her little friend's made their own little car's out of boxes and watched the movie Cars while the race was going on...Bailey would NOT let me help her with her car, she's very particular about how she does things. It was a fun night for everyone!

Annual Christmas Parade

Every year we attend the Christmas Parade on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Last year we got there late and didn't get good seats, this year we found a great spot on the curb and set up our blanket to watch the parade. It wasn't too cold, but definitely should have brought an extra blanket, but when we were leaving Daddy said it wasn't too bad, it was like Spring..HAHAHA...well where we were going to watch the parade it was a little windy and a tad colder than at our house. We ended up watching most of the parade, even though it is probably the CHEESIEST parade EVER...lol Some of their costume's are so crazy, but the kid's could point them out and loved it, while we were in the background chuckling which one was the cheesiest :)

Bailey didn't like the LOUD firetrucks

See, told you they were cheezy...lol

This guy was pretty cool ;)

The cheeziest of all...lol

(Quaid and Bailey loved seeing Mickey and Minnie though, however they have NO CLUE that we're secretly taking a surprise vacation for my 30th Birthday in March to Disney to see the REAL Mickey and Minnie Mouse)

A Shower for Aunt Julie and Baby Paige

I am sooooo SUPER excited about my new niece who's coming in Jan or maybe the end of Dec, or by Bailey's prayer's in a minute (Julie might like that...lol) My sister in law is so adorably pregnant with a cute lil basketball..lol We had so much fun at her shower and playing games, Bailey won the 2 twin bear's from a pass the Twin's game. Then she opened her gifts and got the cutest stuff, makes me want another girl..lol Bailey too can't wait till baby Paige get's here, her gift to Paige was her very own "Uh-oh" (that totally looks like Julie and matches her diaper bag..soo cute) Bailey also pray's every night, usually it's the same prayer, Thank you for this day, please help baby Hadley get better and the new add on is: "Please help baby Paige get out in a min.", she is very anxious to meet her new cousin and now it's on her prayer list every night :)

I snuck in a pic of her lil Basketball ;) Isn't she sooo cute??

My 1st Diaper cake...I didn't realize I had gotten the diaper's with pooh all over them, so I had to wrap the diaper's up so it would look cuter...lol

Thanksgiving

I'm so thankful the Lord has always provided and has blessed us with such a great family. We enjoyed Thanksgiving at Grammy & Grampy's. The turkey was EXCELLENT and as Johnny say's the best turkey he's ever had...lol It was a nice dinner and good family time :)

Making your Home a Haven

This week, I am participating in the Making your Home a Haven!! I'm going to work on getting organized and tidying up throughout my home to make it more peaceful. Today is tidy up and remove that clutter, so I am on my way to having some quiet time with the Lord. (thank goodness for Curious George..lol) Then I will make my list for meals this week, then my daily cleaning /organizing tasks for the week.

Thing's have been quite crazy around here lately, lots of running around, couponing, computer time (I'm taking a break this week), pink eye for Bailey in both eye's :( Johnny has hurt his back or we may be thinking it's his kidney's :( UGH...it's around this time last year he had the kidney stone, so he will be on his way to the dr today....and I've had some unusually weird stuff going on with my lips :( Thankfully Quaid (the one that is actually in school around all the GERMS..is great!! Please pray for our health this week and peacefullness as I go about my week to Make our Home a Haven :)

If you would like to participate, go check out Monica's Blog!

Dumpster Diving

Yes, that's right I do it...lol!!! However only at the Recycling center only in the newspaper's...only for coupon's!! We live in the town, so we have to take our Recycling in either on Thursday afternoon's or Saturday morning/afternoon. The kid's have so much fun sorting and helping me, then off we go to the Newspaper box (which is HUGE) and look for coupon's. Unfortunately today it was near impossible for me to get to any of the newspaper's because the box was sooo deep and hardly any paper's :( So Bailey and I walk out and one of the worker's waves me down, he say's "Wait a minute, are you looking for coupon's", then I say "Yes", "well follow me, I've got some for ya"...I'm thinking maybe there is a hidden box somewhere in the back (which sometime's is the case and they let me go back there to go through them..lol) However this time, he hands me a bag with about 15 insert's in there...WOW, I was sooo thankful that he would do that :) Maybe I go in there too often...lol I don't know, but it was great and sooo made my day!!

A little update on couponing and how much it really pay's to coupon, Target has been my new best friend this week :) First they have a Glade Holiday deal, if you buy any 4 glade Holiday product's you get a $5 gift card. Most of them are on sale for $2.50, there are B1G1 coupon's out there, as well as $2, so buy 4 and pay $6.28 or $5.22, then get back a $5 gift card...pretty cool :) I had done that deal last week and still had $10 left over in gift card's, so I took those and used them on a Kellogg's cereal deal where if you buy 5 boxes at $2.75 each you got a $5 gift card. I had $1 off coupon's for 15 boxes of cereal, most were printable's found here: http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=rjnefah1098550&bt=wi&o=54148&c=KC&p=uU1wzMHO
I did 3 different transaction's, rolling each $5 gift card I recieved onto the next order, making my total for 15 boxes of cereal $5.93!!! (and I still had a $5 gift card left :) And my cousin is sending me some rebate check's from Kellogg's if you buy any 4 of the listed cereal's in one transaction you get $10 to spend on Beauty, Health or Pharmacy item's. (Thank you Libby) So of course I had to go back 1 more time and do the deal again...you can NEVER have too much cereal!!! Oh and while I was there they had some Garnier Fructis hair conditioning glaze on clearance for $.54, so I opened up my coupon binder and took out 6 $1 off coupon's I had and made $.46 on each!!! It has been a GREAT week at Target :)

Trick or Treat

This year, Quaid wanted to be The Joker and Bailey was a little Princess Butterfly. It was sooo much fun for Bailey this year, as she already has an ENORMOUS love for candy (like any other kid), but she was having soo much fun going house to house skipping :) It was funny, because every year we have a tradition of going to my parent's house, go trick or treating in their neighborhood then come back and eat dinner. While we were out my Mom called and said if Bailey got tired then we could bring her back in case Quaid wanted to go around some more. At that point we had already gone down their street and came back around to go on another street, right then Quaid said, "Can't we just go back to Grammy's now?" Bailey shouts out, "NO Quaid we have to get lots more candy" So we talk Quaid into going a little more, then we decide to go a different route so we can hit a few more houses. As we get the furthest away from Grammy's, Bailey decides she has had enough!!! GO FIGURE! We hit a few more house's then Quaid and Daddy split off as Bailey and I head for Grammy's. So we get back and warm up a bit, then the boy's come back with Quaid's bag half full (it was a BIG bag to begin with), plus 2 little stuffed animals??? Who know's?? lol Either way it was a Great night and almost perfect weather, especially for us..in the mid 50's :)

Here are a few pic's from the evening!!!