Runaway!

The other night Parker got in trouble (shocking I know!). He got sent to his room & while he was up there he started packing. He had a duffel bag stuffed with a pillow, his puppets & a book.  He came downstairs in shorts, soccer socks, shoes & a hoodie. He got on his bike in 11 degree weather & rode off into the dark night. It was actually really cute! I wish I would have had my camera handy. He got to the corner of where is not allowed to cross alone & turned around and came home. We were all laughing so hard that it really pissed him off. He said he was going to his friend Evan's house who lives in our neighborhood but he'd gone the wrong way.  It was classic!

  "Packet" he must have been in a real hurry!

2012 Calendar I

Each year I make the grandmas a kid calendar for Christmas. I think they'd both be just as happy with a Dollar Store calendar so I really just do it for me.

The Green Machines!

For some unknown reason, my mom & dad buy the boys separate Christmas gifts. There are never gifts from "Grandma & Grandpa" it is "Grandma or Grandpa". The boys like the gifts from Grandma but they love the gifts from Grandpa. At the end of our inside gifts they start bugging Grandpa to go and see what is in the garage. He has had things like arcade games & four-wheelers out there so they know that is where the good stuff is. This year they got Green Machines. They love them! They seriously did not get off of them the entire Christmas break. They rode them so much that they had bruises on their lower backs from the seats. They sat on carpet, pillows, blankets, whatever to make it softer. I think that Preston lost 5# over the break because all they did was race around. I should get one. I think I put on 7#.  :) 

 

 

Christmas Day!

On Christmas Day we get up and do the Santa thing and gifts. Then my parents & aunt & cousins come to our house for breakfast.  At some point during the day we go back over to my mom & dad's house for yet more gifts. It is always an argument between me and my sister as to what time we are going to meet up. Since her son gets up at 3:00 am on Christmas, and she won't come to my house for breakfast, she is ready to meet at my parents house early in the day. Not me. I am all about the leisurely breakfast, and taking things slow. Basically after the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Christmas I want to enjoy the day and not be rushed.  So after we duke it out agree on a time, we head over to my parent's house. Honestly, this is the kids' favorite part of Christmas. Santa can't compete with gifts from Grandma & Grandpa.

 Liam and Parker.
The orthodontist is going to see Parker's mouth and $$ are going to flash in his eyes!

 Jessa and Sonny wearing the cute scarves that Liam made.

 Parker got a monkey nutcracker from my mom.

Sonny made the boys Harry Potter scarves. Parker got Slytherin - his favorite house! That should tell you something about the kid!

 Preston sporting his Gryffindor scarf.

Besides his grandsons, my dad's pride and joy is his garage. I am surprised he doesn't keep his La-Z-Boy & TV out there.

My mom got the boys matching pink bunny slippers from A Christmas Story. Preston & Parker loved them. Liam was disgusted.

Seriously, it is embarrassing how much stuff there is for so few people!

My Mom, a.k.a. Grandma Chickie

Christmas Morning

I am very slow at updating my blog lately. I'll admit, my heart has not been in it. Not sure why. Usually I have fun with it, but lately it seems like work. Hmm.....

We have a rule at our house that the boys can't get up on Christmas morning unless the clock starts with at least a 6. My sister lets her son get up whenever he wants and that usually means around 2:00 or 3:00 am.  Being the mean mom that I am, I think anything before 6:00 is ridiculous. You are done with Santa & presents in an hour then it's like "now what?"

This year the thunderous sound of feet came down at 6:02 a.m. I had gotten up and showered at 5:00 then went back to bed right as I heard them running down.  They love to wake us up & they have no idea that I've already been up. Way to go, guys!

The only thing that Preston asked for was a Kindle.  Santa had put the Kindle behind a big Harry Potter book so Preston didn't see it for quite awhile. He opened his stocking and found an Amazon/Kindle gift card that was for $50.00. He is so sweet & said that now he only had to save up another $150.00 so he could get one.

 Elf on the Shelf was a huge deal this year.  So huge that Santa had a hard time finding one. I had never even heard of it before until both of the boys' teachers got one for their classrooms. Now that I am familiar with it, I love it. It is such a cute idea & cute story. Parker named his elf Daniel.

 We had a very busy night at our house. Santa came and the Tooth Fairy!

Looking at his loot!

The early morning "I'm tired" look.

I love my boys! This is when they are giving me my gifts that they made at school. I love both of the gifts that I got, but Preston's really touched me.

He wore this hat backwards all morning!

A new neck roll pillow. He got a hole in it right after Christmas. Of course, I've not sewn it up yet.

Anyone seen Parker??

 

 And this is why I get up at 5:00 to shower before the boys get up. I don't want to look like I am 1/2 asleep all day.

Parker's favorite gift, his RSL jersey. Each year when he goes to see Santa he asks for something that you'd never expect. It is always out of the blue, and always something he's never mentioned before. This year he asked for an RSL jersey & ball. He has never in his life shown any interest in RSL so I still have no idea where it came from. He has literally worn this shirt everyday since Christmas. He even used his free dress coupons for school so he could wear it there. I think I've been able to sneak it in the washer twice since December 25th! By the way, see the burlap with Christmas trees on them hanging on the armoire? The one on the right is my gift from Parker this year. Bad mom again...I forgot to take a picture of it before I put it away for the year.

Preston trying to expalin to my dad why his Kindle is so cool! My blind-as-a-bat dad has no idea what he is looking at.

We called Preston "Brick" all day. If you have never seen The Middle you have no idea what I am talking about.  He had his nose to his Kindle all day long & we didn't hear much from him all day.

New jersey, new ball, new iPod. He thinks he's pretty cool!

 This is what Preston made for me at schoool. I absolutely love it!  In case you can't tell, it is the Blessed Kateri Takwitha. It is exactly the type of quirky, imperfect art that I love! It was my favorite Christmas gift of the season.

Christmas Eve

Our tradition is to have Christmas Eve at my parent's house with family and friends. We have wine, dinner, wine, the kids run around, wine, play games & a visit from Santa.

 My mom has literally hundreds of nutcrackers. Preston loves them! He is always trying to steal a few and take them home. It drives my mom crazy!

 The kid table. Parker, Preston, Sonny, Liam & Jessa.

 Grandpa & Preston

 Me, my mom & sister (Sundee). I guess that when my sister got to my mom's house she kept asking my mom if she looked too much like a hooker. She thought her sweater was too short. When I pulled in & got out of my car she said to my mom, "Never mind, I look fine". I am 5'8" & my sister is just shy of 5'4". Of course my sweaters are short!

Welcome Santa & Mrs. Clause!  This is Travis' brother Jeff & his wife Tammy. They stop by each year for a little visit & the kids love it. Preston has never figured out who it is & never seems to put much thought into it. This year when they walked in the house Parker yells, "That is Uncle Jeff & Aunt Tammy". Thanks Parker for letting your older brother know!

 Jessa, Sonny & Cindy

 Chickie & Cindy

 The whole famdamnily! My aunt & her family from Boise sent us all these cute cups with candy & gifts inside. They are so cute! They are personalized with our names and cute cut-outs on them. They were a hit! Thanks Lori, Erin, Tom & Nick!

 Parker & Travis

 Jessa

My dad & his hooker girls!

 The boys. My mom got them plastic wine glasses & "kid wine". They thought it was great. Parker likes it a little too much though. He scares me!

 More please Aunt Sundee!

 

 My Mom & Dad

Our friends Dan & Bea

Cookies out for Santa!