How I love Christmas

Here's the new bikes!! And to the right is the pic that a promised weeks ago - the new bench my dad built for our new table! We love it and the kids think it is awesome too. And of course the next pic is of papa and Gabriella...nice.

How can anyone not love this time of year? It's a crazy time of year, yes, but so much fun. Especially when my amazing husband takes the whole week off!! Yes, Shawn actually took the entire week off and we have had so much fun. It's been so nice to have him here all week, the kids are getting spoiled like crazy - and not just from Santa. I think Ashlyn got rocked to sleep for 7 days straight by my mother - so now we are having to slowly ween her back into reality. Austin found out that Disney Land doesn't even compare to the Bass Pro Shop. We took all the kids over there yesterday just to walk around and they loved it. Shawn and I's Christmas present to each other this year was a new grill for camping. It is awesome and we can not wait to put it to use. The first thing we will be cooking on it is a hot breakfast on the campground - bacon, eggs, pancakes, we are having it all! The kids all got new sleeping bags and we got some marshmallow roaster sticks, a special bag that keeps things dry in the river, some pans for the grill - love it! We had a great Christmas morning - Austin and Ashlyn spotted their brand new bikes right away and hopped on! They were so excited to see that Santa enjoyed his cookies and milk we left for them and he even left a little note for them. Ashlyn was quite excited to go to church and see Baby Jesus (whom she especially loved and couldn't stop talking about the past few weeks). We got to spend some time in Manhattan for the Turner Christmas which is always fun - our kids always have so much fun playing with their cousins. We ended up getting snowed in there, and what else is there to do in Manhattan than go to a KSU basketball game? We decided if we were snowed in that we should take Austin to see his first college basketball game. There weren't too many people there since the highways were all closed down, so we got to sit really close and got 3 tickets for $5. Austin had a great time -although he was a bit disappointed not to get to see a football game. Today we headed out to the farm for the day and the kids got to do some sledding in the pasture. Needless to say, when we had to head home tonight the kids shed a few tears - they love going to the farm and always hate to leave.

That's about all I know for now - hope you all had a great Christmas and are ready to head into 2008!!

This pic of me and Gabriella is on a Friday night, and anyone that knows us, knows that Friday night is "pizza night". Here, Gabriella is eating her first piece of pizza!! YIPEE!! Quite a milestone in my book! And the pic with Santa cracks me up - Gabriella is peeking around to look but definitely doesn't want to get too close...the other two weren't too sure either - Austin was sick and Ashlyn was terrified....hmmm...maybe next year!

Hope you are having the time of your life!

ST

And...I'm back...

No, I am not still away on my "girls weekend". Just took me awhile to get caught up from being gone. Girls weekend was a complete success, minus the fact that we got iced-in at the loft we were staying at. That's ok though - we had a great time just hanging out and chatting, drinking wine, chatting, sleeping without having to get up with any kids - you get the idea. Can't wait til we go again!!

As for now, we are getting ready to head into the fun of Christmas! Shawn is taking the whole week off next week - yeah!!

Short post tonight - pics for later - went to see Santa!!

Hope you are having the time of your life!

ST

Girls Weekend Here We Come!!

Nothing can stop us now - not snow, not my son puking, nothin.
We are headed out in less than 2 hours and I couldn't be more excited!! Our first annual girls weekend is going to rock. Yes, we may be snowed in at the loft, but who cares?? We will get to have real conversations with no children to interrupt us!! YIPEE!! No diapers to change, no mouths to feed but my own and yes, oh yes, lots of wine and shopping.
I will say (but do not tell them) that I am going to miss my kiddos and hubby. I really don't like being gone all weekend, but no worries - I'll fight through it! Plus, I love that Shawn will get to spend time just him and the kids - they always have a blast trashing the house together.
So, I am now off to finish packing!
Hope you are having the time of your life! (I know I will be!)
ST

One last warm day...

Man, it was beautiful out today! It was almost nice enough to skip naps and play outside...but not quite. Although, we did go straight outside as soon as the girls woke up and got a good bike ride in.

Well, the holiday bustle has certainly arrived! On Saturday, Dec 1 we gave the kids their first Christmas present of the year. We got them their own nativity set (Little People) and they loved it. Shawn sat down with all the kids and taught them "the true meaning of Chrismtas". Can you picture our 3 year old, 2 year old and 9 month old sitting there listening? Yes, that is pretty much a miracle in itself. But, something must have stuck because Austin and Ashlyn are obsessed with Baby Jesus now. Ashlyn carries him all over the house and they are constantly getting in wrestling matches over him. I'm not so sure that is what Jesus would want, but hey it still entertains them!

Today my good friend Emily watched my kiddos so I could finish up Christmas shopping which surprisingly is almost totally finished! yeah! We got all our Christmas gear out and decorated up so now we are just patiently awaiting the arrival of Santa.

Besides getting ready for Christmas I am also getting ready for our first annual Girls Getaway! A couple of my "mom friends" and I are spending the weekend together with no kids, lots of shopping, no kids, some pedicures, no kids and lots of wine and did I mention no kids? Can't wait!!

Gotta cut this short to help the kids get to bed -

Hope you are having the time of your life!

ST