Flipindo!

Just because it's funny......Owen got a Harry Potter wand for Christmas, and goes around yelling "flipindo!", which is the attack spell in the book. Maddie caught this shot of him, and it made me laugh.

Merry Christmas

Aiden seems happy with his new DSi.  Crazy Santa accidently put a tag to: Aiden on Owen's DSi, but I caught it before Aiden opened it and convinced him it was for Owen.  He was so excited to get the grey hulk he barely noticed!

Maddie got the new camera she's been wanting.

Walker had a "Harry Potter" Christmas.

Out of everything he got, Owen said his Harry Potter wand was his favorite thing!  Now he can quit running around with pieces of rolled up paper and straws.

The kids woke us up at 4:15 to open presents. It's now 5:26, and I am going to try and go back to bed. With all the noise from the new games being played down the hall, I'm not sure that will happen! Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

All the boys were super excited about their new books. Mom made each one of them their own book filled with pictures from their pirate party this summer.

Maddie was checking out her book from the princess party the girls had.....

I was trying to take a picture of Mom, granny and Jeannie when Owen in jumped in....

Walker will pose for Maddie.....but not always for me...hmmmmmmm

Then and Now

Christmas 2005

Christmas 2010
My how they change!!

A quick trip down memory lane....

maddie's first Christmas

Owen was not happy to be on Santa's lap

Snow Day

Walker, Aiden and Owen had a great time sledding down the hill in the front yard.

Evidently Santa was making a practice run through the neighborhood today. The boys were a little confused.......

Today was the first snow day of the season, the boys were having a great time racing each other down the hill. I can't wait for all the wet clothes to return.......

Aiden's Christmas Program

Aiden even had a duet!!!

Tonight was the first grade Christmas program. They sang some really cute songs they have been practicing at school. Aiden was even chosen for a duet. They sang Jingle Bells. It was worth braving the cold to see their cute faces and hear their sweet voices.

The Christmas Social

Aiden and Owen posing with Santa

Aiden was so excited to eat this. He loves cupcakes, and his favorite color is green....he was in heaven!

I still make the older two pose in front of the tree.......

This is Maddie's "baby", Clarissa. She has had it since Friday and turns it back into her Childcare and Development teacher on Monday morning. It cries every few hours, for a minute (or 30!), and a computer chip inside records whether or not you tend to its needs (with a special key inserted into the dolls back) in a timely manner. What an adventure!

Meet Nemo

Nemo chillin' on Aiden's top bunk.

Nemo hanging out with Aiden's elf, Barry.

This is the "class pet" for Aiden's first grade class. Aiden is the "star of the week" next week, so he gets to bring Nemo home this weekend. We then get to journal Nemo's adventures with us....whoohooo!!! So far it has been an exciting pizza dinner, Fantasia movie and church social tonight!

Do you see what I see??

Here is our tree...notice the cat INSIDE the tree. Just last night I was bragging on how Hobbes was only knocking ornaments off of the tree, and hadn't tried to climb it. I spoke too soon!

It's that time again.......

Every winter I try and drag the family out for pictures.  I don't make them dress up, and I don't choose Christmas backgrounds (who wants to look at a Christmas tree picture in July?!?)  Here's our latest and greatest.  I had quite a fun time looking back through the frames as I replaced last years picture with this one.  One of the frames even had one from 1994!!  I had to put it in here as well.....my how times change!

Me and Maddie

 

Since I am always the one taking the pictures, it is rare I am actually in one. Emily took this one of me and Maddie at Kari's wedding, so I thought I'd share it.

A trip to Culpeper

 

 

 

 

Tim was working in Culpeper this week, and was off on Wednesday, so he came home on Tuesday night. We rode back with him Wednesday night, and I took the kids sightseeing and shopping while he worked. My plan was to take the to the Smithsonian (American History) on Thursday, until I realized it was Veteran's Day, so we went to the Washington DC Temple, Potomac Mills and IKEA instead. IKEA is the coolest store ever!! We made it to the Smithsonian on Friday, and then back to IKEA for some other things!!!

They say

the difference between a good picture and a great picture is 1,000 shots (or was it 5,000 shots???) ....and so I keep trying.......