Holiday Time

Holidays are such a wonderful time. Friends and family gather together, eat, laugh and share with each other. We were blessed with a wonderful Christmas holiday. The kids enjoyed everything that we did. Zach volunteered Tuesday with shopping and helped with the Christmas Eve service at St. John's. When I was at work on Friday, I was stopped by quite a few people who live there saying what a nice boy Zach is and how nice it is to have him there to help out. He got to experience the sharing part of Christmas and he was very moved by it. He said that he enjoyed being there and seeing some people happy. This was just a reminder to me that a small favor can bring joy to so many people.
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and has a Happy New Year!

Christmas Cookies

For the past 10 years we have made Christmas treats and passed the out to our friends and neighbors. This year with time and budget crunch we decided to skip passing them out to everyone. Plus Mike and I are watching our weight, so the sweets sitting around get too tempting. But I did allow each kid to pick something special out and we would make that. Kailey and Brayden picked sugar cookies. Yesterday we spent the afternoon making about 100 sugar cookies. They are all different! There was lots of laughing, some fighting over cookie cutters and a little licking of frosting!! Don't worry, Kailey's she frosted are all in one bag. No one else will be eating them but her! We may still have to share a little!! Zach picked the peanut butter kisses, so they are next tonight. I will post some new pictures, just as soon as I can figure out how to do that with my new camera.

My child won't go to bed at night!

Help! I am very tired and a little crabby today. Kailey will not go to bed at night. She is now also waking up her brothers once they are asleep. I have tried rocking her, reading to her, bath before bed, letting her watch a movie, even putting the baby gate in front of her door. Any ideas that may work?? And telling her Santa is watching does not help either! HELP!

Pluggy Update

We are still without the pluggy. It has went well. Kailey does ask for her pluggy at least once everyday. I just remind her that they are gone because she is a big girl now. She has a very hard time getting settled down for bed without the pluggy though. It has been past 11:00 the last 3 nights before she has went to sleep. We have tried using a stuffed animal and blankets but nothing has worked so far.

No more Pluggies?

Yesterday the "tooth fairy" came and took Kailey's pluggies. At least that is what she is claiming. I had enough of the whining she was tired and "needed" a pluggy yesterday afternoon. So I took them and hid them when she was going potty. When she asked again, I opened the cabinet that was home to the pluggies and she saw that they were gone. I told her a fairy came and got them since she was a big girl now. Of course she had to look in all the cabinets then!! She went to sleep last night with out much complaining. Tonight I will have to do a sweep of the house and get them all. She had a reserve hidden in many places. I also did not tell Mike where they were. He is a softy and will break down and give in. Sorry Honey, you are not strong in this area so I took over. It is better for her teeth to get rid of them now. BYE BYE pluggies and to baby Kailey. Now you really are a BIG GIRL!! I do have a Hello Kitty stuffed animal for her as a reward if she makes it through the day today. And we have this adorable picture to remember them :)

The sounds of Christmas

Christmas concerts are getting me in the Christmas spirit. Last night we went to the Zach's Christmas concert. Of course the weather was icky and cold but it was definitely worth the trip out. If you have not attended an ALHS vocal concert yet, please attend one soon. They are not just for parents with kids in the choir program. We have a wonderful choir program in Albert Lea. Their voices carried me through the concert and all the way home. What a beautiful sound. Last week was Brayden's concert and he had a solo dance. It was cute. I will try and post video of their concerts later. One more program left to go for church. Brayden is very excited because he is a reader with 2 bible verses.

Go Tigers

Last night we attempted to see Zach's first high school basketball game. We were already a little late due to my car not starting and weather. And to top it off we were at the wrong school. By the time we figured it out we were out $16 and 2 miles away from his game. We headed over to the correct school just in time to see the A squad play. So we did see a 9th grade ALHS game. Just not my kid playing. Darn. I heard he scored 6 points and played very well though! Great job Zach even though we missed it!!