Christmas craft 2011

2010 and all that Jazz.

I'm back.  How is it possible that I haven't written anything since August!?!  I wish I could say it was because I was on 4 month expedition across Europe in search of ancient religious artifacts or something, but the truth is less interesting.  I lost my camera a while ago.  And I haven't been downloading any pictures from my old camera, so all our events are just sitting there on the SD card, not being seen by anyone.  But I am going to do better this New Year.  Happy New Year everyone.  There are so many updates that I don't know where to start.  I will try to add a few new posts a day for a while to get caught up with pictures.  But here is a synopsis of events:

- I had my 33rd birthday on August 13th.  We went to the Loony Bin and out to Jerry's to hear 7 Year Itch.
- My folks got all moved into their new place and we have been there MANY times already!!  Yahoo!
- Admiral had his 4th birthday at Chuck E Cheese's (where else?)  How he is 4 already I will never know.
- Aaron had his 35th (don't tell him I told you) birthday at DeFazio's.
- We went to Nebraska to Aaron's grandparents farm for Thanksgiving this year for the first time, with Fritz.
- We celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary.  We had parties to go to that day so we celebrated later.
- We went to my folks for Christmas and I caught the stomach flu along with 10 other fmaily members.  Thankfully Aaron and the kids were safe.
- Came home and got strep and a sinus infection the next week.
- Aaron and I got eachother tickes to the Hyatt New Year's Eve party at the Hyatt for our anniversary.  So my folks made the drive up and watched the kids for us.  It was a Roaring 20's Masquerade.  Yes, we dressed up, and it was a blast. 
- And we are drawing out Christmas this year longer than ever as we have one more family exchange tomorrow - then all done.  Not that the kids mind it.  ; )

I will try to blog on these things as well as work changes, children's activities and photos.  I hope that 2011 is a year that we get back on track as a country, that our cities become fiscally conservative and we turn our eyes upon the Lord.  God Bless.

Talkin' marriage

The kids that is.  They have been talking a lot about being married, and Adalie's rainbow house (I think I mentioned it here before) that she is going to build and paint herself.  It dawned on me during one of their talks, that they think they will marry eachother!  So one night during a discussion, I told Adalie, "you aren't going to marry Admiral, he's your brother".  She responds "I'm not? (in total shock) who will I marry?"  "I don't know, we pray about who that person will be, and that God is preparing them for you right now."  She says "you mean it will be a stranger? (again, shocked)".  "Yes, honey, but God knows who it will be, so don't worry about it - in fact you never have to worry about it".  Ok, done with that for tonight.  Good enough.

Then a few days ago, it came up again, but it was Admiral this time talking in the other room.  And I was about to jump in when I hear Addie say "No, Admiral, mom says I am not going to marry you"  And the same conversation takes place and she says "I don't know, mom says it will be a stranger".  I am now in the room listening and watching, and Admiral has this strange look on his face, like he thinks this is the weirdest thing ever.  So he turns to me and says "I am going to marry Macy".  Just like that.

H Creek Ranch is relocating

Yes, it is true.  My folks sold their ranch, and they have a contract on a new place.  No, it isn't close by, but it is closer.  It will make the trips to see them so much more plesant.  They are awaiting the closing on 818 acres in Seymore, Texas.  Which is very close to where we are all from in Wichita Falls.  In fact when I was in college, I got into an accident driving from Lubbock to see my Granny in WF and was taken to the hospital in Seymore.  So I can't wait to visit the hospital when I get there.  Ah, memories.

We are praying that everything goes through smoothly.  The guy that is selling it to them, is actually in the process of buying it right now.  He is going to turn around and sell it to my folks.  My Papa and brother went up to buy this property a few weeks ago, and although they had cash in hand, ready to buy, they owner wouldn't see it because the banker had someone on the way to buy all the property (3 parcels) and wasn't willing to sell the larger piece that day.  Thankfully for them, it worked out that the guy wants to turn a profit.  So here we are.  It has 1 mile frontage of the Brazos river so I can't wait to get there to tear around on ATV's.  Unfortunately there are rattlesnakes, but on the bright side there are hogs still.  LOL

I will send out pictures later, and invites to join me for a weekend trip soon.  For now, I am just thrilled that my last 20 hour car trip to see them will be coming up!  I wonder though, will it now be called H River Ranch??

1825 down - 5475 to go

Well, it was inevitable - Addie turned 5 years old.  It seems like such a huge milestone to me.  I am finding that I am alone on this, but it does.  She seems so much older.  She and Admiral will be starting Kindergarten this year.  Where did the time go?  5 years ago I was worried about becoming a parent, what she would be like, and what she would look like.  I even remember trying to imagine what I thought she would look like - some combination of Aaron and I.  lol.  I wasn't even close - I never would have guessed she would have beautiful strawberry red hair.  And it is still here!  I was positive when she was born that the red would fade to brown.  But thankfully not.  We decided to seperate the family birthday from the friends party this year.  So we had the family over for pizza and cake and presents on the 15th, her actual birthday.  My parents could be there because of the move, and my mom will be in Canada next week, so too much going on.  But we Skyped Addie opening her gift - a new jumper horse, hers was missing, and had a broken tail.  ONce again, all is right with her world.  Here she is all excited for her guests to arrive:

I was going to make her cake, but when I went to buy the supplies, I realized that I could buy this one (tweaked a little) from the bakery at $4 less than I could make one.  And I saved myself the trouble - sold.  She received a lot of thoughtful and fun gifts.  A Zhu Zhu pet and house, horse in a purse, balerina doll that dances on her feet,  bubbles, water gun, moon sand, Jesse and Bullseye dolls and we got her a Guinea Pig.  Here she is later with Mrs. Daisy:

It is a really great pet.  Perfect for her.  She brushes her hair, carries her around everywhere, and so far is really responsible about putting her back into the cage when she is done playing with her.  We got her a playpen for Mrs. Daisy, so when she and Admiral are playing in the playroom, Mrs. Daisy can be safely playing next to her.  Very cute.  Addie is a good mommy, and the Guinea Pig is a good sport.  Of course - what's she gonna say 'bout it?  Because we foster animals (some sick) from the Humane Society, when Addie got her she said "do I get to keep her?" and then asked "is she sick?".  LOL  So we had to explain that this is her pet, that we bought, to keep forever, and she is very healthy.

Addie's friend party was at Acrobatic Academy where she and Admiral used to take gymnastic lessons.  4 of her friends cancelled last minute, but she still had a crowd, and had a great time.  They played parachute games.  Here is Addie and her friend Sophia waiting to be "spun in the washing machine".

They also had this rope that the kids used to swing out into the foam pit.  Most of the kids had trouble with this, except Macy (way to go Macy), who just flew out and dropped right in like a pro.  Addie however sort of drug along the mat and fell face first before ever reaching the pit.  Here is Admiral giving it a try and getting some help.  The next time, he actually did it all on his own.  The kids enjoyed it, even though they weren't all successful.   I even have some cute pictures of Baby Belle in the pit, and Lauren on the trampoline, but can't upload them all to here.

I remember my 5th birthday, in the Holiday Inn in Waco, because we just moved there and didn't have a house yet.  I hope that Addie will remember this year and treasure all her memories of her friends.  Especially Jack, Sophia and Isabella who are moving to Lawrence next month.  Addie is already sad about it, but we are so glad they came to the party to be apart of her memories.

My Spider'boy'

I wish Admiral was smiling - but alas - he wasn't.  But I have to post this because this is the best way to document the shirt that Admiral must wear ALL THE TIME.  It is like a security blanket - he loves it.  He is also wearing spiderman pants and shoes.  So he is all blue.  It is cute.  He likes all superheroes, but Spiderman is his favorite.  Even as I type this I heard him say "Addie, is it ok, if I am Spiderman?"  yes. "that way Spiderman can fight the monster".  He is in a constant fantasy world of action heroes and superheroes.  One night Aaron and I were playing catch in the yard while the kids were playing.  Admiral was laying in the grass "shooting webs" at the ball as it flew by. 

Oh, and he was wearing a Buzz Lightyear costume to Wal-Mart that my mom got him and he met a produce boy.  The boy was very sweet and was telling Admiral how much he liked Buzz and wished he had a costume like that to wear. When we walked away, Admiral went around a stand of potatoes, lifted his arm and "shot his laser" at this boy.  He then turned to me and said "why didn't he fall down dead?".  Thankfully it wasn't a real laser.  Apparently Admiral was going to shoot him in the back with the intention of killing him.  One more reason Admiral is not allowed to handle guns.

Later he was wearing the suit and there was a little boy (wearing Buzz shoes) who was fascinated with Admiral's suit.  Admiral slowly lifts his arm and shoots his laser at this poor boy.  Addie reaches over and pushes the "button" on the suit to which Admiral replies "don't touch that, you can't just be pushing the button, it's dangerous".  LOL  (that is a quote from Toy Story)

Peanut People

One rainy day this summer we decided to make Peanut People (and a peanut horse of course).  It was really fun, the kids liked it.  I didn't think of this until this day, so we didn't have any fancy supplies on hand, but the kids didn't mind.  They turned out really cute.  I tried to get Admiral in a picture, but he refused.  Here is Addie with her peanut horse:

And here are the people and the horse.  I wish the pictures had turned out better, but hopefully just the pictures will spark the kids memory in the future.

They would be super cute if you had scraps of fabric for scarves or hats, and yarn for hair.  The batting just didn't do the trick.  And jiggly eyes would be cute too.  The sharpie was hard for the kids to use on the rough surface.