Day 365 - New Year's Eve

So here we are.  It's the last day of 2010.  Time flies!  We've had a good year for the most part!  Lots of good stuff, and of course, some bad, but here's to hoping 2011 is great!

Day 364 - ... After

And here it is today.  We spent about 4 hours in there between today and yesterday.  I'm sure I picked up 294898 Legos and K'Nex pieces off of the floor, not to mention 3208 Star Wars Light Sabers and Army men.  Holy cow.  Two big containers of trash came out of there.  How on earth does it get like this?  I shall never know.

He spent the night last night with his grandparents.  Today, I went in to put a few things away and I thought "wow, it's very peaceful in here."  Smile.

Day 363 - Before....

I love my oldest child dearly.  He is a very warm, loving, funny kid.  What I do not love is the mess his room has become.  Eck.  Here's how it looked today when we started out -

Day 361 - Texas Roadhouse

One of the gifts we received for Christmas was a gift certificate to Texas Roadhouse from our dear Pastor and his wife.  Tonight, we thought it would be fun to go and spend it and have a relaxing night out.  We figured that since it was a Tuesday, it would be fairly quiet and relaxed.  Well, no such luck!  The place was packed!

We tried to take a self-portrait, but none of them turned out so good.  Oh well!

Day 360 - Paint By Number

One of the gifts we gave Alexis for Christmas was a Paint-by-Number kit.  She loves to paint, draw, color and anything else art related!  Sure enough, she wanted to break it out today.  I love this little girl!

Day 359 - Christmas #5

Whew, lots of celebrations, family and gifts this week!  I'm so thankful for the real Gift that came so many years ago! 

Today, we drove up two hours to be with my mother-in-law's side of the family.  We always have a great time with them!  Here is Carsten on the way home, sound asleep, clinging tightly to the Play-Doh Elmo toy he got!

Day 358 - Christmas #4!

We went to Josh's parents house today to celebrate Christmas with them.  It's always a very nice relaxing time - well, except for the game playing part tonight, but I won't mention that.  hee hee.

We got lots of lovely things.  We are so blessed!

Anyone ever wonder if it's cold where we live?  Well, if you wear glasses and come into a warm house from outside, you'll find out the answer to that question when your glasses fog up!

Day 357 - Christmas #3

It's Christmas Eve!  Tonight, we opened gifts with just our five.  We toasted with sparkling grape juice and then played Uno!  :)  It was fun.

(My husband surprised me and got me this book!)

Day 356 - Christmas #2

My FILs family came down tonight for Christmas #2!  We went out for pizza before and then came back to our house to open gifts and have dessert.  It's nice to get together with family we don't get to see that often.  The highlight of the night was the calendar gift Josh and I gave to his mom, aunt and grandmother.  They loved looking at the pictures of everyone on each page.  Hopefully, they'll enjoy it through the year, too!

Day 355 - Grins

Alexis took this picture tonight.  Don't you think she did a great job?

Day 354 - Christmas #1

 My mom and her kids all got together tonight to celebrate Christmas together.  I love spending time with everyone.  It's so fun to see the kids open their presents and experience the sheer joy that Christmas is.  Afterwards, we played cards AGAIN (smile) and had a few laughs teaching my BIL how to play. 

Day 353 - Caroling

Today, our local homeschool chapter met at an Elderly Center to sing carols and bring a little Christmas cheer to them!  We weren't allowed to take pictures in the Center or I would surely have snapped a few.  My mom got to come along and meet some of the moms and kids which was special.

Afterwards, we played a few games and got all the kids together for a big snapshot.

Can you find my three?

Day 352 - Family

Trying so hard to get all six grandchildren looking at the same camera at the same time - ahk!  :)

Here I am with my mom and my siters

Alexis, and her two grandmas!

Day 351 - Cookie Making

Today, my baby sis and mom and I made a bunch of cookies.  My mom sells Pampered Chef and so she brought her cool Cookie Press to try out!  That was fun, and the cookies weren't half bad, either.  After they left, I put together the packages for a few special folks in our lives.  Maybe you are one of them?  :)

Day 350 - Happy Birthday, Mom!

It's my mom's birthday today!  We had a wonderful day and celebrated tonight with yummy cake and a rousing game of Bid.  It was great!

Here is Alexis kissing her grandma at breakfast this morning. 

I love you mom!  Happy birthday!

Day 349 - My Mom Arrives!

My sweet mom (whose birthday is tomorrow, by the way) flew from Denver to come and visit us today.  After my mother-in-law lost her mom earlier this year, I am trying to cherish each and every minute I can with my own mother.  I'm so glad she's taken the time to come and see us for Christmas!

Day 348 - Lovely Ladies

Here are three ladies that I adore!!!  I realized late that I hadn't taken a picture and they were happy to "stand in" for me.  :)

Day 347 - Puppet Show!

I took the kids to the library today and they all decided it would be fun to do a Puppet Show. I was one of three in the audience (along with two other toddlers) and so I had a great view!

Good job!  Bravo!  And now, it's time for the bows!