No Snow Here...

No Snow Here...lots of people talking about all the snow and all the fun they are having in the snow.  For a brief moment I miss all the fun that comes with snow.  I am forgetting the mounds of wet clothes, the stinky wet mess/smell that fills the shoe/coat room and the muddy mess that begs to come in with each animal.  So in the mean time I will enjoy this-that we still can find trees loaded with Acorns.  This seemed a little strange and unique at the same time, warranting a couple pictures.

Christimas Coupons

The kids got some coupons in their stockings this year.  I kind of expected them to get lost and not get used but they have turned out to be a lot of fun.  James couldn't wait to use his...so cute because the other kids thought his were kind of dumb-one free extra hug and one extra book at bedtime.  He couldn't wait to use his extra hug-let me remind you this is my huger and kisser, he loves them, giving and getting.  It was just too cute tucking him in, saying prayers, giving him a hug and kiss then seeing him get a silly grin followed by him untucking himself, reaching in his nightstand and handing over his extra hug coupon for just one more.  He was so excited and had convinced Ron not to make him turn it in so he could use it on me as well. I wish I would have recorded the kids talking about their coupons-most exciting for the older ones talking about getting out of a chore, funniest was James chiming in with just as much excitement for his extra free book at bedtime followed by complete silence from the other kids.  I love little minds!
     Brayden informed me that he was saving his free chore day for a day when I make him do some horrible chore.  They are all going to use their free ice-cream cone together...for once in their life they planned and thought of each other, mostly because it had to do with food and they all get what they want.
     Becca had a free dinner-her choice.  She would spring it on me around 3pm so I had to make some stipulations...I felt kind of bad because there was supposed to be no small print!  Anyway one evening at bedtime she handed me a list and said it was her dinner request for the next day because she knew she would forget to give it to me that next morning.  This was her list...Strawberries shortcake, pineapple, Candy, Brownies, pies.  I had already assured her that if she got the list to me early I would redeem the coupon.....this was not the list I was excepting!  Well, it was quite the dinner-you should have seen every kids face, including Ron's when they all came to the table.  Funny thing was that they all survived, it was a ton of fun and they all slept well.  Sometimes it is fun not eating our vegetables!!

I have to be honest, that I did make a small dish of chicken and rice...that wasn't on the list.

 Andrea had a coupon for a baking date with mommy.  They had off on Martin Luther King day and she decided to turn it in.  Once again I found myself making restrictions...she wanted to do something with her mini-baker.  AGHHH  no thank you, we always end up working so hard then the end product is all of three bites.  This was a good substitute for her which everyone enjoyed.  I think they are happy with just about anything that has sprinkles.

Winter Weather and some Healing

The weekend blew in along with winter weather.  The dreariness and drizzle always comes first-funny how just a couple days of no sun can seem so long.  Every morning we wake up to beautiful blue sky and sunshine is such a blessing!  The weather men were right and over night the temps dropped and rain turned to snow.  It never tires to see the kids excitement...how fast can they get their snow gear on and out the door the mornings they wake up to snow.  I used to put them off but I have learned sometimes the snowfall is short lived.  So they were out the door and thankfully spend a good portion of the morning playing in the snow...little bit that there was.  Funny thing was that just a couple streets over there was no snow, just a couple snow bands over Tulsa and thankfully one was over our house.

Now of course it has all melted and the yard is left with the remnants of fun...random sleds, sticks and half built fort, such a mess.  The basement is filled with wet/muddy snow gear.  Yes, I am ready to wash and pack it all up and be done, although I am pretty sure there will be at least one more cold spell-which I know that kids are looking forward to.

Jan is in full swing and I am praying that we are in the healing stages of all things tragic.  James had his staples removed-not with out major stress from insurance, such a pain!!  He was hit in the head over Christmas-by me of all people while trying to throw a stick for lilly.  Head injuries are super scary and I hope I never have to deal with concussion or possible skull anything for a long time!

Yes...I know this puts me in the running for the coal next year.

 Ron's hand we pray is slowing healing as well...although it is pretty much covered.  The smaller cast is much better but still confining.  Our bodies are amazing in their ability to heal, this injury is just slow in that process.

 The kids keep growing-which I love.  Independence is a wonderful/scary thing but I love it.  I love that Becca had this thought in her head and is able to fuss with her sewing machine without me looking over her shoulder every five minutes-she has sooo much patience!!

Just general silliness-this hair issue gave us all a good laugh.  Hats and static are crazy with this cold.

Christmas Memories-Mulder side

So much fun seeing the kids spend time with cousins.  We spent Christmas Day together starting out by filling up the entire pew in church-such a beautiful morning.  The kids were excited for stocking and gifts.  The big meal and gifts complete with the coal took up the day-so nice to just relax and have a fun day with everyone.

 So fun to see what little toys they all got in their stockings.

Special fans from Grandpa and his travels.

 A full table Christmas noon.

 A bunch of grandkid...short a cutie little Will.

 How long can they sit and wait?

 A fun, relaxing gift from Grandma and Grandpa.

 Lots of special gifts.

 Most fun was a scavenger hunt, puzzle for all the kids...

 Ending with some very nice sleeping bags!

 No coal for our family, although some how we made it on the list this year.

 They do get along....for a brief moment.

 Zoe's birthday!  Always fun to celebrate together.

Christmas in Tulsa

The rush was on to get all things Christmas done before the big weekend arrived.  It seems crazy during the moment but having to get our Christmas activities done before we head out to Michigan actually is nice and makes for a pretty relaxing vacation.  But I say this after the fact.  Shopping, parties, school activities and musicals just about does me in the two weeks before the kids are out of school. (yes, this was the year I missed most of James Christmas play because I had the wrong time on the calendar)  The calendar ruled my life those weeks which is not what I enjoy! Sunday before Christmas was going to be our day at home to celebrate.  I think the kids were most excited to light all the advent candles and then sing Joy to the World.  This year we worked through another advent reading and I love that they enjoy doing this.  As usual we missed our share of days but managed to complete our poster.  This year each kid was given a special Christmas book the night before and told to read it well!  We labeled all their presents with sentences from each of their books.  It was so funny hearing them discuss what they thought they needed to know from their books.  Turned out Brayden had the hardest time...although I picked the phrases which were the shortest and most non-descript.  After a nice meal we sat down to start....nice turned out to be not so nice.  Mid-way through gifts Ron got sick and spent most of the evening in bed.  So much for a day spend together.  It was still fun to see the kids open their gifts.  They were most excited to give some home-made gifts to each other.  Becca is the queen of gifts and notes.  She had stuff under the tree within one day of it being put in the house!

Have fun reading....Becca works so hard at spelling but it is just hard.  This is just her and her heart put on paper-which is what I love!

She made him a paper soccer ball ornament

She made him a ruler out of paper

This made me cry...it was a little blue heart taped on a magnet.

 We made it!  All gifts opened...except for some for Ron.

We couldn't leave without decorating cookies.  James was concerned Santa wasn't coming becuase we wouldn't have cookies out.  Santa does the kids stockings....which they find full the day we head out to MI.  The kids play along...although Andrea was pretty concerned about the cookies this year.