Christmas photos

Christmas report

AJ has been reminding us periodically over the last few weeks that his life will only be complete if he gets this Excalibur sword that he fell in love with for Christmas. Connor really wanted a sniper rifle air soft gun and of course Matt asked for some butterfly knife. Kirk has been telling them there probably won't be weapons for Christmas this year. But who can resist AJ saying in all seriousness, 'My life won't be complete without Excalibur" hello? Adorable. The kids woke up at 7 which is actually a early Christmas morning for us, But one of my favorite things is waking up to them whispering to each other while looking for the banister! Once we went down AJ ran for any "sword shaped presents". I reminded him we do the stockings first, he grabbed his, dumped it out and ran back to a sword shaped present. Which wasn't a sword. He and Connor both got this long gripping gizmo that they love to play with at target, silly but cheap and they loved it. He did like it but ran to find another sword shaped present, which was of course Excalibur. He held it and stroked it and held it up saying I have the power, not like Ken and He-Man but with all due reverence. He then sat on the couch completely content with his sword. We got a real smile out of Matt when he got his stereo system for his room and a laser light how that attaches to it and plays lights with his music. When I pointed out a huge present with AJ's name on it he hugged it before opening it, and once he pulled back the paper and saw what was in the box he was completely speechless and didn't move for maybe 30seconds which is a full hour in Aj time! It was the drums that he has asked for I think for over 2 years. We kept telling him how expensive they are. But my goal with my first check was to buy AJ drums and I did, it felt very good. they are perhaps a little big for him, but I have a drum teacher lined up and we'll ask if it's ok. When Connor first saw AJ's sword he said, AJ gets a weapon? Needless to say he was beyond thrilled when he got is sniper rifle. It can shoot a mailbox flag all the way down the street, and he has promised to not prove it again :) Elle got a desk with a hutch to replace the small desk she has been using for the last 5 years, it's the little one Dad made me when I was her age. All in all it was a crazy but amazing Christmas morning. Everyone was happy and they are still playing with everything. I helped Elle put up her wall stickers this afternoon, she wore her new silver locket with Kirk and my pictures inside and the shawl Grandma Judy made her to church, Kirk is helping Matt and Connor built something like a radio bug, and AJ is carving AJ was here in Christmas boxes. Last night AJ had a long box and every arm and leg and was walking around the tv room, finally one creaked and snapped and he fell as I was taking a picture, I admit I laughed so hard I almost wet my pants. Not something I should admit, but somehow it made it all the funnier and the kids commented that I was cracking as I laughed hysterically at it all. Needless to say it felt good! Matt loves his stereo surround sound, new itouch etc, Connor loves all his stuff including the spy camera now mounted outside his door. Kirk got some parts to finish up his AR-15 and I will be going to costco this week to get my garmin sport watch that is on sale and hopefully still there!

One of my new favorite things!

Apple Dumplings

2 Granny Smith apples
2 cans crescant rolls
2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
cinnamon
1 small can Mountain Dew

Peel and core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescant roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

I'm not the Griswalds either!

Ok here are our totally weak lights! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA but at least I tried!

Christmas Eve

Well we had the annual Christmas Eve party here at our house. We had our favorite pizza, pasta salad with lots of veggies to make up for the pizza and my favorite punch! I also made the pretzel rollos and blonde brownies especially for Connor and Ryan! Grandma Susan recited her favorite Christmas story of Pedro. The kids acted out the Nativity story and then the opening of Christmas pj's!! It was lots of fun and I can't wait for bed! Which will be awhile I guess since I have lots of wrapping to do and the kids just started the Elf movie!

Gingerbread houses!

Elle made team!

well Elle was pulled aside in gymnastics today and auditioned for the girls gymnastics team and she made it! They can't believe how fast she is learning and of course how naturally talented she is :) This is a good thing in many ways. One, she sometimes got a little bored in pre-team because they don't do the fun exciting stuff, it's pretty basic and Elle was a little more advanced to begin with. Of course this means, more expenses, different practice times which could have me at the gym for 3 hours 3 days a week between AJ and Elle, but she is thrilled and of course we are honored! The girls coach is of course Russian and totally amazing! So we'll try it out and see! (of course the girls team leotards are gorgeous)

Did that door close or slam?

Well after lots of serious thought and discussion I resigned from my job today. I really loved working with the pianos and I had the opportunity to meet some cool people and amazing musicians. I would have really liked to have continued working there but there were factors that made it impossible. I would have really liked that all expense trip to New York to tour the Steinway factory! I told Kirk someday he is going to have to buy me a Steinway with a player system!! I'm going to miss playing on them and watching them be played and appreciated by other music lovers. Guess I'll look for the next adventure.

Teenage angst

Today was a frustrating teenage day. Don't know why sometimes they just wake up crabby and make life difficult for everyone. I guess I understand, after all I can't explain PMS but I know it's real. So Matt was threatening to leave home because his life is soooo terrible here, and I said ok but you can't leave with anything we've bought for you. Off came all his clothes but his boxers. I reminded him as he reached the front door that I bought those as well. He stood there for what seemed like a long time watching the snow fall, and finally decided being sent to his room wasn't as bad as leaving naked in the snow. It took a lot of restraint to not take a picture of him standing there in his underwear because one, it was a tense moment and two it really was a tough moment for him and I would always feel that looking at the picture. But the picture in my head I am able to giggle at. But I won't tell him thats why I am randomly giggling.

AJ's gymnastics meet

My little stud!!

Leftovers

This morning I was cleaning out my fridge which was packed top to bottom with leftovers. And strangely enough it didn't gross me out, it actually made me hungry! Now I'm craving au gratin potatoes and beef stroganoff! lol

AJ's first gym meet

So this weekend was AJ's first gymnastics meet. He's only been on the team since August so we knew it would be a learning experience. We also keep in mind that he is doing this for fun, we aren't trying to raise the next gold medalist, although I would never stand in front of his dreams lol. He was such a riot to watch, he salute to the judge was sometimes more of a wave and while waiting for his turn instead of standing at attention he was usually dancing or bopping to the music. He rocked on the floor routine which is his biggest strength since most boys at his level can't do back flips. But he adjusted his hands on a push up once and that knocked him down to 4th. His strongest score today was a 1st place on the vault. Which is funny and we all kinda make fun of it, because you run down and jump on a spring board and land on some matts. Period, thats it. The key is height, keeping the legs together and sticking the landing. It's not a hugely hard thing, but apparently AJ was the best at it today! The funniest part of the day was we were waiting in the stand for almost 2 hours while the teams warmed up, all of our backsides were getting sore. SO Kirk gave Connor 2 dollars and told him to go buy 2 raffle tickets for something called the best seats in the house. Right before the meet started they read off the winning numbers, and with each number Kirk and Connor are cheering. When the final number is called Kirk jumps to his feet and yells Yah Eat it we won!! He was so excited he couldn't contain himself. I turned so red I could actually feel it, which hasn't happened to me very often. But we got to sit on a pleather futon right up front and got 2 free drinks, popcorn and candy. It was actually a lot of fun. My friend Jackie that I carpool with came over and sat with us or stood by us and took pictures, so that was cool as well. After the meet to waste time before the awards they had all the gymnasts have a handstand contest in their age groups. Of course AJ totally rocked it and won a duffle bag. His team mate Josh who is 6 and amazing won for his category but he is so short they didn't see he was still on his handstand and gave the bag to someone else. Luckily Kirk was filming the whole thing and we took it to the judges after and Josh got his bag :)

Priceless

AJ's new jacket

AJ got his clothes for his gymnastics competition this weekend.