A Triumph

These pictures in the past have been well-earned triumphs over childhood mood and will....well honestly not always triumphs...but completions!! This year was much better (though still a challenge)...on both sides of the family!
They are all growing so fast....

Above: Rose (nearly 13), Kale (6), Colin (nearly 4), Kailee (nearly 5) & Nate (2 1/2)
Below: add Chris (11) & Isaac (2 1/2)

Christmas Toys

The kids received a lot of great toys for Christmas. Today we spent some time resting and playing with our new toys. This was one of the top hits for the day. A box.

Inside the box was an animal day care. You HAD to come pet the animals.

Kailee even put out the hand sanitizer just like any petting zoo.

It was a good rest and recovery day.

Hike photos

Aunty Karen and Kailee mid way in the hike.

After Christmas Hike

Kailee, Karen and I out for a little hike in the trees. Had fun
exploring the snow, foot prints, dog tracks etc. Short but fun.

New Eyes

Melissa's new eyes. They work! Merry Christmas.

I'll let her tell you how it went. But she's doing great and I haven't seen her walk into any walls. Doctor said 20/20 at this mornings follow up appointment.

Thinkin' I am cool....

Decided since it was my niece's birthday on the last day of school before there break...I thought I would be "cool" and bring pizza and surprise her and her friends at lunch....I had the plan...I even called the school to ask when 8th grade lunch was.....had the plan all ready...walked into the school 11:30 with my pizza and a big smile (and two small kids in tow)...I walk around the lunch room...looking for her....until some nice soul asked who I was looking for....I told him....then the news....
"Rose is a 7th grader...they eat at 10:30am".....DUH!!! So much for well laid plans....

What an Incredible Family

The whole Incredible Family....Kailee got these masks from school....we had to call her Violet the whole night!

The Santa Story

Earlier this week Kailee wanted to go to the mall to see Santa.....after arriving and looking at Santa from afar she said.."He looks nice."...when I asked if she was ready to go talk to him she said "No Thanks." Fail.
On Saturday we had our neighborhood Breakfast with Santa. We arrived, ate some fruit...did a few crafts...then the big guy arrived. This time Nate was ready,.....well sort of...the picture below was as close as he got.....Then is was Kailee's turn...I had to go up with her...but then she warmed up and talked to him...even sitting on his lap! She finally got to relay her wishes for Christmas...."roller skates and ice skates." Success!

Gymnastics

Kailee has really enjoyed gymnastics this winter.....she is moving up to level 3...and is SO excited! She is really trying to master her cartwheel and does great on bars and beam! Nice job Kailee!!

Mom's trip to Sin City....

Did a little sightseeing with friends before the race in Vegas...good place for a day or two...not sure I'd ever go back....once you've seen it....well it was enough for me....few pics....

Bellagio fountains
Not sure what to label this...it was SIN CITY...or SKIN CITY...both apply.

They will say anything....

On the ride home from the mall yesterday we were playing "Eye Spy"...but Kailee really likes to be the person "spying"...so she decided to play this card....
"Mom, Jesus made all this stuff....does he spy...I think he does...I will spy for him..." She continued, "Jesus spies with his little eye...." Hard to argue with who's turn it is....

Breakfast

The kids wouldn't eat breakfast this morning. So, I made them
"Birthday Cake". We sang happy birthday and ate almost the entire
"Cake".