I know, I know.....

I have yet to blog about Christmas, but there is something way more exciting happening in this neck of the woods right now. IT IS SNOWING! The kids are so excited and after we safely retrieved Meghan from her friends house, the ran in got dressed and playing in the snow.

Kimy made it outside first......and dug right in. She has been wanting it to snow for weeks now.

Next Kassidy made it out and started chasing her sister around.

Then Joey....Meghan did not want to come out. She started throwing snowballs at the girls. He has to get his payback in some how.

Te tree in front of our house. I like how the snow builds up on it.

Oreo and Captain watching the snow.

The big tree behind our house. I looks like a Christmas tree to me.

Our First Day

Of our Christmas celebration we went and hunted for the perfect tree. On Sunday we all loaded into the van and headed up to Loch Lolly tree farm. We have been going here since Meghan was born. We have missed a couple of years to try new places, but this is our favorite. It was the perfect weather to get a tree. Nice, a little cold, but not wet or raining.

Here is Meghan ready to start finding the perfect tree.
Kassidy sizing up the trees. She wanted to make sure we got the right size.

Meghan and Alison posing for me. I think Alison had a good time, at least I hope she did.

There is a lot of discussion that goes into getting the right tree.

Found the right one, now to cut it down. Meghan got to hold the tree, while Joey told Dad what to do. Joey loved bossing Daddy around.

Kimy, Joey and Daddy carrying the tree back to the Van.

Now to get the tree on top of the van....this is where I have to put the camera down to help.

Meghan sitting on Santa's lap.

Joey with Santa....he wished for the Saint's to go to the Superbowl.

Kimy with Santa. Kassidy will not sit on Santa's lap. She has not for a while now, so there is no picture of her on Santa's lap. We all had a blast and got to drink hot chocolate by the fire. Then we headed hope to put the tree up. Pictures of that tomorrow.

Meghan's Adventures

Aunt Alison came for a visit this weekend, for 1 purpose and 1 purpose only.....to go snowboarding on Mt. Hood. She took Meghan with her, maybe out of guilt. Probably not, she is teaching Meghan to snowboard and Saturday was lesson number 2. I was so nice of her to fly from Las Vegas to teach her. The last time she came was in March or April. They had a blast this time, and even got snowed on to boot.

Meghan heading down the slope. Alison says that Meghan is a natural, hopefully that is true and she is not just saying that because we let her stay with us.....lol.
All smiles, but I am sure her butt is hurting her. She says it is now.

Meghan really getting the hang of it. During this trip she tried some blue and green runs. I am not to sure what that means, but Alison says that it is good.

She also said Meghan is really good at falling. I think she is taking tips from Alison on how to get some really cool bruises.

Alison's proof that she is there and teaching her......wait is that Meghan falling in the background?

All in all they had a great time and returned home tired and in one piece. That is all this proud Mom can ask for. We are looking forward to Alison's next trip, We all love it when she come to visit.

Just so you know.......

Christmas is coming. I am so excited you know. I love this time of year. Especially here in Oregon it is cold out today, I mean really cold. Like 12 degrees this morning when I took Meghan to school. See I told you it was cold.

Also just so you know, my good friend Alison is coming to town. She is only coming so she and Meghan can go snowboarding on Mt. Hood. Meghan is super excited and really looking forward to spending some time with her Aunt.

One last thing you should know, we are getting our tree this weekend. I am very excited about that. I am going with some wonderful friends and we are going to have a fabulous time traipsing through the woods finding the perfect tree. Okay, not the woods but a tree farm. It is like being in the woods. This will also start our 12 days of Christmas. Everyday starting Sunday, with our getting a tree and trimming it, we are going to be doing some Christmas related activity. I am looking forward to spending time with the kids and some wonderful friends.

So my promise is to post every night after said activity, so you can see what we did.

One Big Update

It has been a long time since I have updated my blog. There is always something to keep me busy, and it usually happens just as I have time to blog. I have also been doing a lot of volunteering at the younger kids school, so there is the little kid free time I have gone. So here is what we have been up to the past 3 months.

We have had to say farewell to some wonderful friends as they moved back to California. Jason, Leah, Thomas and Jack.......we all miss you very much. I hope things are going well. Love you all.

Kimy and Joey went on their first field trip. Their Kindergarten class went to the pumpkin patch in October. Here is a picture of their class at the pumpkin patch. All the kids had a wonderful time. The best part was that we did not get rained on.

I took the kids to their Costume dance at the school. Dylan got to go with us also. The kids had a great time and danced until it was time to go home.

We went trick or treating on Halloween with Vanessa and her boys. It was cold, but the kids hauled in a bunch of candy. It is a good thing Daddy helped them eat it all. Meghan went out with some of her friends.

More recently Kimy fell playing on the ladder of her bunk bed and broke her foot. It landed her in a splint for a week. We also got to spend most of the evening in the ER. She is doing much better now, and on the mend.

The twins class did a little Thanksgiving sing along and got to have a feast afterwords. It was nice to hear all the songs they have been learning. They got to preform with all the other kindergartners.

Meghan and MacKenzie......we spend Thanksgiving with my family at the Kearney's house. It was nice to sit and talk with family, watch football, play with the kids, and eat yummy food.

Kimy on her crutches......she is too dang cute, and man could she really move on them.

Papa, Nana, and Aunt Molly loading up their plates.

Grandpa and Joey playing football. We are teaching Joey not to let go of the ball. No matter what.

Daddy is a huge, and I mean huge Saints fan. He has been since I have know him, all the way back in 19992. He has supported him in good time and bad times, mostly bad. We have to be honest about that. But they are doing great this year, and we are darn proud of that. We are looking forward to them playing in the Superbowl.

Last night we went to free night at the Children's Museum. It was nice for the kids to be able to run and play inside. It has been pretty cold here, so we are stuck indoors more often. The kids really like playing in the restaurant.

Jack and Kimy cooking for the customers.

Not a sound

There is not a single sound in my house right now except for the clicking of my keyboard as I type this. Today I sent all my kids off to school. Yep all of them, even the twins. I am all alone at home. No one is calling me, fighting with a sibling or watching TV. Had to believe that I am alone for a couple of hours. The twins get picked up at 11. What am I going to do with my time......laundry, cleaning, reading, scrap booking......who knows for sure, but something will get accomplished today.

Meghan ready to walk out the door. She is a WEB leader and had to wear the shirt so the new kids can go to her for help. Chris took her to school today, she had to be there early. I can't believe that she is in the 8th grade!

Kimy all ready for her first day of Kindergarten. She was so excited that she woke up at 6a.m.

Joey ready to head out the door for Kindergarten also. He told me as we were walking in that he might be a little shy today.

Kassidy all ready to start 4th grade with Mrs. Towell. She is very very excited to be in Mrs. Towell's class. Meghan had her for the 5th and loved her. She is excited Kassidy got her also.

So today being the first day I walked them to their classrooms. They three youngest seem so big now. It was hard to watch them go off into their classrooms with out a worry.

Kassidy picking a spot. She was ready to get some work done.

Kimy and Joey hanging up their backpacks.

Reading a book and waiting for the bell to ring.

Joey was also reading a book.

That is how I left them.......reading at a table. No tears (from any of us), just a hug and kiss goodbye. I am sitting here wondering how they grew up so fast.

It is done!!!!!!

Meghan's room that is. It took a couple of weeks, but it is all done. She loves it and so do her friends that have seen it. She has been back in her room since Saturday and happy as a clam about it. She is enjoying writing on the walls and being able to escape from her siblings when needed.

Her friend Ace that stayed Saturday night had fun also. They left messages on the walls.

All over....they even played hangman on them.

Her new bedding that Grandpa bought her fun such good grades.

Her study area, She got the desk from Mandie and repainted it.

Her curtains.....we decided not to do blinds. There is a sheer purple behind the zebra stripes.

We still have a couple of little things to do and buy, but she is very happy with how it all turned out. No one to one of the little kids rooms. Just not sure which one yet.

Man it is HOT........

And I mean HOT.......it has been 106 here in good old Oregon. We never get this hot. Never.....usually the hottest we get is maybe 100. So we have been inside enjoying what little bit of AC we have. So I don't have to much to talk about. I am almost done with Meghan's room and will post pictures when it is all done. Until there here are some picture I took at Blue Lake on Sunday. The kids really wanted to go, so Grandpa and I took the kids along with Alexis for some fun in the sun. This was my first time to Blue Lake and I am looking forward to going back.

Kimy and Joey heading into the lake. The couldn't get in fast enough.

Meghan, Alexis and Kassidy all wet and enjoying it.

Kimy and Joey being brave and going in deeper.

Meghan and Kassidy heading out to play with the twins.

Kimy Swimming.....at least that is what she calls it.

Joey playing....there were not many opportunities to take his picture. He puts his head in the and swims.

Kimy and Joey playing.

Along with the lake there is a splash pad for the kids to play in. The are different water features for them to get with and run around. Here is Kimy enjoying herself.

Joey having a good time.

Kimy heading into the water again.

Joey flying though the water.

This is one of the many play structures they had at the park. It was nice to have different activities for the twins to do, they like to move and play and not rest, especially Kimy. Nana says she has two speeds.....on and off. She is hardly ever off.

Kimy driving.....thank goodness she is to young to really drive.

Joey climbing up the ladder....Grandpa was chasing him around.

Joey posing for me.

Back to the water. Kassidy and Alexis giving Joey and Kimy piggy back rides.

Meghan watching all the kids play.