Christmas celebrations

Always lots of parties to attend.  Don't get too excited for me: they usually involve chicken nuggets and cheese puffs.  

I only attended the last 15 minutes of Ally's party.  Something about twenty 3rd graders constructing their own gingerbread houses and twin four year old boys running around just didn't seem to work too well in my mind.  Ally's house looked great.  Her teacher mentioned how meticulous she was in her decorating.   She even had a story line to go with it.

The boys' party was a little more, let's see,  LOUD.  Parents each bring loads of food, they order chicken from Chick-fil-a and the teachers pass out gifts.  After waiting 20 minutes on the chicken to arrive, we loaded our plates, ate a couple of bites, tore in to the gift bags, ran a couple of laps around the party and left.  Well, Nanny, it's our last one at Mt. Zion . . . unless of course we get the urge to crash next year's party.

I wasn't invited to Hayden's party.  Well, I was, but to serve food.  I couldn't find my hairnet, so I left it up to her to party for me.  I think she was a little relieved.

We did a little partying of our own at home this week too.  I bought 2 gingerbread trains and had each girl take a boy.  We ALL felt the love.

Day 1

Look who got Day 1 pictures!!

I thought at first that Hayden's lack of enthusiasm was nerves mixed with pre-teen Mommy embarrassment. Unfortunately, it was a virus. She's home sick for day 2.

Ally, however, is ready for the day. She even thought it would look more "official" if she was reading something. It only took 10 minutes to get that notebook back in her school supply stuffed backpack, I mean, messenger bag.

A Birthday Riddle

What do you get when you mix forty toenails with forty fingernails, 3 non-English speaking manicurists, 4 bottles of polish, 5 cokes, 4 bags of popcorn, 8 movie tickets, 9 pairs of 3D glasses, 2 flaming cook tops and a large cookie cake?

HAYDEN'S BIRTHDAY!!!!

Get ready, Middle School, cause here WE come!

Yep, she's that old. I can't believe it. My little baby is going to 6th grade. On one hand I'm a little sad, but on the other I'm so pumped for what is to come. You know, battle of the hormones, me competing for most embarrassing Mother, me staying all up in her business, me letting her know that height doesn't matter(she's 2 inches from me), me having a presence on "her" turf and Ben, well, just trying to hang on for the ride. I can't wait!!!

I'm a sucker . . . but I do have my limits.

I'm sure you are wondering what happened when Hayden arrived home.

"Well everybody else got to make their gingerbread creations, what about me. I know I have a big social studies test. Yes, I have math homework. My catechism and memory verse test is tomorrow. Spelling too. She was sick. She should have stayed in bed. I have to stay in bed when I'm sick. It was just a stupid trip to the Aquarium. She's been there before. You didn't do anything special for me when my Montgomery trip was canceled last year"

I decided that she probably wasn't in the best "creative" mood and directed her towards her school work. Field trip or not, she had to wait until today.

I need to practice my snack and entertainment packing

Tonight was our practice swim meet in Athens.  The girls did great and the boys, well, they stayed out of trouble for the most part and only had to go potty 5 times.  I guess I should just be happy they actually went to the bathroom.  Hayden swam free, back, breast and fly.  Ally swam free and back.  Ben, of course, had to get in on the action as a Stroke/Turn Judge, so I just hung on the other side of the fence with Nina and the boys.  I was able to get some pretty good pictures if I do say so myself.  I thought it was kind of funny when Ally asked if we were done with swimming.  I mean, she's done practice and she's done a swim meet.  What else is there?  I was also informed that my snacks were no good and I didn't provide them any entertainment.  I guess I'll need to "practice" that.  However, I did notice a little girl and 3 friends running around entertaining themselves with the cold packs from the snacks.  A nine year old almost missed breast stroke because her sister's entertainment was so good.

Tokyo . . . again.

We have a family tradition that on your Birthday, you pick where we all go eat to celebrate.  Hayden loves Tokyo.  We have been there(or similar restaurant) for the past 4 years.  It is the kind of place that cooks in front of you, with some knife slinging and humor.  Thanks family for "enjoying" the celebration one more time at Tokyo.  I wish the boys had liked it more . . . I'm guessing  in coming years, when fire is one of the joys of boyhood, they will like it a whole lot.  Right now, not so much.  Hayden had a great time and it is fun to see her excitement each year.  I know some of you may have had some digestion issues after dinner, but again I say thanks and when it is your Birthday, you can pick where ever your little heart desires!