Literacy

Sariah is becoming literate on several levels. Not only can she write her name, but also mine, AND she demonstrates her computer literacy every time she prints off exactly what she wants. :)

Choo Choo!

For Christmas last month, Sam got some trains. He loves loves LOVES vehicles (and he has really good taste, too, btw), and he loves playing with the trains at the library. So, now he has his own track (or, as he says, teeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrack!).  Until this week, Daddy and Caleb have been the only ones to attempt setting up the track, but ladies and gentlemen, **I** set up this track...the only one that hasn't had any dead ends, because I am that cool, lol.  And yes, I know it would work better on a harder surface, but the bossman ain't having any of that, so for now it resides on the living room carpet.

Going...

...going...

...gone!!!

Sariah at the Atlanta Temple

I know I have mentioned repeatedly that Sariah is a bit of a diva.  But divas often make the best photo subjects.  Check out these pics from this past summer ('12).

600

This is my 600th post.  Just goes to show that even when you don't think you are accomplishing something, you really are accomplishing more than you know.  600 posts over the course of 5 years doesn't sound like terribly much.  But it is 600 records of our family life that I otherwise would not have.  Happy blogiversary to me!

Yes, I have some visual ADHD going on.  I don't know how many times I've changed the look of my blog.  But it's fun.  So it'll keep happening.

Firewood

Way back in December, Bob bought a cord of wood for his beloved fireplace that we need so desperately.  So, ok, it really does get cold here in Georgia, but look at the pictures, people!  It was December 15th, and Sariah was wearing a summer dress.  Just sayin'....

Anyway, the cord of wood.  Actually this wasn't all of it.  My pics are not in chronological order (shocking, I know), and this was taken after they'd transported some of it.

So, Bob is really mad at me for posting this picture, although I think he looks like my hard-working man, so what's the deal?!  But I couldn't NOT post this picture, because it illustrates so well how work goes down around here.  Notice that Bob is supervising, and he DOES have gloves on, because he does do a lot of the hardest work.  Caleb looks like he's working, and Rex looks like he is looking for something.  Meanwhile, Sariah is holding a glove like it's a dead mouse, and if you could see her face, she was probably crying about something.  And in the end, the child working the very hardest was the neighbor.  It always goes that way, eh?

And finally, some pride in a job well done.

Here's How We Roll

On one night this week, Daddy dragged Sariah and Sam all over the place.  They were laughing hysterically, which made everyone else laugh, too.

And after that lost its appeal (or maybe Dad got tired of the game ... wait, he saves it for special occasions), they entertained themselves.  With a Christmas tree garland for a miniature tree (it's awfully long, I think).  If you look closely, you will see that Sam has tied her up...I knew that column would come in handy for something.  And they are happy about it.  Of course, I couldn't get too upset, especially since I seem to recall allowing my little brother to tie me up with scotch tape when we were smaller, and it really was pretty fun, lol.

Kid Updates

For sure, our kids are keeping us hopping right now.

Sam:  Knock on wood, Sam has essentially potty-trained himself.  Seriously.  I'm not sure what I did to deserve this, but I am definitely not looking the gift horse in the mouth.  He is super excited about Thomas the Train and Lightning McQueen underwear.  He has been amazing about this, and I am counting my blessings.

Sariah:  Our sweet diva kindergartner is learning how to read.  She seems convinced that she can't do it, but reading with her proves otherwise.  We are playing lots of sight word games these days, especially bingo with marshmallows and M&Ms to cover the board.  Funny, but all of her siblings and her nana want to play, too, and without complaint.  I can't imagine why.

Rex:  His birthday party is next week, and he is looking forward to it.  I was a little scatterbrained about getting the invites out, but apparently he's been telling people, because they've been calling me to ask about the mystery party.  Ha!  Rex also started piano lessons last week, and has practiced diligently this week.  It's funny how when one kid around here starts playing the piano regularly, other siblings soon follow suit.  Oh, and he just started his Webelo year in Cub Scouts.  Back to work for us again.

Caleb:  This young man is my best helper these days.  He helps get the little ones ready in the morning so that I can shower, and he's been helping with getting Sam potty-trained.  To top that off, he joined chorus this semester, so he's been trying to catch up there, and he and I are working our way through a reading of the New Testament.  He still enjoys playing the trumpet and playing outside and cleaning my kitchen to cheer me up.

Lizzi:  Lizzi finished her Personal Progress recognition at church in November, and she started over again, because she is awesome that way.  She comes to the Y with me to work out several times a week (and makes me look like a fat old lady ... oh wait ...), and we hope to get her into some voice lessons in the near future.  She, too, has set a goal to finish the New Testament, but she is completely outclassing me and Caleb, because she's like a super-reader or something.

Hannah:  Swim season winds up this month, and we're down to the final few swim meets.  I think she plans to continue swimming with the Y team afterwards.  Meanwhile, she started a new semester at school and is now taking driver's ed (what?!?!?! that's crazy!).  I feel like we never see this kid because she's so busy growing up.  I know that's what we want her to do, but still ... a mom misses her firstborn.

Bob's New Toy

It's a fireplace insert. Granted, our fireplace before was pitiful. And this does put out a great deal of heat.

He is having fun playing with fire.

My house smells like woodsmoke. But apparently, I am the only person this bothers.

It's kinda fun to see my honey so excited.

Comfy Comfy!

Just rediscovered this on my phone. It was taken a couple weeks ago. Sometimes, Sam still seems so much like a baby. And then other times, he is growing up so fast. And for the record, I'm sure I have nooooooo idea where he got the idea to prop his feet up with a homey cup of milk nearby for a little snippet of reading....

Christmas 2012

We had a blessed and fortunate Christmas this year.  The kids got their little hearts' desires (mostly) and were content with what they received, and we didn't blow our budget.  For most of the day, we just hung out together, and had fun.  Good times.

I don't think Sam wanted all the help they wanted to give him.

Gingerbread, Mostly

We made our annual gingerbread houses in mid-December, the 14th, to be exact (I only know this because my camera dates pictures, lol).  We had bunches of fun and tried out all sorts of awesome things, including a gingerbread mold (going to buy another one next year, so I can alternate them as I'm baking; NEVER going back to cutting out patterns), a shortbread house (making more of those next year, too), and a chocolate house (I didn't like the way the chocolate got a film coating on it, maybe next year try white chocolate?).  And of course, on Christmas day, we participated in our annual gingerbread house smashing.  Except I forgot to take pictures.  I should have, because the kids got way creative.  Rex ran over his with his bike, and Caleb and Hannah shot their with bow and arrows.

Mom's shortbread house.

Mom and Dad's chocolate house.  Completed after all the candy was gone.

Waiting for the fun to really start.

Lizzi was an angel, letting Sam help with her house.  He loved it!!

Hannah with Nana.

Hannah says hers was a Georgian house, as in why put snow around it when the grass is always green here?

After working on Lizzi's house, Sam very studiously added like a million lemon drops to his own house.

Finished products.

Halfway done.

Whoa!  Mucho frosting.  Sariah was very pleased with hers.

You can't see it in this pic, but on Rex's house, Santa was having some serious issues with the chimney.

Santa brought Lizzi's house a gingerbread baby.  Don't ask me why.  Idk.

Santa is falling off the roof on Caleb's house.  Santa had a bad night at our gingerbread house factory.  Just sayin.