"Snow" Day

Isn't it a great feeling to wake up, turn on the TV, see that school has been canceled and go back to bed? Of course, I had to call my mom and tell her because my parents live in Denver and they only cancel school if there is a REAL blizzard. Mom said they got over 5 inches and she was out shoveling the drive way last night so she could get to her school this morning. One of the advantages of living in Arkansas- everyone's fear of driving on snow!

The boys are outside playing. Grant has already knocked on the door multiple times needing a shovel, telling me he needed different mittens, giving me his hat, asking for hot chocolate and tattling on Max for taking his snow. He was threatened with having to come inside if he knocked again. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Too much stuff?

After MANY years of praying and waiting, the Grove is getting our own building for church!

Now, the Greenhouse (children's ministry) is having to start from scratch building up equipment, supplies, toys, etc. If anyone is doing some after Christmas clean-up and has excess you can donate to the Greenhouse. There is a list of needed items on the website. I'll even come pick it up if you need me to.

Woo hoo! Morning church again!

Student of the Month

Today Max was awarded as Student of the Month in his class for exhibiting compassion at their Lion's Pride rally. Nate took a late lunch and came, Memaw & Pepaw came and of course, his mom and little brothers. He had the biggest showing, by far.

When their names were called they went to the front of the cafeteria and were handed pom poms. Then the whole school sang the Lee Lion's kids have great character song....

Max's exhibition performance with pom poms. We are so proud.

Lee the lion made an appearance.

The amazing Mrs. Lewis.

Then, when we got home balloons were delivered from aunt Nikki congratulating Max on his achievements. He was very unimpressed by all of our excitement. I asked him if he was surprised to see us all at school and if he knew why we were at the rally. He said, "Yeah, 'cause I'm always student of the month." I guess it's good he got the award now before humility is the character trait they're looking for.

Way to go, Max-o!

Hormones

I recently discovered (from my sis, Bekah) that the milk at Braums doesn't contain the rBGH. A cheaper alternative to organic without sending our children into early puberty. I don't know if they'll let you order gallons of milk from the drive-up window but I for one am going to try!

Tulsa Time

Since Nate was going away on a retreat this weekend I thought the boys and I should have one, too. Why stay home alone when I can share the joy of my children with others?

We went to the Callery's the first night. Max and Kate have a special fondness for one another.

Every time they sat down on the couch they sat next to each other under a blanket. We have to keep our eyes on those two... Kate writes Max love letters and Max, well, he just goes full force and puts the moves on trying to kiss Kate! We might have to stop visiting in a couple more years.

Jack and Ava... so sweet. If only Jack didn't have a draining nose and eyes. Hopefully he didn't pass it on to his cousin.

When I was trying to get them all ready to go (due to the before mentioned draining eyes and nose) I told Grant to get his shoes on. He was kneeling in front of Ava patting her head and said, "But I just love her so much."

Sweet-almost-6-month-old girl.

We got her all dressed up complete tights, bloomers and black patent leather shoes (which she didn't wear for her nap). I later realized the benefit of boys when changing her diaper. That is a lot of clothing to take off for a diaper change.

Sidenote: After taking these pictures I thought there was a serious problem with our camera since 1/2 of every picture is blurry. I told Nate I thought it was time for a new camera. This morning I realized there was a Jack size fingerprint covering the lens so hopefully, I solved the blur problem.

Gingerbread Demolitoin

Leah and a group of friends made gingerbread houses. She brought her finished project over to our house to enjoy during the holidays. We finally decided it was time to toss it. Jack had his dreams come true when he was finally allowed to touch it and taste it.

He tried pulling the m&m's off but that didn't work so.... mine as well try to bite them off.

He really wanted the big marshmallows/ smoke from the chimney.

I thought he might need a little help. That gingerbread was held together well!

Thank you, Leah!

Spanish Love Song

Dedicated to Jaime... for enabling minds and making this song possible.

Birthday breakfast

It doesn't get much better than donuts, chocolate donut holes and chocolate milk. Happy Birthday, Grant. I'll go get the tums.

American Gladiators

Nate has been really excited about the American Gladiators comeback. Max has caught his enthusiasm. While they were watching Max ran out of the room and came back dressed for action.

Shark Attack

Yesterday was Grant's birthday party. He wanted it to be sharks and he wanted it to be at Fun City. (I was really excited to have a party somewhere other than our house! So much less work for me!)

The birthday boy enjoying his edible aquarium.

Lots of kids enjoying coke and pizza.

The amazing shark cake. The water was made out of white cake and the shark was made out of red velvet making it super cool when it was cut into.

Grant really wanted to eat his cake.

Family plus Emma (we call her our surrogate sister).

Happy Birthday, little G!

No change yet

Today is Grant's 4th birthday. It was going to be a fun day. It's our last day of break before we all go back to school, MDO and work so it was going to be special. We were going to meet Nate for lunch at McDonald's. I was going to give both the boys their birthday money and let them get whatever they wanted (yes, Max's birthday is in November but it's so much easier to wait and let them shop together). We were going to go the store and let Grant pick out what kind of cake he wanted and what he wanted me to make for his birthday dinner and special cupcakes to take to MDO tomorrow.

Instead....

I told the boys repeatedly to get dressed so we could go to lunch. Max got 75% dressed. Grant got 0% dressed. I told Grant that this was the last time I was going to tell him to get dressed or we wouldn't go have his special birthday lunch with Daddy. At this point, I called Max in to try to help the situation and asked him to help get Grant dressed so we could go eat at McDonalds. He just started whining. I then went in Jack's room to find Grant sitting on the floor of the closet playing with toys, still not at all dressed. So, I called Nate and told him we wouldn't be making lunch today. The boys were sent to their room to sit on their beds.

I went in and had a "little talk" with them explaining all the fun things we could have done if they had obeyed. I told them they could come out and and make themselves lunch but then they'd have to go and lay on their beds for rest time. I told Grant he needed to get dressed before he could eat lunch. He continued to play. I set the timer telling him that he needed to be dressed when the timer went off or he'd go to bed without lunch. He got his pants on then started playing again. The timer went off and he just looked at me and grinned.

Now, Grant is in bed halfway dressed without lunch and Max is in bed after eating applesauce and sprite. Usually, I'm happy when my house if quiet and everyone is resting. Today I just really wanted to go to McDonalds.

the 4-year change

The other day the boys and I were talking about Grant's upcoming birthday. I said, "Grant you are going to be 4 years old!" He said, "Yep. Then I'll be a brand new boy."

Could this be the metamorphasis from the terrifying 3s to the fantastic 4s?

Max's Camera

Max got his very own camera for Christmas. It's a Vtech (are you laughing Whitney?) kidizoom. It one of those super durable can be dropped without breaking cameras (which is important when you have 2 little brothers). Here is some of his most recent work.

He likes to use the make-people-look-dumb features. I don't know why he chose the horns for me... I've been so nice after being home with all my children all day long for 12 days and counting.

Max claims he didn't take this one. Grant?

Introducing Ranger and Leo.

Leo, the devil (which is pretty appropriate after he knocked one of my decorations to the floor breaking it into many pieces this evening).

Ok, I took this one. His camera is pretty fun.

Citrus

Today driving home on 71b I noticed a little truck with bags of oranges and grapefruit hanging off of it. Then I noticed the little hispanic man in the back smiling as he was stuffing the bags with the oranges. I decided I had to turn around and get some fruit.

Has anyone else noticed the lack of bagged oranges at Wal-Mart? Or, that the grapefruit is being sold individually for over $1 a piece?

Well, this sweet little man is selling an 18 pound bag of grapefruit for $7 and an equally huge bag of oranges for $6. I got one of each. The boys and I had a fruit party when we got home. Max was excited to get to use the "prickly" spoons. I haven't tried the oranges yet but the grapefruit was amazing.

The citrus man was parked in a parking lot near Pontiac Coffee off of Thompson. His truck was piled high when I got some earlier this afternoon. When I drove by this evening he had already sold a ton. Hurry out and buy some fruit!

Nana, Papa & some screaming kids

This was the first time both my parents had been with all their grandchildren so we thought we'd capture the sweet memory.

Max didn't want to be in the picture because we'd already taken hundreds of pictures. Jack is trying really hard to get away.

And Jack is gone. Max was threatened within an inch of his life so he is present, but not cooperative.

Max pouting, Jack screaming, Ava squirming (who wouldn't be with this crowd?) and Grant suprisingly joyful.

As good as it gets. Mom said, "You know it's bad when Grant is the only one cooperating."

Some Ava, of course

The little guys and I followed my parents over to Broken Arrow on Friday to celebrate Christmas with Dave, Bekah & Ava. She is the sweetest, squishiest baby ever. I got her ready for bed after her bath... complete with headband and bunny slippers.





I'm glad Bekah has a girl that I can play dress up with.