Christmas/New Year/Birthday Sandwich

December was a wonderful/busy/inspirational/stressful/relaxing/frustrating/enjoyable month depending on what day you caught me. And for someone who likes pictures, I'm terrible at taking any. Among other things, the kids were in a chorus and orchestra for the nativity festival. Randal was a bearded wise man for the live nativity even. And I have nothing to show for it. 

I did manage to photograph this:

It's a quilt I made for a gift and it signifies much of my evenings in December. It also helped me check another item off my '40 Things Before I Turn 40' list--a list I have been working on for a year now and have only crossed off 5 things. Yes, that does leave me just one more year for the other 35. (I think one of them is 'stop procrastinating', or at least it should be.) Anyway, I have made a number of quilts, but have never quilted one this size myself. Well, until now. Check.

No matter how many good intentions fell off the list this year, Christmas came anyway. And it was great! This kids even said it was one of their favorite years. 

Santa brought Ethan a bow and arrow. Grandma R. sent the pajamas he is sporting. Both are red, his favorite color. And the PJs--he did not remove himself from them the entire Christmas break. He even wore them under his jeans to go to the movie theatre because he, "wanted to be comfortable." Which, in my mind, seems entirely contradictory. But then I'm the mom who doesn't know anything about anything. 

Addie asked for one thing--Ever After High dolls--and Santa came through. Later we learned she had some other things she kept secret in order to test her theory of the validity of Santa. We told her Santa is a lot of things, but he's no mind reader. I don't know where her loyalties lie now, especially since Ethan's target was found in the back of our car Christmas Eve. Oh well. All dreams will inevitably be crushed in the Santa department at some time or another. 

The kids worked to make gifts for one another. Ethan made Owen a car box:

Addie made Owen a match game out of milk lids and sewed a little bag to keep the pieces:

Randal helped Addie make Ethan a cool clock:

And Ethan made an awesome necklace holder for Addie:

This next one makes me laugh. Ethan struggles with organization so we gave him a zip-up binder to help keep his schoolwork in order. As a gift, I worried he would be disappointed. But you would have thought we gave him a million dollars. He jumped up and down with excitement. The funny thing--we hear rather frequently around here how much he hates school. Who knew he just needed the right kind of binder?? 

And here is Owen with his loot:

He was in Christmas heaven.

Gingerbread houses were one of those traditions that fell off the list before Christmas. But the kids still wanted to make them anyway so we made it a part of our New Year's celebration.  

It may be hard to see, but Owen has more candy in his mouth than he is managing to get on the house:

And tonight we celebrated Randal's birthday. We gave him running shoes…even though one of his New Year's resolutions is to never run again. But after that delicious Mexican chocolate cake he's going to need to use them. Actually, just me. But he can run alongside for moral support. That's what spouses do.

Our break was very enjoyable and relaxing. I agree with the kids--it was one of my favorite Christmases. Now we're back to normal life and looking forward to what's in store for 2015.

According to the 35 things left on my list, it's going to be a great one! (Well, except for that 5k. Ugh. Why does everyone have to be running these days??? I felt like I was forced to include it.) 

Birthday/Hike/Halloween Sandwich

October came with Owen's second birthday.

He was all into opening presents until the cars came out and then we could not convince him to give another wrapped gift a second glance.

Until this was put under his nose.

He loved his monkey cake even though these pictures may seem otherwise.

Seriously, this kid will. Not. Smile. For. The. Camera.

Or even look it's way. What he doesn't realize is that he is the third child so already there are fewer pictures being taken of him. His refusal to cooperate isn't helping. And you know who is going to be blamed when he is older…me.

Finally! This is the best shot I could get. And it is the only one. 

Mid-October was our little staycation during fall break. We visited the Louisville Slugger Museum. We toured the bat-making facility. It was very interesting. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it given I am not really a baseball fan. Maybe there is a reason it is "America's favorite pastime".

We also hiked to Natural Bridge. And that is what it is--a naturally formed rock bridge. There is no way to do it justice in a picture. So you will just have to come to Kentucky to see it. This is at the base:

 

And here are Randal and the kids hiking through a break in the rock to the top…where there are no protective railings…and where my children did not seem to recognize the dangers of getting so close to the edge…I guess it really wasn't that close…I was just having flashbacks to the time I proved my bravery at the Grand Canyon as a kid…when really I was a big chicken inside…and still am.

We had a great time. We need to hike more often.

The month ended with Halloween. Owen looks like we're torturing him with the pumpkin, but he was really just being silly. 

The weather turned very cold and stormy on Halloween. The kids braved it anyway and came home with gobs of candy from our sympathetic neighbors. 

Ethan wanted to be a bandit so that he would have an excuse to carry a bigger candy bag. Addie was a fortune teller. We had fun designing her costume and picking out the fabric together. And Owen stole the show by reprising Addie's old skunk costume. 

Now October is over, the weather is turning and the year is coming to an end. Time is flying by. Thank goodness for pictures (and for blogs) to help make sure I remember these three as they are right now because it doesn't last long, does it?

Skipping School

I may be slow to blog about it, but school does go on in Kentucky.

Addie is in the 3rd grade.

Ethan--the 6th, which means he is a mighty middle schooler.

And with great power comes great responsibilty so he has been designated Owen's chief transportation officer. 

We did play hookie and joined the Bangerters in North Carolina for some special education of its own kind.

And for some amazing views.

Giving us the opportunity to take some unique pictures. (Staircase inside the lighthouse.)

Owen did put in some time driving truck, however.

But it was obvious when he was ready to clock out...

And walk off into the sunset.

Ethan and his cousins labored too, but learned there is no structure that can match the strength of the tide.

We had a super time at the beach.

And felt inspired by the tenacity of the Wright Brothers when we visited Kitty Hawk…

to hang out with Wilbur (or Orville?).

We hiked the same hill these men hauled their airplane up over 1000 times during the course of a summer until they successfully flew.

There we soaked in the view...

then coasted on the backs of others down the other side.

Our education continued in Virginia at the early settlement of Jamestown. 

Where the kids helped with...

this:

On the way home we stopped at Hillbilly Hotdogs. Guy Fieri recommended it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. He was not wrong. 

We did eat in a tub because…well, because it's Kentucky. (Actually, West Virginia...same difference.)

With our vacation over it was back to work adding some pizzaz to a boring, little bathroom. "After" pictures coming soon.

Cousins

We've been enjoying our nephew/cousin's company. Christian is visiting from VA. 

This kid thinks he's as big as the boys:

Ethan waited for his cousin to come to celebrate his birthday with a friend party.

We've had a fun week.