The Hellers!

Right before we rang in the new year our friends the Hellers came to visit. We had an awesome time and it was fun seeing Ellie now that Greta has made her way into our life.

What could be better than sitting beside your friends playing your DS? I would suppose that being able to exchange games and systems would be better...Oh wait, that's what they did. We had four DS systems and about a million games. Unbelievable!

Poor Ellie couldn't get away from Greta! I loved seeing them together.

I believe the kids are inseparable. Although it would be nice to be closer, time and distance don't seem to effect their friendship. OK, I know they would be closer if we were neighbors. How's that coming Beth? Any good news?



Beth...the Pied Piper. Is Greta winking at me?

Poor Isaac had to deal with Pug's craziness almost the whole visit. For some reason she WOULD NOT leave him alone! Crazy dog. She is so old and crotchety. Sorry Isaac!

I have no pictures of Pug and Isaac because we were too concerned that Pug would bite him for it to be cute. Thanks for your patience, friends!

Merry Christmas!

We had a relaxing Christmas this year in spite of 'traveling' to two Grandparents' homes. The boys got everything they could have imagined and then some.

Jonathan can't get enough of legos. He and Chris put this huge thing together in no time. Chris said Jonathan did very well and needed only minimal help.


Drew is really in to Star Wars Galactic Heroes. I even had to look on eBay for Jabba the Hutt and Boba Fett. Unfortunatly, only Jabba arrived before Christmas. I must have missed the part about Boba Fett coming from HONG KONG!



We always open presents in our pajamas. There's just something relaxing about rolling out of bed and opening presents. I think the boys brushed their teeth first...at least I hope they did. I know I did!

Other favorite gifts included Heely's for both boys, DS games, Jungle Master Mode Megazord Power Ranger (say that fast five times) for Jonathan, the new RPM Megazord for Drew, and the new RPM Power Rangers for them to share. Oh, they also were given Hulk bedding. I can't remember anything else right now...like my list isn't long enough...


SIDE NOTE
Chris and I realized that another Christmas went by with us being wrapped up in the commercialism of it all. Do our boys really need all that stuff? What would happen if we only gave them three presents (the number that Jesus was given?) Would our family support our desire to place the focus back on Christ? What are we really teaching them about Christmas? Anyone have any ideas?

The Stockings Were Hung by the Chimney With Care...

Except that we don't have a fireplace so the stockings were actually resting up against the TV on the floor. Do you think Santa found them?

Which brings me to a good tangent point. Have you ever noticed that Santa and Satan are spelled with the same letters? Coincidence?...

Sorry if I offended you...

Back to Christmas Eve...

We have a busy Christmas Eve tradition:

1. Go to Christmas Eve service.
2. Go to Chris's Aunt's house to eat.
3. Go to my parents' house to open stockings.
4. Head home to open our stockings.
5. Fall into bed exhausted.

Has Greta NOT been sitting on another dog for any picture that I have recently posted???

Drew and Andrea at my parents' house.

Jonathan and my dad at my parents' house.

This is Chris's Aunt's house. The boys were busy watching Jim Carey's 'The Grinch That Stole Christmas.'

This little cutie is Chris's cousin's dog. Her name is Ava. It reminded me of how cute Pug was as a puppy.

This is the official, 'you need to pose by the tree' picture. Poor boys wanted to open their stockings but I was thinking 'scrapbook.'

After the boys opened their stockings they headed for bed and went to sleep surprisingly easy. We've never done the Santa thing so maybe that's why they weren't anxious for the presents to come...they've been looking at the wrapped boxes all day (I wrapped presents the night before Christmas Eve.)

Which reminds me...

We've never done Santa but for some reason Drew wanted to put out cookies for Santa this year. I kind of looked at him funny when he told me we HAD TO or Santa wouldn't bring presents.

"Really? Because last time I checked I've bought your presents every year."

I think poor Drew was confused from all the conflicting stories that surround Christmas. That tells me that Chris and I aren't doing a good enough job putting the emphasis on Jesus's birth. We need to work on that!

Decking the Halls

We pulled out our Christmas decorations in early December this year. I find it hard to believe that it's time for the tree again! We had a nice family evening and I wanted to share some of the pictures with you.

Jonathan is a hard worker when he wants to be. Although, I bet he was helping with the tree 'for money.' He's always trying to earn money for the latest 'gotta have' toy. Recently it's been Lego sets.

Pug's looking old. Like the bell on her collar? I thought it was a nice touch.

Greta loved chewing on the tree. Then again, what DOESN'T she like to chew?

Even at this age the boys still enjoy playing with boxes.

The boys did a wonderful job decorating the tree this year. I only had to unwrap the ornaments and hand them over!

Drew was sad here but still managed to pull it together for a nice smile.

I think Greta is trying to show Pug who's boss.

Nice.

Jonathan is so handsome (actually, all three of my boys are!)

This picture shows all the orthodontic work we have in store for us. Jonathan has a severe under bite. Our dentist has said that it can be corrected while he is still young without the need for evasive surgery. I have a feeling we will be talking about our options at the next six month check-up. I'm a little nervous because I have never had any orthodontic work done on my mouth (except for the extraction of my wisdom teeth.) I hope it does not hurt him!

I also hope that Jonathan will be happy that he went through the process to correct his under bite. If we don't correct it, his two top front teeth will continue to be 'sawed' away. I'm anxious to see what his adult teeth will look like. The dentist has said that he likes how much room Jonathan has but I'm going to have to see it to believe it.

Chris had braces as a child so I don't know what else will be in store for the boys. So far, Drew hasn't had any issues with his teeth. I hope to keep it that way!

The boys love wrestling their dad. I don't think Chris minds it all that much either, especially after a hard evening of tree decorating!

Science Experiments

The boys (thanks to Andrea) have been on a science experiment kick. I'm all for educational entertainment but when it's messy or takes up large spaces I start to breathe a little heavier. Here the boys are pictured creating one of their experiments...the volcano. Obviously Andrea had to be posing them...here's how I know:

1. Drew seems to be doing a magic trick (Abracadabra!)
2. Their hands are clean.




I am told that the volcano actually did erupt. I bet the boys thought that was the coolest thing. At least Aunt Dee had to clean up the mess!

They've done other experiments as well. They also got some more for Christmas. Oh, wait, I'm not supposed to tell you that because I'm not there yet...

Happy Early December!

School Projects

I am faced with a dilemma: What do I do with all the stuff the boys bring home from school? I bet I pitch about 90% of it yet I still feel over-run. Augh!

Even though I am frustrated by the number of trees killed each day to accommodate (enable, enrich) my children's education I thought I would share some of their recent projects with you.

This is Drew's feather from preschool. Each student was asked to decorate the feather any way he or she wanted, as long as their family helped them. The students were then supposed to bring them back to school to put on a giant turkey. Drew chose to glue on some tri-colored pasta. By the way, this pasta is awesome in pasta salad...

This picture is what Jonathan brought home right before Thanksgiving break. He said it was his Thanksgiving place setting. Creative...but...not high on the 'easy to store' list.

As I have stated before Drew is treated like a member of Jonathan's class when he 'volunteers' with one of us. Yes, we get a folder full of paper from him too...

Here, he has made a huge picture depicting the scenes of the story 'The Gingerbread Man.' Jonathan's is below. I believe that Drew wrote his own name and I know Jonathan wrote everything you see on his. I am so proud of both of them!

The Ever Growing Greta

It seems as if Greta has grown a little each day since we've brought her home. She is definitely living up to her Weimaraner name. Luckily, we enjoy Cesar Millan's show 'The Dog Whisperer' and Chris is hoping to enroll Greta into puppy classes soon.

I wish we could have Cesar come teach us a few things!

These pictures represent about a month and a half. Can you see how big she's grown?

If Greta could have her way she would lay on Pug all day...except for the times she is in her crazy biting moods...

Yes, that is a trash can beside her. Sorry! Greta is engulfed in Pug's bag of food. Clearly her food is not good enough.

Kind of looks like she is peeing on Pug here. Not so much...I don't think...

See what I mean?

Andrea's Creativity

Every Thursday Andrea watches Drew and then Jonathan when Chris brings him home from school. I'm not sure why she feels like they need a new toy each week, or why she needs to let them get away with things that she KNOWS I would not approve of...

She didn't even tell me about these pictures. She let me find them on my own. Do you realize they could have broken the washing machine? Does she realize they could have drowned? They could be burnt in the dryer! And many more horrible scenarios!

As I started blogging this, the boys were watching me go through the pictures. They told me that Aunt Dee knew it was a bad idea, and she knew what they were doing was dangerous, but they said she WANTED THE PICTURES ANYWAY!!!

I just had to share what I found...

How did they both fit?

Nothing like being trapped in the washing machine AND having a gun pointed at you!

This is actually a pretty good picture. I wonder what Jessi would think?

I'm not sure why Drew's pants look wet. Certainly he didn't have an accident!!!??? Maybe he was wet from the washing machine! Do you think Jonathan took this picture?

You just can't find good help these days...

Don't worry Andrea! I forgive you and still love you. Just don't do that again!!!

Field Trip to Mount Union Nature Center

Jonathan's class took one of their first field trips to the nature center. Thankfully, Chris was able to accompany the class. It was really cold that day but the kids seemed unfazed. Chris came home frozen. At least he took some pictures! Talk about taking one for the team...

The lady in the bright orange coat is Jonathan's teacher. We have been so impressed with her! I think we'll request her for Drew next year...

If it was so cold, why is Jonathan not wearing a separate hat? And why does he only have his gloves on for half the pictures? UH! Chris!!!