Christmas Gifts given to you

Joshua's Gifts:

Plug and Play TV Star Wars game
Star wars storm trooper, eopie and another star wars character
Plasma car
Erector vehicle set
Spinning light sabers
"Treasure Planet" and "Atlantis" movies
books "The Grinch that Stole Christmas", "An Angel named Herman",
Battleship travel game
Mickey Mouse hat
Citi blocks from Aunt Christina
Swimming fins from Aun Christina and Aunt Angela
nano bug and lego camper from Aunt Angela
Penguin pillow pet, "Clone Wars" DVD, and angel ornament from Grandma and Grandpa
Camping inflatable bed mat, nerf gun, and police light up rifle from Gran and Grandaddy
"Cars" movie rolling suitcase, Jingle bells noisemaker, and balloon blow up kit from Aunt Tricia
"Thomas" book from Julie Jones
Sponge Bob car activity book and reader book from Melissa Beard
elf ornament from Great Grandma Weatherholt
Veggie Tales "St Nicholas" movie from Terri Behling
house ornament decorating kit from Julie Hews

Gifts for Taylor:

Fur Real walking puppy, colorful flower necklace, jumping frogs game, and angel ornament from Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa
Minnie Mouse dress up set
plasma car
Crayola Glow Station from Grandma and Grandpa, Mommy and Daddy
Unicorn Pillow Pet, and "Twinkle Star" Little Pony movie from Aunt Angela
teddy bear and Meal Making Playdoh station, and jingle bells noise maker from Aunt Tricia
Minnie Sweatshirt and Minnie car and tote from Aunt Chris
Disney Princess scooter and Cake Making Playdoh station from Gran and Grandaddy
"Minnie Bowtique" and "Mickey's Learning Game" DVDs
Winnie the Pooh Book and Dr Seuss books
Minnie Mouse tote
Playdoh
Sesame street coloring activity book and reader book from Melissa Beard
Sewing cards from Julie Jones
gingerbread man ornament from Great Grandma Weatherholt
Veggie Tales "St Nicholas" movie from Terri Behling
house ornament decorating kit from Julie Hews

Shared gift for Taylor and Joshua: "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Tale of Desperaux" movies

White Christmas!

It snowed on Christmas here in Atlanta! We didn't get much, but enough to make get snowballs and have fun pummeling each other with them. Taylor was the polite one and spent her time throwing the snowballs against the windows. Doug and I got some great swings at each other and Joshua took turns being on my side and then Daddy's. My mom and dad got in on the fun as well. They came out to watch the grand kids enjoy the rare sight of snow play in the South. Grandma said that the kids would make great Hoosiers with their love for the snow. Taylor and Joshua begged us to get out in the snow even though it was getting dark quickly. I thought, "Why not"...how often do they get to play in the snow...especially on Christmas Day! We actually got a white Christmas...I guess that the last white Christmas here in Atlanta was in 1822...pretty spectacular to watch the beautiful huge flakes coming down from the sky. It was perfect snow to pack and throw, too. The perfect trio...snow, snow that packed easily, and no wind/not too cold. Christina briefly joined in with just a scarf wrapped on her head! Silly girl...no coat, just the scarf! Taylor didn't want to come in and told Daddy that she wanted to play in the dark. What is it about playing in the dark that is so much fun?! The perfect ending to a beautiful Christmas.

"Skiskit"

Taylor and I would go to McDonald's a couple times a week to get breakfast after dropping Joshua off for school and her favorite breakfast food was a biscuit which she calls a "skiskit"...One day, I went to Chick fil a instead and she discovered their biscuits and now wants one literally every day. So, every morning after dropping Joshua off, I wait to hear, "I want a skiskit" and it never fails. The girl is addicted!

Spooky spider webs....Thanks to Grandma!

We received a Halloween package in the mail a couple of days ago from Grandma and Grandpa as we get every year. This year, Grandma decided to send us spider web decorations with skeletons, bats and spiders to put in the web. Joshua couldn't wait to decorate the porch in the webs. So, we thought about doing it last night, but it got too dark and cold. Joshua was disappointed, but took it well, and was able to hold out until today. We all had fun hanging four different webs and even Taylor got in on putting spiders in the webs. I must say that it looks pretty good on our porch. I had to take some pictures to show Grandma the finished product. I have to remember to send it to her! She also sent us all candy and sent the kids bright card stock and paper to make crafts with as well as Halloween paper plates and napkins. We'll have to give Grandma and Grandpa a call and thank them for the goodies!!

Locked in!!

I had just finished my workout in the exercise room as Taylor came into the room and began playing around with the elliptical machine. Somewhere in the process of her walking in and me finishing up, she had shut the door to the room. Years ago, when Joshua was in the room, we had changed the lock to be on the outside of the door for timeout purposes as well as a way of him not being able to lock himself in his room. Well, she had decided the flip the lock around before shutting the door... To my dismay and panic, I was unable to open the door as I prepared to go out into the living room and get the kids upstairs for their bedtime routine. My first thought was "Stay calm"...hoping that if I pounded on the door loud enough and yelled that Doug would hear me. I pounded on the door several times and yelled at the top of my lungs as Taylor sat on the floor looking very sheepish, knowing that she had done something wrong. Thankfully, Doug heard us from upstairs and came to rescue us before I went to plan B which was to try to force something between the lock to pry the door open. I would have found a way to bust that door down before I was going to be stuck in there for an hour or more in panic mode! Hopefully, Taylor won't pull that one off anymore!!

Fall Reading Challenge

Joshua received a certificate for participating in the Fall Reading Challenge at school. He read 450 pages in a month, which we are very proud of him for! He is really enjoying reading and picks up books on his own in the car and will read to himself now. So awesome to see his reading skills blossoming. He also got a certificate for a free milkshake that I'm sure he will very much enjoy! Go, Joshua! Keep up the great reading:)

All About Me Project

Joshua's first project for 1st grade was the "All About Me Project." He was to put together a poster of pictures, souvenirs, etc telling about his life. We ended up printing up a bunch of pictures after interviewing Joshua on his current favorite things to do/eat, as well as family pictures to add to the mix. He told us that his favorite food is cake, and his favorite healthy food is strawberries. His favorite place to visit is his cousins in Charlotte and his favorite vacation is Disney with his favorite ride being "Everest" roller coaster. His favorite activities are playing with Legos, building car tracks and drawing. Favorite things to do are jump on the trampoline, play basketball, and ride his scooter. He also loves to splash in the ocean and play in the sand. We put a cross in the center of the poster as the center of his life and he wrote each of the our family names around the sides of the poster (his idea). Taylor and I came to school to see him present his poster and he mumbled a bit as he seemed a bit embarrassed up in front of the class, but he was all smiles and it was fun to see him up there. Taylor was wanting to be part of the show by calling out for her brother throughout the presentations and wanting to play with her new Mickey Mouse key chain with buttons that make car noises. That didn't go over so well in a quiet classroom! So Taylor and I spent some time outside the room looking at all of the kids posters who had already given their presentations. Great Job, Joshua!! Way to go.