Ear Aches and Sore Throats and Pink Eye OH MY

We have had an un-welcome visitor for the past month. His name is Virus not to be confused with Bacteria Infection because if that were the case we could have had antibiotics and he would have been gone in no time. Dear Virus, Please leave, We are really SICK of you!!! Here are a few pictures because I know you've been wanting to see some.

It's a pillow, it's a pet it's a PILLOW PET and Daisy

I love the way these little guys look at each other. They understand each other.

2 boys 2 girls....mission completed.

Big Sister, Little Sister

Emma: I'm going to play with my own friends tomorrow
Madi: No don't do it. They will be mean to you and then you will come looking for me and you won't be able to find me.
Emma: They won't be mean and if they are I WILL find you.
Madi: No you wont I will run out in the field and you will never find me....Just don't do it, Stay by me.

When I drop the girls off at school in the morning they have a few minutes to play on the playground before the bell rings. I can hardly take my eyes off the two of them as they walk off hand in hand. Emmas' long hair sways back and forth and her princess backpack bounces off of her oversized coat. She turns around and waves every couple of steps and blows kisses. Madilyn is in a hurry to get to the playground to meet up with her friends. Her backpack over her shoulder is carrying all sorts of treasures that she doesn't know I saw her sneak in. Her hair in braids. She looks so grown up....a little lady. With Emma in tote she rushes to find KaSandra so they can go spy on Cody the janitor who is in the cafeteria.....They think he is cute.

The other morning I knew that Emma wanted to venture off from her big sister. As the Mom I knew deep down inside how it would turn out. I was nervous because this "friend" Emma has isn't very nice. Sometimes she hurts Emmas feelings. Her freind has a big sister too and she is a bully. She pushed Madi off the play eqiuptment a couple of years ago and ended up in the principals office for it. Madi hasn't forgotten it. Anyway, the past few mornings Emma has wanted to incude her "friend" in her and Madi's group but her friend refused because she wanted Emma to leave Madi to play with her. I know it gets confusing......drama. Emma decided to stay with her big sister which has lead to the other big sister confronting Madi. At first when the girls were telling me this I'm thinking oh, how sad was it just you two standing there taking this nonsense from a bully. Oh No. Madilyn and Emma have an entorage(did i spell that right) They have a big group of friends at their every beckoning call. They treat Emma like one of their own and are very protective of her. So as Emma cautiously walked over to see if her "friend"wanted to play Madilyn (as scared as she is of the other big sister) followed close behind. (I KNEW IT she wouldn't dare leave her and run off to the field) As it turns out her so called friend wouldn't let Emma play. As she turned around with huge tears rulling down her dimpled cheeks, there was Madilyn. She did not say "I told you so" instead gave her a hug and took her back to join the rest of her friends. I love that (deep down inside) they love each other.

Santa Babies

I spy Preston....

Just Because

This is our lovely tree. It looks the same EVERY year. Even though every year we bring home a new one...fresh. It starts out kind of straight and then the kids start playing with the ornaments and bumping it and it slants big time. I love our tree none the less. I love the memories tucked in the branches and the stories behind the ornaments. I love that the kids decorated this tree and made it their own. Normally a slanted tree would bother me but this year there is something tender about our slanted tree. (It's slanted sideways and backwards. It's quite severe) Did you notice all the ornaments hanging on the bottom?? Normally that would bother me especially because it looks awkward and droopy towards the bottom. But this year I let it go. I didn't rearrange it. I love it the way it is.

See it's just so crowded and clumpy along the bottom all the way around but that's okay. What does bug me is that Santa left the tag on that ornament front and center, that supposidly was baked gingergread straight from Mrs. Clauses kitchen until Madilyn pointed out to me that the tag says Kohls on it. How did that happen?

Fat AND Happy

As I write this post it is 9 degrees outside. That is ridiculous. We had our first official snowfall today and Cody was so happy! He loved making snow angels with Daisy.

I love to watch Emma and Daisy together. As clumsy and large as Daisy is she is very gentle with Emma. Not so much with Madi and Cody. I don't know why she is so much calmer with Emma. They would do this all day if I let them.

Chapped lips and "superhero hair" I'm learning to embrace boyhood and I love it.

Look-alikes

This Face

This face is simply irresistable. There is no other way to put it!!

I love everything about this little boy....EVERYTHING. His almond blue eyes, his long eyelashes. the crease in his chin. the dimples on his hands, the rolls on his legs and back of his soft neck. His tiny toes and perfect ears, his rosy cheeks and double chin. his soft downy hair. His long skinny fingers. His button nose. He's chubby and squishy and happy. Need I say more??

I love all my kids the same but I'm just sayin.....This Face.....

We are so Thankful

We had a really fun Thanksgiving. I spent most the day on wednesday in the kitchen preparing for the big feast. The kids were a big help too. Ryan was at work so it was up to me and the kids to get things ready. Our menu included: Turkey , mashed potatoes, yams, green bean casserole, peach jello salad, rolls, stuffing and for an appetizer we had a cheeseball and a veggie tray. For dessert we had a peanut butter pie for the kids and a pumkin pie for Ryan and I. We have enough food to last us a week, that is if we can stand to eat leftovers for that long. It was such a great day. We played games and just enjoyed being together. I have so much to be thanful for!! I have been blessed in so many ways. I am so very thankful for my kids. I am so thankful that they are all happy and healthy. I don't know what I did to ever deserve them. They give me purpose in life and teach me more than I will ever be able to teach them. I am thankful for a devoted husband who will do whatever it takes to provide for his family. I am thankful for his constant love. I am thankful for my parents and siblings that I think about and miss everyday!! I am thankful to have a warm home to live in and live in such a beautiful part of the country. I am Thankful, so very Thankful for so much more but you see, my time is limited when blogging with 4 little kids. So I need to finish while Preston sleeps and the other 3 watch Frosty the snowman. Madi, Emma and Cody set a Turkey trap to see if they could catch a Turkey. They decorated the box and left bread crumbs all around. It was close, They almost caught one but he left a note and treat and then escaped.

Don't you like Codys shoes? He was in to big of a hurry to go upstairs and grab his shoes so he grabbed Ryans basketball shoes since they were sitting by the door.

Now, these 2 girls I found wandering the streets holding a sign that said "will work for food" so I gave them each a "greenscapes" shirt (courtesy of Uncle Matt) and put them to work in the kitchen. They are cutting veggies for the cheeseball. They did such a good job I decided to put them in the shower, brush their hair and keep them as my own. They clean up nice :)