The Lord's Prayer

Oh Man!

I had a nice road trip planned for today.  Everything was ready and by the front door.  Abigails' stomach decided we weren't going anywhere today.  She has a "throat" and wants medicine.  I'm not sure what's going on, but I do know what's coming up.  Poor baby.

The Night Before

I forgot to post this story so I'm doing it now because I don't want to forget any details.

Donny woke me around 2:30 in the morning Christmas.  I could hear him calling me from his bedroom.  I found him sitting on his bed, "I've been calling you mama.  I have to go to the bathroom.  I didn't want to wander about because if Santa sees me he won't bring me presents next year."  I picked him up, stood at his doorway and announced "on the move"  which we all know is what parents say so Santa knows we are helping our children.  I took Donny to the bathroom and asked him if he would like to crawl in bed and cuddle with me.  "Oh no mama, we can't do that.  I have to be nestled in my own bed.  Will you sleep with me?"  I spent the next two hours trying to sleep.  Donny asked me every two minutes if it was time to get up.  He finally fell asleep around 3:30 and I crawled out of the race car bed and went back to my bed.  I love Christmas magic. 

21 Questions

I found a link to the blog Hey, ho, Kelly GO.  The author asked her children 21 questions and the answers were awesome.  I decided to see what my kids would say to the same questions.

1. What is something Mommy always says to you?
Donny:  Stop
Abigail:  No

2. What makes Mommy happy?
Donny:  Listening
Abigail:  Kiss and hug you.

3. What makes Mommy sad?
Donny:   Being bad.
Abigail:  If I get hurt.

4. How does Mommy make you laugh?
Donny:  Being funny and saying funny things.
Abigail:  Saying words.

5. What was Mommy like as a child?
Donny:  A baby.
Abigail:  3

6. How old is Mommy?
Donny:  16
Abigail:  1

7. How tall is Mommy?
Donny:  50 feet
Abigail:  H

8. What is Mommy's favorite thing to do?
Donny:  Eat fish tacos
Abigail:  Hug

9. What does Mommy do when you're not around?
Donny:  Bring Abigail to school.
Abigail:  Clean the floor.

10. If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
Donny:  Freedom
Abigail: A map.

11. What is Mommy really good at?
Donny:  Stopping me from being naughty.
Abigail:  Cook things.

12. What is Mommy not very good at?
Donny:  Chasing me at tag because I'm so fast.
Abigail:  Not good at being Tangled on the new Wii game.

13. What does Mommy do for her job?
Donny:  Take care of us.
Abigail:  Write notes.

14. What is Mommy's favorite food?
Donny:  Fish Tacos
Abigail:  Fish Tacos

15. What makes you proud of Mommy?
Donny:  Give me hugs and kisses.
Abigail:  Clean up Manger.  (Little People Manger under the Christmas tree)

16. If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Donny:  Captain America
Abigail:  Sleeping Beauty

17. What do you and Mommy do together?
Donny:  Go to fun places on our road trips.
Abigail:  Hug

18. How are you and Mommy the same?
Donny:  By friendship
Abigail:  Girls

19. How are you and Mommy different?
Donny:  You are a girl and I'm a boy.
Abigail:  You are big and I'm little.

20. How do you know Mommy loves you?
Donny:  By hugging me and kissing me.
Abigail:  Kisses

21. Where is Mommy's favorite place to go?
Donny:  Florida
Abigail:  Virginia

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas!!!

Both kids were asleep by 7:15 tonight. We had a fun filled day of baking cookies, playing and preparing for Santa.

Donny the Elf left the kids a note from Santa asking them to put their name on name tags for their gifts.

Donny helped me bake and decorate cookies.  The kitchen was trashed by the time we were finished.

Before bed we went out to sprinkle the magic dust that was enclosed in the letters from Santa.  Santa's magic will illuminate the dust and he will know where to land his sleigh.

Big Daddy read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas before we put the kids to bed.

Abigail put cookies on a plate for Santa.

Christmas Shoes

Donny and Abigail went to play in Donny's room while I did a bit of cleaning. I heard the radio go on and then the sounds of Christmas music, giggles and laughter.   About ten minutes went by and I heard the song Christmas Shoes start to play.  Things got very quite so I decided to take a peek.  I opened the door to find the two of them embraced and slow dancing.  I took a moment to enjoy them and then shut the door before the saw me.  They act more like an old married couple than siblings.

Yee-Haw

The kids were so excited this morning when they found Donny the Elf riding Bullseye.  I think they will be very sad when Donny the Elf returns to the North Pole for the year.

Family Frame Christmas Card

Turn your favorite family photos into Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Purple

I just love this outfit that Abigail put together and wanted to share.

Christmas Pageant

Donny's Christmas Pageant was last night at school.  The photograph above was the best one we could get.  I thought I would be able to snap some really good shots because I was sitting on the aisle.  That all ended when the children came into the room with their classes and got into position on the risers.   The incredibly rude parents all stood up walked to the front and remained standing in front of the rest of us so they could video the entire performance.  I was so angry.  This video is very rough and no we didn't take the time to blur the children to protect their identity, Big Daddy is shooting from the rear of the room.  But you will notice several things:  the people standing completely oblivious to the rest of us, me shaking my head in disgust, and Donny doing his Christmas best.  This was the first song they sang, the crowd of standing people grew as the night progressed.
*****I have tried for three days to upload the video and it's just not happening.  Sorry.

Annual Appointment

I picked Donny up from school early today for his annual physical.  We were early to the appointment and I was feeling good.  I stepped up to sign in and the receptionist asked which doctor we were there to see.  When I told her, she gave me a very bizarre look and then informed me that the doctor wasn't in on Wednesdays.  I was slowly starting to get the picture.  I asked what day I was scheduled for because I wrote the appointment on the calendar.  She started typing and after a minute or two informed me that there wasn't an appointment.  You can imagine the joy Donny had when I told him we were leaving.  I pondered the situation the entire ride home.  Maybe I cancelled the appointment and just didn't remember to cross it off the calendar.  It just didn't make any sense, if the doctor's day of was Wednesday how could this be?  Well, I went through all my cards and found the card with the appointment.  I am getting old or maybe I'm in denial.  Do you see what I did? 

Happy 6th Birthday Donny!

I can't believe that my little man is already six years old.  Big Daddy and I are so proud of him.  I pray that he will always use his imagination, continue to be the gentleman that he is and persist for a thirst knowledge.  Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Donny the Elf made Donny a birthday card..  The kids were so excited.

I made my son the ugliest cake ever! I couldn't get the color correct and the more I messed with the icing the creamier it became.  He loved it though and told Abigail she could have the pink Lego, red was my intention.

Mansion Tour

I took the kids on a mansion tour yesterday. We visited the Vanderbilt Mansion and the Mills Mansion.  The kids loved both but we all agreed we preferred the Mills Mansion.  Donny recognized many of the paintings hanging on the walls, so I think he was felt at home.  Abigail loved the "golden" in the dining room.  Each mansion was decorated for Christmas and needless to say was very beautiful.  The Vanderbilt Mansion was a guided tour and a park ranger gave us the history of the home.  Donny listened  to everything and we were able to discuss what we learned on the ride home, until they both fell asleep

.Mills Mansion   Vanderbilt Mansion

YUM!

Donny's class made Gingerbread Houses at school on Friday  When he returned from school, he brought a Ziploc bag of all the goodies I provided to decorate his house.  The kids wanted to eat everything in the bag upon sight.  I gave them each a small treat and put the bag away.  I wouldn't let Abigail have Gummy Bears because I was afraid she would choke, she wasn't too happy. 

Later than evening, I was giving Abigail a bath when Donny ran in holding the Ziploc of goodies.  I told him he was done with goodies for the night and to put the bag away.  Soon Donny was in the bath and Abigail was free to play.  About ten minutes past and Abigail returned to the bathroom holding an empty Gummy Bears package.  She held it up, grinned the naughtiest grin I have ever seen and said,
"I ate them all."  I just looked at her in shock.  She stood there and giggled while Donny looked at me and I swear the look he gave me was oh shit what is mama going to do.  I asked Abigail if she really ate all of them and she replied, "Yeeesss I did."    I told her she was very naughty and that she was sure to get a terrible tummy ache.  She left the bathroom and I finished with Donny.  I found her standing on Donny's bed talking to Donny the Elf, who was sitting on Donny's curtain rod, asking him to tell Santa she was sorry for eating all the Gummy Bears.

TP

Tea Time

Donny the Elf

Donny the Elf arrived this morning.  We have been looking for him and wondering when he would appear.  He chose a great day because Big Daddy was home to see the kids reaction.  Big Daddy and I sat down with the kids last week to watch the An Elf's Story.  Well, Abigail loved the show, Donny not so much.  He was pretty traumatized when the little boy touch Chippy the Elf and Chippy ended up in the Elf hospital.  I suggested we watch the show again last night with the hope that Donny the Elf would arrive today.  Donny started to cry and said he did NOT want to watch Chippy.  Big Daddy and I quickly said there would not be a viewing of An Elf's Story. 

The kids were very excited to see Donny the Elf this morning.  Abigail wasn't too happy that he borrowed her car. I explained she would get it back tomorrow and that made her happy.  She asked if she could touch Donny the Elf (which she is calling Chippy) and Donny freaked and gave her a firm NO!  Big Daddy and I are concerned that Abigail will start to play with Donny the Elf when we aren't looking and traumatize Donny straight into therapy. 

6th Birthday Party

Donny was very specific about his birthday party this year.  He invitation list was very small, only five children.  I was so happy because he didn't overdo it and he knew what he wanted.  Two of his friends have siblings the same age as Abigail so he invited the siblings as well. Two of his friends were unable to attend and his best friend was a bit late.  The poor mother mixed up the time and arrived as we were leaving.  She realized on the drive to the party that she was late.  I felt so bad, she was shaking and her son was crying, he was so sad that he missed the party.  I couldn't let him leave like that so invited him to the house to play for the afternoon.  Donny and his little friend had such a great afternoon.  I think missing the party was the best thing that could happen for the two of them.  Donny told me it was the best day of his life.

School Photo

I have been ripping Donny's backpack out of his hand the moment he walks off the bus for weeks. Today is the day I have been waiting for, school pictures. Donny knew what he was going to wear the day he picked out the "olden days" background. I had to get the teacher's permission so Donny could wear his hat. I love this picture, I just wish he would have smiled.   He told me he didn't smile because that is his distinguished look and that he his pretending to hold a walking stick like colonels use.

West Point

We were blessed with another beautiful day yesterday, so I had to get the kids out of the house. We took a rode trip to West Point.   I think I had more fun than the kids.  The look on Donny's face was priceless.  He could have spent the entire day at West Point.  Abigail on the other hand, lost interest after the 400th gun.  She was a very good sport and tried to show Donny all the things she thought were cool.  Donny picked out his outfit and was wearing his George Washington coat, but changed his clothes at the last minute.  I didn't tell the kids where we were going until we arrived.  Donny was so disappointed he wasn't wearing his George coat.  I wouldn't be surprised if Donny becomes a cadet in the future.

The Tree

We decorated the Christmas tree on Friday. It was so nice outside that Donny wore shorts and Abigail insisted on wearing her swim shirt. A job that would have taken me an hour alone, took roughly three hours. The kids had a story for every ornament and not one of them was true. My favorite story was about an ornament that Abigail made when she was just a little girl with her Grandma Snowflake. I think I will put the tree up alone next year.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a great time, an excellent day with family, friends and too much food. I over cooked the turkey, but luckily we also had a ham. I could kick myself for only taking two pictures. I will do better at Christmas.

Ashley

Happy 8th Birthday!!!!

She looks as thrilled as I am to be a year older.  It could be the hat Donny put on her head. Her birthdaty is actually the 22nd, but I am a week behind on blogging.

Another Word

Last night at dinner, Abigail and Donny were having a discussion. Abigail was trying to explain something about her school to Donny.  When he finally figured out what she was saying, she tilted her head to the side, nodded and said, "precisely." Big Daddy and I looked at each other and tried to figure out who is teaching our children their vocabulary.

The Great Pile

I was finally able to take a photo of the pile of limbs that fell during the storm a few weeks ago. Yes, it is still in the yard. I'm just happy it's all in a big pile. I'm thinking of having a Thanksgiving bonfire. Maybe we can throw the turkey on top of the pile. Burn, baby burn!

New Boots

Abigail rocks her new biker looking boots. She still loves her cowgirl boots, in fact she loves them so much Nanny bought her a new pair. Now she takes turns wearing the two pairs.

Treat

The mail lady was forced to bribe Ashley out of her mail van with a treat two weeks ago.  A few days later, Ashley was sitting in the front yard enjoying the nice weather.  I happened to look out the window when Ashley spotted the mail lady driving to our mailbox, Ashley took off down the driveway.  By the time I got there, Ashley was in a safe spot away from the road eating a pile of treats.  I guess the mail lady has fallen for Ashley just a bit.  I have found a treat top of the mail every day since.

Sunset

Big Daddy took this photo of the sunset.   It is so beautiful, I thought I would share.