December 24, 2017

Her new favorite spot

  Of all the holiday performances I go to in December, this one is a highlight.  This is Sydney's choir concert.  They hold it in a beautiful church, there's ample seating, and pretty Christmas music.  What's not to like?

  Our dishwasher shines this red light on the floor to indicate when it's running (yes, it's that quiet.)  Brynn can't for the life of her figure out how to pick up that red dot.

Happy 11th, Buddy

 Sometimes I'm a nice Mom and get Chipotle for lunch when Shelbi has a half day at school.  It has nothing to do with my own craving for it.

Singing in the school talent show

  At Bailey's 1st grade Christmas party.  She looks upset because there wasn't any ketchup for her nuggets.  The girl loves her ketchup.

  Rare proof that I am actually part of this family.  We're making our traditional gingerbread (graham cracker) houses, complete with our annual cursing of the diminished quality of the graham crackers, Ryan's quick destruction of his "house," Erik's precision decorating, and the rest of us somewhere in between. 

I started taking pictures of this, and then they all jumped in for a picture.  I could have sent this as a Christmas card.

  Christmas pajama awesomeness.  Ryan just figured out this year that my mom makes these pjs for the kids every year.  He asked, "How long does that take?" Considering my mom has 27 grandkids, the answer is, "A long time."  I think he has a new appreciation for them.  Aren't they cute?

December 17, 2017

  This chair is magic.  Years ago Jeff and I set out find a nice chair to put in our room.  We weren't looking for a recliner.  But once I sat in this chair at the store, I knew that nothing else would do.  Little did I know that five or so years later I'd have a baby that doesn't really like to sleep all night.  This chair is a perfect place to snuggle at three in the morning.  And apparently at 5 in the evening.

  

  I hope you like pictures of my kids on stage, participating in various kinds of performances, because that's basically what you get the rest of this week.

Ryan's 4th grade musical. He was Storm Phillips.  It was actually really cute.

Erik in the middle school spelling bee.  3rd place!

Shelbi playing in the longest piano recital in the history of piano recitals.

  Erik's Christmas orchestra concert.  This was the same night as Shelbi's recital so Jeff was here while I was there.  A common theme this week.

Piano and guitar on Saturday.

  Somewhere under that lit tree is Ryan singing with his school choir.  It was freezing and crowded and I couldn't see or hear anything.

  After the work Christmas party, Jeff pulled out this early Christmas present for me.  He said I earned it this week.  It's speaks the truth.

  I came into the family room his morning and right away Ryan said, "She likes it," before I even knew what he was talking about.  Poor Brynnie.

December 10, 2017

  When I got on Facebook today it reminded me that I posted this picture six years ago:

 These are the pictures I took this morning:

My life has done a 360.

 Usually I really dread spelling bee day.  But Ryan is so confident and laid back, I knew that he'd be fine with whatever happened.  Also, Jeff went to watch while I stayed with Brynn.  I'm much less nervous getting a play-by-play through text than watching it in person.  

 Erik asked me earlier this week if I would teach him how to bake.  We started with brownies.  I think this will actually be good for him.  He's a very cautious boy.  Baking required him to get his hands dirty (cracking eggs) and be aggressive (stirring the batter vigorously).

 My view for the third time this week.  I'm in the drive-up at the pharmacy.  Three kids with strep throat, three different days.

  Sometimes giving Brynn my phone at church is a good way to entertain her.  She'll probably take some random pictures and she might figure out how to start the music and play loud Christmas music in the middle of Sunday school.  It's worth it.

December 3, 2017

 THIS IS A STUBBORN BABY.  Why won't she eat baby food?  Not even bananas.  She's figured out that she can't smile or cry with her mouth open when I'm trying to feed her or I'll sneak food in.  

 It's no secret that I don't love Cub Scouts.  But my boys like it, so I play along.  Maybe I shouldn't play along so enthusiastically when there's a chance that someone will take a really awesome picture of me doing one of the lame cheers.  I think I was climbing a coconut tree.

  Now that she can crawl, she has found all kinds of new and exciting places around the house.  Like the piano.  She's been stuck under the bench a few times.

 Christmas Story Monopoly.  I think Sydney was losing. There was a really annoying song that went along with her losing, but I won't post it.

  Bailey taking the break in her soccer game seriously.  I have a feeling this will be her one and only season of soccer.

  I feel like we were the last people I know to decorate our Christmas tree this year.  The first day back from the Thanksgiving break Ryan said that he was the only one in his class that didn't have their tree up yet.  It's only December 3rd.  Sheesh.

November 26, 2017

 Happy Birthday to this guy.  We were lucky to have a lot of his family in town to celebrate with us.  We're used to getting a table for two, plus a highchair, so waiting for a table for twelve to open up at the restaurant tested our patience.  But dinner was fun and delicious.  Also, I'm terrible at group photos.  The unblurry ones didn't even have the birthday boy in them, so here are all the people we were with, photographed separately.

  Wednesday was pie day.  Everyone but Shelbi, Sydney, Brynn, and I went to the movies this afternoon.  We stayed home for a pie-making bonanza.  Four Foster chocolate, 1 pudding chocolate, 2 apple, 1 cherry, 1 banana cream, 1 peach, and 1 pumpkin.  That's almost a pie per person.  Sounds about right.

  Thanksgiving is definitely in the running as my favorite holiday.  The best food for lunch, usually a nap in the afternoon, and pie to end things off.

The obligatory kids' table.  I adore the centerpiece and banner Bailey made for decorations.

 My dishes helper.  And doctor who glued my fingertip back together after an incident with the potato peeler.

  The kids couldn't fathom a Thanksgiving without High Stakes Bingo, so I put the older girls in charge of it.  For sure another successful year.  Except me.  I won zero times.

  Friday was about as beautiful a day as you can get in late November.  I forced the kids outside to enjoy it.  

 Late Saturday night we found Ryan's can cozy on the kitchen counter, among the left-out card games and dishes.  Surely Ryan didn't realize that's where he left it.  Jeff relocated it, to test Ryan's can cozy radar.  When lunch came around today and Ryan was ready for his soda, he came right to the spot on the kitchen counter where it was left out.  He really does keep track of it better than any other possession.

   I commemorated the beginning of the Christmas season today with my Elf shirt and Christmas Legos.  It's a magical time.

Some bonus photos, because how could I not.