This and that

Corey gave me this as an early Christmas present

The new Kindle Fire

 I really am enjoying the thing. I have heard mixed reviews about it, but for me it's been a lot of fun. I love being able to have access to so many books and read to my heart's content. But being able to play time consuming/wasting games has been fun too. 

It's a good thing Emery is willing to pick up the slack around here while I am distracted with my new toy.

Don't you love the inside out pants? She usually wearing her shoes on the wrong feet too.

 Although the distraction has not always been a good thing either. Permanent marker is not so easily washed.

I guess it's better on the skin than on my walls or furniture though.

Speaking of Emery and speaking. I can't believe how much her speech has improved in just the last month or so. She is actually gaining a lot of words and making so many more sounds. I guess having speech 2-3 times a month is doing something. Although she is pretty darn stubborn and certainly is doing things only when she wants to so it's hard to tell if it's the therapy or just her willingness to actually try. Her latest word is "sorry" and it's totally adorable although she is having to say it way too often.

Every year around this time, I start to panic a little and every year I say that I won't let it happen again. I am not very far in my Christmas shopping. Somehow it always sneaks up on me and I feel like I am always trying to make up some time.

On the same topic, I have got to get my Christmas cards ordered. I have designed way too many and now I can't decide which one to order. 

Corey and I are having Lasik surgery in the next couple of weeks. I have always wanted to have it done, but now am getting a little nervous. The thought of something coming at my eye is just not too pleasant. However, we have had to wear our dang glasses for past week, I hate glasses. Like really hate them. This has been a LONG week and I won't miss them at all.

Carter is obsessed with the San Diego Chargers. He has now decided he wants everything with their logo. He even changed the screensaver to it. It just kinda cracks me up. Brendan has decided he likes the Steelers, I have no idea why. 

Hailey is asking for some Disney Priness castle that comes with the princesses for Christmas. She has never, ever been interested in anything princess before. I now I don't even know for sure what one it is. I keep asking her if that's really what she wants or not. I am sure she just saw a commercial for it. 

My boys watched some Star Wars over the holiday and the long lost obsession has been sparked around here again. I have to admit, I am kinda glad. I would much rather have that than some of the other things they have been interested in. Especially Pokemon. I just don't like that. 

 

Well, that was a bunch about nothing. Now I should go do something productive, like some online Christmas shopping, or maybe I will just design another Christmas card.

Thanksgiving looked like this...

This year we spent Thanksgiving weekend with my parents. My family is pretty spread out so not everyone could make it, we missed my sister, younger brother, and their families, but we managed to have a pretty good time with my older brother, his wife and their cute boys.

My dad always cooks an amazing meal, but I realized too late that I didn't take a single picture of us enjoying it. The only thing that was documented was the dirty tablecloth left behind. (Too bad the mess was made by my brother and his wife Connie, we can't even blame the kids. Remind me that if I have them to dinner to give them some extra napkins)

We did spend some time playing outside. It was a nice day and the kids took advantage of it.

I guess you can't ride the kettle cars without making faces. They are just so much fun, I guess you just can't help it.

Aunt Connie is always fun to play with too.

What's Thanksgiving without a little football?

And of course, desserts were enjoyed. Connie and Corey both made some delicious pies, but my favorite is always pumpkin cake that my mom makes for me. Just for me, I know.

My mom and I did a little shopping, but we didn't venture out until Saturday after the craziness died down. 

We ended the weekend with a drive to see some Christmas lights and then went for ice cream.

The girls especially loved it. However, Emery probably would have been content to just do this all weekend...

 She doesn't let her Grandpa out of her sight and has already asked for him at least 100 times since we left.

The weekend seemed to go by way too fast, but we really had a great Thanksgiving weekend and are thankful for such great family to spend it with.

My Favorites on Friday

Just because these two are so funny together

Last week they had one more day off from school than the older boys did and without them around to bug them they kept each other company all day. I have no idea what they were doing, but they were doing it for quite awhile and it's looks like fun. Whatever it takes!!

"Papa"

This picture is not a great picture, but it says so much. When Hailey was little she was a mama's girl, to the extreme. All my kids (well all the grand kids, neighbor kids, stranger's kids, etc,) love my dad, but Hailey was a little harder to win over. One visit this is how he did it. She wanted to sit on that cooler they brought by the front window and look outside. He was the one willing to do it. I think this was a turning point for her and things couldn't be more different now, she loves her "papa", he is probably her favorite person. 

That's my dad though, whatever it takes he will do it. When we visit he takes care of the kids, cooks the meals, everything we need. And we love him for it.

Today is his birthday and even though we can't be with him, we are thinking of him and hope his day is great. Maybe we will even bring out a cooler and watch the world go by in honor of him today.

One thing to check off the list

Over the long weekend, I didn't have much that I wanted to get done, except to bribe, plead, or maybe force, my kids into taking pictures to get some kind of shot for a Christmas card. I just didn't have it in me to do family pictures this year so I wanted to at least get a picture of them. I try to talk it up and prepare myself  to not get stressed out, but I don't think that ever works. We did manage to get a few shots out of the 100+ that were taken, but it was a lot of work.

These shots pretty much sum up the morning

 We spent a lot of time just trying to get Emery in the same shot with everybody else.

 Or we tried putting her somewhere she couldn't escape which did not make her very happy

 And obviously, she is not always the problem

It's a good thing she's cute (especially with her new hairdo), that will probably save her until the next time I talk myself into attempting pictures again.