I can be a cool mom too!

What a crazy week! I feel like I say that with a big sigh every Sunday morning. Grateful that I survived and the house is still standing! I had high hopes for this past week though. I thought, I'm 25 now! I have been a mom for almost 6 years! I got this under complete and total control! I can do this! BAH HA HA!!!**why did I speak so soon?!!!Monday Tate was up all morning crying and sad from teething....and then comes the throw up. Monday night Andy made it home just in time for Aubrey to go to Cheer! She loves Cheer! Andy finally caved and bought her the $20 pom poms!

Since Aubreys coat got stolen Andy picked out a new coat for her. BRIGHT, BLUE, AND PUFFY!

Tuesday morning.. I caved and cut Calebs hair! Well, I took him to get it cut.

Tuesday morning after we got back from the store Ainsley threw up. I said...oh no. Oh no! We are not doing this again. I loaded the kids back into the car and into Caleb's school where everyone got the H1N1 shot. That is the only shot we haven't had....please let the sickness of winter pass! WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH!

Caleb got his Karate Uniform!! He loves Karate and can tell you all about it if you call!

Tate was so sick all day and for the past 2 days....his 2nd tooth is coming! He was so happy to play peak-a-boo though!

Thursday Aubrey and Caleb were playing after school. After a scream and lots of crying Aubrey revealed a bloody arm. She had a big long deap gash...
Oh, a happy note. I had Parent Teacher Conference with Aubrey's teacher, reading therapist, and speech therapist Thursday morning at 7:30. It went really well. Also, on Thursday Aubrey started her first session of Speech Therapy at Children's Mercy Hospital!!! She did great! We got to watch her through a window/mirror. It was a neat experience to get to watch her...I just wish the room was bigger then 8x8. It was cramped with my 3 kids, 2 other moms, and another child for an entire hour. But way to GO AUBREY!!

Friday morning...not a happy camper! She did show off her cut before being dragged to the car! After dropping Aubrey off at school and stopping by the store I drove Andy to the airport. There was a debate on how to get home. Andy told me to take 29N. We said goodbye, Ainsley cried, and the snow started coming down thicker and faster! I took 29N and ended up in St. Joseph, in my pj's, no shoes, and so lost!!! An hour and a half later we finally made it home and I unloaded everyone out of the car only to hear air leaking for my back tire! I got dress, dress the kids, and headed back out but the tire was flat! I do not know how to change a tire. Did not know where the spare was. Didn't have any of those tool things. And the snow was coming down like crazy. Luckily my neighbor had just gotten home from Florida and he pumped my tire back up so I could make it to Walmart. We'll when I got to walmart my tire was completely flat! They told me it was going to be a 3 hour wait. 3 HOURS WITH CALEB, AINSLEY, AND A SICK TATE! After a plea, a pretty please, and a hyper Caleb they said they would see what they could do but could make no promises. 30 minutes later I was on my way home, new tire, and oh so happy!!! THANK YOU TIRE GUYS! So, as you might be able to tell....this was not a good start to my weekend alone.

The roads were bad and I figured with no 4Wheel Drive my poor little van had been through enough so I wasn't able to take Caleb to school. I hid their shoes so they wouldn't go outside...no worries. They just borrowed mine and Andys.

10 minutes later I got upset and hid all the shoes...or so I thought. They found Andy's shoes outside under the Gazeebo! Ainsley decided she didn't need shoes! They lasted 2 seconds. Because of the snow our play group and "mom's movie" night was canceled! The kids were so sad so we had a gator golf tournament, played hide and seek, and ate taco's. It was a nice night. It is nice to be the "cool awesome mom" every once in a while! No homework, No green beans, and No "did you do that?" just love, laughing, and tickling!

Wiped out from loving mom too much!!!

Silence at night is rare but wonderful!

Shhhhh! With the kids sound asleep by 6:15 I held Tate and watched Love Happens. Bawled the entire time! Literally Bawled!

Saturday Morning 5:30am! Morning crashers...I really wanted to sleep in!

Saturday morning at 9:30 we headed to Home Depot for the Monthly kid club! Of course, I had to turn around half way there because I had forgotten to bring the CLUB aprons! Once inside Ainsley, got right to it!

Caleb geared and ready!

Aubrey was so excited that Marcello was there that she didn't want to make a car display.

Ainsley loved loved loved it!

Marcello, Aubrey, Malcolm, Makia, and Caleb...Ainsley had had enough and didn't want to take a picture. We were so happy to have the Nash family join us!

After home depot The Nash family joined us back at the house for lunch and playing!

Yes, that is a frozen pizza and a pancake/sausage on a stick. I am the cool mom this weekend remember?!! I did make Ainsley take a nap until the Watts family showed up. We had a fun play group and then....... dun dun dun............. ALEC'S party! We took Caleb's friend Max with us so his parents could go to the Saturday night Fireside. Max, Caleb, and Alec love hanging out and it is fun to see them pretend and rough house!

This party has been talked about for weeks. Non-stop, everyday, and all day! The kids love playing with Alec and love swimming. After pizza, the Happy Birthday song in English and Russian, cake, and strawberries we went swimming!!! Ainsley pointed to the deep end, I said no, and then she jumped in!!!! After that, she was pretty scared and just walked along the outskirts of the kids play pool!

Max, Caleb, Malcolm, and Sean!

Tate loved it too! It was a fun party and the kids were tired when we got home. Well, Caleb wasn't but what's new right?!!! After singing Caleb and Max a bed time jingle we all fell asleep until Max's mom came to pick him up around 10. It was a busy and fun weekend but we missed having Andy around!

Ainsley on Sunday morning....Covered in cake, reading Elmo, and waiting for dad to come home! He made it home around 5pm. We are so glad to have him back and I am glad that the house was still standing!!!

Important things to remember:
1.Caleb never comes home from school with his shirt on right. It is always backwards?! Weird boy!
2.Ainsley eats non-stop. I think she eats more then my brother Spencer right after a weightlifting meet!
3. The buddy system is in full affect. Every 5 minutes I yell for Caleb and ask what he is doing. If he says "Nothing" I need to RUN FAST and locate him. Because he is always doing something and when he says "Nothing" its always something HE knows he shouldn't be doing.

Something oh so funny:
While at Walmart my kids always head strait to the big $45 Valentines day Bears. Caleb grabbed one and I said, "Put that honkin' bear back!"
He looked really confused and asked, "Mom. How does the bear honk? The bear honks!!!!"
Everyone around laughed, including me. Poor choice of words.Pictured above: Matt, Jack, Ella, and Andy!
Congrats to Nate and Lia!!!

**A big super thanks to MY Grandma for the awesome valentines day/birthday package!!! I love having a cute watch and all the other items for me and the kids!!
**a BIG congrats to my mom on her 2 new callings!!!!! YAHOO!

The last week of January...

Can we survive!!!???!!!Tate's hair cut!!!! What a handsome stud!

Ainsley.
Dressed herself to go to cheerleading. She was very sad to find out only Aubrey got to go.

Dressed and ready for Cheerleading!

She learned a cheer to a Miley Cyrus song. She loves cheerleading and practices everyday!

Tuesday KARATE!!! I signed Caleb up for Karate with his friend Malcolm.
It was pretty intense.
*not pictured...earlier that day my van battery died for the 2 time this week. My dirty van had to be pushed out of car line by 2 teachers, Amanda, and Constantine! After a jump start we were geared and ready for Karate!

After Karate nothing can heal a swollen eye like a bowl of cereal and an orange ribbon!

Tate can finally reach his toes and hold them. He never lets go!

Aubrey's 100 day of school breakdown. She doesn't like school and getting her to go these past few days has been horrible. She is very creative and caring but struggling with the daily homework. She loves pe, music, and her friends!

January 28th...
THE BIG 25!
What does 25 mean to me....
For $25 I can get half a tank of gas
For 25 cent Caleb can get a gum ball at Walmart.
For 25 minutes every afternoon I have to wait in the car line at Caleb's school.
Aproximately 25 days a year I get to sleep in more then 4 hour increments
$25 is how much I spend on formula a week
I am finally 25!! 25 with 4 kids sounds a lot better then 24 with 4 kids right?!
I should feel older, wiser, and wonderful. Right?!
Well...I do. 25 is going to be great!
We spent Thursday morning preparing for a brunch! 6 mom's and 18 kids under the age of 5!
2 surprise cakes, a dozen donuts, flowers, and a present the size of Caleb!
It was just a great day, probably the best birthday.
And even though I still haven't done the college thing, still cant cook a week of meals without a fire starting in the oven, or go an entire day without a disaster....life is good and with success coming in all different forms mine is simple my children and that is okay.Tate's 2nd bath. I have decided that Tate deserved a bath. He loves the shower but he also loves the bath!!!Since Tate took a bath Ainsley and Caleb got to too. You would never know because she wont let me do her hair and she insists on dressing herself....she has a kitty cat sleeper underneath her elmo sweats.

Tate's first tooth!!!!
Saturday, January 30th, 2010!!!
Everyone was very very excited! Tate had a slight fever so he spent part of the morning reading with dad!Aubrey spent almost all of Saturday tired. I guess having a "mom and daughter" night out should have ended a little earlier. It was lots of fun to have her with me at my volleyball tournament and it was fun to see her play and make friends with all of the other little girls!

Church...we made it on time!!! Andy had to work so "operation hustle" was in full swing!!!

Tate is so close to crawling....so so very close. He finally lifted up his stomach and did a push up!!!! He has been a little out of shorts the past 3 days because he's teething but he is still wonderful and always fun to entertain!!!

What a week. Onto February!!!!!!
About the 365 blog...
On an awesome note...this picture a day thing is very therapeutic. Instead of getting upset right away I take a picture. By the time I take the picture, whatever happened really isn't so bad!! I didn't even miss a day in January. Hopefully, I can keep it up. It really is fun!

Where have I been?
January 4th-January 17th
2010

Well, 2 weeks out of school for Christmas Break, followed by a week of snow days, and followed by 3 days off of school for parent teacher conference can really take a toll on a mom! Include a major endless snow storm, freezing negative weather, and ear infections...can it get worse? Hold that thought*** our CRAPY, I want to run over with my van, Lap Top started on fire. All nice right?
Since it was so crazy (especially with Andy home from work sick and a toddlers ear infection) I took 3 days off from doing laundry. What do you think happens? When you finally start a load of laundry it just happens that you have 6 inches of frozen ice in your pipe that leads to your washing machine overflowing with so much water that it leaks out the back by the dryer, down the outside of the house, and into the basement windows...also leading the water to go down into the basement causing an indoor rain storm through your ceiling light fixtures. ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!

But hey! Lets bypass the crazy and start happy!

What do you do when your daughter is all decked out and ready for church only to find out that due to the really bad weather church is canceled for the second week in a row?You spend the day pretending!!!

First day back to school after Christmas break! Yahoo! Too bad the rest of the week school was canceled because of snow and negative weather.
Isn't it funny how skinny jeans are even too baggy on Aubrey?!!

Caleb has written many notes to Aunt Steffaney...I was beyond excited that he wrote his name and spelled it right!!! Go Caleb!!! He went on to draw outer space!!

This is what an Ainsley looks like with an ear infection. So sad:(
With Ainsleys ear infection and Andy's flu...it was a sick, sleepless, and very sad couple of days!!
I would like to say that I really try to brush and do Ainsley hair. It usually takes 30 minutes, 5 attempts and a lot of chasing...it still ends up blah!

But, Lego's cheer up all sadness. Maybe the fact that they are AUBREY'S lego's makes playing with them all that more enjoyable!

My friend aka "Malcolms Mom", "Mrs. Nash", or "Amanda" told me that she lets her kids have CRAFT TIME. She explained that craft time was when she throws crayons, markers, scissors, and multiple pieces of paper around and let them have at it. I thought... I can be a good mom too. I can do Craft Time. I wanted to take a picture of how well it was going...

It seriously went like this. Okay guys... 1....2....3 at that point he took the scissors from the paper to Ainsley hair!!!!!

Ainsley had no idea that a VERY LARGE chunk of hair was missing from the back of her head! Caleb knew right away he was in big dodo!!!
I would like to thank Amanda for her "CRAFT TIME" idea!

What can I do to entertain Caleb quietly during "nap time?" Creative Play!!!

Caleb thinks it his personal job to pick up Tate. He weighs 20 pounds...what a chunk!!

During the 3rd snow day...I was out of ideas to entertain the kids. No worries....the kids tore apart Caleb's room and made a slide out of the bed. Right after I had cleaned his room and made his bed.

During the process of "bed slide" Aubrey got hit by the bunk bed ladder. Result...swollen snowzer!

After a very long day it is always nice to see the soft peaceful side of a "Terrible Two!"Tate loves spending quality time with Andy while he is sick!!

During the long week off of school we had The Marinov Family over family Movie night!! We have a lot of fun hanging out with them. We introduced them to their very first Milk Shakes!! They were a bit skeptical and nervous about adding candy bars and milk to the ice cream I had in the blender but I think they really liked them!!!

Everyone wants to sit by Alec! They really loved Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

I told Ainsley that we should probably go and take a nap. I went and put Tate in his crib and hurried back to where I left Ainsley. She was gone...I went to her room and she had already gotten in bed and fallen asleep.

We announced to Ainsley that Caleb's friend Alec was coming over to play because Elena had her baby! She insisted her hair be curled, bow in, and clean matching clothes.

Caleb got a hold of Andy's brand new bottle of hair product. That's the entire bottle.

Ainsley has been putting her shoes on all by herself!!

Tate loves to lean and reach!

I finally cut Ainsley hair. It was so sad but she couldn't walk around with a big chunk missing in the back forever!!! She sat pretty still and it turned out okay!

When mom says no what do you do? While she is bathing Tate you put on your own shoes and go outside in the dark. Funny how your kids can so quickly get shoes on all of a sudden!

Tate refused to keep his pants and socks on. He will kick and kick until he is naked!! My solution is THE SACK!!! These things are awesome!

Caleb...gross...ouch...oh no!!! He fell "accidentally" into entry way table. Result was a lot of tears, screams, blood, and a swollen lip. So sad!

Ainsley hates nursery. She hyperventilated for 10 minutes, then they give her back to us, and she continued to cry all through Sunday school, until we finally gave up and brought her home. She cried all the way home, at home for 5 minutes, and then every time I even mentioned nursery the rest of that day. Oh boy! This has been going on for weeks. Poor Ainsley!

Included in these 2 weeks are 4 play groups, 2 family nights, a successful 45 minute FHE (lesson included), and a fun family dinner at the Marinov house!

The rest of the month Continues below....

Saturday, January 16th- Saturday, January 23rd

Playgroups, Party's, Destruction, and Lunch with Dad.
Aubrey wants to teach and show Tate everything. While Aubrey was waiting (patiently) to attend a friend's Hello Kitty party she decided to entertain Tate.
I took the girls to the Hello Kitty party and Andy stayed home with the boys + Alec. They watched Night at the Museum and played Fireman while Andy observed the cooking of the ribs. We had a fun day and when we dropped Alec off at home we got to see his new baby brother Ryan and leave them with a yummy dinner/desert!

We wont laugh...Yes, his pants are way to small, his shirt is way, way, way too short, and he now has to wear 12 month clothes. But...did you notice? He has mastered the lean!!!!!

I cant return her so I mine as well feed her!!! I am not sure how I will survive her "terrible two's" I am just so thankful she is finally feeling better!

Me along with another friend threw Elena a baby shower. With cars lined up and down the street, 8 moms, 18 kids, catered BBQ, and a "new born 2 weeks early" baby boy. It was the funnest party ever!! Jungle theme, fun decorations, and a clean house...what could be more fun. Since Andy had to work....a big shout out to Constantine and Levi for "supervising" the children (all 18 kids were under the age of 6). They were mighty grateful for KungFu Panda and the air hockey table!! We did let them come up for air to enjoy the awesome BBQ and treats!!

Tate enjoyed all the excitement of the baby shower.

Aubrey loves NO SNOW. She desperately was willing to tread the "gross" mud to go swing.

Tate loves to hold his toes.

Tate is such a good brother...always willing to play pretend. Even if that means headband, necklaces, and lip gloss.

A week of destruction:
Monday: Caleb took an orange crayon to his furniture and bedroom walls
Tuesday: Caleb and Ainsley emptied out the cleaning supplies all over Calebs bedroom carpet and furniture
Wednesday: Caleb colored all over his furniture with a glue stick.
Thursday: He took every single newly hung and ironed piece of clothing off the hangers on onto a crunched pile in my bedroom closet
"IS THEIR NO END TO HIS MADNESS!"
So, I think...hum, before I completely loose my mind what can I do. Time out is clearly not working and I spend many HOURS during the day playing with him.
Then it hit me!!! HOMEWORK!!

Friday morning after we dropped Aubrey off at school and vacuumed/cleaned out the van we went strait to the table. While Ainsley cut up a piece of paper Caleb did homework...cutting, gluing, spelling, matching, and coloring. Along with spelling and sounding out "sight words".

It was a very productive 45 minutes and he was excellent the rest of the day. I will continue to do this every day during the week...its just what he needs! Even if I end up piling the dirty lunch dishes on top of the dirty breakfast dishes.

I hid one of every shoe so the kids couldn't go outside in the cold and mud. I thought I was pretty smart. Clearly not! Matching means nothing to them.
*note that Ainsley dressed herself....a dress, her 4th of July shirt, and her Dora pj top.

This is what a Teething Tate looks like. He is so good but a little bit sad at times. Chewing constantly on everything!

When I picked Caleb up from school he was excited to drive to meet Grandma. It was his turn for special time with Grandpa and Grandma! When I handed him over to Marlene I had NO idea he was covered from head to toe in paint, chalk, and marker!!

Ainsleys slew of new words is a bit blunt...
go away.
I said hungry again.
again I said.
No nursery...mommy go nursery
Tater need Elmo.
No nap
Milk with Water in cup.
Also, included in the last 2 weeks.
1. Andy had fun going to lunch at Aubrey school to celebrate her "half" birthday. He finally met the much talked about Sophia and Ally and Aubrey got to show off her dad!
2. Caleb's Parent Teacher Conference!! Way to go buddy!!
3. Aubrey got accepted into a special developmental speech and reading program through Childrens Mercy Hospital. She attended her first evaluation and we are so grateful and excited for her to being the 12 week program! The therapists are wonderful and Aubrey is BEYOND excited to start!!!
4. Tate said MAMA! More then once and I have 2 witnesses along with Aubrey and Ainsley!!
5. Andy got a new calling. He is really excited to be in Young Mens again!
6. With all the snow and Andy being sick...I, Sara, shoveled the driveway. I pretty much hate snow. I was on the fence...it being so pretty and all...but any happy thoughts towards snow have now dissolved! Give me my white beaches any day!!!

We hope that the end of January can continue on calmly or at least end in a calmly manner. Aubrey will start Cheerleading on Monday, Caleb will start Karate on Tuesday and on Thursday a fun brunch is planned!


So, to all who have asked Where have I been?...
I have been a bit overwhelmed, a bit crazed, and just a tiny bit busy. But I DID SURVIVE!! It was close and I might have lost some sanity but I SURVIVED! Thankful every Friday night I have volleyball, all trouble off the week come out with my serve!!! GO OP2!

oh, a special thanks to Paul and Marlene. Caleb had a wonderful time spending the weekend with you guys. Thank you for not cutting his hair!
Also, Congrats to Spencer and Kristen...baby Ella coming soon!
and
Congrats to Seth and Karalee...baby boy coming soon!!

Happy 2010

The week of the New Year has been a busy "eye opening" week!
On Monday I dropped Aubrey off in Pittsville to spend the night with "Grandpa and Grandma" Griner. With the other 3 kids excited in the back of the van we picked up Andy and headed to Chuck-e-Cheese to meet up with Caleb's little friend Alec and his parents Constantine and Elena! How fun is Chuck-e-Cheese!!! It was crowded and so fun!!!!!
On Tuesday we had a play group!! The kids enjoyed playing from 10-2 (cookies and chicken nuggets included) and I made the mom's Salmon while we ate really good tangerines, pumpkin cheesecake bread, and mounds! Late LATE Tuesday night I hid the last 5 tangerines for myself. The kids ate ate and ate them all day and I really wanted some for Wednesday. Well, Wednesday morning during Elmo's World I started folding laundry. The kids weren't singing or laughing...I thought that was strange so I went into the room. MY TANGERINES!!! Ainsley found them and wanted them so bad that she peeled them herself!!!!
Ainsley never does anything alone...Caleb is always close by.

Early Wednesday when all the tangerines were gone it was Aubreys turn to have a play group! They loved having the Hubble girls over but Caleb felt a little left out. 10am-2pm all things girls.....and Caleb!

Tate will do WHATEVER it takes for food. So, I said "What are you doing?"

"Gotchya!"
We rung in the New Year with style. At 6:30pm we put Ainsley to bed and started our little party! Chips n' dip in the basement, while watching Sid the Science Kid, and playing 5 rounds of Candy Land. At 8:30pm we counted down...10..9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1..HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! The kids ran around and acted crazy for 60 seconds and then bed time!!!! They couldn't believe they stayed up until "midnight" and that is was finally 2010!!

January 1st we decided to start the year off with a blast! Andy shoveled part of the deck, heated up the grill, and started on the ribs!!! After they were warmed on both side I sliced them up into servings!

Please let me have some?!!!

Yum...only 3 more hours until they will be done!!!

With the house clean, the kids dressed, and dinner almost done we awaited our guests!!

Elena brought a yummy Russian desert, Constantine helped Andy grill the chicken, and Alec ran around with Caleb until the Adkin family arrived. Then the food disappeared, house filled with laughter, and with 8 kids there was definitely never a dull moment!

Saturday morning we joined our friends at Home Depot for Calender building! Aubrey loved it! She was very careful to follow instructions and make her calender look perfect!

Alec did a great job!

Caleb...oh Caleb. He liked the nails and hammer....but mostly just laughing and running around with Alec!

Sometime during the party on New Years day Caleb acquired a bruised eye.

It was lots of fun! Very organized, free, and the kids loved the aprons!Tate grabs and rolls to grab everything and anything! He is constantly chewing on his hand and is still a very content, always happy little TateR!Ainsley has started to love Lego's. She ended 2009 by saying her name for the very first time! Not meme, but actually, Ainsley!!!! This past week she has been eating like crazy so we are hoping she has gained a little bit of weight!!!!
We are so excited for all the changes 2010 will bring. New Years resolutions and the melting of snow are fresh on our minds. I am going to try to do the 365 days of pictures. It will be neat to see how quickly the kids change....andrewandsarajean365.blogspot.com/
HAPPY NEW YEARS!

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
The start of the week of Christmas .....Andy had to work on Sunday so I ventured to church with the kids by myself. Not before a major disaster. A white kitchen. Caleb was REALLY REALLY hungry!! I hoped that this wasn't a sign telling me how crazy the upcoming week was going to be.
The kids had class parties on Monday the 21st. I took Ainsley and Tate with me to Caleb's and Andy headed to Aubrey's. Lots of fun! We spent the night cleaning, playing, and we finally hung the Christmas stockings!!
Tuesday the 22nd was a day to remember!!! At 10 o'clock 4 moms and 8 little friends from Caleb's school arrived with their siblings! 12 kids, 21 cupcakes, and 3 hours of total fun! The weather was nice so the kids ran from swing set to air hockey table and back again! 12 kids all under the age of 6 getting along, laughing, and acting crazy! It was nice to get to spend time with other moms talking and laughing too!! I didn't even burn the cup cakes!
*Caleb stated "Mom. (long pause) Alec and You are my very best friends.After everyone left the kids laid down for an hour of "quiet time!" I put a pillow over my head and woke up just in time to bundle up the kids and walk 2 houses down to the Rudd Families for the neighborhood gingerbread party! 25 kids, lots of candy, and a trampoline....what could be better!

Ainsley had a lot of fun (as long as I stayed in sight).

The kids had a blast eating, jumping, and playing with all of the neighborhood kids!

Ainsley ate her gingerbread house all the way home!

TATE!!! During the gingerbread party Andy picked up Tate and took him to the doctor for his 4 month check up. It was the first doctors appointment Tate has had since his Pneumonia and we were curious to see how much weight he lost. Well...none! Not an ounce....none! He weighs in at 18 pounds 10 ounces, in the 95%!!! He is in the 60% in height!!! Very very exciting! He is so big, cute, and perfect. The doctor suggest we start him on cereal. He loves it!!!! He wants more and more and more! Now if we could get Ainsley to gain weight?! At 20 pounds Tate is catching up. The doctor suggested a lot of Mac n' Cheese, high in fat! She loves it! Also Tuesday night the snow started. It snowed and snowed and snowed. By Wednesday night it was still snowing and we were worried that our traditional yearly trip to Windsor for Christmas Eve dinner was going to be cut short.....
Nope...but we had to move it to an earlier time. Instead of 5pm dinner was at 2pm. That left little time to dress the kids up fancy, let alone do my own hair. This is a scary picture not to mention I have my first and the worst ear infection of all time!
On an awesome note...we won 4 Bernstein Bear Stuffed Animals (Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Brother Bear, and Sister Bear) and a nice book from a drawing we entered the previous week at Chick-fil-a! Yahoo!! After a yummy dinner it was time for the main event!! While Grandpa Griner read the story of the Nativity from the Bible the kids acted it out! Aubrey was Mary, Caleb was Joseph, Ainsley was a sheep (she wanted so badly to be a pig), and Tate was a sheep.

After a couple of Christmas songs it was time to open presents! Ainsley loved her Elmo toy from Grandma and Grandpa!! She also got a little cheerleader from Aunt Judy!

Aubrey got the loudest disc man ever from Aunt Judy!!! So loud but she loved it! She also got the much desired play-doh hamburger maker from Grandma and Grandpa Griner! Caleb got a Robot that walks, turns, and talks from Aunt Judy, and a Nerf Dart Gun from Grandpa and Grandpa Griner!

Tate was pretty wiped out!

Christmas Eve night we made it home during the terrible snow fall just in time for Santa to clean up and get things ready! Finishing Ainsley Elmo blanket was tough but successful! We were in bed by midnight and I got my Christmas Present....a "SILENT NIGHT." It was magical, glorious, and wonderful! Thanks to Andy I slept uninterrupted from 12am to 5am. I woke up to terrible snow fall but I was so excited for the kids to wake up!!! We laid there just waiting for over an hour. Laughing and Talking.....

Christmas morning!!! Ainsley had a rough night (waking up crying 2 times) but by 6:30am all smiles!! Caleb was the first one awake and then he ran in and woke up Aubrey and Ainsley!!!

A vanity! It barely made it here in time for Christmas!

Caleb loved his magnetic letter and wanted to spell things right away!!

Tate did not appreciate me waking him up! Since we have added Rice Cereal to his bottles he sleeps contently and soundly...he loves to sleep.

Even seeing the other kids excited didn't change his mind. He didn't cry or wine though.....he just endured!

Caleb loved his "remote control that controls everything he needs it to control." The train goes backward and forward! The track is great also because you can step right on the track and it doesn't unsnap. SWEET!

After the kids played with their "Santa" gifts we headed into the front room to open presents!

Presents from Great Grandpa and Grandma Ras and Great Grandpa and Grandma Grayson! Also presents from Grandma and Grandpa Clark. It was so fun to see their faces, excitement, and happiness!

We got Aubrey a "dora" house. Actually, I couldn't find the one she wanted so we got her a precious princess one. A house is a house...she was so excited!!

Andy was pretty proud of this one! It took him at least 30 minutes of searching, comparing, and examining to pick out the perfect clear nerf gun for Caleb. The darts don't stick like the other nerf gun...this one hits and destroys! Aubrey and Caleb have had fun shooting his robot, train, and the windows. I have even had fun shooting the plastic darts too!! I really like that in order for them to shoot the gun they need Andy or me to cock the gun for them (always requiring adult supervision)!!!

Ainsley...Elmo! Books! Elmo!

Christmas night. All cleaned up and loving his train!

The snow continued Christmas day and all day on the 26th. I haven't seen this much snow during this time of year in the 6 years we have lived here. Crazy!!
Caleb. Half smile. Half cry. He desperately wanted to go outside but ABSOLUTELY didn't want to get cold.

Aubrey was the most excited to go out in the snow! She ended up staying outside the longest (25minutes).

Ainsley went outside at 3:44pm and at 3:44 and a half she was crying to come back in!

Aubrey and Caleb were excited to make their way to the fence to talk to the Rudd kids! The snow was deep and it kept coming! Burrr!!

Making a snow angle is much more fun to do in the white sand at the warm beach!

Tate is trying to crawl! He tries and tries but cant get his tummy off the ground. He ends up scooting backwards! No matter what...he never misses out on the Griner Action!!!

Finally. 3 days later. The track is completed correctly!! I think I spent at least 12 full hours (spread out into 3 days) trying to figure out that track with the additional parts. So worth it...the kids love it! I think the kids will always remember this Christmas...because of the snow, the excitment, and the love.
Now onto New Years....with no school I wonder if I will survive. The tree is down, Christmas put aways, and the house is almost back to normal. The snow is still high, the air is still crispy cold, and I have plenty of back up bateries.
This Christmas I learned that sleep is magical, snow is beautiful as long as I am looking through the window, and the kids are really growing up fast. I learned that to be a mom requires mulitple skills...for example...
beautition
baker, detective
singer, arcitect
cleaner, inventor
manicurist, chauffeur
nurse, teacher
explorer, pretender
decorator, stylist
inventor, carpenter
plummer, electrician
mathematition
This past year I have learned to do all of these things, not successfully but enough to get by (slide by). Next year I do not know what I will do, how I will survivor, or what new things I will have to learn to do. I am so thankful for these many challenges. Through all the craziness, crying, and insanity I love my little Griner family. I love being a mom and I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to be Aubrey, Caleb, Ainsley, and Tate's mom!

Congrats to Steffaney who is officially in Belgium!!
Happy 24th Birthday to my brothers Seth/Spencer....we are the same age for the next month!
Congrats to Spencer and Kristen!!!

Also, Dear little sister of mine-
You may have noticed that I am wearing your sweats in the youtube videos Andy posted of the kids. I admit it with honesty. I have every intention of mailing them back to you but for now I am holding them hostage until you mail me MY COAT!!!!!!

'TILL WE MEET AGAIN!

A Griner Christmas 2009
After all….there’s no place like home.This year our yellow brick road has lead us on an incredible journey! Full of winter sickness, viruses, and the flu. Holidays, Birthday Parties, and Family Vacations. House discoveries, remodels, and “we’ll never do that again!” I would say we get closer to Oz every year!!Aubrey (5) started Kindergarten this year! She loves playing dress up, sharing a room with Ainsley, and all things “pretend”! She loves to write her name, talk all about the new things she learned in school, and she is a great friend and big sister!!Caleb (4) started afternoon Pre-school this year!!! He loves to spell, ask questions, and play! He enjoys having a little brother and I think he has passed on all of his “terrible two” tricks to Ainsley! He loves being a Sunbeam, learns quickly, and is still just as loud as ever!Ainsley (2) Oh Ainsley…she is total “terrible two” to the extreme. Into everything, cranky, but learning and talking more every day! She loves Elmo, Tater Tot (aka…little brother), dancing, and is always the first to help clean up messes as well as the first to make them!!! Who would have thought 20 pounds could drive me so crazy!!!
Tate (4 months) Call him what you like TD, Tater, or Tater Tot. He is the new addition to our little family. Born August 4th 2009 he is perfect in every way. He laughs, rarely cries, and smiles constantly! He loves to roll over, be naked, and he is a chunk!!

Andy (30) received his very first raise, spent 2 months putting together a swing set, gutted the kitchen, replaced plumbing pipes, and sold his electric guitar amp to take up his new hobby...operation home theater!
Sara (24) This year I have learned what a full term pregnancy is like…Awful!! I have learned nail polish is impossible to hide, a new oven doesn’t guarantee an edible meal, and sending a child to school fully dressed does not guarantee they come home that way!! I have learned that tickles heal the tears, hugs heal the anger, and kisses help us grow! This year I have learned that socks, lego’s, and spoons really do disappear, that ONE bed time story always turns into 3, and a clean room would last longer if I just took a picture of it. This year I have learned that as our little family grows together, loves together, and learns together we get closer to happily ever after every day! We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

St. Luke 2:14
Glory to Gold in the highest,
and on earth peace,
good will toward men.