Christmas pictures

Anything good in those stocking? The kids seem to think so!




Here are the kids opening their scooters that they got! I think that they really liked them!

My Letter to Santa

I found this somewhere and thought now if I was to write a letter to Santa this is how it how probably look. I do love my job as a stay at home mom and am very blessed and thankful to have a husband that is willing to work hard and make sacrifices in order for me to be able to do so. But then there are those days when this stuff would be nice... and then I remember that I have the best job, God chose me to stay at home and help to raise the kids. And what a special gift he has given to me in each of the kids.

Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned, and cuddled my three children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than the doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground and figured out how to attach nine patches onto my daughter's girl scout sash with staples and glue gun.
I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find any more free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in my last pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like a car with fingerprintresistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter (son) doll that says "Yes, mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with one pottytrained toddler, two kids who don't fight, and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.
I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.
And please don't forget the Playdoh Travel Pack, the stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in three fluorescent colors and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet, making the Inlaws' house seem just like mine.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a styrofoam container.
If you don't mind I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family; or if my toddler didn't look so cute sneaking downstairs to eat contraband ice cream in his pajamas at midnight.
Well, Santa, the dryer in buzzing and the phone is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
Yours always . . . . . Mom
P.S. One more thing . . . you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in you.

Wow, how time flies!

I can't believe that its December already! We put up the Christmas tree last weekend and let the kids decorate it. It's not the prettiest tree but the kids had a good time doing it.
Dog was even in on the whole decorating thing. What a good family pet, to let you put on a Santa hat and take her picture. We are very lucy to have such a good dog. Even though she sometimes drives us crazy she loves the kids and they love her!

Sarah got her hair cut!!

Cathy was in town yesterday and measured Sarah's hair and it was finally long enough to cut for Locks of Love. Sarah has been wanting to get her hair cut shorter for awhile now but has been waiting until it was long enough to cut the 10-12 inches required for a Locks of Love donation. She is such a sweet little girl to want to give to other kids that need hair pieces made.
Sarah sure does look different, but mornings sure are easier with short hair!!

Cody's 5th Birthday Party

Cody is now 5 years old, oh how time flies!! That means that we have lived here in Coeur d'Alene for 5 years now! Wow!!
We had a birthday party for him last weekend. Grammy & Papa came over and we had the Lockwoods over too. The kids had a great time playing with their friends and the adults had a good time visiting.
Of course, the pinata was a big hit with the kids.

And then there's Cody trying to impress the girls again ( although its usually just this one girl in particular!)

Fall is so pretty... and so are the leaves

The kids had a great time on Sunday playing in the neighbor's leaves. It was so nice of them to rake some leaves in a pile and let the kids jump in them!! The adults had a good time visiting and watching the kids. Kyle was a bit reserved at first but soon realized that Sarah & Cody were having too good of a time not to join them! The leaves sure are pretty this time of year!

Cody's new hair cut

Cody decided that he needed a hair cut and he didn't want to wait a few more days for Aunt Cathy to come and give him a haircut! Aunt Cathy said that she'd see what she can do to fix it but Cody may end up with a military buzz cut in the end!

What the guys do for fun!

Joe & Don built this for playing Gran Turismo 4 game. The project took a few hours and then several hours were spent playing the game. Bob even took his turn at the game. Although, Don really got into it with his racing helmet and all!

Sarah's First Day of School

Sarah started first grade this past week. Joe & I are realizing that time really does go so fast!! Sarah is six, going on sixteen in so many ways! (although she hasn't asked for a cell phone yet like she did when she started kindergarten!) The boys miss her being here all day with them but they are adjusting. I started working with Cody a bit this week to do some preschool stuff like learning the alphabet and writing his name, etc. That has given us some good one on one time while Kyle takes his nap in the afternoon and Cody enjoys that.

Labor Day Weekend Camping

We went camping with Grammy(Donna), Papa (Bob), and Uncle Don over Labor Day weekend. We had a nice time, the weather was nice and the guys spent many hours shooting and target practicing with guns and bows. Don and Joe even spent some time throwing knives.



Sarah lost her very first tooth while we were out camping and she sure was excited about it! And even more excited when the tooth fairy left money the next morning!! The kids had a good time playing and riding their bikes.

The wedding :-)

We had the pleasure of going to Dan and Daniell's wedding this weekend. It turned out great lot's of laugh's and a few tear's, but hey Dad can't be expected to give away his oldest daughter with out a few tear's.
We welcome Dan into the familly and look forward to getting to know him better.

Sarah was one of the flower girl's and Cody and Kyle were ring bearers.

Heidi has spent the last couple of month's planning and organizing the wedding reception. It turned out beautiful.

Vicky was gracious enough to make another one of her incredible cakes.


Just a good picture of Cody caught by accident.

Cody and Sarah on Lorn and Cathy's trampoline.

One of those tear filled moments between Dad and Daughter.

Camping 8/19-21/05

This weekend we went camping with JC and Jennifer. Don came up Sat afternoon and stayed with us the rest of the weekend. We found a nice open little spot where the kids can play with out getting to close to the road. There is a small creek for the kid's to play in, way to cold for me.

Just a few pictures of the kids and their friends.

Cody working his magic with the ladies

now that's a cookin fire.