Christmas stories, Christmas music and Christmas movies are all put away for the year.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve

The kids look forward to getting their Christmas jammies from Grandma Valerie (handmade with love) every year. This year they were excited to get new slippers too. Once we were home for the evening, the kids picked out a present to unwrap. This year it was the gifts they got for each other. They were so excited and grateful. I wish I had a video camera at that very moment. It was so sweet to watch them opening their gifts, showing gratitude, and explaining the reason they chose that special gift for each other. All this with no coaxing. My kids really are the sweetest and most tender hearted kids around.

We have a superstar and a bank robber. Gabe found the winter clothes and discovered face mask hats and insisted on wearing one. We were just headed out the door to see the trains at my Aunt and Uncle's house, Gabe had to wear the hat, I couldn't convince him otherwise. Madi new Gabe looked goofy so she had to find something to wear too....sunglasses.

Early Morning Conversation w/ Madi

Madi: Mom I want to tell you something. Mom: Go ahead. Madi: I've got if figured out. Mom: You've got what figured out? Madi: I know where pee comes from. Mom: You do, where. Madi I can't tell you - you just wouldn't get it. Mom: Try me. Madi: No, you won't get it. I know where pee comes from but I don't know where poop comes from. Mom: I bet I will, go ahead. Madi: The chocolate milk. Mom: You're absolutely right, and the water your drink too. Poop comes from the food you eat. Madi: Oh yea. One day she she just might solve all the world's problems.

The day after Thanksgiving we ALWAYS cut down a tree, no exceptions.

The morning always starts early for me. Shopping on Black Friday, I know is crazy, but I like going. I don't usually buy much of anything...it's just tradition I guess. This year my phone rang while I was wondering the isles in Roberts. It was Gabe, he had an announcement. "Mom I went pee in the potty." He was excited, but the excitement didn't turn into much, because that was the only time on Friday that he peed in the potty. Progress......right..... Anyway, Mike took Gabe rabbit hunting that morning. I'm guessing Mike didn't want him dragging his real bow through the snow, because he carried this bow. The mess on his face is M&Ms - the treat of his choosing for peeing in the potty.

Madi found a patch of ice - or maybe Gabe found it first, I don't remember. Madi turned the big patch into her "ice rink" and another small patch of ice was her "practice rink". She want's to be a figure skater or ice dancer. Gabe wasn't necessarily a fan of the ice - he apparently doesn't have very good balance and wasn't pleased when he would slip and fall.

I'm not sure what made this trip so special, I truly had a good time. Even Mike noticed the extra big smile on his face when he was looking back through the pictures. His words "I don't think I've ever smiled so much."

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A little bit of Christmas magic.

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We don't listen to Christmas music, read Christmas stories, or do anything Christmassy until after Thanksgiving. A day or two before Thanksgiving, Madi was at the pre-school and Ashley was listening to Christmas music. Madi insisted it be turned off. When Ashley asked the reason she didn't listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving she replied. "If we listened to it before Christmas, than it wouldn't be special."

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Madi and Gabe have been playing Santa Claus. They take turns being Santa or one of the reindeer. This morning as we were leaving the house, Gabe wanted to play Santa - he was Rudolph. Madi wanted to be Clarisse. She was worried that their game wouldn't work because Rudolph went with Santa's sleigh and Clarisse stayed at the North Pole. I asked her if Clarisse took care of Ms. Claus. Madi look at me like I was an idiot and she said. "I think Ms. Claus takes care of Clarisse." You can't get much past her.

Festival of Trees

Don't mind the fuzzy picture, but I couldn't resist posting a picture from the Festival of Trees. Madi started dance this year and has loved every minute of it. Dance day is probably her favorite day of the week. Madi's class danced at the Festival of Trees on Friday, November 21, 2009, the same night as the State Championship Football Game. It was a busy night; I rushed home from work, rushed to the Festival and then rushed to the football game. The girls in Madi's class are all so adorable. The girl's costumes had not come in before the Festival so they all had to wear their class uniforms, but I don't think anyone cared. When I picked Madi up after the performance, she said: "I saw Santa, Grandpa Byron, Grandma Katholyn, Uncle Curtis, Aunt Rusty, Jaden and Gabe!", all in one breath.

Best Friends

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Just Hanging Around

Fall in Idaho is limited - it doesn't seem to last long enough. I love sweater weather, the changing leaves, and the beginning of hot chocolate season.

The kids are eager to get outside and play before the weather changes to freezing.

Dance Snack

Every Tuesday, Madi has dance class. So we hurry home, change clothes, pull up hair, and have a CHEESE snack. She looks forward to dance all week long and is already wishing she was enrolled in more than one class so she could go more often.

A busy weekend

I guess you could say the weekend activities started late Thursday night with a blowout game. The kids were out late - we didn't get home until 1:00 p.m., surprising the kids were awake the entire time.

Gabe had his own little fan club. He sure is a ladies man.

This little guy is now 3. Gabe's birthday is the day before Halloween. The kids had heard about Boo at the Zoo on the radio all week and so Gabe decided that's what he wanted to do for his birthday. Boo at the Zoo and eat at a pizza restaurant. We went early on Friday to the zoo in order to avoid the crowds. The kids had a great time. Gabe of course was hilarious. He occasionally let out a roar and even screamed at the sight of some kid dressed up like a skeleton. Madi was a bit nervous at times but all in all had a great time.

The pumpkin walk had several of these picture boards. We took the kids to the pumpkin walk just after the carnival. Again, we went early to avoid the crowds. Trick-or-Treating was from 4 to 7 and we were through looking at all of the displays by 3:30.

The Halloween carnival at the school was a fun afternoon activity. Madi loved the games, but again was a bit nervous with all of the people. She's our little worrier.

The spiders in Rusty's hair were a big hit with the kids. When Gabe or Madi found one on the floor they shouted out "SPIDER EMERGENCY", and picked it up to be placed back into her hair. I was surprised Gabe would even touch the things - he's is deathly afraid of spiders, fake or real.

Here's Madi practicing her dance moves on her "stage". She's got it going on.

Sunday I took a few family photos for Jeremy and Carol.

A Hero

I love that my kids enjoy playing (and fighting) with each other - they are the best of friends. Some time ago Madi looked at Gabe across the dinner table and said "Gabe, you're a hero." So cute. Even cuter was his response - "I am not a hero, I don't have wings YET!" So sweet. I wonder when his wings will appear? Of course a post is never complete without a picture.

Gabe is such a funny kid - one of the first things people comment about when they meet him is his personality. The kids is just so darn funny. One afternoon on our way to the cabin, Gabe came across this predator call in the truck and had to try it out. He blew and blew until Madi just COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. And since Madi just couldn't taken any more of the noise, he stopped and we put the call away and again there was quiet.

Last Sunday, I went to visit my friend Chenoa and her amazing family in Swan Valley. She let me take pictures of her kids. Chenoa and Mike just finished the two and a half year pain-staking process of adopting Djeulisa and Chrisnaider. They are siblings from Haiti and they sure are cute. I'm excited to see their progress over the next few months and years. Rowan is almost 2; Djeulis is 5; and Chrisnaider is almost 9.

Spud Day

September 19, 2009,

If you live near Shelley, Idaho and have never been to Spud Day, you are definitely missing out. I think they have the best parade around and who can't resist a free baked potato with all the trimmings. The weather was a little on the hot side, but at least it didn't rain or snow.

The kids loved the parade. Gabe was excited about the big farm equipment and big trucks. Madi liked the cheerleaders and Miss Russet. The 007 demolition car you see in the picture was Madi's version of a 'brand new car'.

Horsey Rides

"Can I give you a horsey ride?" she asks Gabe. Yep, she volunteers to give her brother horsey rides. These rides crack me up. In reality Gabe wobbles from one side to the other and does some kind of crazy walk along the way.

Oops... a flat tire.