Another Birthday...

Another year down and another Happy Birthday to me!! This is my palindrome year as my age forward and backward is still the same age of 33. Let's hope it is a good year.

Christmas Chaos

We spent several days celebrating the Christmas season this year. Jeff was able to take a few days off which made it really fun for the kids. We were able to get in a few movies and time with Grandma and Papa which the kids loved. We started the fun festivities with Christmas Eve pre- gift opening from relatives. They loved seeing what got sent to them in the mail and got excited with each gift they opened.

After that little preview we headed over to Ken and MarGene's for the 2nd day in a row for our little family Christmas day. Ken made his yummy fried chicken and homemade ranch by request and we all enjoyed. The kids had fun being helpers in passing out the presents and this year Ken and MarGene helped the kids each buy us a present. I have to say my children cannot keep a secret and wanted to tell us what they bought. Andrew handed me my gift and said "here mama that a candle." We all got a good laugh. Never tell those two anything you want to be a secret.

After a fun filled day with Grandma and Papa we headed home to get ready for Santa to visit. The kids were super hyper and couldn't wait. We got them all dressed in their new Christmas pajamas and got them off to bed.

Megan was the first to wake at 7:30am. We heard her come out of her room to check out if Santa really came. She then scurried back to her room and waited till Andrew woke up. I don't know about you but that must show what patience she has to see the loot yet wait. At 8am we finally decided it was time to wake up Andrew and get the party started.

All I can say is tornado for what happened next. The kids went through their gifts in lightening speed and if felt like it was over before it even began. I have finally begun to realize that I need to go to Christmas spending anonymous as I always buy way to much. Every year I tell myself to cut back and every year we end up with more than we should. I've gotten some good advise from friends and family for next year so lets see if I can stick to it.

We did try and give the kids a little story about the true meaning of Christmas and what happened in the little manger on that special day. Megan is really starting to get it and feel the spirit but Andrew is still in the weeds. We'll keep working on that and try to not forget what Christmas is really about.

I've since tried cleaning up but it seems like a never ending pile of toys and garbage. I've already taken down the tree and hope to be able to get the rest sorted out to bring in the new year all nice and settled.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Here is looking to 2010 and what new and fun things are in store of us.

Winter Break and already bored

We have barely made it two days of winter break and my kids are already bored. They have spent a bunch of time playing with their sleeping bags and inventing new things. There newest invention is sleeping bag surfing. They take their sleeping bags and stuff them with pillows and blankets then use them as slippery bags to slide down the 10 steps of stairs we have. They can spend hours at the stairs going up and down giggling. Then of course one of them gets irritated at the other and the game goes down hill. They usually need a break to regroup but find their way back to the stairs for another round. I'm starting to get worried for the stairs.

Our Next Photographer??

So one day I noticed my camera was missing from it's storage spot. Andrew has an obsession with cameras so it was the first place I looked and of course found it right away. Andrew had smuggled it into his room to practice his mad skills with a camera.

He took something like 30 or more pictures of his room and self. I got the best laugh at looking at what he took. Not sure he really knew what he was doing but it was sure funny to see the results. I guess it runs in the genes :}

Winter Concert

It is that time for Megan's 2nd Grade concert at school. This year it was a Winter Concert where they had 5 songs to perform.

Megan got a special part in one of the songs to play the glockenspiel. It has been great fun listening to Megan try to pronounce her instrument. She was super cute and had a ton of fun. She loves being in the spot light and enjoys every minute of performing with confidence. It is cute to see how much she grows each year.

Happy Birthday Daddy

I'd like to wish my Rebel of a Dad a big Happy Birthday. He says he doesn't have them anymore but as long as I'm around I'm gonna count 'em. I hope you go out and do something fun and exciting.

Puttin' Up the Ol' Tree

We finally got around to getting the tree put up. The kids were so excited they couldn't even wait to get started. They loved decorating the tree. I'd set out a few ornaments and they'd each come over to pick the one they liked the best out of the bunch.

They did a really good job of taking turns and just enjoying the fun. The hardest part was waiting for me to get the ornaments out of their boxes for them to choose from. Megan even decided to add some of her own decorations by making some cute little paper snow flakes to add. Now the biggest challenge is getting them to leave the poor tree alone. Everyday they go over and play with the ornaments. We've gotten a few broken and some I need to get some new hangers for but all in all there is just something about the Christmas tree that they just love.

Splash Down Thanksgiving 2009

For Thanksgiving day we packed in as much as we could fit in the day. We wanted to spend as much time together as we could and have fun activities as well. For the ladies our day started first thing in the morning with a 5k turkey trot.

Laurie talked me into doing the 5k run with her while MarGene and Roxanne did the 2 mile fun walk/run. I think I over estimated my abilities as the course had several steep hills and it was also raining. There were 982 racers out for the trot and it was fun to do something with just the ladies. I didn't do so well as the last hill practically killed me but at least I got out there and did it.

While we were out racing the rest of the families were home preparing for our next activity. Ken arranged for us to visit a shelter and donate sandwiches, socks, hats, and gloves. The kids and Dads stayed behind and got all the packages put together for us to give out.

The ladies came home to get a quick shower and get into our matching sweatshirts supplied by Ken and MarGene. He got each family a different color and had Tammy put a special little logo on them. They say "Splash Down Thanksgiving 2009" It sure helped keeping track of my two little ones as all I needed to do was look for the color blue.

The shelter was a fun service project to help us remember the spirit of giving thanks. It was interesting to watch the little ones and see who understood what we were there for. I think that the poor shelter didn't know what to think of our crew of 17 in their colorful sweatshirts showing up giving out little care packages. I have to say the kids did a great job for the most part and I'm so glad that they can have experiences like that to help teach them.

After the shelter we headed out to Great Wolf Lodge and their indoor water park. The kids were bursting with energy and I don't think any of us could hardly wait for the splashing fun. We got right into the water and all had a blast.

There was something for everyone to do at the water park. There were around 7 or so different slides and they ranged from kiddie ones to adult crazy ones. Megan and Kendra went on every slide that there was and went with whoever would take them. We all took turns watching the little ones while adults took their turn on the bigger attractions.

One of the favorite hot spots was the wave pool. I think we all ended up here from time to time in groups or with a solo child. No matter where you ended up you were usually around family and wet. It was so much fun and the joy on the kids faces was just cute.

We got to stay in kid cabins for the night. I didn't think to get a picture of them but the kids had a little bunk area with their own TV and it was closed off and looked like a mini log cabin. It was super cute. While some of the adults went on a food run I stayed back nursing a soar foot from the 5k and a little Megan that had a bit of a tummy ache. The next thing you know she was out cold from all the activity. Andrew was still in the mix but soon to follow.

Jeff and I had a hard time sleeping and it was just as well since we got up at 4am to hit up a Walmart for Black Friday sales. I limped my way to the store and got most everything I had on my list. We made it back to the lodge by 6:30am and everyone was still asleep. They didn't even miss us being gone. It didn't take long before the first stirrings started and soon we were all awake and ready for day 2. We packed up our stuff and headed out to the water park for the last hoorah. After a few hours Dan and his family departed and headed home for their 14 hour drive. A few hours after that Laurie and her family followed. We hit up a few last slides with Grandma and headed home as well.

It was tons of fun and felt like a whirlwind of activity but I'm sure glad that we got the chance to go. I love the memories we create each year with the VoFo family trip. When I look back at the gathering we've had it warms my heart at all the feelings that flood in from having had the chance to be apart of it. I can't wait till we gather again.

Giving Thanks

There were 27 of us gathered this year for a yummy Ken VoFo style Thanksgiving feast. We all arrived in stages thanks to good 'ol traffic but made it all the same to enjoy the food and company.

It was really nice to get together and visit. It seems like it went by in a flash. We had so much action going on. There was for sure never a dull moment. We were never in short supply on the noise level as the little ones scurried about entertaining themselves.

The kids enjoyed watching a movie, playing the Wii, a little duck duck goose, Grandma's vast toy closet, and running around inside as well as outside. They were so excited to see each other and just play as much as possible. I don't think I heard very much bickering and with 9 cousins that is a miracle.

As time slipped by we enjoyed every minute. Jeff ended up with my flu so he was a bit drained and ready to pack up to go after the meal was concluded. We ended up taking Taylor and Kendra for a girls sleepover and heading home.

The girls were really good and had a great time sleeping together. We were gearing up for more activities to come as the VoFo family gather tradition was not over yet and this was just the start of our fun.