Aunt Sheryl always brings gifts for the kids. Today they got Easter baskets and toys—Owen got a Lego set which he had to put together immediately! 🙂
Category Archives: Holidays
Friendly Easter Egg Hunt
Friends invited us to their community Easter Egg Hunt today. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite Easter-y weather—it was 45 degrees and rainy! 🙁 But, the kids still had fun! The little kids and big kids each had their own side to search on, so I went with Katie and Tom went with Owen.
Valentine’s Gifts
Katie got a Keurig for her kitchen so she can make coffee for daddy…
And Owen got a Valentine’s Lego set and home-printed cards for his favorite iPad game (which we cut out and laminated). If you can believe it, the cards were his favorite thing and he forgot all about the Legos for an entire day!
Black Tie Tribute to Wounded Warriors
Tom got invited to attend the annual AFCEA NOVA Black Tie Tribute to Wounded Warriors Valentine’s Ball so we made a date night of it!
It was a nice night—free dinner! drinks! dancing! prizes!—but I was freezing almost the whole time! The welcome reception was held right off the lobby so with the front doors constantly opening it was literally freezing in there—especially since I was wearing a summer dress and sandals with bare feet (my black tie formalwear is very limited). (It was supposed to be the coldest night of the year and it felt like it!) The ballroom was a bit warmer but heaven forbid you had to go back out to use the restroom!
They also had a station for free photos, but ours didn’t turn out that great—the photo printer wasn’t the best quality—but it’s a photo!
The dinner was actually quite tasty for hotel food, and the dessert was gorgeous…and delicious!
Our table only had one other couple, and we had a very enjoyable time visiting with them. This was their fourth time attending so they let us “win” the centerpiece (flowers and balloons) and then they actually even gave us one of their gift certificate door prizes they won! They had dancing after dinner so we got to dance to a few songs (which was good since we didn’t get any dances at the recent ball).
There was a photographer there taking TONS of pictures—including at least 3-4 of us specifically—so I can’t wait to see (and post) those.
Balloons on the way home!
Valentine’s bag…with fangs!
It’s hard to see, but he made a vampire heart…with fangs!
Another successful birthday sleepover!
Owen wanted another summer birthday pool party, so like last year, we had a sleepover with two friends for his birthday. I’m not sure who was more excited—Owen or Katie. She did pretty good overall but didn’t understand why the boys didn’t want to go play with her instead of playing with Owen. (That said, she did get to play with them most of the time.)
We had pizza for dinner, then they all played downstairs (including Katie), and then it was time for Pie face!
Ice cream! Poor Colton (in black) doesn’t like chocolate so didn’t want the ice cream or brownie…so had an ice pop.
Attempting to play a new video game. It wasn’t quite working, so…
We watched a movie. Awwwww.
Of course, Katie was right in there, too.
Owen: “My bros!”
iPad time
Spying on them.
We put them to bed at 9:30 and they wanted to read a book so we told them lights out at 10. I happened to be watching on the monitor when they turned the lights out at 9:45. We thought it was too easy…and we were right. They were gabbing LOUDLY for the next hour. The last 20 minutes or so, Tom and I took turns going in to tell them to quiet down and go to bed. The last time Tom went in he warned them that they would not get donuts in the morning if he had to come in again. Then they were finally quiet. 🙂
Tom said they were all up at Owen’s usual time (6:30!) so they were back at Xbox and Tom went to get donuts.
The kids left by 10:30. Owen had a great time and we were glad to have our relatively quiet house back.
Happy 7th Birthday, Owen!
I wasn’t able to find a cool birthday shirt and forgot about buying a pin or anything, so I just printed out a sticker for him!
I let him open one present before school—a Lego birthday cake.
Of course, building began immediately.
He finished it before he left for school but it was really close and we didn’t have time to get a picture of him with it…so this is from Thursday morning:
When he got home we quick Skyped with Gramma Jean and Grandpa David (in Florida) and Grannie and Papa so everyone could sing Happy Birthday and he could open their presents. Then it was off to the Lego store for the monthly mini build which he completed in under three minutes:
5:16pm
Katie playing while Owen builds:
5:19pm
He bought a Minecraft Lego set that was on clearance with some of his birthday money.
And then it was off to Red Robin for dinner (his choice)…where he got surprised with a song and a sundae!
Then we stopped at Ikea to get Katie’s new nightlight and then home so Owen could Skype with Uncle Rob and open our gifts. He loved everything (a birthday Dr. Seuss book, a book of pirate mazes, a shooting/target set, and some perler beads and boards), but took the Minecraft book to bed with him. 🙂
I think he had a good day. 🙂
WANTED: The Grinch
This came home from school today.
TRANSLATION:
WANTED: The Grinch has
a dog Max. He is green. He acts mean. He stole Christmas.
He has green fur and he is mean he is not nice.
He does not like Christmas. I am looking for him because
he is mean. He has stinky breath.
If you see him please call Owen at school 800-555-1000.
All that’s left of Christmas at our house…
Though it will stay up a bit longer since it’s technically winter-themed stuff and not just Christmas. 🙂
Owen’s Ramadan lantern
They studied all the holidays and did art projects for most of them. It came home days ago but we’re just getting a picture today.
Legos with Uncle Rob
Our snowflake ornaments up close!
These are the snowflake ornaments we all painted at Owen’s school before Christmas.
The last Christmas Lego set!
Owen got this mini set as a present so we had to hurry and build it so we could put it away with all the Christmas stuff!
2016 Priorities
There’s always lots of resolution-type lists published on NYE. This is the best one I’ve found. 🙂
Early New Year’s Eve
We went to our friends’ house for dinner and a football game. The kids watched an early NYE countdown and had some sparkling grape juice (which none of them liked).
Katie playing with her new stuff.
Sofia/Barbie Supergirl
Flying around the house.
Watching a movie in her new sleeping bag…with her old backpack, of course.
Putting all her new princesses in her new dollhouse.
You’ll notice two of the princesses are “wearing Crocs” — she hung the Croc keychain on their heads. 🙂
Our first trip to the ER!
Why not have it be Christmas Day? 🙂
So last night, Owen was being Owen and dove into the big beanbag in the living room, but then…rolled off? fell off?…and somehow landed wrong on his arm. Tom missed it, I missed it, and Uncle Rob barely saw it so we’re not entire sure what happened. All we know is that he was complaining that it really hurt. Tom looked at it and moved it around and there wasn’t any screaming so we were pretty sure it wasn’t broken. So we iced it and gave him some Advil. Of course, Owen being Owen, he continued playing around and bumping it and saying it hurt, so we made him sit still in the chair. He seemed to be fine overall and making cookies for Santa took his mind off it so we didn’t think much else about it.
So this morning we opened presents and he still hadn’t mentioned it. I had honestly forgotten about it. But then he was trying to put some Legos together—and was complaining that he couldn’t because his hand hurt. Hoo boy. Tom tried to move it around some and it seemed more painful than it had last night, so we figured since he has a high threshold for pain it must REALLY hurt, so we decided to have Tom take him to the ER.
Thankfully they were the only ones there and the whole thing went very quickly. But he had taken his new Minecraft characters just in case. 🙂
Apparently when you visit the ER on Christmas you get to pick a toy!
He picked this for Katie! Awww!
And??? It wasn’t broken. Just a sprain with some bruising that Motrin should help. PHEW!
Christmas Day
My new Michigan State tee from Grannie and Papa (since I don’t have one that fits anymore)!
Our Princess Sofia!
“I have an amulet!”
Anna/Sofia lining up all her princesses in her dollhouse.
Maggie loving her squeaky lobster!
Christmas Morning!
Santa was here!
“It says Barbie Dreamhouse!” (Every time she sees Barbie she thinks it says Barbie Dreamhouse since that’s a show she watches on Netflix.
Santa knew Katie liked Sofia the First and brought her a crown (and amulet and gown, which you will see later)!
“It’s a tutu!!! With a Michigan State helmet!!!”
“Look at all the new princesses!”
“Anna! Now I have Anna and Elsa!”
Grannie knew she liked Sofia, too!
As he was starting to open it, “Look! Two dice!” And then was amazed to see ALL the dice!
She does this with every piece of clothing. 🙂
Opening a family gift from Santa!
Done at at 8am on the dot! (But then we realized we hadn’t done stockings!)
Maggie REALLY enjoying a bully stick from her stocking!
A cutie amidst the mess.
Christmas Eve!
Getting ready to bake cookies for Santa!
Fresh-baked cookies and a Christmas shooter (vanilla egg nog) for Santa!
Owen wanted to put his new Lego creation out for Santa.
Christmas jammies and Santa hats…
Along with lots of outtakes!
One good family picture out of about 15 attempts!
Uncle Grob!
And then a ticklefest ensued.
Christmas movie day!
A Charlie Brown Christmas (and then Frosty the Snowman)
Arthur Christmas
Elf
How do they look SO young just one short year ago?!
Through the years with Christmas Bear
This ornament has been around a loooong time… It started on Grauntie Marge’s tree in Grayling.
I’m guessing this was 1974, as I wouldn’t have been standing at three months. 🙂
2009 – Troy, MI
2010 – Troy, MI
2011 – Jacksonville, NC
2012 – Jacksonville, NC
2013 – Jacksonville, NC
(She LOVED the bear!!! And somehow I missed a pic with Owen?!)
2014 – Lorton, VA
(Somehow I completely missed both of them!)
2015 – Lorton, VA
They love their new hats!
And sharing them, too!
We Skyped with Gramma Jean and Grandpa David today to have the kids open their presents! They loved everything, but the hats seemed to be the big hit!
Kidless Adulting Party Time!
Not to toot my own horn, LOL, but I thought I looked damn good and I felt amazing in my $20 size 14 dress. 🙂
Everyone I saw at the party that I knew (a small handful of the 40-odd people) told me I looked amazing. I honestly felt like a fairy princess and didn’t want the night to end. I can’t remember a time—EVER—when I’ve felt that good about myself and/or how I looked. Not even at my wedding (though that was an awesome day!).
I see the dress on a hanger and think “Man that looks small. There’s no way I fit into that.” But I obviously did. And I killed it. 🙂 (And I still have about 40-50 more pounds to go! I cannot even FATHOM that.)
Also tonight? Wearing a winter coat I last wore…in high school. Yes, I’ve kept it for 24 years because it was an awesome coat and dammit I was going to fit into it again someday!
Promise them candy and look what cute faces you get.
And the comparison photo from 2012!
This gets me excited for two reasons.
Three if you count that it means a kidless night out at a holiday party.
If you can’t guess the two reasons, it’s 1) size 14 and 2) a good deal!
The backstory? I needed something to wear for a holiday party. I had NOTHING holiday-ish in my closet at all. No dress slacks, no khakis, no skirts, no dressy sweaters even. I had one dress that would have been okay, but I kind of wanted something new that was a bit more holiday-party-appropriate. So I went shopping at Ross and was looking at 16s. 16s!!! (I now wear size 16 jeans so thought a dress would be the same.) I haven’t bought a size 16 dress in…since maybe high school? So I picked four and tried them all on—and they all fit. Wait. What? I’m used to maybe one thing fitting and hoping it doesn’t look awful, LOL. So I was able to pick the one Iiked the best. And it was on clearance! So imagine my surprise when I got home and realized it was a 14! Holy crap! I never would have looked at the size 14 section! 🙂
2015 Videos from Santa!
We got these from Santa about a week or so ago. The kids were very excited to watch them! Do you think they both made the naughty or nice list? The kids LOVE these videos SO much and get SO excited about them it’s worth the $12 I pay to make them. 🙂
Owen – Secret Places
Katie – Tour the Post Office
And surprise! Tonight we got these two new videos! Uncle Rob and daddy were able to watch along with us!
Owen – Movie Star
Katie – Elf House
The last day of the year is Pajama Day!
And of course Katie didn’t want to wear PJs on the one day she technically could…
Christmas treat success!
Rolos were the key! And I added red sprinkles! Most of these are going to Owen’s teacher. 🙂
