Charlotte's Birthday

 Charlotte had a big time on her birthday this year! We had thought for awhile that everyone would be out of school on her big day since in fell on MLK day, but it ended up being used as a make-up day for snow. So, we made the best of it and had a fun morning/early afternoon doing all her favorite things! She had very definite ideas about how to spend her birthday this year and it was so fun to see exactly what she wanted to do! We were joined that weekend by Mimi & Grandad to celebrate her special day as well which made it even more exciting for her!
She woke up (early) that morning to a fun sign and lots of pink gifts! She'd been looking forward to her birthday ever since Harrison had his a month earlier -- she knew exactly what was going to happen and she was ready for her day in the spotlight! 

 

 Her first request of the day was breakfast at Ricks! We got donut holes, her favorite, and then sat and watched the cake decorating -- we were hoping to see her cake being made, but no luck! We sat there for a long time, watching them make cakes and just enjoying ourselves. Then we headed over to OC to take Grandad to have lunch with Harrison. It turned out that Matt was there that day, so she got to see her Daddy for a few minutes at lunch on her special day!

Her second request for the day came as no surprise -- she wanted a private tumbling lesson with Mr. Joe. Charlotte is crazy about tumbling (another post all in itself) and she is actually, amazingly, sort of crazy-talented at it. Our instructor has been coaching tumbling for many year and he's amazed at her talent and Charlotte loves to tumble! She asks me daily if we can go to Mr. Joes and tumble -- so we were happy to set up a private lesson for her birthday! And, he spoiled her -- we got an extra long lesson, and a tour of the office (upstairs in an old movie theater -- very cool) and some cute t-shirts for her which she is very proud of!

 After tumbling for a good hour, she was hungry! She loves chickfila and it was her one request for where to go eat for her birthday! We got there after the lunch crowd and she chowed down her favorite grilled nuggets, fruit and ice cream! 

 Since Matt was at OC that day, he picked up the big kids and brought them home. We met them there and Charlotte got to open her gifts before Mimi and Grandad had to head home. We were so so thankful that they could come to celebrate with her!!

 She was spoiled with gifts this year! She'd been asking for a Barbie car and that was her big gift! It was a nice warm day on her birthday and she was able to go out and ride in it! Such fun! She is so funny hauling around the yard in that car. :)

We came in and had tacos for dinner (her choice) and then had cake and ice cream. She is really into Max & Ruby right now and has been asking for a Max and Ruby cake for months. There isn't too much Max & Ruby party stuff out there, but I did find a few cute things, along with Madeleine's old Max & Ruby dolls which I found in the attic over Christmas and it all came together to look cute.

 As usual, Rick's did not disappoint! I found the Max and Ruby car and they created the rest. It turned out just adorable!

 She was one tired 4 year old at bedtime. I am loving this time with her right now -- she is just so cute and fun and a joy to be with (most of the time -- ha!). I really do love this age. I wish I could just bottle it up forever. She loved having "her" day and has asked me several times since then when she can have another birthday. I know that she's ready to grow, but her momma isn't ready at all!!

Happy birthday to my big 4 year old!! 

Resolutions

Now that we are into the new year, I thought I'd post about some of resolutions we've made for this year. I've never been one to sit down and make New Year's Resolutions but I always like the start of a fresh new year. I'm more likely to make changes during the year as needed. But, we do have a few goals and standards that Matt and I have set for our family that we intend to carry through this year. Most of these are things that we have already been doing for awhile -- they are not new to our family, but we are planning to continue them into this year.




*Family Bible Study. We started this last year and everyone loved it. We've made some changes this year and instead of continuing to do a book study, we are going to begin reading through the Bible with the kids this year. Matt and I are starting in Genesis and picking out verses for the kids to read and then having them read them in our study time. They love reading out loud from the Bible! So far this has been a huge success -- and we still in creation.




*Limited Technology. I will admit that one of the things that bugs me the most is kids that are on technology and tune out when someone is talking to them. Drives me nuts! If my kids are going to tune me out -- they'd better be engrossed in a book. We believe that playing cultivates imaginations. It makes them thinkers and encourages creativity. That doesn't happen when they are face down in technology. Yes, we have an IPad and a Wii and a TV with tons of channels. However, these are all limited big time. I never want to give my child a piece of technology so I can get some peace or because it's easier than actually dealing with a problem behavior. And, yes, this is tough. But, our kids have the best imaginations because we are mean and actually make them play. Ha! They play Legos and build things or craft or create these elaborate stories that involve all types of toys.




*Encourage Reading. This is a BIG one in our house. Matt and I are firm believers that reading makes lifelong learners. We want our kids to love to read -- not a problem so far. I'm going broke keeping them in books! But, Madeleine reads and rereads her books. I'll find her at night in the middle of a book just "reading my favorite part." Madeleine flies through books and Harrison is just about to finish his first chapter book by himself! Reading will help them later in life to be able to make decisions based on facts -- not just what someone else told them. Matt and I both love to read and there are piles of books around our house so our kids are probably going to be good readers just because it's what they see modeled. Reading opens so many doors for them and helps them in school -- they are both way above their required reading level (Harrison is already at a level 21!) and they are excellent spellers as well as have advanced writing skills because they model what they've read. So, yes, books rule in our house!




* Read through the Bible in a Year (for me and Matt). We are well on our way and we are doing it separately but keeping the same schedule so we can encourage each other. We are also trying to make sure that our kids see us doing this -- we want to model for them the importance of spending time with God each day. We wouldn't do this in front of other people -- never for show -- but we want our kids to see this from us. They need to know that mom and dad made it a priority to read from God's word each day and telling them just isn't the same as showing them.




*Allowances. We started this awhile back but I never really blogged about it. We give all of our kids an allowance each week -- based on age. They do have some responsibilities to earn it. They have to make their beds and pick up each day. I want them to learn to take care of what we have and not take forgranted they toys and even the beds they have. Matt works hard to provide for us and I want them to realize that and take care of what they have been given -- allowing them to make a mess and not pick it up, to me, means that they are not taking care of their toys. And, we want to teach them to take care of what they have and this begins with the small stuff.


I guess that's all for now. We've been snowed in for what seems like days. I'm so behind on my blogging and blogger is giving me fits lately! My final resolution is to start blogging again more regularly. I love being able to go back and read about what we were doing 4 or 5 years ago (or more). Life is just busy now. And, even though we try to limit outside activities, just living keeps us busy -- taking care of 3 kiddos and Matt trying to finish his dissertation in the next few weeks and working like crazy too, but that's life I guess. :)

2014

I have never been so ready to see a year roll around on the calendar as I was to see 2014. It's not that 2013 was a bad year, in fact it was a very good year, but 2014 brings the promise of some big changes for our family.


There are some day in life that are days of big change. And, May 10, 2014 is going to be one of those days for our family. We have been planning and dreaming of this day for five long years. And, finally, we are in the year that this is going to happen!


Matt is going to graduate in May. And, yes it is a big day for him. But, it's also a big day for us, all of us. While he has been the one doing the hard work -- very hard work -- the kids and I have missed him and we've had to adjust to him being gone so much. Matt has held down a full time job and been a full time student. That's a LOT. Even as I type this on a Saturday afternoon, he is working, writing his dissertation and we are missing him.


I am more than ready for the time when he can enjoy a weekend with us. Or we can watch TV after the kids go to bed instead of him having to work. I'm ready for a new normal, one that includes having dad around most of the time. We started this process (of him getting his masters) when Harrison was just 3 weeks old and he just turned 7. The kids are used to this crazy schedule of ours -- they have no idea what is coming in just a few months!


So, I say welcome 2014! We have been waiting for you.

Christmas Day

Matt and I got up very early Christmas morning! I woke up at 5:45 and Matt was shortly behind me. With the kids on the other side of the house, we wanted to be sure and be up when they got up. I started our christmas breakfast and we waited for them to wake up -- we sat at the kitchen table and played UNO while waiting for them to stir. That was such fun! Just the 2 of us, hanging out and waiting for the kids to wake up, drinking coffee, playing cards and talking about our Christmas memories from growing up.

The kids woke up about 6:30 -- Madeleine and Harrison first. And they saw that Santa came!

Madeleine got the Saige doll that she wanted, a Lego Friends boat, and a table and chairs for her AG dolls.

Charlotte got a doll bed for her babies and highchair and a new doll. 

Harrison got a new spark scooter, Lego train and the huge gator he's been wanting. 

A boy and his gator. Love at first sight! He had dreamed up a big gator and asked it for santa for Christmas. We'd never seen one, but he was sure that the elves were making it special for him! 

We had breakfast before opening gifts that day. We had cinnamon rolls, quiche, paris puffins, and bacon. Yummy!

Then it was time for gifts! We had a great, messy time opening gifts that morning! 

The kids spent the afternoon playing with toys, we all watched a movie and then it was time for our big Christmas dinner! We had ham, baked fruit, mashed potato casserole, green bean bundles, rolls and our favorite peppermint pie for dessert! Yum! What a way to finish off Christmas! 

Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful, laid back Christmas eve this year. We started the day off with our traditional sibling gift exchange. The kids love giving gifts to each other! They are so excited to watch their gift be opened. We do this separate from the other gifts so that they can focus on what has been chosen for them from their siblings. It also gives them something fun to do on Christmas Eve! 

While the kids played with their new toys, I started on baking for Christmas day. Then we made and decorated cookies for Santa! Yum! They are getting better and better at this each year! 

We usually do dinner out on Christmas Eve. This year we had dinner at our favorite mexican spot and then headed home for dessert and getting ready for santa. I have to say the excitement level at our house was high! They were all so excited and this is the first year that Charlotte has really gotten into all of this and she was all hyped up!

With the house all picked up and ready for Christmas morning, I snapped a few pictures of our Christmas-y house while the kids got their baths. 

We put on Chrismas jammies and scattered our reindeer food outside. Brrr! It was cold!

The kids put out OJ and cookies for Santa! It's always a big decision to choose from the cookies that they have made which one to put out for Santa. 

We read The Night Before Christmas and then it was off to bed! After a fun and full day, I think they were all tired -- everyone was asleep by 8:30 which is a BIG record in our house! Matt and I headed to bed early too; we were sure that everyone was going to be up early! 

Harrison is SEVEN!

I still cannot believe that my little boy is SEVEN! Where has the time gone? He has been counting down to his birthday for weeks and his excitement was bursting by the time if finally arrived! His big day fell on a Sunday this year and we started the day with his breakfast of choice -- our favorite paris puffins! Yummy! I put 7 candles in them and our Mr. Cautious was worried they would catch the muffins on fire.

 

We ate quickly and got dressed for church that morning. On a side note -- the week before at church Harrison's teacher gave him a birthday card that was signed by not only her, but everyone in his class. He was so proud of that card! I love the sweet ladies that teach our children at church and I'm so thankful for them! 

After church we spent the rest of the day doing whatever Harrison wanted. We started with lunch at McDonalds. :)

Then we headed off to play Laser Tag, Go Carts, and fun at the arcade for the afternoon. This was Harrison first time at LaserTag and it was a hit!! We'll definitely be doing that again soon. Then we met up with Mimi and Grandad (and Mammy was in with them too!) at Red Robin for dinner! Yum! Harrison was one happy kid -- hamburgers twice in one day. And, his buddy, Grandad was here for his big day. I'm so thankful that they were able to come and celebrate with us!

We headed home afterwards for cake and ice cream and presents! Harrison got quite a haul this year -- Jabba's Palace Lego set, puzzles, Star Wars books, more legos and a new fishing hat and tackle box for this spring.

Harrison is currently obsessed with Gator Boys on TV and all things gator. So of course we had a gator party. Ricks did an amazing job with his cake!

Happy birthday to my big boy! I have been so blessed to be your mommy for 7 years! And, I've loved every moment. You are the sweetest boy with the softest, kindest heart ever. I am so thankful that you are ours!