Christmas Day

Ahhh, Christmas Day! Really is that how far behind I am on this blog. Well I'm going to try to remember it like it was yesterday, so please bare with me. We got up late, late as after the 5am wake up call. So late was 8am, much better. Logan was fun this year, cause he kind of "got it". We made a mistake awhile back and showed him how he could play the wii........big mistake. The child has a wii addiction problem. You know how you think, "oh, it'll just wear off", nope, still going strong after 2 1/2 months. So we(santa) had bought a wii sesame st. game, thinking at least he could play that one. Well once he got that present opened, it was all downhill from there. So much as making Olivia mad (cringe) b/c he would not open anymore presents and she couldn't open hers until he opened one of his.........you see where this was going!
Roller skates, do you or don't you? Well, we did. He kept putting Olivia's on and we were afraid he was going to really hurt himself on the hardwood. So for safety reasons, he got his own set.
Oh, the happy faces on Christmas morning!!
We stayed home this yr. on Cmas day, in hopes of not having so much craziness in one day. I guess it worked. By supper time, Olivia wanted to know why we couldn't just leave and go to Pa. She always asks at the most convenient times. So off to Pa. next for another day of Cmas!!!

Christmas Eve 2010

Let's start with Cmas Eve because we had 3 full days of Christmas this year! As usual, we were at the Nagle's , even on time this year! Do I dare say, things are getting easier the older my baby gets!! No, I should probably keep that quiet! They were both dressed up and looking quite beautiful and handsome. Of course Logan does not understand that Santa is coming that night and Olivia was filled with excitement.
If only I could get Logan to look where the rest of us are!
Grandma & Pappy Nagle, Logan(hehe), Mackenzie, JJ, & Olivia
This was the first year that mama didn't have to help with all the present opening. It was nice to sit back and watch.
All went well, Logan thought that was pretty cool, all those gifts. He would get hung up on one and not want to open another, but we convinced him! Poor Olivia could not get to sleep that night, which held Santa up. She was over the moon at getting a pillow pet and her own video camera!! She wants to make movies.....she's got high expectations!!

Christmas Magic

Logan made this adorable ornament at school and brought it home in a special bag with wrapping. I couldn't imagine what it was as the kids had been bringing stuff home off and on for about a week for Christmas. Took me a second to a read the tag to figure these just weren't snowmen, they were snowmen made out of a hand print! Duh mom!! Goes to show how little his hands still are! There is a very cute poem that goes with it, if you put your glasses on you might be able to read it, I won't bore you with writing it all. Someday when he's through elementary school and such I will read this and cry.
This is our Elf on the Shelf. Clever little idea 2 women had. For those of you that live under a rock like me (apparently everyone has heard of these), he's a elf you adopt from Hallmark, name him and his job is to watch the children's behavior and report to santa every night! PERFECT! Now every morning he is in a different place when he returns (trust me, you will forget to move him at least once, therefore you will be up at 6:30am like me today on cmas break to move him). The kids are not allowed to touch him and he's not allowed to talk back to the children. There is a great book that comes with him to read to the children. He's got one of my children so paranoid, she gave him her candy bar that the principal handed out for cmas to all the children!! Works like a charm and I suggested he stay out all yr. round!

Well this is crunch week. I need to crunch wrapping, baking and some desperate house cleaning. I think I can do it, we shall see. Made hair appts. for all of us this week, of course at different day/times, so that messes up my days too!

This may be the last post till after Cmas, so i want to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!!

December, December, December

Yes, the dogs got new sweaters this year. Yes, they love them!!
I love that they both play in the snow this year. Last year, Logan loved it, but he wouldn't keep his gloves on and hat and so on, so he wasn't aloud to play long. This year, he's all about following the rules.
Rich got to go out hunting this year on the first day. That has happened in awhile with his work schedule. So, happy he was and glad to share it with his kids. Olivia was grossed out by the whole thing and Logan, well, he said it was a kangaroo!! Give the kid credit, from a 3yo. perspective, it kind of look a like a 'roo hanging. Imagine the stories that could generate from that at school!!
The cat has no sweater yet, but it is only the middle of Dec. and Olivia hasn't gotten her hands on one yet. He sure does like laying under my tree though.
December is a crazy month. So much to do, my head swims. Making sure everything is bought for school and wrapped and who we missed. Who has santa shop, who needs a toy for toy drive, who's cotton candy day is it?, and YOU WANT WHAT!! All to say is that is gets pretty crazy this month and I am glad when cmas vacay starts and that part is done. Much harder with two kids instead of just one. I love Christmas. For those of you that don't know that!! Just wish I didn't need so many lists for everything and that this brain of mine could remember it without having to write it down!

Got the cmas cards done. Not sure how I feel about them. Every yr. I say I'm going to switch company's , only to feel rushed and just order them anyway. Logan won't/can't smile without closing his eyes, so no smiling this yr. Let's hope that coordination comes through before next cmas card time!!

On another note. When it's this time of the year, you want to appreciate the things in front of you and take time to...take time. I have heard two stories this week of babies being born. One baby, full term, with alot of problems (in my opinion should have been caught) didn't make it to see his first cmas. Another baby, was born 1lbs.15oz. at 27 weeks and is now breathing on her own. Believe me when I tell ya, that's early and that's tiny. This was the 3rd or 4th try for these parents who have buried babies in the past. I look at Logan once again and think about just how blessed we are. His Could'ves, Should'ves are so simple compared to what some families struggle with.

So, this 3yo. thinks and tries to rule the roost here. You know, like every other 3yo. Let me see how far I can push them, see what I can get away with and if I cry a little, just where will that get me. Yeah, I love the 3's. He's trying, give him credit. He wants to say where he wants to sleep/nap, eat, drink, and play. Kind of funny those toddlers. He shouldn't forget, I already went through the 3's once already in this lifetime! His sister may have pulled the wool over my eyes then, but the older, the wiser i get.
All in all, he's doing pretty good. He's not a crying or screamer, so he doesn't carry on that long when something doesn't go his way. He started saying "please" along with "thank you". BONUS. He has started talking more and more sentences, which makes for a fun day. I can't wait until cmas this year and see his eyes light up.

Speaking of.....the kids are pretty much done, bought for already. Now to go onto my never ending list of everybody else. Olivia got smart this year, well let's say it's probably been simmering in that brain of hers for awhile now. She put two and two together of why amazon shows the books that santa bought last yr. in the "items you have purchased" and the ones we think you would like to purchase....tricky that kid. Note to amazon, keep stuff to yourself next time. I played it off of course and said well, really Olivia, do you really think we could buy all of that and besides, me and daddy don't go shopping together anyway. I know somewhere she's thinking, you guys told me you were going to eat last week and then you told someone else you went shopping that night..........hmmmm, I know I screwed up that day and caught myself but couldn't backtrack!

Speaking of , too smart for your own good. Olivia has been asked by her teacher to do some 4th grade work in class this yr. She's knows all the 3rd grade spelling words already and her reading/comprehension is through the roof. To know Olivia is too know she analyzes way too much for her own good. But it's paying off in her studies. You tell her to give you 100% she's going to give you 180%, that's Olivia. Not sure where she gets it from, I'm always quick to take the easy way out. Maybe it's Rich, although I wouldn't admit it was ALL him!!!

More Halloween

This is it and then I'm done, over Halloween. The kid's had a chance this year to t-or-t with their cousins, mackenzie and JJ. My boy and that bag. He carried it like that almost the whole time. He was so proud of that bag.
Notice how my children do not pose well together. Blame it on the age thing again!

These bags were ridiculously full. I have sorted and hid all of it. I had a crazed 3yo. who screamed "candy" day and night. Out of sight, out of mind.

Halloween

Ok, the other family pic was much better other than when Logan moved and his face is a swirl. This was the other pic, not as good......you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.
He truly is my superman!!
Group photo, let's see who can sit still the longest!! These were taken at the zoo btw.
Who knew Logan had a love for jellyfish. He would not leave them and talked about them non-stop. Maybe cause they were the only animals closet to his size at the zoo!! I swear there is a superman in the photo. Can you hear me screaming Nikon camera as the holidays approach!!
These two cousins. Can't you see this is about4-5yrs. Got trouble written all over it.
Once again, my hero.
TWINS!

Olivia has a wonderful teacher again this year and she is tons of fun, but she's tough also. This is her in the red/black coat. They led the parade and carried on cheers through the field. She's everything a teacher should be!!!

This yrs. halloween turned out to be great, minus some family members but they know who they are, so enjoy the pics your not in!! LOL A little bit of humor on my part. I need it after the week I had.

Logan picked up on saying Happy Halloween, which was so darn cute when he said it. But then he also caught on to trick or treat. I got a knock on the bathroom door one day and he was outside yelling trick or treat! I thought I would melt.Knock again... trick or treat. So he caught on to the concept, just not every door you knock on. Wasn't sure if it was his way to get me out of the bathroom or he expected a candy thrown under the door. Whichever, it was cute.

He was much more into halloween than the older kids this year. I wasn't sure what to expect and I wasn't expecting cooperation like we got either. He was happy to walk, carry his own bag (if that wasn't priceless enough with that bag that was as tall as him), and to be very polite. He told everyone trick or treat and he was right at the door knocking and he also told everyone happy halloween and "bye". He's my polite child. Hope it lasts. The kids did have fun and they got way too much candy but well worth it!

I don't recall ever complaining my bag was too heavy to carry and my legs hurt and just how far are we from the house. I walked and walked and carried my bag (well pumpkin really) everywhere to trick or treat. I wore those moon boots and coats and gloves and it snowed and we froze but it was the best day ever. The kids these days complained about their bag and actually turned down candy b/c their bags were too heavy already......I couldn't believe my ears. Maybe it's just easier to go to the store and buy these days or maybe the adventure isn't there anymore, I don't know but i know i got mine the hard way and it tasted really good...........