Thanksgiving in Preston

We had a great time going to Preston for Thanksgiving again. It is such a fun, little town where we feel like we are so far from home. We love the peace and quiet and the fact that our kids get to run crazy with their cousins all weekend.
They found many ways to entertain themselves this trip. From watching Snuggles and Champ play and wrestle non-stop, to walking them, to dance parties at night, to riding a mattress down the stairs, to sleep overs, to going to Madi's dance performance, to the fireworks and parade, our kids made more than enough memories to remember this trip for a life time.

Thanksgiving dinner is always super easy for me up there.  I don't do anything.  Between Jaime and Jake and Seth's mom, there are plenty of cooks in the kitchen.  I just get to kick back and relax and eat!
We weren't going to do any Black Friday shopping this year.  It has just gotten so crazy that we decided we wanted a nice quiet night.  Well, that didn't last long!  While putting the kids to bed I snagged my PJ's on a dresser nob and totally ripped them open.  I only had that pair with me, so that pretty much sealed the deal.  I had to go and at least get some new PJ's. 
We ended up having a great time just going where ever we could get in and there really wasn't any lines.  I love who we went from not wanting to go to going to multiple stores.  Long live Black Friday!  We of course came home and paraded our spoils around, gloating about the amazing deals we got.  We are so fickle! :)

Sam's Yellow Belt Test

 Tonight was a big night for Sam.  Tonight he got to take his test and receive his yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do.  Grandpa M came out for the event and treated Sam to a yummy dinner at Chili's before the big moment.
Sam was so excited and did very well.  To pass from a white belt to a yellow belt he has to demonstrate the skills required.  He had to show his punching and kicking, as well as his ability to understand and do the commands given to him in Korean.  He showed how he knows how to count to 10 in Korean and he had to be able to do his white belt forms 1-20 all by himself.  He has been working really hard and was able to do it all.

 As a reward/way to show off for everyone he got to break his first board.  This made him so excited.  He has been practicing on a foam board in class and did not know that he would be able to break a real one at the test.  I will never forget his little face when we did it.  Priceless!

 I am very proud of him and how hard he has been working.  He has very strict Masters who ask a lot of him and he does all that is asked of him to the best of his ability, and he has a fun time doing it.  A mom can't ask for any more than that!

Human Pin Cushion

Today began the first of many procedures that I will be going through.  I have been suffering with some pretty sever back pain for quite some time, and it was finally time to do something about it.  We were going to wait until Seth was done with school, but I think it was time to stop procrastinating and just get working on it.

I have to admit I was pretty nervous.  I went through a lot of things when I was in college to try and figure out why my back was hurting me so badly.  But all of it was for naught, so trying it again made me nervous.  I didn't want to go to all these doctors, try all these things, go through these procedures and spend all this money if there would be no result. 
So it is no understatement that it took a lot of faith and courage for me to go down this road again. 

It started with a new MRI.  We discovered I have two discs (L4, L5) that are disintegrating, torn and protruding and another (S3) that is protruding.  It was a comfort and a discomfort to hear that.  Glad it wasn't all in my head, terrified that I was so injured. 

Even though my discs are pretty hammered, it isn't usually the cause of the sever  pain, so on to the procedures.  I went in for my first one (L4, L5 area) and we'll see if it helps.  I am praying it does so that I don't have to keep going back and trying new areas to see if it works.  It really is just a guessing game...but I guess patients, right?!  I know we'll find something.

Sam's Surprise

 

Sam was so excited to come home today with a special Christmas surprise he's been working on at school for me.  He knew I had been at the doctor's today and wanted me to open it right away to help me feel better.  I was so excited.  I love these fun little things he brings home.  It was a beautiful calendar.  Thank you Sam!

Peas in a Pod

These two little girls had a blast today.  They were stuck together like glue and loving every minute of it. 

They dressed as princesses 

 Had a picnic

 Made a fort

I after Sophia went home I discovered that they had put one of Chloe's bows on every stuffed animal they could find!  I love how little girls play.  So cute.  I'm so glad Chloe has another good friend.  She sure did inherit her father's talent for making them easily!

James the Scholar

James has become quite the student.  He LOVES his numbers and is constantly asking about them.  He wants to know their worth, value, how they compare to others, how they add together, what happens when you take some away...he definitely has a "numbers brain".  Now if I could just get hims as excited about letters! ;)

Deck the Halls

So I know it's a little early, but in our house Christmas is a comin'!  I have decided to go ahead with some back procedures to try and fix my back, or at least decrease the pain.  So, just in case they don't go well, I want Christmas up and ready so that we can enjoy the season.  I got no complaints from my kids.  They were of course excited to get the Christmas stuff out and help.  They are getting better and better at it and I love that it is now a family event.  So fun.

I have great memories of doing this with my mom.  I remember a fire going, music playing, lights glowing, and decorations being placed in just the right spots to make the season special.  I hope that we're on our way to the same types of memories in our house!

Yes, I Really Did

My nerd was totally showing today when I made my first custom Lego figures! :)  We were talking about Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims and I was frustrated that Lego has made Indians, yet no Pilgrims, so I thought I would do something about it. 

I totally created a mini First Thanksgiving scene for the kids.  They loved it.  It was really fun to do.  I was pretty proud of my Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim!  Watch out Lego builders, here I come! :)

Candle Light and Happy Dreams

 Tonight we had dinner with Lexi and the kids decided to have a candlelight dinner.  It was fun.  I love how little things like this can make something as ordinary as dinner time seem exciting and special. 
Seth and I went out tonight and Lexi watched the kids for us.  Lexi took this picture of Chloe.  She said she had to do it because she couldn't believe the smile that was on her face as she was sleeping.  I would love to know what she could have been dreaming about to make her smile like that!

Chloe's First Hair Cut

Chloe asked me if we could straighten her hair today for church and make it long like Presley's (her cousin).  I have never straightened her hair before.  It took a while, but Chloe was so patient. 

When we had it straight I noticed how raggy it looked, so it was time for her first hair cut. 

 She was so good while I cut it.  Here she is modeling her newly healthy and straight ends.  What a little doll.  It was hard to have to take so much off, but I guess that's what I get for letting it go so long.  I just always felt that if I had to cut her hair she really was growing up, and I couldn't let that happen.  She's my little girl.  But I guess I just have to accept it.  She really is growing up.  And she is a beautiful little girl!

Ezra, Getting Tipsy, and Stickers

Sam has a new great friend.  He is in his class.  His name is Ezra.  They are good buddies.  It's been fun to get to know him and his family better.  Chloe loves playing with his little sister, Sophia too, and I love his mom, so it's a good fit.   I;m looking forward to lots of fun play dates.

 We went out to dinner tonight at Chili's.  Chloe ordered a root beer and she got it in this fun bottle.  She loved it and downed the thing so fast.  It was so funny and so cute.

 When we got home tonight Chloe got some mail.  It's her first mail and she was so excited.  Her cousin, Presley, had sent her some stickers.  She was putting stickers all over herself and anyone else who would let her.  Adorable!

Comfort Food

 Today just seemed to be a day for comfort food!  I took James and Chloe out to Cafe Rio with me today.  It was so fun.  I haven't ever just taken the two of them out, and since they like more food choices than Sam, it was fun to go to a restaurant I like and they like too.
Chloe played with Paige this afternoon and they really wanted some hot chocolate with marshmallows.  And they wanted as many as they could fit in their mugs.  Sure, why not?!  Sometimes you just NEED it! :)

Dragon Leader Award

Sam was chosen as a Dragon Leader this month and we are so proud of him.  He has really become such a great student.  His teacher says that he is a great example and helper and is always kind to his classmates.  Way to go Sam!

Glow Stick Movie Night

 If you can't tell what's in the picture up above, you can see it in the one below, the one when I turned the lights on.  The kids had fun having some friends over and watching a movie and eating popcorn while wearing glow sticks.  It was fun to watch them dance around and giggle at the light lines they made.  This will definitely be a repeat.