Photos

In October we had some pictures done. I told my Mom I would put some on here so that she could see them. I guess the rest of you can look too.

Santa Claus is coming to town

On the 22nd we had Santa come to our house. Everyone got to have their picture taken with Santa except me (I was upstairs throwing up). I heard them singing songs and it sounded like they were having a good time. I went downstairs for a few minutes but got sick and had to go back upstairs. Alton was not to thrilled with him as you can see.






Everyone got the stomach bug except Justin and Orin and thankfully it was out of the house before Christmas day actually came. I spent all day Tuesday in bed sleeping, which made things kind of hard since I had so much to do before Christmas. It didn't help that I hurt my shoulder two weeks ago shoveling the driveway and have to wear a sling and not use my arm. Poor Justin had to do most of everything that I couldn't do with one arm. Which really set him behind. He ended up staying up until 5 am on Christmas Eve (so actually Christmas morning) so that he could get all of the things done that he needed to. He has had to do a lot more in the last week and he hasn't complained at all. What a trooper! Teya has also been a huge help. I'm wondering how I'll get along once she goes back to school.

We had a great Christmas and I hope you all did too!

Shiner

On Saturday morning Teya hit the side of her head on her bed really hard. I was in the process of getting ready for Eadie's party which was to start in less than an hour. I heard screaming upstairs, followed by Justin and an almost hysterical Teya showing up in the kitchen to get ice. It swelled up so fast and it was huge. The swelling went down by the next day but her head is blue and purple from her hair line to the middle of her eye and from the middle of her forehead to just below her eye. The pictures don't show how bad it really is.
So she went to school today with a black eye. She was really worried that people were going to make fun of her. They didn't and her teacher was really nice about it and felt so bad for her. Poor kid!

Happy Birthday to my kindergartener!

I love you:


For always having problems with your bum hanging out.

For being so patient in waiting for your birthday (since it's not in October).

For walking around naked when you were little.

For being such a great model for Ashey.

For being such a good friend to Orin.

For helping take care of him.

For loving him.

For wanting to do everything Teya does.

For being Daddy's little girl.

For being so silly.

For trying, unsuccessfully, to fit your big head through the banister.

For how well you did in your preschool graduation and how cute you were.

For being so brave when you got your teeth knocked out.

For being so beautiful inside and out.

For letting me bathe you in the sink even when you were too big.

For being one of the chubbiest babies I've ever seen.

For being so excited for Alton to come (and wanting another baby,
which isn't going to happen).

For being the dark eyed, dark haired beauty I love so much.

Happy Birthday Beetley Gwen!

Goodbye friend

Today we lost a dear friend of our family. He will be missed, although I know he is better off where he is. He was only with us for a little less than a year but I think we all grew to love him. In case you don't know who I'm referring to.......it was Teya's hamster, Cinnamon. This was her first pet besides a fish so she was pretty upset about it. We had a little funeral for him in the corner of our back yard in the dark, cold night. Although I won't miss the way he stunk up the girls room, or how he would wake them up at night with all his noise, I will miss his cute little face, and the way he would smell my hand when I would come to visit him in his cage.
When Justin was out digging a grave, Tey and I were getting him ready for his burial. Neither one of us wanted to get him out of the cage. So I called Eadie. I didn't expect her to do it at all and figured we would have to wait for Justin to come back in. But, she reached right in, grabbed him and then inspected him. I was shocked. After he was placed in his wrapping Orin said "I want to see dead Cinnamon". So I uncovered him and he checked him out, informing us that his eye was still half open.
While we were driving around running errands this afternoon Orin told Teya that he was going to get a hamster and that he would share it with her. (This was really nice since they fight almost constantly) He said that he would even name it Cinnamon and then added as a middle name "home depot target funny balloon". That made both Tey and I laugh.
I think it's going to be a while before we get any more pets. But I think next on the list is what Eadie wants, a guinea pig. We'll see how that goes.




Mike, I hope you'll take care of Cinnamon until Teya is able to.

Finally ready (but I don't think I was).

While I was doing Eadie's hair for church yesterday I asked her if she was ready to get it cut yet. She has grown very attached and was never ready to cut it when I asked. After talking for a few minutes she decided she was ready. So we planned to cut it that night. It has been years since she's had a hair cut. I don't even know how long it's been, but it's been a long time. I got things all ready and when it was time to actually cut it, I really didn't want to. I guess I didn't realize that I have grown really attached to her hair too. After doing it every day and brushing it and washing it and everything else I really liked it being long. It looks really cute and it will be much easier to take care of now, but every time I see it part of me just wants to cry. It seems almost like a little part of her is gone. Her long dark hair was just her. It just fit! Now it's a different Eadie Gwen and I'm missing the old one. It will definitely take some getting used to.

Wedded Bliss

Congratulations Brian & Kelli!

All Hallows Eve

We had a fun Halloween this year. It was nice that the weather was warm and we didn't freeze while trick or treating like a lot of other years.

We found a really cute monkey costume for Alton which totally fit since we call him monkey. I was worried how he would feel about wearing it but he actually liked it.

Teya was a butterfly, Eadie was a pegasus and Orin was Yoda. They all looked so cute in their costumes. Orin's was especially a hit. Everyone thought he looked so cute, especially the girls at Justin's work.

Happy Halloween!

Now that's entertainment.

If Orin doesn't know what something is called he will make up a name for it. For example, he calls railroad crossings "dun dun's". Another thing I love that he says is "I amn't". Which means "I'm not", or "I am not". Since you say "I am" wouldn't you say "I amn't" to describe the opposite?

My kids are like my own personal amusement, they keep me so entertained.

Happy Birthday to my little four year old!

I love you:

For loving your little brother so much.

For looking so cute without hair.

For looking so cute with hair.

For your love of cars and trucks.

For being my first little boy.

For your ability to enjoy sleeping and being so easy to put to bed.

For falling asleep anywhere.

For playing dress up with Eadie and liking it.

For always making this face. I find myself making it sometimes without noticing.

For your love of your blankie.

For being my little buddy. For enjoying running errands and shopping with me.

For loving the heater vent as much as I do.

For being a little monster.

For being the senator I love so much.

Happy Birthday Ory, I love you!