Our Holly Jolly Christmas...

The kids woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 6:30am Christmas day and scurried right into my bedroom begging me to get out of bed so they could open their presents from Santa. After stalling them for a half hour so we could all get around, we finally made our way out to the living room to see all the goodies that the big guy left. This is what the kids walked out to in the living room...

Every year Santa is generous enough to write us a little letter telling the kids how great he thought they were through the year and what they need to improve on throughout the next year so they don't get coal in their stockings. After reading that letter and the cards from mommy and daddy, we let them open up their presents. All the kids each get 5 individual gifts from Santa (one big, one medium, one small and a video game and movie each) and clothes from mommy and daddy. In their stockings, they usually get cool toothbrushes, toothpaste and bath stuff. It seems to be getting a little more chaotic every year the kids get older and another child is old enough to rip into their own gift, but I love it! There is nothing better than watching their faces light up as they finally tear the last part of wrapping paper off and what they got is revealed. Even though they know some of the stuff to expect every year, they still get excited as ever!

The kids anxiously awaiting opening their gifts...

The boys each opening a few of their gifts from Santa...

Alexis even enjoyed opening a few of her own, inbetween trying to eat them...

Andrew and Austin proudly displaying their stockings...

After the kids got done opening up their presents from Santa, my parents came over to give them the gifts from them. Here they are getting ready to rip them open... 

Andrew, Austin and Aaron each got a Joshua (from the Bible) costume and Alexis got a musical Lamb. Before my parents left, I was able to get the kids to cooperate for a few minutes to get a picture of all of them with their Santa hats on...

All in all, it was a great holiday filled with love, laughter and most of all, happiness. Hope all of your holidays were just as wonderful, too!

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Every year on Christmas Eve, my Aunt and Uncle in Detroit host a family Christmas party. The last two years we have been lucky enough to not have anything else planned that night and have been able to drive in for the holiday get-together. Since I have such a big family and most of them still live on that side of the state, there are always a ton of people there to catch up with. I especially love it because it's only a couple times a year we are all able to see gather in one place and enjoy each others company. And with having kids, I like them seeing their great grandparents as much as possible.

Alexis with my grandparents enjoying the night...

Coming from a large family means there are always a lot of little kids running around. One of my cousins kids brought My Little Ponies to help keep her occupied throughout the night and she was gracious to enough to share with all the other kids. I was even able to snap a great blackmail picture of the boys playing with them for future use...

This year Santa Clause even made an appearance and gave each child an early present. And as the kids waited for him, they sat in front of the tree and sang Christmas carols to all the adults. It was adorable and the kids got a kick out of it too!

Santa and his elf, Eugene, passing out a toy to Andrew and Austin (Aaron was too scared to go up to Santa and just stared from afar)...

Santa even had a little gift for Alexis... her very own Strawberry Shortcake doll!

By the time we left, the kids were exhausted and passed out in the car almost immediately. Luckily the bad weather that had been in the forecast held off and we made it home safe and sound just in time to put out cookies, milk and the kids wish lists for Santa. All in all it was a wonderful Christmas Eve and I look forward to it again next year!

Slip, Sliding Away...

For holiday break I had promised myself one thing... find lots of activities to keep the kids busy and occupied for my own sanity over the two week hiatus from school. So far, we've managed to find an activity to do most of the days since school got out last week and it has helped a ton! Yesterday I decided to brave the cold and snow with one of Andrew's classmates families and take the boys sledding. So, Christy and I geared up our 6 kids and headed out to the Intermediate school hill for some serious snow action!
I was apprehensive about how Aaron would be since he's such a temperamental kid and had never been sledding before, but he LOVED it! I shoved him down once and then went running after him expecting to hear a lot of screaming and crying. By the time I made it down to him, he was laughing and saying "again".

Aaron ready to go...

And down he goes...

Here he goes again...

I wasn't worried at all about how Andrew and Austin would enjoy it because my bestfriend took them sledding last year when I was pregnant with Alexis and they had a blast. This year proved to be a fun time for them too! Although after a while, Austin enjoyed eating the snow more than playing in it, but I guess whatever makes him happy!

Andrew ready for take off...

Zooming down...

And back up he goes...

Austin geared up and sliding down...

Tumbling off...

Relaxing at the bottom of the hill...

The last time I had gone sledding was back when I was in high school so even I was a little nervous to go. However, I got enough guts and hopped on a sled and flew down the hill. I had Andrew snap a couple pictures of me for proof to show people later on. 

All ready to go! I may have been smiling on the outside, but I was nervous as heck on the inside...

Whee...

It was nice that the first place I took my kids sledding was at the Intermediate school since that is where I went sledding all the time when I was in 5th grade. Another nice part of raising my kids where I was raised I guess. Hopefully within the next week I can take them again, but to an even bigger hill :)

Pay it Forward...

I'm sure we have all been in those situations where we've needed something and someone has generously given without a second thought. One of the most surpising times like that came for me a week after Alexis came home from the hospital. I was standing in line at Hardings buying her 5 cans of preemie formula when the gentleman in front of me turned and saw it. He started asking me questions all about her and if I had other kids. We continued talking as we moved up the line and he said he had 4 kids also that were all grown now but remembered how hectic it was when they were young like my kids. We chatted back and forth until it was his turn to checkout. When the cashier told him his total, he pointed at my formula and said "I'm paying for that as well". At first I just chuckled along with the cashier thinking he was kidding until he made it clear he was serious and wanted to pay for my 5 cans of formula. I tried to tell him no thank you graciously because I knew it was expensive, but he insisted. Originally his total would have been $7 with just the few things he bought, but after my items were added on his new total was $85! I thanked him over and over and he just smiled and said "No problem, I'm a christian". After that he walked out the door and I just stood there in shock. As I drove home, I immediately started thinking about how to find out who this good samaritan was so I could send him a proper thank you (you all know me and my thank you cards!). After a valiant attempt, I came up empty handed and instead knew the best way to thank him was to "pay it forward".
With it being Christmas season, I found many opportunities to contribute to others. Our church did "The Big Give", which provided Christmas presents, winter gear (hats, gloves, coats, etc...) and other neccessities to families in need. Volunteers also delivered food to families and went around to nursing homes to sing Christmas carols. The church also took up a donation and raised over $20,000 and gave a portion of it to help build 2 wells in Africa and provide shoes for 1500 people over there!
I was also able to help one of my friends who does a Christmas outreach at the school he teaches at. He started the program called KidsCare a few years ago, and this year provided all the Christmas gifts and other needs to 29 families, thanks to groups of people in their community volunteering their time, money and effort. I helped him hand out and deliver gifts to a few of these families.
Just knowing all the lives that were touched from people being generous warms my heart. It's people like that who absolutely inspire me to be more appreciative for what I have and help unselfishly. In our lives, I am sure all of us at one point have been touched by or helped out by someone else... have you payed it forward yet?

Pirate Island with me Mateys...

An indoor waterpark recently opened up in the area, and my bestfriends company hosted a Family Fun Night there. So, Tammy and I gathered up our 6 boys and headed out there this past Monday night for some water fun.
I was nervous at first with Andrew because he isn't that good of a swimmer yet, and Tammy's 10 year old son wanted him to go on all the big water slides with him. Although I was hesitant at first and made him wear his life jacket, after seeing how well he did the first few times going down, I allowed him to take his vest off. He did great!

Andrew and Anthony coming out of the water slide...

And floating down the lazy river...

Austin, on the other hand has ALWAYS loved the water and knows how to swim pretty well for being 4 years old. Last summer he even did a little tubing with me on my dad's boat. His favorite part of the park that night was the lazy river. The first time around he just laid on a tube and floated on down. The second time he decided to "swim" with the tube and did quite well.

Austin kicking and paddling in his tube...

Both boys on the lazy river...

Aaron used to be terrified of the water until this year. When we got to the waterpark, it did take him a minute to warm up to the kiddie area, but within minutes was sliding down the slide and even trying to "swim" in the shallow area. I am amazed at how far along he has come this past year with his speech and sensory issues. I'm so thankful for his special ed teachers, because there is no way I could've helped him on my own.

Aaron and Austin racing down the mini water slide...

Aaron "swimming"...

Loving the water...

Splashing around...

All in all, we had a great time and I think it is definitely a place the kids and I will be visiting during Christmas break!

May Your Days be Merry and Bright...

Another holiday season is upon which means holiday pictures to share with you, our family and friends. I'm quite happy with how they turned out having 4 young kids who definitely do not like to sit still for long. However, they were able to behave pretty decently for a whole hour so we could get some great shots. Hope you all enjoy!

All the kids...

Andrew...

Austin...

Aaron...

Alexis...

Trick or Treat...

This year for Halloween I thought it would adorable to do a theme with the kids like we did a few years back. One of my friends dressed her kids as Thing 1 & Thing 2 last year and generously offered the costumes to me. I gladly accepted and was able to find Andrew a Cat in the Hat costume on-line. The boys looked great and we got so many rave reviews on our Dr. Seuss theme. Here they are all ready to go out trick-or-treating at the mall.

I wasn't sure how Aaron would be with dressing up and having to wear a wig all day/night, but he surprised me and did wonderful! And he was even happy to cheese for the camera!

I TRIED to find Alexis a fish costume to go with our theme, but couldn't find one small enough for her. Shortly after that, I was in the mall and happened to come upon the cutest costume ever... a flower! She looked absolutely adorable!

In the evening we took the kids to downtown Richland where our church along with a few other businesses in the area teamed up to put on a night of "trick-or-treating", games and all around family fun. Even though it was quite chilly, the boys did really well and had a blast. Here's a pic of them at the end of the night with smiles still on their faces.

Alexis pretty much slept through most the activities during the day/night but did pose for a picture with me.

It was a great Halloween and I can't wait until next year!

Gossip Girl...

Alexis absolutely loves chatting these days. Whether it's with me, her older brothers or even the animals in her crib, she loves talking everyone's ears off! I was finally able to get her on camera striking up a conversation with the butterflies in her crib and thought it was far too cute to not post! Enjoy!!!

Carving out Memories...

This year, the boys and I had the pleasure of doing our pumpkin carving with my bestfriend, Tammy, and her 3 boys. We all got together at my house the Wednesday before Halloween and had a very nice pumpkin carving party.
Austin's favorite part of carving pumpkins is definitely opening it up and pulling out the guts. He's always been my "messy" kid, and loves feeling the pumpkin goo all over his hands while sorting out the seeds. I do all of the cutting for him right now, but he likes to help punch the pieces out once they are carved. He does quite well, too!

Andrew was more interested in the carving and did a great job! He sat there the whole time working very hard on making his cuts precise. He loves doing little projects like this, and I rather enjoy watching him!

Aaron even attempted to get in on some of the activity with his buddy, Nolan. They weren't very keen on pulling out the insides, nor did they help with the carving, but they sure liked to take the top off and on. They were so cute together!

After a good hour and a half, everyone was finally done carving their creations. Andrew did great on his silly face pumpkin and Austin loved his ghost pumpkin. All in all, it was a grand old time!