What a blur...

As usual, November and December went by in a blur and now I can't believe we are six days into January. Life is going by so fast and I can't seem to figure out how to slow it down and stop these kids from growing up so quickly! These pictures are in no particular order, it's a mix of Thanksgiving through Christmas...

Jayda is so big and loves to play with her big brothers. Micah was more interested in his DS, but he still wanted to be by her.

The boys got new pogo sticks for Christmas. Fortunately for us the weather has been nice enough that they have been able to practice. Micah is struggling a little with it, but Noah seems to get the hang of it and can get 3-4 jumps in before he slips off.

We had a fun Christmas morning this year. It was the first time in seven years that we have spent the holiday with family. We were so thankful that Mom and Dad Spotts were able to come and stay with us. What great memories these will be.

The boys both got Nintendo DS systems this year...quite exciting

The opening of the pogo stick...

In mid-December Micah's class went on a field trip to the Public Museum. I have not been able to go on any field trips with either of the boys yet, and it worked out that I could go this time. It was crazy and fun and exhausting. It made me appreciate the Kindergarten teachers that much more!

They have an atrium that is full of butterflies, so you can just go in and have them land on you if you want or just look around. It was really fun to go in there!

When Mom and Dad Withrow came, one of things mom likes to do is frost sugar cookies with the kiddos. It's always a disaster, but this was part of my handi-work

And this was the table at the end...pay not attention to the random shoe on the table.

We also went shopping and got a cute new pattern. It was fun to make these little wallets and they are so simple! We had a great time. I've since made 5 more!

Sweet little bug!

This was by the city hall in the nearby town. Too cute to pass up the photo opportunity and so I made my parents stand there for the picture.

This was Thanksgiving.

Early in December my friend Katie and I spent the whole day in Chicago. It was great fun...she found this great hat/scarf set because it was SO cold! We had a wonderful time together and got a few cute presents for our family and friends.

Jayda LOVES to read, so after Thanksgiving dinner she was just chilling in a chair reading her Princess Baby book.

Hershey vs. Nestle

I didn't realize there was much of a difference between Nestle and Hershey chocolate.

This week, I made the wrong choice...sorry Nestle, you've lost this battle.

..

Happy Halloween

It was cold and rainy today, but that would be no deterrent to the kids when it came to trick or treating this year. With the weather being poor it made for a short time out with Jayda and some pretty cold and wet little boys (and one big boy).

Jayda is at the stage where she is just constantly moving. She doesn't like to sit or be contained for any reason. So, getting her to stand still so I could get a cute picture of her for all her west coast family was near impossible, so I hope these will do...

Completely by accident, but it does make "Yoda" appear to really fit her name. She jumped just at the last second of me trying to take her picture. The boys and I laughed for a really long time about this picture, so of course I have to post it.

This is our neighbor and one of Micah's little buds. She came trick or treating with us.

The Four Amigos

Micah: Optimus Prime Noah: Clark Kent

And they have already started talking about next year...oh goodness!

Parenting is hard

I don't understand boys. I always thought I was a good "boy" mom, but I really don't get them. I can't understand the way they like to play and I certainly don't know why they think it's funny to punch each other. I have talked with lots of moms who assure me that grade school is the time that kids are really learning what it means to be civil to one another. But, it still doesn't help when the principal calls home.
Additionally, I am taking a class at church called "The Peacemaker"...a biblical approach to resolving conflict. It's a constant reminder that each and every thing I do is being watched by little ones who are eager to learn how they are supposed to behave in this world. No pressure, right? Good thing we have a gracious God who helps all of us along this path.

It does my heart good, however, to look back through all the pictures that we have saved on our computer and finds one like this of my boys.  Even if the road can be rocky in their relationship, I know they love each other and deeply care about the other one.
I sure do love them with everything I've got...which reminds me of why parenting is so hard - because we care so much!

This one is just cute.  She won't let me put anything like this in her hair anymore.  She just rips it right out.  That's okay though.  She's cute without it too...

Social Media

They say that if you are going to start doing something on social media, you really need to stick with it.  That seems like a really good idea, but life seems to keep going and I haven't been able to stop with it so I can post something online.  So, I will get better.  I will...
Here's what's been going on for us....
The weather in Wisconsin has been great!  It's been warm most of October and only in the past couple days has it started to get cold.  The kids still love the trampoline and even Jayda has begun to enjoy it.  The boys are good with her and don't bounce "too high" when she's in there with them.

 I was trying to get them to have a fun picture together.  This was about as good as I was going to get.

 She likes to take her brothers down whenever possible.

 You can't read her shirt very well, but it does say "Daddy's Princess"

 This is not our new puppy,but our neighbors also got a new puppy about a month before we did.  This was at one of Noah's football games. I captured how Jayda is with our puppy (Yoda) all the time.  She is so happy whenever she is around them.  Definitely got that trait from her mama!

Until next time....blessings on your day!!