Uncle Kevin & Christmas

Growing up, my Uncle Kevin was known for being a huge Christmas enthusiast. He'd help decorate my Grandma Staples house with a TON of lights -- blinding lights! And he'd bring us little goodies from the stores he ran. Well, he's gone now, but I have his daughter Stephanie's blog and Christmas enthusiasm to keep me going! This post is for you Stephanie! Here's what we got from your Christmas cheer: my kids now LOVE the song "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" and I know how to make Oreo truffles! The kids quickly figured out how to find your blog and play that song. Then they'd get in this red box and pretend to be the hippo present and laugh. And I learned how to make Oreo truffles from your blog idea. I made them for teachers and neighbors and they were a big hit. Thanks for a fresh cookie idea just in time for all those zillion cookie exchanges! Let the Christmas enthusiasm from your family live on!

Christmas Wishes Come True!

Ella kept telling everyone and anyone that first it will snow, then Santa will come. And everyone kept looking at her like "you are in Texas now, duh, that won't happen!" But, she kept saying it over and over. Well, luckily she got her wish! We had snow accumulate on our trampoline. The kids were out there playing and sliding all over and laughing so hard. I didn't hear any other kids outside, I think mine are more used to the snow than these Texans. It was a magical day for Ella got her wish!And the best part for Dylan: NO SCHOOL!

Gingerbread Houses

Our annual tradition of making Gingerbread houses included our Sachse cousins this year. It was so fun to see them and of course they made our houses even crazier this time!

Dylan read the box and followed closely what it told him to do, he was precise about it!

Peyton was less precise... giving into Eric's influence and making a Texas Tech house! After falling down several times, the moms got it to stick together! Great job Peyton, it was the MOST decorated house of all!We also missed the Nelson family in Virginia who used to always do the houses with us. Here's a few photos of our Gingerbread houses in the past:

2006 2005

2004

Santa Baby!

Ella is so in love with... SANTA!
Her brother... a little less enthused!

While I was getting Ella dressed up to see Santa, she said "Mom, you always make things so special!" Music to a mom's ears!

You Can Take the Girl Out of D.C...

But you can't turn me into a Cowboys fan! Just in time to cure my lack of political talk around here: The president and Laura Bush are moving to Dallas and I can stalk out their house! Here's the link to their new street in case you haven't already read it elsewhere! Ah, this reminds me of the days Janell, Jill and I were going to go stalk out all the characters in the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal! Thank goodness some politics, along with Santa, is coming to my town!

Tornado Sirens in December?

One reason Eric and I were NOT sad to leave the D.C. area was to get away from all the terror attack warnings and threats. However, nobody warned us we were moving to tornadoville! Yes, last night as we started to fall asleep, the tornado sirens went off. Eric grabbed the kids upstairs and we all got into the closet below our stairs. It's rare those sirens go off in December, so we were in a daze or shock. The sirens are mostly heard in the Spring. It's funny how it seems to always happen at night though when you are in a sleep fog and can't think quickly where to go or decide if it's really that urgent. Well, the tornadoes did touch down north of us and damaged some homes. Thank goodness we were all safe. After being in the closet for awhile, Dylan said "can Dylan go back to Dylan's bed???" We all laughed and went back to bed where it is more comfy than squeezing us all four in a closet. The last time the tornado sirens went off was back in April and there was lots of damage in our neighborhood. That night we left the kids in the closet to sleep all night just to be safe. When they woke up, Ella tried to make excuses for why she and Dylan had played in the closet... not realizing that she wasn't in trouble for sleeping there, her parents had put her there! There was damage all throughout our neighborhood the last time the tornado warnings went off. There were fences down, trampolines in the street, cars damaged and we escaped any damage... I counted it a true blessing of 2008! We may have to make our emergency closet more comfy with extra blankets and padding for the next time... It may need to top our resolution list for 2009! Geez!

Nut Crack!

When I told my kids we were going to see the Nutcracker, they both kept asking, is it time to go to the "Nut Crack?" Ella was dazzled by the dancers and it was her first time to see this holiday classic. She kept telling her grandma, I want to go dance! Dylan liked the music, but preferred to lay on the floor and would have actually been happier at home eating more pie. Grandma took him out for a break and he walked up to the concession stand and ordered. Well, she was so proud of him for ordering and talking for himself, that she couldn't resist paying! His sister loved it and the next day Ella was inspired to DANCE!

Thanksgiving Hangover

We went on a pre-turkey feast walk at a nature preserve by our house -- well, Eric didn't think it was THAT close to our house. It was a bit of a drive, but a beautiful day for outdoor time!
Dylan wanted to climb into this animal's cave in the tree...
Grandma and Ella couldn't resist the rocks... both don't like to just watch, but be part of whatever the see!


For Thanksgiving, we had my family over and some good friends -- the Dorman family and Rachel and her baby Tyler.

And at the kids' table...I was proud of Ella, she tried most everything. And Dylan did not, but loved my mom's berry pie. He kept telling his teachers and speech therapists that he couldn't wait for blueberry pie for Thanksgiving. So, luckily my mom had made a berry pie and we were off the hook!