What's new in our world:

- I got a kindle and I'm having a hard time doing all my normal work when all I really want to

do is read

- Our current ordinary life just seems to dull to post about. We're really busy keeping up with

school and friends and things around the house, but that's nothing you all don't do too!

- For A's birthday a couple of weeks ago, N (on his own) picked a couple of items from his

room and went down and wrapped them to give to Daddy. Love that he wants to give- maybe all our hard work is showing through!

- I'm in the process of planning a girls weekend away for my small group girls...can't wait but

its more planning than I thought. Thankfully its almost done!

- Between pinterest and finding new books for my kindle, I'm spending a lot more time on the

computer than I should:)

- I've found some great sites for free Christian ebooks. Love to pass on the websites if you are

interested.

-We have had one very disappointed boy with the lack of snow mountains this year. Every year

the snow accumulates in our cul-de-sac to the point that the mountain lasts for most of

the winter. But this year, between the rain and warm temperatures (which this mama is

happy about!) the snow mountains are in short supply this year.

And its all together too close to B's 3rd birthday for my comfort!

Mom's day at Preschool

So yesterday was Mom's day at school. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was fun to watch N in his element. In his preschool, he moves to different rooms throughout the morning and we Mom's shadowed our kids all morning.

In each room, each teacher would mention N by name and have something to comment on his personality. One teacher told me that when any of the teachers are having a bad day, they can count on N to make their day brighter and better. And one teacher said that whatever church we went to, it was a really good church because N knew the ending to any bible story, could answer any question and as per usual, knew it all:):) She gave all the credit to the church, but it looks like all our talking at home is paying off too! And his main teacher let me know that he talks ALOT. They've worked really hard at helping him understand that he can't interject his opinion at everything but to raise his hand and wait until called on. Something tells me that if I tried this at home, my child would develop really great arm muscles.

They gave the kids an interview about Mom before we got there and I thought you might enjoy some of N's answers:

How old is Mom: 26 (yes! if I could only stay that age!)

What is Mom's job? Nothing (we are her work) (who knows if they added that or he did)

Mom's favorite job at home? Fold Laundry (yeah right!)

I would like to give her: a race car but we don't have the right equipment for that

But the highlight for this Mama was the answer to how much I weigh...24 lbs. Looks like I can finally stop working out and really eat all that delicious really bad for me desserts! yes!

And for the grandparents and documentation: he's getting really good at his first name, but the last name needs a little work:)

Gingerbread house contest

The only reason I'm gonna post about this waaaay past Christmas is so that those family members who chose to celebrate elsewhere will atleast have a fighting chance in our next Christmas Gingerbread house contest...but they're gonna be up against some pretty tough competitors!

The best part of the weekend and the now new family tradition: Gingerbread house contest. It was so much fun to watch everyone come up with some pretty cool houses.

The best line of the weekend..."Don't worry, I've got a plan". Dad had it all planned out in his head, but didn't want to share it with the rest of his team and Nonni and Papa got the joy of both N & B on their team. When the knife came out, we were all a little worried, but their house turned out great.

Funny though how much the boys get away with when they're with their grandparents. Papa told the boys that they could eat any of the broken candy and suddenly half of their candy was deformed, crooked, or broken:) Mama finally had to step in and put a kabosh on the candy intake.:)

Robb and Mel decided to mix things up and do a re-design on the house too.

Lily decided to sit this one out and take a nap:)

And A and I actually got to decorate a house without the help of any little people. Last time that happened was pre-N and B! We went all traditional on our house:)

House #1 Nonni, Papa, N & B!

House #2 The winners of the contest, thanks to our impartial judge Miss Lori and the helpful judging criteria thanks to Papa.

Way to go, Robb and Mel!!

House #3 A & E's traditional house:)

Christmas wonder

We had so much fun celebrating Christmas with my family. (or atleast part of the family) Its been way to many years which made this Christmas extra special.

We had fun opening up stockings Christmas Eve

the boys looks so big in this picture!

Uncle Robb had fun opening presents with L:)

And I have no idea what we're doing, but it sure looks like Mel is the entertainer of the evening:)

Even though we live long distance from both sets of grandparents, I love the relationships they have.

And I also love that after several recent really tough days of parenting, I can look back and remember that my children do sit still, obey and can be respectful:)

Nonni and Papa were excited at the opportunity to get a full family photo since the last family photo dates back to when my littlest brother was still in elementary school!

B was really excited to get "a Hitting stick"!

All the kids were so helpful in delivering the used wrapping paper to Papa

And I love that just about everytime we get together with Miss Lori, I can count on the fact that there will be lots of books read!

The best part of Christmas was my brother, his wife and their little girl coming out to see us. It meant a lot to me that they would drive forever in a car just to be here 2 1/2 days-really short, but so great!

Wish this could be a complete Family Christmas photo, but I'll take what I can get! We missed you, M & M and D & K!!!

God gave me a great gift in my friend Lori. Glad she could come and celebrate with us!

And of course, I'm so thankful that my parents could take the time to come up to see us. Our time with you was way to short (proof being the 2 sobbing boys after you left!) but we're looking forward to the next time we'll get to see you!

What a great Christmas!

Family's come to town!

Hi! This is Bweven OWDEN Keykanano Wangess and I told Mommy to let me tell you all about Christmas. It was so much fun. Nonni and Papa, Uncle Danny and Auntie Mel (oops, Mama says it was Uncle Wobb) came to visit us and baby Wilwy. Here are some pictures.

Papa was really good at reading us a story. Mama wet us unwrap a book every night before Christmas. I wiked unwrapping the books.

This is Uncle Wobb and Auntie Mel and baby Wilwy. They even wet me see the pictures they would take!

Noah wanted to scare Uncle Wobb but he didn't do a very good job. Uncle Wobb got him.

Nonni even danced with us at our dance pawty. She's such a good Nonni

Uncle Wobb and Papa were so silly and wanted to do the dance pawty with us.

We spent a wot of our time here, at the table. There was so much good food to eat and I wiked sitting next to Noah.

Dis is Wilwy. She has new gwasses and they're pink. Hi, Wilwy!!

(I heard Mama say something about how grown up the gwasses make her wook, but I don't get it. They're just gwasses.)

After we opened up our presents, Papa and Noah got to work on one of Noah's new presents. Bet you can't guess what it is!

A tent for Noah's top bunk! Pretty neat, huh?

They even wet me and Wilwy up to play in the tent after it was finished. What a cool tent!

Wilwy wiked her new strower to push the babies around in.

But I wilwy wilked sitting in it! Hey Wilwy...can you push me around?

Nonni wilked being in the kitchen. She and Mama cooked awot.

And we had to show Uncle Wobb about all the cool new movies.

Hey, wook Mama. Its me and Uncle Wobb and Papa and Noah! Hi, Noah!

I wilwy didn't want to say goodbye but it helped to give baby Wilwy a hug.

I miss you baby Wilwy!

Nonni made Noah waugh by having such a hard time wetting go of him when she said goodbye.

But don't worry. I told baby Wilwy that we'd see her again soon and I made sure she wasn't crying when she weft.

Thank you Nonni and Papa and Uncle Wobb and Auntie Mel and Baby Wilwy for coming to see us.