Christmas Break Part 2

Well we are halfway done with our Christmas celebration. My family left on the 26th very early and we are expecting Adam's parents this next week. It has been an eventful two days as we attended a surprise party of a dear friend and today we spent all day in Frisco. Adam and I got a new bed frame with drawers underneath, some new shower curtains, a clock and all of our thoughts together on the kitchen remodel for this summer.
We also put together lots of toys, cleaned up and ate lots of leftovers. At dinner tonight the kids told us their top 3 favorite presents thus far.

Goober-his electric toothbrush, his star wars lego set and his new cleats
Ribbit-her cheetah boots, Elsa doll and Anna doll
Baby Boy-his remote control car, his motorcycle tricycle and his batman dress up clothes

One of my favorite things about my family visiting was all of the workout time we got in together :). I got to work out with my mom every morning at 5:30, my brother and  lifted weights one day after lunch and I got to take  Goober with me one day and show him some technique and form. I workout with others about 3 days a week and the other 4 I am on my own so it was nice to always have company. The last two mornings the kids have gone with me and played in the gym while I did circuit training. Thanks to their art presents from Uncle Chris I got in 1.5 hours both mornings while they colored in the middle of the floor, I almost couldn't believe how long they got along and how long they were quiet :).

Breakfast and crafts with Santa Cow.

Cooking for our Christmas party for our Sunday School class. Ribbit has on an apron I wore as a little girl, I have on an apron from my sweet mentor and friend, Goober and Baby Boy have on aprons from Lolly and we are making jello jigglers and cupcakes for the kiddos coming over the next night.

Just some of the gingerbread house building contest that our leader judged. Each kid won a prize, Goober got tallest, Ribbit got most chocolatey :). Baby Boy was outside by the fire with his daddy and the leaf pile for most of the night.

Some of the fun outside on the patio....smore making, playing on the treehouse and jumping in the leaf pile.

Love them some jello jigglers.

Check out all the kiddos on the playhouse!

Hanging ornaments on our Jesse Tree as we anticipate Christ's birth.

An early Christmas gift from our church friends.

The last day of school was PJ Day and Ribbit got her feelings hurt and couldn't gather herself back together.....until Momma checked her out for 2 hours and she got a cake pop at Starbucks.

Christmas party at school with CC and Papa.

Everyone PACKED into the minivan for some christmas light looking!

These two do not want to change out of their Ninja Turtle pjs and Spider Man boots, they could literally wear them all day.

We also had Baby Boy's "bwastball" trophy ceremony at Chic Fil A while grandparents were here. This is his coach awarding him, he was so stinkin excited :)

Making and decorating gingerbread cookies with CC.

Christmas Break

We are 2 days out from Christmas and having lots of fun. My parents got here just in time to go to both Goober's and Ribbit's christmas parties at school. We have gone Christmas light looking, last minute shopping, been to see movies, eaten great food, hung out with lots of friends and family and tonight had a gingerbread house contest.

My kids have been sugared up lately and are saying the funniest things....

Baby Boy-as my dad is leading us in Advent one night, Baby boy is checking himself out and suddenly announces, "hey guys, look at these muscles" as he is looking at his own biceps. When my brother burst into laugher he goes " what?" and shrugs.

Goober-As his uncle is getting fitted for his wedding suit says " Uncle Chris, I bet you would like being home with all 3 of us wrestling you instead of doing this". That went over well.

Goober also told his teacher that I thought she was moody as he handed her a christmas present. The real story is that the day before he had received a mark and when he explained to me why he got in trouble it just didn't make sense. I had so much to do as far as grading and getting ready for 2 weeks of visitors that I shrugged it off and said " well mom gets moody with her students and i bet she was moody and you were the last one to get on her nerves". I know that wins me the mom of the year award but I wasn't up for fighting over this "talking mark". Anyways, she laughed about it and we moved on. When will I learn to tame my tongue?????

Ribbit has explained to her Uncle Chris several times that he is wrong, that you will not in fact grow an apple in your tummy if you eat the seeds. And why you ask? Because we do not eat dirt and seeds need dirt to grow in.

I was blessed this year by several gifts from sweet students, my favorite a handwritten note from one of my 10th grade boys thanking me for making art enjoyable and pushing him to succeed. Those kinda notes from my boys don't happen often so I will cherish it :).

We have been watching all the great Christmas movies as well, The Grinch (cartoon and Jim Carey version), Rudolph, Mickey's Christmas and I am hoping to show them Home Alone tomorrow.

All in all, a great start to the break!

Merry Christmas from our crazy family!!

Riding in a "one horse open sleigh"

Visiting Santa Claus and his reindeer

War Eagle

Our first full day of Thanksgiving break was spent in Auburn with Goober. My parents met us in Auburn late late at night and took our two youngest kiddos back to their home so that Goober could have some alone time with us and so that we could begin brainwashing him :).

We did absolutely everything a good Auburn fan should do on a game day...things that we never did or woke up for as students :). He loved every minute of it and it was so wonderful to watch him play and make memories where it all began for Adam and I! We were dog tired from driving all night, running on very little sleep and trying to pack in lots of fun but it was well worth it! Goober kept saying how glad he was that they two youngest were not with us...its nice to have one on one time with him since even though he is the oldest we never had years alone with him until our next one came along :).

Our seats...right smack dab in the endzone. It was pretty stinkin awesome, even a little rain couldn't get us to leave :). We got inside in time for Goober to catch a practice field goal, hear and learn some cheers, watch the eagle fly, see the awesomeness of the Auburn band and eat some good ole stadium food :)

We stood in line for over an hour to get these spots. This is Goober patting Nick Marshalls hand at Tiger Walk. He got to high five all of the top players and Coach Malzahn and even got a hug from CAMERON ARTIS PAYNE.....Cam's mom was right behind Goob and so he was literally squished between them as they hugged...even better Adam got a video of it all and Goober is all smiles, he honestly thought Cameron was hugging him :). Even better Cam's mom asked Adam for the video, it really was a sweet moment!

After the win we took Goob to roll the Toomers trees...it was so sad that the old huge oaks weren't there but all of the other trees and light signals close to that area are now being rolled so it takes up even more space and even more people can get in on the celebrating!

The pictures are a little out of order, but this is where we started our day..where any good Auburn fan should, at Toomers getting lemonade and buying face tattoos!

Us and our boy right outside of Biggin Hall (where I basically lived) and in the lawn of Samford Hall where Adam and I first hung out and one of the spots on my scavenger proposal night :)

Adam and Goob literally threw that football over campus..I had to remind them several times that other people do not like dodging footballs :). Boys.

Not sure which kid jumped in on the others picture but I never got to get a picture with Aubie as a student...so THIS WAS HUGE!!!

They had a lot of activities for kids set up on campus and the inflatables are always a huge hit with Goober.

LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!

We even got to see my bestie and eat lunch with her, Adam also saw one of his old roommates but boys aren't into taking pictures :). We love VIRG!!!

More proof that everyone should love Auburn, Santa and Mrs. Claus are Auburn fans!!!

After the game they let everyone out onto the field, another thing I never was able to do as a student. So Goober definitely pretended to catch some balls and score some very close touchdowns!

Oh, these two. Two of my favorite students. They began dating in my art class 4 years ago and despite their cynical art teacher warning them that high school dating was normally a waste of time they are still together. Ryan attends Auburn and is in the prestigious architecture program, a goal he has had for a long time and something I am so proud of him for and Adrianna attend Samford two hours away. They are both wonderful people who love the Lord and as a teacher its so rewarding to see your students excel!

More beautiful white Auburn "snow".

Thats all for now. We have three (some 1/2 days left) ...For me, all finals, for the kiddos all sugared up parties :). I'm happy regardless because following that is two glorious weeks off and time with family...our first Christmas in TEXAS!!!!!!