January 10

 

Kat competed in a spelling bee this morning. She did fine. She got out on the word "owed" because she spelled it "ode". She had fun and plans to do it again next year.

Elliott had his first basketball game today while Kat was int he spelling bee. Mamaw Pat took him to his game and wrangled Lucy too. What would we do without Mamaw!?! Apparently he was a little nervous/confused during the game. As I type this, Clay is outside in the 20+ degree weather working with him on his basketball skills.

 

 

 

 The upside to getting out in the spelling bee before the championship bee is that Kat was able to make it to her first basketball game.

January 9

Tonight was a crazy night. Julia and Kat had to be across town at 5pm for a friend's birthday swim party. After dropping them off, Elliott, Lucy, and I met Clay for dinner. After dinner, Clay and Elliott had to pick Julia up from the party early to go to Monster Jam (Monster truck show- we are raising rednecks, what can I say?). While they were at the show, Lucy and I went to Sam's Club and loaded up on drinks and snacks for Clay's vending machine business. Then we went and picked Kat up from the party before heading home. Did I mention that I forgot to pack the girls' goggles, swim towels, and oh yes, underwear!?! Doh! Commando at Monster Jam... our necks are REALLY red! 

 Lucy was quite the helper at Sam's. She liked "pushing" the cart.

 Playing in the arcade at the birthday party.

Front row - Thanks for the tickets Nonna! That is one happy little man.

Nonna, this one is Grave Digger. I know you want to get up to speed on Monster Trucks.

My little rednecks. Clay's even growing a Duck Dynasty beard just to prove it.

January 8

Kat read Lucy her bedtime story tonight and tucked her into bed. I love having big girls. They love their little sister. Now if I could get them to show more kindness to each other.

Julia was at Pillowcase Ministry tonight. I picked her up and got to see the room where the magic happens. There were 6 women, all over the age of 50, and Julia sewing pillowcases for cancer patients and for sick and abused/neglected children. Very sweet. One of the women needed Julia's help threading a machine. This woman probably has 30 years of sewing experience on Julia, but she couldn't figure out that particular machine. It was neat to see that Julia is valued there and she is spoiled too. They gave her popcorn, soda, and brownies. I wonder why she loves to go so much. Hmmm...

On the way home, Julia said "In 6 years I get to drive." Yikes! We were in Clay's car, which is a stick shift. I told her what to do and she shifted the gears for me the whole way home.

My wee one is getting too grown up!

January 7

Happy 10th Birthday Julia!!!

 Happy 30th Birthday Joe!

I am sure Joe is staying nice and warm for his birthday down in Florida. It is 17 degrees here right now (but it feels like 1 degree. 1!!!). Clay and I took Julia and her friend Bethany to a hotel for the night so the girls could swim and have fun. We had a nice time. I am tired!   

 

 

The pool had a little chlorine in it...

Ice cream at 11pm? Sure! You only turn 10 once, right?

Thank you Mamaw and Bapaw for keeping the rest of the rugrats for us.

January 6

 My non-reader now enjoys reading! This makes my heart happy. Julia has set a goal for herself to read 5 chapters a day of the 4th "Harry Potter" book.

Julia is also becoming quite the artist. She took Lucy's "Frozen" blanket and drew this Elsa picture from looking at the blanket.

Yesterday morning the girls all came into the kitchen at the same time (which never happens). Lucy and Kat decided to get in bed with Julia and they all snuggled for a little while before getting up for breakfast. They actually do like each other! Some days I wonder...

January 5

 Elliott's just hanging around...

We're back to our routine this week with schoolwork, preschool, piano lessons, gymnastics, basketball, and AWANA. This Mama sure did enjoy a break from being a taxi driver!

This morning I took Elliott and Lucy in to the doctor to get checked out. They have had colds since before Christmas and have lingering coughs that aren't going away. We got prescriptions for cough medicine and some antibiotics. The good news is that they don't have strep! We've battled it the last two years on Julia's birthday.

January 4

Watching cartoons in bed with Daddy.

Tonight Clay took all four kids out for dinner and to a movie (Night at the Museum). Thanks for the break!!! I stayed home, put on my pajamas, and caught up on Season 4 of Downton Abbey and ate junk food. Just what this Mama needed.

January 3

We celebrated Julia's 10th Birthday today with a family party. How is it possible that my baby is almost 10!?! Julia started playing Minecraft a few months ago and decided that she wanted a Minecraft birthday theme. Last year was a tea party, the year before was Ninja Turtles. I love her variety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I think she'll be taller than you by next year, Peggy!

January 2

Grandpa and Lulu got here yesterday for a visit.

 Grandpa and Lulu took the kids shopping at the mall and Toys R Us for their Christmas presents. The kids really enjoy this because we don't take them shopping hardly ever. Julia and Kat especially enjoy shopping for clothes. I almost always buy used clothes or we get hand-me-downs. It's a big treat for them to pick out a new outfit.

 Lucy got this "Let It Go" dress

 For dinner, Grandpa and Lulu took us to Carrabbas. Kat loves their calamari. All four of the kids love squid! They did not (!!!) get that from me.

 Gus sure enjoys when Grandpa comes to visit.

 I was so tired from all the Christmas festivities that I asked Clay if we could buy Julia's birthday cake somewhere. He decided that he wanted to make it. Julia assisted. I love that he did that and made sweet memories with her. You can tell by their smiles that they are proud.

January 1

Happy New Year!

Here's how we rang in 2015:

1pm - Board Games

2pm – Snack (Oreos)

3pm – Tape Ball/Candy game

4pm – Indoor Snowball Fight

5pm - Eat Like a Dog

6pm - Minute to Win It

• How many Smarties can you move with a straw in 1 minute?
• How many sticky notes can you stick on your face in 1 minute?
• Hanky Panky – empty a tissue box
• Marshmallow Wreath Toss

7:30pm - Movie

8pm - Ice cream sundaes

9pm – Minute to Win It Round 2

• Shake ping pong balls out of tissue box
• Face the Cookie (Oreo on head)

10pm - toast with sparkling grape juice/donuts with sparkler candles/streamers

 

 

 

 

 

 Poor Gus did not appreciate the balloons being popped.