Deck the Halls

Even though I set the tree up over the break, we never actually got around to decorating it until this past Monday night.  I made the kids all dress in their Christmas jammies from last year, even though Ellie's are now snug and a good 2 inches too short.  All for the pictures, right?

Only 1 decoration was dropped and broken during the decorating...probably because we only have like 5 breakable ornaments left.  The majority of the ornaments on the tree are ones the kids have made over the years.  We also have some ornaments passed down from Tom's Nana and from Tom's childhood.

Jack holding a picture of  a young Tom

This is what I always loved about decorating the tree growing up, talking about each ornament and the memories it held.  And this is why I will never have a fancy tree that is beautifully decorated.

Each year, Tom has always lifted a kid up to place the star on the top of the tree.  This year was Sam's turn and it was no easy feat.  I think next year we will have to use a step ladder!

Fall 2017 School Pictures

Ellie - 6th Grade

Jack - 2nd Grade

Sam - Preschool

I didn't buy Sam's pictures because the cheapest package was $38 and I didn't like them THAT much.  I figure I take enough pictures of my kids on a daily basis to document them at every age!

Thanksgiving Break

We did not have any plans for our Thanksgiving break this year.  I was really looking forward to a week of nothing.  However, all of my siblings and their families went camping in Big Bend over the break so we had no one to play with.  I didn't realize how lonely it would be. 

The first day of break we did family photos,  They turned out okay, but not my fave.  It was a 5 minute mini session where we only did two poses and we paid in donations to a family in need and Toys for Tots.  I wasn't too stressed about the pictures since I knew it would be going for a good cause.

After pictures, Jack went to stay at Tom's dad's house and I took Ellie and Sam out for crepes at my favorite crepe place, Nyam Nyam Cafe.  They both loved their crepe.

The week before the break, I took away all electronics from my kids (TV and tablets) because I knew it would be a free-for-all over the break.  And it was.  They had a lot of screen time.  But sometimes screen time is bonding time, too, right?

I also took Ellie and Jack to see "Wonder" at the theater.  We had all read the book, but we still teared up during the movie.  It has such a great message about kindness.  I love it.

Thanksgiving dinner was at my mom's house and the food was excellent, but I missed the loudness and laughter of the rest of my family.  Sam did have fun swimming in "grandma's big bathtub" while Ellie and Jack took turns knocking each other out of the hammock.

The day after Thanksgiving, I put away all the fall decor and got out the Christmas stuff.  I really wasn't in the mood, but I blasted some Christmas music and tried to "fake it til I make it."  I found a note I wrote to myself last year in the Christmas tree box.  It made me laugh.

Later that same night we took the kids to an A&M basketball game in College Station.  The boys lasted as long as the popcorn.  It was a late night for them.

And that was pretty much our break!  Now I am in countdown mode til Christmas break (23 more days).

A sleepless Sam

Sam and sleep has long been an issue.  His bedtime routine was so long and frustrating that a little over a year ago we started giving him children's melatonin at nights to help him settle down.  That stuff worked wonders and the bedtime routine became much more enjoyable.  However, in the past few months, we have been having issues with Sam waking up unusually early.  Tom wakes up at 4:30 and I wake up at 5 to get to work on time.  We are already early risers.  But Sam started coming into our room every morning sometime between 3 and 4.  He would demand that we get up and make him breakfast or ask to watch TV.  When we would say no, it would lead to arguing and tears and tantrums loud enough to wake the kids.  Needless to say, we have all been very tired and cranky the past few months. First, we tried talking to him at night and explaining that he needed to stay in bed until we came get him or until it was light out.  But that didn't work.  He would nod his head and agree, but seem to completely forget in the wee hours of the morning.  Then I tried telling him he could go watch TV quietly in the playroom as long as he didn't wake anyone else up (most importantly me). But he could not be quiet and he would still come into our room to use the bathroom or he would wake Jack up.  Plus, he was getting up to watch TV at like 3 am.  We tried later bedtimes.  Nope. Nothing worked.  Finally, we decided to eliminate the melatonin, thinking maybe it was wearing off and causing him to wake up.  We also told all the kids we were not doing electronics this week (so no TV).  Last night he was so wired.  We put him to bed at 7 and I took Ellie to her end-of-season soccer party.  I got home at 9:30 and he was still wide awake in his bed and asking to play with his toys.  I finally got him to go to sleep, but he was at the side of my bed at 2:30 this morning asking me if he could play with toys quietly in the playroom.  I just got up and took him back to bed. Luckily, he went rather easily and did not throw a fit.  But when he heard Tom up at 5 this morning, he was right back at our door asking if he could play with toys.  Someday he will be a teenager and want to sleep all the time, right?

Why is he not tired?

Soccer season is officially over

We did it. We made it through the tournaments and the end-of-season parties!  Jack and Ellie's teams BOTH took 2nd place during regular season, but did not place in the tournaments.  They both really liked their teams and had a lot of fun playing soccer this year.  Now I am ready for a little break until baseball/softball starts!

Veteran's Day With My Favorite Veteran

My grandpa was visiting from Iowa last week to get some dental work done.  He happened to be here over Veteran's Day and was able to go to the Veteran's Day programs at Jack's school and at the other cousins' school.  I stopped by after I got off work - dressed in my red, white, and blue - and took some pictures.  

Isn't my grandpa so cute?  I just love him so much.  He is turning 91 on December 1st, but you would never know it.  He still mows their acreage on his riding lawn mower, cans his jam, and takes care of the horses.  He is pretty amazing.  He has such a strong work ethic. Plus, he is the kindest person you will ever meet.  I love that he has been able to visit a little more frequently lately so my kids have been able to get to know him better.

A work date

This past Saturday was the state cross country meet.  Tom is coaching at a brand, new school this year that only has freshman and sophomores (they will add a grade each year til they have all four grades).  His team did not make it to state, but one of his runners qualified individually.  Tom was able to get permission for me to be the female chaperone since I am a district employee.  Basically, I got a quick, all-expense paid trip to Austin with my guy.  Oh, and two of his athletes.

It was a really fun trip.  The girls were basically on their phones the entire ride up there so Tom and I talked to each other the whole way.  Then, we went for an early dinner at the Macaroni Grill and were back at the hotel by 7.  Tom and I logged into Netflix and watched a movie while his athletes roamed the halls went right to sleep.  We met for breakfast in the hotel lobby at 6am and then drove to the course in the dark.  Tom's athlete ran well and then her parents took her and her companion athlete home while Tom and I enjoyed brunch at the Iron Cactus and then the ride home with just the two of us.  It was like a very enjoyable date...paid for by our employers.

A very rainy Halloween

I'm not going to sugar-coat it, I was so miserable Halloween night.  It was raining all evening and even with my raincoat, I was soaked.  We started out doing our annual Halloween dinner at our friends' house that is located on the crazy Halloween street in our neighborhood.  All of the houses on that street go all out.  We ate rather quickly and then hit up the street in the rain.  One house does a haunted house that is pretty incredible for a garage set-up.  I thought Sam might get scared, but he kept it together and seemed to enjoy himself.  After we were done with Halloween street, we dropped Ellie off to trick-or-treat with her friend (her first time going without an adult!) and Tom and I took the boys to a different section of the neighborhood.  I was so disappointed for my kids...most of the houses in my neighborhood had their lights off.  I think because the Astros were playing in the World Series and because it was raining everyone just kind of shut it down.  We ended up staying out much later than normal simply because it took longer to find the homes that were participating.  The kids still had fun, despite the rain and lack of participation.  I feel like I deserve some kind of parenting award, though.