Thankful for a big playroom

 We had a MOPS play date here the other day  and it was a lot of fun. I am glad that we have a big room for everyone to come play. I am more thankful that my family has been blessed to have met so many great friends in and around Farmville. Thanks for coming friends!

Dinnertime!

I send notes on my kids napkins in their lunchboxes everyday, just like my mom did for us. So, sometimes V and Christian write or draw on the napkins too. They are so cute. Christian is learning to sound things out and write. So these are some examples of his early writing on napkins. 

I am a prince. (for himself)

You are a prince for a princess (for dad. He knows how to spell you, but I guess is text savy too?)

 I think you are the cutest baby I know. (for Grant)

I am glad you are here. Love, Christian (for Victoria who just got back from her weekend in Williamsburg)

I love you, Mom. (for me - with a flying angel picture- how cute is that!)

And the fam at dinner (it is a Sunday and I guess we never changed out of our church clothes) And a yummy stew that Danny made for dinner.

Pueblo project

 I think that V has some pretty neat projects and some pretty cool ideas for what she wants to do for them.  She has been studying Native Americans at school and had to write a report and make a model of their home.  We thought that she would have picked the Eastern Woodland Indians, because we live in VA, but she chose the Pueblo. She and I really had fun researching these people on the internet. I love when kids find a topic that really excites them and makes them want to learn more.  Well, she thought she might like to make another cake project, but Danny told her about how he once made a longhouse out of gingerbread once. V was like, sure, but I am making an adobe house. So... she designed it. Danny baked the gingerbread and cut it. She picked candy that she wanted to use. She made the icing with me and we got to work. She did a great job and really only needed my help to hold/balance things. It did take a while though- late night for a school night!(especially because we didn't get started until after a PTA meeting)

Go, V, go!

Sprinkling sand.

finished product- the long stips are ladders and the plant in the front is a Yucca plant, but we had to tie it together until the icing hardened all the way.

meat hanging.

cactus

we forgot to cut windows and doors- oops, but V thought that Hershey's chocolate would do.

 

I love the pretzel rod posts and handmade rug.

Victoria did a good job with her oral presentation and her friends and even some other teachers said that they enjoyed the gingerbread and candy.

So, on Friday, I picked V and C up from school and got to surprise Victoria that she was going to go with Geemaw to learn more about Native Americans in Jamestown. She was excited and from all accounts had a great time in Jamestown looking at the Native American villages. Geemaw said that V was the only child in the group and got so much attention from  the tour guides. She came back with a book too, so we can learn and review more about native American life. Thanks, Geemaw for taking her!

 

Snowballs and Snowmonsters...and other snow fun!

My boys were so cute playing in the snow! Victoria was in Williamsburg with Danny's parents that weekend so it was me and the boys. As usual, they had a blast in the snow! I played with them for a while too, but like watching and taking pictures too.

 Can you see Grant's smile? He had never had a snowball fight, but it was sooo up his alley!

 Christian used this scooped shovel as a catapult.

 Good one, Christian!

 Snow!

 I might frame this one, love it!

 Love these fellows.

 

And this would be the snow monster that I was referring to! He kept sticking his face in the snow, growling and saying, "Me snow monster!" It was hilarious, but scared me too- I didn't want him to get frostbite. He didn't.

These boys!

The other night, Danny was working and I was giving the boys a bath. They were being sooooo wild, and I was getting so frustrated and mad. But, then I noticed that they weren't really being that bad, just wild and silly. I just wasn't in on the mood they were sharing, I guess. But, they get each other sometimes. They somehow just started cracking up- the uncontrollable kind of laughter that you just can't stop. I will never really know what it was all about. But it was funny and even though I was getting pretty annoyed for a while there, I did realize that it was cute and that they really love each other and are friends and like I mentioned earlier,  they get each other. So, I am thankful for that. Here are a couple pictures I took to try to capture the hilarity of the bathtime.

Interviewing Grandma

Victoria did a project about Community's Past and Present.
 Part of it was interviewing someone 50 or older. She chose Grandma and had fun interviewing her and then doing her report.

"So, Grandma, what did you like to do when you were a kid?.... What were your favorite books?.... Who is Nancy Drew?"

Aren't they so cute? They have a special bond.

 

My favorite girls!

New Years Eve

We had a fun time with the Toneys, Halls, Ludgates, and Zeladons on New Year's. Here are a few pics of the midnight celebrating!

C-man thought this hat was pretty sweet! His tough guy face.

the Zeladons

the Toneys

 Happy New Year everybody!

Another Wrestling Match

Christian

earned a point on this move, (I think)

got an escape,

hugged his brother who loves him and looks up to him,

listened to his coach, who also loves him,

and wrestled again!

This match was in Powhatan and Christian had a big cheering section, Papa Soderholm came and Grandma and Grandpa Marshall too! And V, Grant and I. He wrestled some older more experienced opponents, but still managed to get some points. He was a little upset after the first one and that is hard for me as a mom to see (V and Grandma too), But he tried hard again on his next match. We got an ice cream cone at McDonalds afterward, to celebrate his effort.

Christmas Day

It was a great Christmas! Christian woke up promptly at 5:30 and announced, "Grant, wake up it's Christmas!" They were so excited.

traditional on the steps photo as dad turned on lights and made sure Santa had come

Our little elf on the shelf came down first.

Not gonna lie- he first went straight to Christian's helmet. That kid is so obsessed with baseball! It was a little sad that it wasn't for him, but he got over it pretty quickly!

Christian went right towards his Rudolph the red nosed reindeer! He was so excited and so excited about the train table too!

 

He was so excited he gave Danny a huge squeeze!

  

Victoria came down and did the excited stop and stare smile. So cute! 

I won't narrate anymore, but here are a few more photos.

 

  

Victoria got a baby alive doll that poops! Her face in this pic cracks me up! 

And Grant isn't mad in this pic he is just shouting, "All Aboard!"

The kids loved their presents!  They had fun playing for hours which was awesome! It was a white Christmas, so we stayed home. We usually go to my parents and then Danny's parents, so it was strange not to. But, we celebrated with his side on the 23rd and had seen mine the day before. Since we had already given my parents their gifts and it was snowy we decided it would be smart to stay home. We visited our next door neighbor, Becky Duncan, for a little while and that was nice. The snow was keeping her family away, so I think she appreciated being part of the kids' excitement.  We ended the day with smores in the fireplace.