Need to blog...

but have been too busy too tired and booted off my computer by my Dad. More another day I promise. I will get my act back together in the new year. Now to a quiet evening at home doing laundry. Hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday.

Prayers Please

My parents are coming in today. Pray for a safe flight, minimal delays and please no cancellations. I will blog more later as I am currently getting Ainsley ready to go to school for her Christmas party. Her cough is still present but decidedly better than it has been. Praise God for Vicks and humidifiers. I will post more later as I have been MIA again with the busyness of life. Later this afternoon I hope, taters.

Christmas Program

Can you see it? First Grade, Away in a Manger, Solo by Aidan Cunningham, Pictures to follow. I have too much mess in my kitchen to download now. Yes, Miss J, once again I am procrastinating dealing with the mess as I have been running like a mad woman again today. Quiet evening today and minimal non-Christmas related errands tomorrow.

At home day...

I am taking an at home day! We usually hit storytime at the library, but I am just tired. Today we are staying in and snuggling under blankets. Well, Aidan is heading to school and Ainsley and I are the ones who will snuggle. I do have to clear the front walk sometime this morning, but later. I am taking a morning to relax!

Long few days...

Just a quick post to let everyone know I am still on the map. It has just been mayhem around here starting on Saturday after a long week of mayhem. B was out of town last week and I had scheduled a girls day shop with a friend to finish getting Christmas gifts on Saturday. I also had a hair appointment that morning so the day was all about me. Sunday morning was my turn with nursery duty bright and early. Then that afternoon Aidan had a roller skating party. He has never roller skated so I stuck around a bit. The party had plenty of helpers and didn't really need me to stay but Aidan asked me to stay a while. After about 30 minutes of coaching he took off on his own so I headed home and picked him up later. He did not do too badly for a first timer. He did come home with a headache though. I am thinking he got a bit dehydrated because after some Tylenol and some water he perked back up. Monday was mega errand day. I had to hit the post office! Groceries, and church also were on the agenda. Packages made it out finally as well as Christmas cards. This morning I had errands as well, just picking up pet meds and dropping off movies but then I had to head to the Ladies Bible Study Brunch. AMAZING FOOD! I never feel like I do it justice with what I bring. I have kind of crashed this afternoon just pooped from all the running. I have a small bit of running to do to pick up some items for class parties and such. Not sure if I can take Aidan to scouts tomorrow though...they are meeting at the bowling alley and I am just tired. Too tired to manage 2 tots at the bowling alley. I will decide tomorrow. B just can't make it with some work issues. Ahh well, there is light at the end of this holiday tunnel and no more running around with all these extra tasks. Later taters!

When Ainsley speaks...

sometimes the funniest things come out. We were at Wally world early this morning buying some shipping items, gift wrap items and a birthday present. While we were there we came across the children's pastor from our church. I think Miss Ainsley has a little crush on him but anyway...We said hi and went on our business on the next aisle. Ainsley says, "Mommy that was Pastor J who lives at our church." He heard this because I can hear him laughing as I try to explain that he doesn't live at church he just works there. Too funny Miss Ainsley. Have a great weekend all!

I spent my entire morning...

in the dentists office! I don't know what was going on, but the actual dentist never saw the patient before me and I waited about 20 minutes after my cleaning for her to come see me. I am frustrated because I had planned on doing a bit of shopping for odds and ends this morning and now I am not sure when I can go. Tonight with the kids, tomorrow with Ainsley... not sure as I have plans on Saturday and Aidan has a birthday party on Sunday. Unless, I can leave Aidan at the party and do my shopping then. It is a skating party though and he has never skated. They say they have plenty of helpers, but I just want to be available in case Aidan wants me to stay. Ahh well. I am off once again to pick up Ainsley.


On an interesting note, my Mom called yesterday evening to report there were snow flurries in Houston. It seemed to be pretty much on the NW side only because there weren't any at my sisters place. Too funny, I don't know when it snowed in Houston last!

Back to the daily grind...

Aidan went back to school today. I really liked having him home. It gave me an excuse to add more activities not involving the TV to the day. I need to be more creative like that with Ainsley. Poor thing though, she gets stuck running errands with me, grocery store, Wal-mart, etc. She doesn't usually seem to mind though. She is my errand buddy. I need to get her cooking with me more, I just don't want to be making treats all the time and like her mother those are the things she likes to make. I just can't have them around the house because I will eat them! I can't win.

We headed to the library this morning for story time and the kids made puppy ornaments for the library tree. They also made one to take home. I need to take a picture of it to post.

Otherwise a quiet day. What I thought would be a busy afternoon has been cancelled. Aidan's den meeting will be Saturday the 20th as the kids will be attending a basketball came at a local college. Aidan will like that I think. The only sport he has seen live like that is baseball with Grandpa. It is nice that he will get an opportunity to see something else. So we will get to come home after school. Tomorrow I am looking forward to a dentist appointment and the return of my hubby. I have learned many new skills while his has been away this week...snow removal with a snow blower, Satelite dish maintenance, and minor plumbing. What kind of adventures are geared up for me next! I am not sure what the Lord has planned for me but this week has been a lesson in the home maintenance items that I allow to fall on B's shoulders. More about that another day. Later tater tots!

Snow Day

Over night we got tons of the white stuff. This morning it was so deep the poor dog decided to go to the bathroom on the porch because the snow was less deep there. Not sure what the official totals are so I will have to check into that tonight. I knew something had to be done because it was to snow all day as well. Aidan and I donned our winter gear and headed out. Ainsley watched a movie as she is afraid of the snow blower. Aidan helped some but ended up pooping out and playing more that he was helping, but he did a fair job cleaning off the steps. I got out the snow blower and my instructions and did not do too badly for a first timer. It was not as neat a job as B does, but it was cleared none the less. I had trouble with the blowing the driveway and my alleyway neighbor who was out as well took pity on my and hit it with the blower. My drive is small so my plan was to take a shovel to it as I was frustrated. He was such an angel though and I thanked him profusely. Refused my offer of cookies as they were baking as well today so I may pick up a poinsetta or something at the store on Thursday when I shop again.

For Advent we are doing different daily activities. I am sad that B is missing these while he is away this week. Today's was to draw a Christmas picture. Well, since we were all home and had nothing else to do the kids requested paint. So paint they did. Above is the scene when they were finished. Aidan's all nice and neat and Ainsley's a swirl of blended color. I wonder which child takes more after me...is OCD hereditary? Just kidding.

After the kids rested and I took a nap. We made cookies! Whole wheat chocolate chip craisin. There is so much sugar in there you would never know there is whole wheat flour in there as well.




Our finished product. I may have to take some to sweet Miss D, our older neighbor next door. She missed trick-or treating this year as she had to work but she brought bags of candy by for the kiddos because she wanted to make sure that they had gotten some candy. Little did she know the haul my children had brought home. It was so sweet of her to think of them though. I hope my local friends had an equally exciting and fun snow day as I think it will be back to the school grind tomorrow. Later taters!

Gearing up for a major dumping...

of snow. 6-12 inches here by the lakeshore. Hummmm, I should have practiced using the snow blower as B is out of town this week! Well, I know what I am supposed to do with it so we will see. I am wondering if the kids will end up having school tomorrow. I will keep all you southerners posted! I am kind of wishing now that we would be spending Christmas in Texas. I feel sorry for my poor parents who decided to come up here. They don't have proper coats and my Mom doesn't think she will need my sister's ski jacket. Ahhh well.

My sweet hubby...

took the kids out to go sledding so I could clean and sort through the pile of packages sent by relatives and hastily piled in a closet. They are getting to a point where they will be discovered by small children if I am not more careful. So many of my family have done their shopping early!

So my hubby...

gets me a birthday card from the kids. I can't get a clear story from Aidan who picked out the card, but it is just hilarious. The picture on the front is of a little girl with her fingers up her nose. Inside it says, "Its your birthday. Can you dig it?" And it plays some disco music that Ainsley just thinks is the coolest. I had a hard time getting her to quit dancing and headed out to school today. Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes, I am in and out a bit today as I am going to lunch with hubby and we have a insulation contractor coming by to give us an estimate on the attic. Fun fun fun!

Snow snow on the range...

we have had so much snow today I am not quite sure what to think this winter will bring. It is only the first week of December and we had already had about 6 inches of the white stuff with more potentially expected tomorrow. Hummmm...my parents may not be terribly excited about what their trip will bring when they head up here in a few weeks. Pray for decent holiday travel weather please!

Christmas Decor...

I just love my smiley gingerbread man and this year he has found a home in my ivy.

Can you believe I actually painted one of these plaques. The snowman on the blue backround is my handiwork. Great job considering I can't even draw!

Also my handiwork here...4 stockings. B just added the 5th because I have an extra hook. Let's call it Jesus stocking shall we and not an indication of any plans on our part.

My tree and other knick knacks. I need to do better about watching my lighting when taking photos. Either way, you get the idea. I have other pictures, but this is all I will bore you with today. I have to decide what to do about Christmas cards. Of all the pictures of the peanuts that I took only one is reasonable for a card and I am not that jazzed about it. I don't know that they would tolerate another photo shoot. What to do what to do. I may have to try again today. Later tater tots!

Can you see why I am avoiding the grocery store today?

We got a bunch of the white stuff over night. My children are thrilled as this snow seems to have more sticking power than the stuff last week. I am currently listening to the snow plows clear my alleyway and thinking that I am going to have to dig out a space for my car to back out as they always leave a nice pile in front of my drive. I am grateful that the alleyways get plowed at least. I am not so thrilled as my kiddos though as I usually go to the store Monday mornings and I just don't like going when it is this messy outside. I will wait until this afternoon when it clears up a bit otherwise, my sweet hubby offered to pick up a few essentials for me this afternoon like milk bread and such. Ahh well, here I sit wasting time on this computer when I should take the opportunity of a non-shopping morning to head on over and snuggle in with Ainsley and work on my bible study on which I am behind once again. I just struggle keeping up in the fall study every year. Not sure why that is really. I have my act much more together in the spring time. Happy Monday all! Later taters!