COOKIES!!!

We made cookies!! But can't find the Christmas cookie cutters :-(

But they turned out delicious, colorful, and the kids had a blast!

H

D

L (over to play)

C ( I watch her)

H made a cookie as big as her head!

And loaded it with sprinkles!

Fun weekend...

This weekend we went to my Aunts Christmas party. WOW was this an awesome party!! As you can see below...Santa came giving each child a present, then they made gingerbread houses.

H wants to sit on Santa, but once she gets close to him...she changes her mind!!

D however....they didn't have to call his name twice!!
B was not happy to have to go up to see Santa...as you can see, he has a "why did you make me come up here?" look at my camera!! He gets shy in front of a group of people.

B, D, and H by our tree at home...

Fluffy is also enjoying our Christmas tree!

H and D totally love their present from Santa!! I highly recommend this toy for any child 3-6 yrs old!! It is an animal hospital with vet tools, 6 kennel cages, and a big key ring. You match the color of the key to the color of the door to open. They just love it!

Torn...

Do you ever feel torn by what you feel is right, and the way society is? I mean, I am not a homeschooling mama, although totally see the pros to being one. The things my kids learn in school, the materialistic things all the other kids get, the foods other kids eat, and the fact that I miss them like crazy TOTALLY make me want to home school....but I do see the pros in going to school also. I would love to live on an island with others who want to raise their kids the same as I would like mine raised. I want them to go to school, to have great social skills, as I feel in this world it is one of the most important things to have...I like them to do all the fun things they do at school, parties, gym, music, art, games. But most of all I want them to know that this huge world does not revolve around them, like it does at home. I think if they don't learn this at an early age, it just gets more difficult for them. I know a few home school mama's who's kids are in public schools now, once they noticed their oldest struggling socially...not feeling like they fit in with the norm. I want to protect my children from the negatives of a public school, but want them to enjoy and benefit from the positives...We live in a very good neighborhood with good schools, but my kids still want to know why so and so gets this and that, why so and so gets all junk food in their lunch, not to mention the not so nice words they learn. But they learn also, that life is not fair, that there will always be kids with more, and kids with less. BUT I do feel we have to at least provide half of what the "Joneses" family has in order for my kids to not be total "dorks" or outcasts....and I struggle between what I believe is right and what to "give in" to for the soul reason of them fitting in this society. I think kids are being raised TOTALLY wrong. I don't want to raise my kids this way, but if this is the world they have to grow up in...I want them to fit in, I don't want them to be outcasts. I stress being themselves, that everyone is different, that they must stand strong in what they believe, and not let society influence them. But in reality...they have to grow up in this world. I am not considering home schooling, at this point, especially since my oldest is a 7th grader, and well, you know that game "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?"...well, I'm not. My kids also do love school. But I just struggle with the way kids are being raised and the way I want to raise mine. More on this later...

Yesterday...

A little girl L came over for a play date. I also used to watch L until her mom decided to stay home and no longer work outside the house. She missed us and we missed her, so she came for a play date. We played a couple games, made a couple crafts, and made popcorn to watch Mr. Grinch. She had so much fun that she was wanting to come over again today...so she is! Then my little A and her baby brother came over again last night for a few hours to visit...I feel so flattered when kids I watched still want to come here when they don't have to!

Snow is on the ground...

We played in the snow Monday, the first time this year. I have to say, that I do not get excited over snow. I love seeing the kids excitement and I force myself to build snowmen, go sledding, and of course snowball fights. I don't think anything is more fun when your 13 than being allowed to throw balls of snow at your parents...But I HATE the COLD. The older I get, the less I can tolerate it. But the kids really do love it!

But as you can see, B hates his picture taken...

Finally got one...(not showing the other hundred I took while trying)

A little girl I watch with H...

H with squinty eyes...

H after telling her to keep her eyes OPEN...

My D cooperates most for pictures...

I can't help but post some pictures from summer...boy do I MISS summer!!

Camping at Yogi Bear Jellystone Park...

(the boys with our foreign exchange student)

Daddy and H by the campfire...

D was SO EXCITED when he won candy bar BINGO...

AT THE BEACH...

(me and H)

D was so proud he could pull this heavy log by himself...

Why B let his little bro D be in this position...I'll never know...

Happy Birthday Mom!!

My mother turned a year older over the weekend. Words cannot express the way I feel about my mother. She has many qualities that I admire. She is always helping me, encouraging me, and listening to me. She has been so supportive of our adoption in every way. She is so caring of people less fortunate than us, and loves all children. I am so proud she is my mother, and my kids are so lucky to have her as a grandma. She's not only my mother, but also my best friend. I love you mom, happy birthday!

Busy busy long weekend...

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! D and H sang songs...I wish I could figure out how to put a video on here....

After eating...we all appeared overly stuffed...

(my sister-in-law, brother, me and D)

Went to see Santa at a Village Christmas event...

B thinks he is too old and too cool to sit on Santa's lap...and although H was so excited, she freaked out last minute and wouldn't go near him...so D was the only one ending up on Santa's lap...

We took out our Christmas boxes, and D insisted on sleeping with all his "new" friends...

Waiting for the bus this morning was no fun...it's just too cold out there for me!

We had a fun busy weekend, and I didn't have much time to post!