Christmas Day

Happy Birthday, Jesus! Happy Birthday, world's greatest Poppy!

Christmas Day at our house was so much fun. The kids received way too many presents from Santa (so many that they almost didn't fit in our living room). We spent the morning opening gifts and playing with the new dollhouse and new "choo-choo nain." Then the kids and R. watched all of the new movies everyone received and set-up more of the giant train track P. received while I cooked. Later in the afternoon the Stillwells and Mimi and Poppy joined us for dinner. Afterwards we put a candle in Poppy's pie and sang "Happy Birthday." Earlier in the day we sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus. K. reminded me that we shouldn't forget that Christmas is Jesus' birthday.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas! We're off to Florida celebrate with Nana and Uncle C. and Aunt J. Can't wait...

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve is always spent with the Armstrongs... We had a great meal and everyone opened a ton of gifts - we all had a great time. Then, once we returned home it was time for everyone to get their PJs on, read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and sprinkle K.'s magical reindeer food on the lawn. I love traditions...

Happy Birthday to you... (party #4)

Today P. celebrates the big "2." And tonight P. had an ice cream sandwich with two candles (my cake making abilities are worn out as we near the end of this month). We sang "Happy Birthday" to him six times. Every time we finished he wanted me to relight the candles and "Happy Birthday to you, again...sing it momma!" Once he was dangerously close to touching the flame of a candle. He thought it was hilarious. K. and I almost had heart attacks. It's so hard to believe our little guy is two. Time certainly flies...

December Party #3

Saturday we celebrated K.'s and P.'s birthdays with family and friends at our house. The kids had a great time and I've pretty much perfected my cupcake making abilities, even though I took the easy way out on P.'s cake this year. Last year and this year I made the Williams-Sonoma Vanilla Train Cake for P. (Thanks Nell and Lori for the W-S train cake pan.) Last year's was decorated complete with a Christmas scene (see picture), not this year. This year's was sprinkled with "snow" - at least that's what I told him. He didn't mind. As soon as the song was over and the candles were out, he had a "choo-choo cake" in hand.

Thanks to everyone who came and made it such a special day for my children.

December Party #2

Last Saturday K. celebrated her birthday with a few friends from preschool. They decorated cookies and ate until their sugar levels were off the charts. I think they all had a great time. I know K. did. And she received a ton of great presents. After celebrating K.'s birthday, we headed off to two more parties...Happy Birthday Will and Sydnee!

"Daddy got ran over by a reindeer?"

This is the question K. asked me after I ended a call with R. tonight. I guess the multiple "are you OK?" questions with the occassional "deer" thrown in concerned K. And yes, R. did hit a deer on his way home from work. As soon as he walked in the door K. asked again. Luckily, R. is OK. As you can see, the car did suffer some damage...what a great time of year to hit a deer. Off to the shop we go...

December Party #1

Here are a few pictures from K.'s first of three birthday parties this month. All day she kept saying, "I'm turning 5 today!" We're celebrating with her friends tomorrow. More pictures to come...

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Happy Birthday, Princess!

Tomorrow our baby girl celebrates her 5th birthday. She told me tonight that she was so excited that she was about to cry (you all know how dramatic the girl is). R. and I are so thankful that we have K. There's never a dull moment with her. She's caring, compassionate, smart, beautiful and full of personality...And she's only 5! We are so proud to call her ours.

Christmas Parade

The town Christmas Parade was Monday night and K's dance class rode a float. I begged K. to sit this year out (she rode in the parade last year, too), but she informed me that she "had to be IN the parade." Couldn't argue with that, even if she had been to the doctor only two hours earlier for double ear infections and a respiratory infection (P also has an ear infection and a respiratory infection). So we went and before the parade began she was ready to come home. You can tell by her expression in the photo, I did manage to get her to smile in a few.

'Tis the Season

Nope, not that season...birthday season. This month alone we'll celebrate five birthdays within the Armstrong family, and Miss 'Melia (the nanny) will also celebrate this month (we consider her a part of our family, too). The fun began last Saturday and will continue until the end of the month...party prep, celebrating the day of the birthday, celebrating the Saturday after the birthday (K) and the Saturday before the birthday (P), celebrating two in one day (Mimi & S.), and even celebrating Christmas day (Poppy). Not to mention, R. and I are celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary on Dec. 18. It goes without saying...December is a busy month.

K's party this weekend will be all about decorating sugar cookies and cupcakes. The treat for all of the children attending are these aprons. Tonight I painted for more than two hours. Maybe next year I'll choose a party favor that requires a little less work...

Update on Surgery and P.'s Big Boy Bed

Just wanted to let you guys know that K. will be having surgery on Dec. 21 (about the only day of the month on which we are not celebrating a birthday or anniversary) at the local children's hospital. Yesterday the ENT said her ears were very bad and she is suffering from some temporary hearing loss, though R. and I think that most of it is still selective.

As for P., well, he has taken to his new bed like a champ. And to ease the transition, P. has been sleeping with a giant stuffed Dora doll. K. suggested it to him, and Dora has been in there ever since. We have only had a couple of nights where he has fallen out, but we were prepared and put a nap mat beside his bed. We're very proud of him.

North Pole Limited

To kick off the holiday season we dressed in our Christmas pajamas and took a ride on the North Pole Limited - a train leaving Chattanooga and arriving at the North Pole only 45 minutes later...it was a magical train. While on the train we all enjoyed cookies, a "chocolate drink," the Polar Express reading by "Mary Winter," and once we arrived, a visit by Santa who gave us all a bell from his sleigh. Needless to say, my children will be talking about this trip for a while. I highly recommend this ride for little ones. We may ride again next year. We're very thankful that Mimi, "Aunt" Lori, Cousin J. and Cousin L. (cousins from each side of the family) were able to go with us. Below are pictures from our trip. P. and J. were more than excited about all of the trains around us. I could hardly tear P. away from the train display inside the railroad museum. Enjoy these pics...Happy Holidays.

More surgery & no more crib...

Yes, more surgery for K. No, not a plastic surgery, but her fourth set of ear tubes. I did say FOUR. The negative pressure in K.'s ears is so great that it is causing her pain. We hope to get this out of the way soon becasue she's off to visit the most awesome plastic surgeon in Tennessee in February, and we're sure that we're not lucky enough to go three entire years without a surgery in Nashville.

And it's no more crib for P. When Miss 'Melia went to get him this morning he was sitting in the floor of his room crying, not in the crib. Tonight will be his first night in the toddler bed (the crib with the front railing removed). Wish us luck. I'm sure this isn't going to be easy. K. moved into her toddler bed at the exact same age.

The Haircut

Tonight P. received a much needed haircut. It makes him look like such a big boy. I forgot the camera for the actual hair cutting, but was able to snap a few of him tonight. He's such a wild man that catching him still for a second was an impossible task. I did manage to get these two. Isn't he a doll?

Trick-or-Treating

This year the kids were very into trick-or-treating. They had a great time and collected more candy and special treats than they can (or that I'll allow) eat in an entire year. Below are a few pictures from the night and a few from my work. A lot of people dress up at work for the costume contest. My co-workers and I dressed as the cast of Grey's Anatomy (I was Callie Torres) and won third place in the faculty/staff contest.

Cooper

Last night, after we had made our rounds trick-or-treating, we came home to find Cooper in the yard beside one of our trees. He was hit and killed accidentally around 6:30 p.m., only minutes after we first left our house. We're all heartbroken to say the least. K. is having a very difficult time understanding why all of this happened. She was a bit hysterical last night and I stayed in her room with her until almost midnight. We had a good talk and talked about good times with Cooper. It certainly won't be the same around here without him. R. and I bought him as a puppy when we lived in Franklin six years ago and he was like a child to us before we had two of our own. I'm avoiding the outdoors today, and hoping that by staying in as long as I can will prolong my having to face the reality of him being gone. I know we'll be OK, but it may take a few days.

Our Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

We've been planning for more than a week to make a trip to the pumpkin patch today. It was the only day we didn't have to be at a lesson, practice, work functions or church. And it hasn't rained for months, but today, TODAY of all days, the sky broke loose and it poured. And with a never-forgetful four year old, it was impossible to explain that the trip would have to be delayed. She would not take "No" for an answer. So we loaded up in the car, after getting drenched (the sitter had parked in front of my garage spot) running to the car, and drove up the road to a local Baptist church that raises money for missions through its sale of pumpkins. This is what we saw.



There was no convincing K. that there was no one there to sell us pumpkins. She wanted to get out. Luckily, the doors were locked and she couldn't get out. :-) But as soon as it was 6 p.m., closing time for the pumpkin patch, the rain stopped, the sky cleared and the sun made an appearance - just our luck. We're going to try again tomorrow after preschool pick-up. Wish us luck.

By the way, this will be our second set of pumpkins. We had two earlier in the month and K. insisted we carve them right away. We did, and one week later they were mush. K. was nearly in tears as she thought someone had vandalized her pumpkin. It was only when she saw the "juice" leaking from it did she understand that it was rotten. Nice.

Mimi

I snapped this great picture of P. and his Mimi this weekend. It is so sweet that I had to share. He's crazy about all of his grandparents, but last night P. informed me that he was "Mimi's boy." I won't believe it...he's a mama's boy for sure and I hope that never changes.

Goal!

Today K. scored her first goal, well, her first "legit" goal. Last week she scored after the soccer ball rolled out of bounds. But today, it was a "for real" goal! We're so proud and she's so proud of herself. I believe she was a little shocked afterwards and didn't really know what to think. We were all on the sidelines yelling for her, including P, and so lost in the moment that we didn't get a picture. Oh well, I don't think any of us will forget. We were able to get a few other photos. Here they are.

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Early Birthday Surprise

Next weekend I celebrate birthday #29, but my husband and in-laws surprised me with my gift a little early...a Canon Digital Rebel XTi. I'm so excited. No more calling Mimi to remind her to bring the camera to every event my children participate in because I've forgotten to buy film. I can't wait for tomorrow's soccer game!

The Important things in Soccer

1. Make sure your hair always looks good.

2. Always get a "high-five" from the coach.

3. Run as fast as you can with your arms straight out to block out the opponents.

4. Make sure your brother behaves himself.

5. Close the game with "Go Butterflies!"

6. One word: snacks!