Piano

On December 12th, 2009, Amy added another notch in her piano progress. A recital. Her teacher asked if she wanted to do it, and she reluctantly said yes. She knew if she practiced real hard, it would force her to challenge herself. There were eleven other students there, and Amy was number seven on the program.
She sat up front, and the nerves were getting to her, but she kept them under control. (Note the confidence tights!) When it was her turn, the teacher said that Amy had a very difficult piece and she was proud of her for selecting a challenge.
This did not help Amy feel better, now there was more pressure to do well!

She played 'Believe' from the Polar Express.

Halfway through her hands started shaking so badly, she didn't think she could finish! But she did it! And it sounded wonderful. She is so proud of herself for making it through without passing out. You can accomplish anything!

The Wall of Thanksgiving

For the past two years I have wanted to do something special for Thanksgiving. I wanted it to be all through November, not just one day. I took down all the pictures from the wall in the dining room and it left a very large, very blank wall. I wrote 'I am thankful for' on some coordinating paper and centered it on the wall. Then every day in November we (the kids and I) would have a mini lesson about things we are (or should be) thankful for, and did a craft that showed what we learned. We posted them on the wall, and we had a wonderful decoration that we enjoyed everyday. I also had some cut paper and a marker so the adults could write things they were thankful for. I think this is a new tradition in our family that will be something to look forward to every year. It was a little sad it take it down.
NEKO
Morning poops
AMY
Pretty paper
Strong tape
Handy hubby
Cool kids
Warm blankets
Nice table(see previous post)
RAGNO
Trains
Thomas the train
Fish
Bears
Gyver

MAY LYNN
Binkeys
Foxes
Pretty clothes


VARDEN
(He was usually taking a nap during this time)
Hands
Food

Neko the Builder

I am so blessed to have an ambitious handyman husband. He was not satisfied with the table we had (which was a perfectly fine table). Nope, he needed to build a new one. Last year we tiled the kitchen, and we had four granite tiles left over. So, those were the inspiration for the new table. He spent a few days in his man shop, and came back in with THIS!I helped a little, grouting and offering my opinions when asked for. It looks so nice, and it's huge! Five and a half feet square! We had Thanksgiving on it, we fit all the food and plates and people. Thanks Neko!

Popsicles

Summer is over, but my kids still enjoy the sweet taste of a frozen treat.
What a ham! He asked to wear a glove so the popsicle wouldn't get warm.
May Lynn is too cute
This is actually Varden's first popsicle all to himself. He did a very good job
For those of you who don't know, Popcicle brand has these treats that are about a third the size of a regular one, and they have a "slow melt" factor that are very mommy friendly. I love them, the kids have one about every day. And you can see how much fun they have!

NC Fair 2009

Thursday is the food drive day at the North Carolina State Fair. You bring four cans per person and you get in free! We got up there about 2pm, and we went toward the kiddie rides first. We had been getting the kids real excited about it and that's all they could talk about. I took Ragno and went on a train ride then we went on a kids roller coaster, he loved it, but held on very tight to me. Neko, Oma, Opa, Naomi, May Lynn and Varden did some fun houses and carousels. We met back up for the kids to go on the bumper boats.

We ate so much!



Naomi loves Varden!
At the NASCAR Dale Earnhardt Jr 88 National Guard booth there was a climbing wall. Neko and I signed a waiver and raced to the top. I won! My arms were hurting and shaking for a while after that! Neko said they gave me the easy side, but it doesn't diminish my glow of victory.
Every year we get a picture by the pumpkins. This year we almost forgot. It was at the end of the night, the kids were tired and May Lynn didn't want to leave Oma's side. The sign behind their heads was very ironic, I thought. But we had a great time!

Whine

Last night I was laying in bed around midnight. I have the flu and I've been trying to sleep. I was so sore from just lounging around all day, it was hard to get comfortable. I finally was dozing off when I hear crying. Oh dear, May Lynn is awake. I get up and grab the medicine, just in case. She is thrashing a little, and screaming, but she's not hot. I sit with her for a few minutes (actually it was a long time), but she doesn't stop. She keeps saying something about an owee, so I give her a little medicine, which she hates. I pick her up with a blanket an cuddle her. Then...she pees on me. She stops crying, I put her in bed and leave. Ggrrrr. Ragno is sleeping on the couch, and as I am about to go to sleep, HE starts crying. But he is crying for Daddy, there is no way I am getting out of bed this time. After Ragno is crying for a about five minutes (that's a long time when you're listening to someone cry) I pushed Neko out of bed. By this time he's moved on to calling for Mommy. Now I can't resist, I get up and go sit by him. I grab the medicine again, remember I am sick, so they very well could be getting it. I realize he is grabbing at his little man, and it big, so I try to make him as comfortable as possible. Then...he pees on me!!!!! WHAT!!!!! Now I am angry! I got to tell ya, I went to bed and just cried. I get super emotional in the middle of the night, and I didn't get much sleep the two nights before, and I was at the end of my rope. Ragno doesn't remember me being there, he does remember peeing on the bed, though. So there is my mommy whine of the day, please feel free to share yours! I would love to hear it.

Neko and Marcus:Trail to Daniel

Neko and his brother, Marcus, took a Saturday and went to the Uwharrie National Park to go four-wheeling. Neko was so excited, he took all the doors off his Jeep Cherokee. He said the drive there and back was so cold, but worth it. He also did all the modifications himself. I am so grateful my husband has a healthy outlet and good clean fun. Well, good muddy fun! I am so there next time!
Marcus is in the green Jeep Wrangler and Neko is in the yellow Jeep Cherokee

I couldn't help myself

I just had some cute pics of the kids that were begging to get posted. Varden brushing his teeth. Having just gotten out of the shower and gotten his daily mohawk that never stays put. Ragno has a really hard time keeping his hands off Varden. Varden has the funniest grin when he gets excited. Try not to laugh. I dare you.

Elevator to the Coolness

I was trying to do some laundry and I had all three kids in my room. They were jumping and getting into mischief so I pulled out the camera and told them to start snapping. That ususlly calms them right down. So here are some of the results. This is just a cute vid of Varden. Those are tortilla pieces on his tray.
(for those of you who know what the title is referencing, you get a "gittchee gittchee goo means that I love you!")

My little Cowboy

Varden tried on a cowboy hat. He looked just so cute that I had to post the pics.

Exciting News!

No, I am not pregnant. A few weeks ago, Neko was acting suspicious. Then his dad asked me a surprising question. "Are you excited about your piano?" i got an electronic keyboard for my birthday, but that was in January. The next week we had to pick up some furniture for Neko's parents at a place called the Restore (awesome place! They resell and used furniture overstock building materials so they won't go into landfills). I left in the truck to drop off the furniture and then went home. Neko was behind me with his dad and they brought in a beautiful upright piano! I took lessons when i was younger (thanks MOM!!) but I was not the most motivated student. So I can pluck out most tunes, but nothing spectacular. But I am so grateful to have such a wonderful instrument in my home. Thank you Neko, I love it!

Ragno's the Birthday Boy!

ragno turned four years old on july 27th, 2009. he had a birthday week. on sunday he had a small cake with the family. it had a train on it, he liked that.

we were going to go swimming, but with the sunburns and weather, we changed our plans. we invited one other family with ragno's best friend (noah) and went to chuck e cheese. it was so much fun for everyone!!




i have been watching food networks challenge, and i tried my hand at a cool cake. ragno wanted a train cake at the commissary (too much) so i baked it and shaped it. neko helped. it was supposed to be gordon, but his front kinda fell in. oh well, it looked good. and it was fun. .


he got some fun stuff, but his favorite was a new bike. he likes to be out on it all day, he races it up and down the driveway. it makes me hot just looking at him! happy birthday ragno, we love you.