sweet home

Here are some pictures from our week. Lewis has the whole week off and it was so wonderful, we had a great time. We are so sad he has to head back to work tomorrow, it's going to be a crazy week for him......

Some friends from church invited us over to make more gingerbread houses, Brooks added pretzels, cereal, and tortilla chips to his...


We went to a live nativity at A's school. They gave us cookies and we watched from the car while they broadcast the program on the radio. Afterward, we got to see the animals. It was hard to get Brooks away from them!



A few Christmas morning pictures. Christmas afternoon we went to a church friend's house for dinner. It was a gorgeous (and seriously enormous) 1928 house and I was loving every great detail. It was really nice to have somewhere to go on Christmas.






Later in the week we went to the movies, the kids and I saw Enchanted which was really cute. We had some resident friends (with kids) over for dinner and the kids all had a great time playing and playing and playing. Yesterday we ventured out to the McWane Science Center (what were we thinking, it was so busy). We had a great time, I think Lewis gets just as into it as the kids do and sometimes I am worried about losing HIM in there.



Today we took down Christmas decorations and the tree. I know it's early, but Lewis is looking at a LONNNNNNNNG week and I put it up by myself, so I wasn't about to get stuck with taking it down by myself.
All in all, it was a great week and this week should be great too with Kyle coming for an OMS externship and Clint and Chaliese coming for a visit! Coming soon--our New Year's Resolutions. Stay posted for this one. Peace out.

Happy Birthday to Kip! The BIG 1-9!!!!!! What a birthday he had too, he got his mission call and we are so excited--Argentina. Here's to hoping they don't eat beans in Argentina! (don't worry, Lewis is already planning our trip to pick him up)





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We have had a great and relaxing Christmas Eve. We did a little shopping this morning (had to find the best Asian supermarket, nothing matches A Dong in WH though), more raking (the leaves never end I tell you), napping, Batman watching, opening one present, driving around looking at Christmas lights, Radio City Music Rockettes Christmas special watching, Luke 2 reading, brownie making and eating, and now it's 8pm and the kids are sleeping soundly. Brooks actually fell asleep in the car while we were looking at lights, so I guess we'll have to act out the nativity next year if he can stay awake! It is wonderful to have Lewis home and to be together as a family. I am definitely missing my family though. We haven't been with them for Christmas since 2003, and it's hard for me every year. Here are some pictures from that trip to Ghana (where my parents were living at the time, they are now in Mexico City):







I miss them a lot, but that is one of the things you have to deal with when your family is spread out and your husband is a resident. We have also spent some great Christmases with Lewis' family, last year in SoCal and three years ago in Vienna. I know, we're spoiled.
In Connecticut we learned to "make" family and even though my kids didn't get to spend many holidays with extended family, we had friends who always made us feel at home. We are missing them also this time of year. HOWEVER, we have also felt so much peace and joy during this season. We feel so blessed and overwhelmed with love for all of our friends and family near and far. Merry Christmas to you all! And you can track Santa here.

Oh, and this isn't related to Christmas but Brooks is at such a great age. "do it self" is his motto. Here is his trying to get undressed.

Please ignore all the booty shaking. I have no umm idea where they learned that. ahem. Also, ignore Aiden's KORN rendition and head banging. Again, no idea.

I can't wait to see their faces in the morning, I sure love Christmas and Santa has been good to us.

I have taught her well. Tuesday Aiden was a lime green skittle. Even down to her underwear. I have tried to scan a picture from college of us as skittles, but it won't work. But I am just a proud mother at this moment.

Lewis' parents came and visited us for a week. We had lots and lots of fun and were so sad to see them go. They had great timing and were able to come see Aiden's school Christmas program. She was the cutest little intense elf up there.


Brooks was the proud little brother.
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We also went and saw Alvin and the Chipmunks which was surprisingly less annoying than I would have imagined.
The kids were thrilled to make their Gingerbread House with Grandma Dee. I think B probably ate more than ended up on the house, but whatever. (so did I)



Lewis switched his days around a little bit with a co-resident and only had 2 days on call while they were here. He also managed to have the whole weekend off, so we went to the ORIGINAL pancake house for breakfast Saturday.






We headed over to Home Depot to get some things and got to visit Santa. One of my kids liked it and one didn't. Can you guess who? We bought a light kit to put on our fan on the deck and some new light fixtures for hall lights. Lewis was being a real handyman. (with a little help from his dad)



I attempted to get some cute pictures of the kids in their Christmasy outfits, and I got about 5 seconds of their best effort.



Sunday afternoon we opened gifts from Grandma and Grandpa. There were lots of cool gifts from Russia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Japan. These are the benefits of having family that lives overseas (and a Grandma who loves to travel). The kids also got the Pat Pat Rocket which was definitely the highlight of the week for them. They are still fighting over it.



Monday Lew was on call, but only tooth call so we were able to meet him downtown for some Thai slash Asian fusion food. Brooks loved it. The kids were excited to bring their own new chopsticks.


One of the best parts of the week was B and his new pj's. Dee found these at Target and they even have a cape. When he is wearing these, Brooks turns into a new person, a new aggressive, wild little person. It's so funny to watch. He is in heaven. I hope he lets me peel them off him today, he has been wearing them for 36 plus hours.




All in all it was a great trip. (even though we did make a trip to the mall at a very very busy time). We did lots of shopping -- something we are used to because of having family that lives overseas. They have to buy lots of things when they are in the states because they can't get them in Russia-- and just had a great time with them. Thanks for coming!!!!
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My little list of..............
Fun things from today.
Mostly fun because LEWIS was home!!! Well, he was home and asleep when we got home from church (I guess he only had about 45 minutes of sleep last night), but the kids got him up and we partied hard.
We were very busy at church today. The talks got to be a little bit long, so we spent some time composing letters to Santa. Here they are:



Then in the afternoon we tried once again to get the kids to cooperate and take some potential Christmas card pictures. Oh, and if you are a friend who would like a card from us, please email me your address because I probably need it! Notice the short sleeved shirt on Brooks. Shorts would have also been appropriate today. Crazy. I can't say I don't like this weather, I have to admit it is nice. I just wish we could have one nice pretty, fluffy snow storm. Just one.