Christmas Eve

My friend Stephanie made me this cute sign this year. It's a quote from Buddy the Elf.  I thought it was an appropriate for my family who loves to sing loudly whether it is to spread Holiday cheer or just to annoy.   We carried on the Markos tradition and went caroling Friday night.  The family wasn't too gung ho for it this year but we had a great time once we got started.


Saturday night we had the Samuel's over for Christmas Eve dinner.  Doug grilled Steak and Chicken wings, after dinner we acted out the Nativity with everyone.

They brought the kids some fun gifts... Slingshot flying monkeys, a pocket knife, and a grabber.
After everyone left, the kids all quickly got ready for bed and set out some cookies for Santa.

Then something really fun happened.  Doug sat down at the Piano we all sang Christmas songs together.   We went through almost every song in the Hymn book and in Primary book.  Even the boys were singing.  It was a pretty neat experience.


Then of course it was off to bed, because Santa couldn't come until everyone was Asleep.  I love Christmas Eve.  It is practically the only night all year when the kids willingly go to bed with no excuses.

Last Day of School

Today was the last day of school.  The kids have officially started their 2 1/2 week winter break.  I am excited for a little time off with no commitments.  Max came home today super excited.  He got to bring home a Nook Color for the break.   He says he plans on staying up reading in the dark a lot at night this break.

 Mer had a 6th grade picnic today where everyone brought in foods from around the world to sample.  Mer made Greek Kourambiedes.  Today they announced the results of last month's Jog-a-thon.  Both Mer and Jack won prizes for running the most laps in their age groups.  Mer won movie tickets and a sports bag and Jack won a pedometer. 

I guess running home from the park everyday pays off. 

Last Friday Jack had his Holidays around the world concert.  Jack's class sang "Santa Claus is coming to town".

They had a surprise visit from Santa and Luke got to sit on his lap.

He even came to visit the classroom afterward.

 Sunday we had invited friends over for some Ginger bread House Decorating. 

It was so much fun.  And well worth the consequence of a sticky kitchen floor.

And Finally, yesterday was our 14 year Anniversary.  How time does fly.  We spent the evening attending Mer's Chorus concert and then ripping apart the back of Doug's car so he could change the brake light and open the trunk, which has been stuck shut for the last 2 months. We actually celebrated our anniversary already by treating ourselves to a trip to Orlando on Friday night.  We saw La Nouba, went to dinner, and did some shopping without children the next day. 

And now Christmas is upon us.  We have a couple more activities to check off the list and a few more gifts to buy.  Excitement is mounting and Sunday can't come soon enough.

And now I must figure out a healthy dinner to whip up to counter act all the sweets of the week.  Ciao!

Checking in for December

There is someone in the neighborhood who has a countdown to Christmas and apparently there are 11 days left.  We are slowly getting ready for the big day. Decorations are mostly up, packages and Christmas cards are mostly mailed.  Amazon Prime has been my best friend this season. Online shopping is just so easy!  I'm putting my feet up after one busy day of real shopping, a teacher conference for Max, chorus practice, basketball practice, Activity Days, and a primary meeting.   Sorry I have been a little absent lately, December came and let's just say I've been a bit busy. 

What did you miss during our 3 week absence?? Well Luke was sick for a week and we didn't go anywhere, then Jack was sick for a week and he missed 3 days of school. Luke loved having his big brother home to play with.  They did crafts, had fun lunches together, watch movies and mailed off their Santa letters.

Jack made an ornament to send to Santa.

 Thankfully everyone is well now.  Jack is glad to be back at school because they are learning about Holidays around the world and they get to do a craft for each country.  He is in heaven.  He brought a boomerang home yesterday that he had decorated.

We made a few efforts to take a family picture.  This is probably my least favorite task.  Most of them look something like this...

The big kids have been working on their science fair projects with Doug.  Max's has to do with determining the critical angle of a laser as it shines through various liquids.  Basically he is figuring out what angle you have to hold the laser at to make it bounce up and down like this.

Mer is testing the bounciness of bouncy balls.  Finally two physics projects that I don't have to help with. Thank you Doug!!

And Doug has been working record hours at work.  We are just happy to have him home when we can.  That's enough for now.  I'm tired, in case you haven't noticed, and it's time to get some shut eye.  Good night!

Beach Pictures

We had such a great relaxing Thanksgiving weekend.  Doug took all 3 days off.  It was really nice to have him around.   All the kids are so super excited for Christmas.  After much begging we put up the Christmas tree last night which means the living room is cluttered with freshly unpacked Christmas Decorations. 

I took the camera to the beach with us on Friday So I thought I'd post some shots.

We find these jellyfish almost every time we go to the beach

This is what Meredith dreams about.

 This is what Jack dreams about.

Too bad the sun went away when everyone started posing.

And I couldn't resist this shot.  This is grumpy Jack.  Sad that we wouldn't let him keep the double handful of broken shells he had collected. Some days we see more of grumpy Jack than others.

Luke was up a few times in the middle of the night.  I think he might be getting sick.  Today I must get organized and make sure I'm ready for Christmas.  It will be here in a blink of an eye!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a lovely day today! A really great day.   We started our Thanksgiving day with a family Turkey Trot.   Doug and the kids ran a 5K and I ran the 10K.  It was fun.  I think we'll make it a tradition.

We came home and cooked up a great big Thanksgiving meal.  Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes...the works.  It was fun.  I was head chef and the kids took turns helping me out....you know, showing them all the little things my grandma and mom showed me when I helped them make Thanksgiving dinners.  Even though we didn't get to spend today with family, it was okay.   I feel like it was a good day spent strengthening our own little family.  Meredith and I decided that we needed to mix things up a little to make the holiday feel a little more special, so we moved the Kitchen table to the dining room.

Mer came up with a centerpiece and we did our best to dress up the table.

Max surrendered the only intact turkey leg and gave it to Luke who loved every bite.

We all went around the table and said things we are thankful for and played the ABC thankful game.  We had a few good laughs when some borderline bathroom humor came up.  Ahhh life with little boys.

Here are the pies...Apple, Lemon Meringue, and Cherry (made my Mer)

I sure am Thankful for this family of mine!

This year Mer made us a thanksgiving turkey advent activity.  We were supposed to add one turkey feather each day and take turns writing what we are thankful for.  Not all the feathers got filled up with thanks or moved over on a daily basis but here are the things that we are thankful for that did get recorded.

Mer is thankful for everything

I am thankful for my mom and dad - Max

I am thankful for my home -Jack

I am thankful for the TV -Max

I am thankful for my Grandma Lewis because she taught me how to cook yummy Thanksgiving food- Mom

I am thankful for monsters, cars, and Monster cars -Luke

I am thankful for my family - Jack

I am thankful for the trampoline, the iPad, and cars

Iam thankful for food, family, soccer and friends - Meredith

I am thankful for my stuffed animals  - Jack
Doug- I am thankful for:  Luke running in and out of cones (at little sports football), and Max keeping his invention Journal, and Jack reading everything he gets his hands on, and Mer's determination o improve at soccer, and Mom's patience and understanding and meals that she makes, and much more.


Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday's Soccer Marathon.

Just checking in with an update. I feel like I haven't really said much here since Halloween and then it was only pictures.   Need...more...time.  I just might have enough time to do all the things I want to if I didn't have to sleep. As busy as everything is around here I feel as though I am swimming strong and not just trying to keep my head above water, and that is a good feeling.

Our Soccer season is just about over.  We had a pretty crazy day on Saturday.  A quick piano recital, 4 soccer games at 3 locations, and 1 end of season party.  We left the house at 9:20 am and got home a 7pm.  Everything over lapped a little so we had to have some friends get Jack and Max to where they needed to be on time.

The morning started off with Mer playing the piano at a nursing home in a mini recital.  She is working on this really fun song, I'll try to get a video of it.  Then we zoomed over to catch the last of Jacks game, where he made a goal and I got a few pictures.

Before the game was over Doug left to take Mer up to Merritt Island for 2 tournament games, and a friend took Max to his game at another field. When Jack's game was over we had a little end of season  celebration.

These are Luke's soccer buddies.

and Jack got his trophy.

We then rushed off to catch the end of Max's last game.  Unfortunately I went to the wrong field and by the time we made it to the right one the game had just ended.   I was a little bummed about that.  They won of course.  Their team name is the Undefeatables.  They have won every game except one that they tied. Max had a great season and is turning out to be a super solid defender.

Next we zoomed off to meet up with Mer and Doug for the end of her tournament.

Night fell during their last game and she got to play under the lights. 

 They won their first game and tied the second, I believe.  Mer didn't get to play in the games the next day but the team took first place.  It has really been a great season!

This little guy tolerated being drug around pretty well and all in all it was a great, exhausting day. 

We picked up some Subway on the way home and came home to crash. 

 Max had his season party at Chuck E Cheese, Monday night at the same time Jack played his last game.  Jack was a little distraught that he couldn't go to the party.  Mer has one last game that they are still working on scheduling.  And so it is just about over.

That's enough of an update for today.

Happy 100th Birthday Great Grandpa Conlan

Today, 11/11/11, marked the 100th birthday of Doug's grandpa Robert Conlan. This would be Doug's mom's Father.  He was born November 11th, 1911 and if he was still alive, he would be 100 years old today.  We thought this was a pretty momentous occasion and thought we should celebrate.

We bought some cupcakes from a local bakery and filled them up with 100 candles. 

We called Grandma Blanche on the phone and sang Happy Birthday.  Then Grandma told us a little bit about Great Grandpa Conlan.  He was born in Argentina and then later moved to Maryland where his parents sent him to boarding school.  At some point he moved to Utah where he worked at US Steel.  He passed away sometime after sustaining a head injury while on the job.  Blanche was about 8 years old when he died and so she doesn't have too many memories of him.  He had dark curly hair and eyes that were about the same color as Jack's.

 

Thanks for spending a fun night with us Grandma Blanche!

Happy Birthday Great Grandpa Conlan!