Decorating for the season

 Spent the afternoon getting all the Christmas decorations out. Listened to the Christmas station on Pandora and had a grand ol time. It is a lot of work changing out all my plates and stuff for the Christmas dishes but it's so nice to eat on festive plates all month long. We didnt put the tree up until Jon got home. The kids put pretty much every ornament we had on the tree.

the tree with the twinks pretending they are presents!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Parenting is hard

Today I took the twinks to Trader Joe's after school. They really love going with me there because they have little carts and they help me pick out the groceries. They are super cute and they take turns putting one thing in each cart. We had a great trip UNTIL the end. They were all done putting there stuff on the counter and I told them to take the carts back like they always do.Today for some reason they took off. They knocked over some poinsettias and just kept running around the store with their little carts. I tried to go after them but I was in the middle of paying and there were people behind me so I figured I would finish up and then go get them. I put my grocery cart to the side and I got Sydney to stop after about 5 minutes. I told her to stay by the cart and Courtney saw how mad I was and took off the other direction thankfully with out the cart. I was just stunned. They have NEVER been this defiant towards me EVER! I put Sydney in the baby seat in the grocery cart and went to look for Courtney who was screaming mommy and running up and down each aisle. Syd was trying get out of the cart to go "get Courtney". I was at wits end because every time Courtney saw me she would scream in her loud pitch scream and run the other direction. Finally a nice lady said she would watch this one (meaning Sydney) while i get the other. I thanked her and told her to make sure Syd stayed in the cart. Sydney I think realized how made I was (could have been the tears rolling down my face) so she stayed put. I saw Courtney, she darted the other direction and I ran down the other aisle and got her. I was so made, frustrated and disappointed in the whole ordeal. I was ready to give up Christmas for what they had done. i told them Santa wasn't coming and they weren't allowed to sit on his lap or anything like that! I took them back to the car and they each got to spankings ( I am not a big spanker at all but I felt like this was one of those situations where they needed to know I meant business!) My poor dad called while I was putting my groceries away and I just lost it on the phone with him. I was bawling in the parking lot. I am still in shock that they acted that way. Since my dad and Jon work together my Dad went and told Jon what was going on. By the time he called we were all buckled in and I told him I wanted to take Christmas away from them but he thought that was a little harsh...in hindsight yes it is but it really was the worst they have ever been. So Christmas is back on. When we got home they spent the afternoon in their bedroom. They couldn't come out all. They did for a quick snack, for dinner and for a bath. They also had to pick up there room. When they went to bed tonight which was at 7:30 they were bathed and their room was spotless. Let's hope tomorrow brings a better day! Courtney did say in her prayers before bed that she was sorry and she will try and be better tomorrow...Sydney wouldn't pray with me only Daddy but he came home late...Parenting sure can be hard!

Thanksgiving Tahoe style!

What an amazing Thanksgiving vacation! It took us 19 hours to get there (897.9 miles) The rain was crazy all through WA and most of OR. We swung by Monmouth, OR to pick up Emily.up. The girls were very excited to see her. They watched a lot of Redbox (Rio by far is Courtneys favorite)

happy kids!

So excited to play in the snow and of course I had to take a picture!

Life is good even if I am reading "the new strong willed child" by Dobson!

the Pies!

the table set for 21

The first course--Roasted squash soup w pumpkin oil, sour cream and pecans served w hazelnut flax and honey crostini

6 of us went on a snow shoe to Pinnacle Peak. At first I was about to give up, it was steep and I was winded but I just kept on walking so glad I did...so beautiful!

at the top

Dave describing the beautiful view that we couldnt see (the next couple days were clear skies but we didnt take a hike up there. I want to go in the summer time!!)

as far as we can see!

Sarah and Chris the leaders of the pack!

Avery favorite sleeping spot!

patiently waiting for the food to come

Such great people so thankful they are part of my life!

the kids were the first to dig into the pies!

jack ate the leg. It was the biggest leg I had ever seen! Best turkey ever too!!

doing a puzzle!

Homework AND COLORING!

I took lots of pictures of the kids and us, trying for the Christmas card  picture...

overlooking Donner lake!

We went to Syd's for Hot Chocolate and a mocha...not the best drinks but nice atmosphere!

sam is really getting tired of me taking her picture!

Us!

Courtney dancing

Sydney dancing

She really wanted a picture with just her Daddy!

Sledding!

the making of the snow man

our snow man!

trying for that perfect shot!

and at last we got it...this will be the Christmas card photo

and the long drive home...we left at 4:23 am and drove 948.7 miles ( longer route) but it only took us 17 hours!

It was a tough Thanksgiving without my mom. I miss her so much. This coming month is going to be hard without her. She loved the Christmas season and that's where I got my joy of the time from. I am so thankful for my family and my friends that will be by my side and enjoy all the good things to come! Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season!

Thanksgiving play

Emily did an excellent job in the writing of the play...they needed a couple more rehearsals but a good time none the less!

sledding videos and one at the Park in Tahoe City

the Children's Museum

Took the twinks to the Children's Muesem for an afternoon of fun. Sam lost her privilege of coming by screaming at me which she has been doing a lot lately and I am sick and tired of it maybe this will be the clenched!
The girls and I had a blast. The craft room is amazing and the girls made lots of art!

a date w Samantha

Samantha didnt have school today (teachers workshop or something) so while the twinks were in preschool we went to breakfast (her choice Denny's) and shopping at the mall. We picked out the Christmas dresses but I left a 30% off coupon at home so I put everything on hold and will run in this evening to get them. We walked through a bunch of stores and she was great on not begging for anything but I know what she wants for Christmas and her birthday! We walked by one of those photobooths and she really wanted to get her picture taken with me. I happen to have an app for that on my iPhone (incredibooth) so we climbed in and took pictures with my phone (at $5 bucks a pop we saved some cash!) My favorite is the black and white ones! We had a great morning!

the twinks

a day in the life of a no school day for the twinks...

they very rarely dress alike (to be honest I think this is the only thing they have that is the same) but this day they wanted to be. they were super nice to each other all day!

I love this one!

I  ordered this one in a 20X30 poster for their room!

We ended the afternoon with a tea party using Gramma Toots real tea cups!