LETS GO COYOTES!!!!

Some friends of our invited the Lyle, the kids and I to the Coyotes game on the Monday before Christmas. The really had a good time (it also helps when the Coyotes win). We were in the nose bleed section which is PERFECT when you attend games with kids. William fell in love with Howler, the Coyotes' Mascot.

This is Anna eating Dippin' Dots. She told me "They taste like ice cream!"

The older kids got to sit in their own row about two rows below us. I think they loved the freedom.

Lyle and I went back the Saturday after Christmas with another group of friends. It was another great game (Coyotes won), and it was nice not to wrestle with the kids.

My Quiet Time

After I drop the kids off at school and the bus the babies and I come home. I still have things to do before they go to bed so this is how I get them done: Both of them love to watch the Teletubbies, then they take a nap. This is the only way I was able to take a class online this last semester. What did people do before TV?!!

Wrangler Butts!

For those of you who know my husband, know that he doesn't wear anything but Wranglers. My BFF gave me some Wrangler jeans that fit William, so I found some boots that Lyle's sister gave me when Austin was a baby and put them on William with the Wranglers. He looks so cute.

Little Baker

For Anna's class holiday party they got to make cookies. The homeroom parent got all the kids matching bakers hats and aprons. Now when ever she helps in the kitchen she has to wear them. This is her getting the seeds and stuff out of a pumpkin so we can make fresh pumpkin for pies, muffins, breads, cookies, pumpkin rolls, and anything else that I want to try.

Sing-A-Longs

Here are pictures of the kids during their sing-a-longs. Josie (glasses) and Jared's(glasses) pictures didn't turn out so good, but they were in the back and I couldn't get any closer. With Anna I was pretty close to the stage and she was in front (pink shirt). They all did a good job and knew all of their songs. They really enjoy singing. Austin had his band concert earlier that week but I forgot my camera. So I will not get mother of the year, but this will be the 12 year in a row-so I'm not so upset.

Christmas Gifts (CAUTION: back side exposed)

Lyle and I this year decided to be practical in our gift giving this year. He got me two porcelain statues and I got him 2 porcelain commodes. (all four are pictured to the left of your screen) The down stairs toilet started to leak, and Lyle found a deal that he couldn't resist.

Lyle playing plumber.

This gift is one that we will appreciate all year long!

The Barnes Garden

The Barnes Family decided to try to do a garden this year. I would like to say that it did great, but it did not. We need to find a better place to have it. Austin and Lyle tilling up the ground.

Our cheap labor getting the rocks out and the ground ready. The manure that we bought really had a BAD smell to it, and the kids did not want to help shovel it, not that it stopped us from making them help.

William and the Train

Lyle added about 6 feet of track to our train this year (plus another car). Every time Lyle is near the train William is right there beside him. He really likes the train. Here he is being a tunnel for the train to go under.

As soon as Lyle walks in the door William says "Mama...Daddy... Choo Choo!" (Lyle is both mama and daddy).

One day I was doing dishes right after I took the kids to school and the babies were being too quiet. As I walked into the front room, William is standing by the train controls and has the train running in reverse, full blast. Some of the cars had already derailed but the engine was just pushing them along. He had flipped the switch to turn on the train and had started it up, after watching Lyle do it once!

We now unplug the train when we do not have it on. Lesson learned.

"Little Megan"

Josie LOVES my niece Megan, who is about 5 years older than her. We call her "Little Megan" (we would call Megan "Little Katy, after my sister whom she idealized). When we go to family gatherings she always wants to know if Megan will be there. The last time we got together Megan was not there and Josie was very upset.

While we were getting ready to go to Thanksgiving dinner at my sisters Josie asked if Megan was going to be there. I told her yes. She then stated that Megan "will probable want to do my hair and put make-up on"

When we got to my sisters I mention it to Megan and a short time later I could not find Josie. About one hour later Josie came down the stairs with hair and make-up done. She just looks too grown-up.

I am very glad that Megan is a great influence on her.

Cousin Pictures

Lyle's sisters and I would get pictures done of the cousins who were close in age. We have not done it in a couple of years. After Jared's baptism one of Lyle's sisters took them to get them done. Don't they look beautiful. The big boys.
I can't believe how big they have gotten. I'm sure pictures were much easier to take then the first couple of times.

"The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"

Josie had to do a diorama for her class on "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." She had to do it on her favorite part of the story. She also had to write a paper on why she chose that particular part and why it was her favorite.

This is when Lucy first came out of the wardrobe. She said that is was her favorite part because that is when all the excitement starts. She also drew a picture on her summery sheet but I was unable to get a picture because we were running late this morning. You can't tell in the picture but she used glitter glue on the trees so that they would look like they have snow on them.

I think she did a GREAT job.

RIP Dr. Pepper

Beautiful, lovely, heavenly, Dr. Pepper. How I will miss you so. We have become so attached since the beginning of the summer. You give me the wonderful energy that I need to get through the day. I look forward to you dark, syrupy, liquid everyday at lunch. Your bubbles rising to the top of my cup just waiting to be swallowed. But alas, it will only be a summer romance as I must move on. It was good while it lasted and I don't look forward to the headaches and lack of energy, but just like a band aid you must be RIPED from my life.

Sand Rail

On Saturday we went to my sisters house to celebrate Thanksgiving. Her husband bought a sand rail from a garage sale that morning. With a little bit of work the guys got it going. They took the older kids out for a ride in the desert but left the younger ones at home.

Before they left Lyle took our younger two for a ride. As you can tell William loved it at first but as soon as Lyle started up the engine and took off the tears started. Once it was off he wanted to get back in.

Anna on the other hand loved it from the beginning. I think she should have gone out with the older kids.

Christmas Tree

Every year when I see the stores and their Christmas Trees with all the same colors and ribbons flowing off of them I think, "I can't wait until the kids are gone and I will have a "Theme" Christmas Tree like the ones on display." Then we put up our tree and I see how excited the kids are to hang their decorations (They get a new ornament every year) then they add the other decorations, I don't think I would have it any other way.

My tree tells the story of our family. Wither it be the glass bulbs that have made it through kids and are still there from our first Christmas together when we couldn't afford a tree and some friends of ours bought our tree and all the trimmings. The ornaments that kids make every year at school. Or just looking back at the ornaments that we bought and why we bought them for that child. I LOVE looking at our Christmas Tree!