Thanks Auntie Lisa, Uncle Brett, Chandler and Hayley!!

Brody couldn't get enough of painting his new wooden birdhouse!

This is the perfect gift for Case except...

when Dad has to get all the missiles off the roof!

Christmas came early today when the mail woman delivered a big package from Texas!  It was the boys Christmas gifts from their cousins Chandler and Hayley.  They were so excited so I decided to let them open them early (way to go MOM!) Brody got a Birdhouse that he got to paint on his own.  Case got a missile launcher that you jump on and the missiles shoot up into the air.  Ledger got a cute tugboat that you play with in the bathtub.  All three boys got light up reindeer noses and finger flashlights...Too Cool!!  We love our cousins so much and will miss them this year!  Thanks for the great gifts girls!  You're the best!

Monkey Boy!

I've been so sick.  On Tuesday I woke up with the worst sore throat.  After a trip to the Doc, it was discovered I had strep throat.  No surprise since I could hardly stand up cause my lower back hurt so bad.  It was all I could do to not cry all day cause I was so achy, cold and tired.  I was given Amoxicillin since most other antibiotics make me sick to my stomach.  Apparently the Amoxicillin wasn't strong enough for this sore throat cause I feel like I have fire coming out of my ears and throat!  I cannot believe how bad my throat hurts! I called the Doc again this morning and he called me in a stronger prescription.  We'll see how I do on it!  

Enough of that!  Guess what Brody told me when I picked him up from school today?  "Mom I learned how to do the monkey bars today!"  I was shocked cause we had never worked on the monkey bars before.  We jumped out of the car and headed over to the kindergarten playground.  What do you know...Brody can do the monkey bars!  Way to go Bro!

It's beginning to look like Christmas around here...FINALLY!

The stockings were hung...

Our festive entryway!

There's reindeer in my flower pots!

Can you believe we are just starting to get out our Christmas decorations?  The late Thanksgiving and being at the cabin really messed us up this year!  We still don't have our tree decorated but are working on it!  I can't believe how late it is!  We've never done this before!  I had an "ah ha" moment yesterday while I was rummaging through the attic looking for all the Christmas decorations.  I think the reason that Christmas is not my favorite holiday is because I can't do any of the decorating on my own!  I am totally reliant on Jeremy and his schedule!  I can't get anything out of the attic due to the weight of the totes.  I can't put up the lights because even the tallest ladder isn't tall enough for my 5 foot 3 body! Our tree is too heavy for me to set up, the wreath is too big for me to even carry...it goes on and on!  I have to wait until Jeremy is ready to get in the attic and get everything down. All you wives out there know, this aint always easy!  Does anyone else run into this problem?  It's a pain but I love when it's all done.  Our house is looking so festive and pretty.  I just hope that I can get it all done before December 25th! 

Buds

Brody just finished his first week at his new school and he couldn't be happier.  The playground aide said to me yestersday morning as Brody was attacked by 8 little boys on the playground, "It's too bad Brody's had such a hard time making friends at his new school." I laughed and told her how happy it makes me to see everyone being so kind to him.  She then told me that her and the other recess aide talked yesterday and decided that they need to keep a close eye on Brody because his friends are borderline stalking him!  It's so fun for me as the mom to watch the excitement of his friends when he arrives at school each day.  Although it sometimes overwhelms him, I think Brody is pretty happy about all the attention!  

One of the reasons Brody has enjoyed his new school so much is because of this big guy, his buddy Jackson.  Brody and Jackson were born a week apart and have been buddy's since starting and graduating preschool together.  Jackson is so sweet and fun to play with.  Although he towers over Brody in his weight and height, these two boys have lots in common.  They both love Star Wars, video games, transformers, and playing outside.  They have been in the same swim class and hopefully they will be on the same T-ball team in the spring.  Although they are not in the same Kindergarten class this year, I know these 2 boys will be friends for years to come!  Thanks Jackson for being a great friend to Brody!  

You rock dude!

P.S.  Does anyone know why my whole post is underlined?  I don't!

Pinky hello's and a new beginning!

Brody at his new seat but looking a little unsure about what is going on!

Pinky hellos and still a little unsure!

Well today was a big day for us all.  Brody started at his new school.  The guilt and tears are overwhelming.  I think one of the hardest things about being a Mom is the decisions you make on your child's behalf each and every day.  You often think that you are making good choices for them by the friends you have them play with to the activities you sign them up for.  You hope that the way to you teach them and the lessons you instill in them are good ones and that they will remember them when they are in a situation that is not so positive. 

Today when I took Brody to school to meet his teacher, he was so excited.  Mrs. O is young, nice, and seems like she loves to teach.  The classroom is colorful and there was even a bathroom inside the classroom! There was a reading corner and cubbies to place backpacks and lunches.  After talking to the teacher for 20 minutes, it was time to head outside to line up and start the day.  After a calm morning, the panic set in and Brody started with all the questions..."Where do I line up?" "Where is my chair? "What do I do with my backpack?"  My heart ached thinking about him having to start all over with the rules and procedures of the classroom, let alone thinking of him making all new friends.  I walked with him outside to a line of Kindergartners who were really excited to see a new kid!  Even though the only  two kids we know are not in his class, he was so happy to see them lined up to go to their class.  Mrs. O. stopped the kids at the door and individually greeted them with a "pinky" hello (I loved this!)  I quickly grabbed my camera and began taking pictures (Sorry Brody).  I said my good bye's and left with a lump in my throat.  I walked outside to see my friend Libby and out came the tears.  She reassured me that he was going to be happy and that I had made the right decision (thanks Lib).  Since I didn't have any groceries, I wasn't able to send Brody to school with a lunch (heaven forbid we eat the cafeteria food!) I ran up to Bashas and got him some chicken tenders with ketchup, ran home to make him a napkin (this is a whole story in itself!) and headed back to school.  When I got there the Kindergartners were at morning recess.  All I could see on the playground was a group of boys following each other like a swarm of bees around the playground.  Guess who was in the middle?  The new kid...my Brody!  He immediately saw me and smiled that big goofy smile.  I motioned for him to come over but apparently that wasn't cool cause he acted as if he didn't see me.  I put his lunch and towel on his table and walked back to the playground.  Again I motioned for him to come over because I had his snack which he was supposed to be eating during recess.  He quickly ran over to me with that same goofy smile, politely said he didn't want a snack, and took off with the swarm.  An hour earlier I was loving, kind, helpful Mom, and now I'm interrupting play time at his new school!  I  couldn't be happier!  I hope the rest of his day will be a fun one and that he made lots of friends.  I hope my guilt will quickly diminish and I will feel reassured today at 3:00 that I have made the right decision for him.