WHEW!

Our first day of Christmas vacation! I thought it would never come! The month of December has been so busy I almost forgot I had a blog. Now we are out until January 8th so I can finally breathe. Rather than bore everyone with minute by minute details of the past three weeks, I thought I would hit the highlights starting with the Christmas parade.

Beechwood did "Peace Love and Christmas" for the city's Christmas Around the World Parade. We came in third in best in show. The first trailer featured different countries. Trevor dressed as a French boy with the Eiffel Tower. We have some very talented dads who built the tower, Big Ben, and a windmill! The second trailer was filled with hippies followed by a Volkswagon Beetle and lots more hippies carrying signs of the the word peace in different languages! It was so much fun!

Then the boys participated in the school Reading Fair. Mom helped Peyton with his board and I helped Trevor. They worked very hard and their efforts paid off! Trevor won first place in the first grade category and Peyton (one of only two pre-K to participate) won second place in the K-3 family category. Both boys will get to go to the district Reading Fair in January. I am so proud of them!

Peyton chose "No David" by David Shannon

Trevor chose "Pirates Don't Change Diapers" by Melinda Long and Illus. by David Shannon

Our Christmas Angel who insisted on wearing the beads to church despite my attempt to convince her they didn't match her pretty dress. If you look close at the tree you can tell that the kids decorated it! The ornaments are clumped together and mostly on the bottom. I think Morgan's branch has six ornaments! I wouldn't dare move them though. It's more special the way it is! Besides, when Gene did try to move one Morgan spazzed out!

Our next endevour was making cinnamon ornaments using cinnamon and applesauce. The house smelled delicious! Then we moved into sugar cookies and frosting! I think in all I (the kids gave up after about 2 dozen) mixed, cut, baked, and decorated almost a hundred homemade cookies for the kids classes. They were so yummy that the kid's classes have requested them for the next holiday! Maybe by then all the flour will be out of my hair!

Saturday was Christmas at my MawMaw's house. We had a great time visiting with everyone! I didn't take many picture but here is one of my family that my Aunt snapped for us.

Yesterday was the kids Christmas program at church. It was too cute! Trevor played King Herrod and I must say he got his Dad's acting ability! Peyton was the cutest Joseph I have ever seen! He was so sweet with his little wife. All of the children did a great job! Last night we Had Christmas here with Gene's Mom and sister. It went well and the kids had a great time playing with their cousins!

Now we are anxiously awaiting Santa! Gene has gone hunting and the kids have, until this second, done a great job of entertaining themselves. They have been bobbing for plastic food in one of my mixing bowls filled with water. Amazingly they thought to put towels down and have been careful to keep it off the carpet! Very creative I thought! Now they are ready to play with Moon Sand as they wait for Daddy to return so we can make a last minute visit to see Santa at the Bass Pro Shop! If I don't post again before Thursday, May you all have a blessed Christmas!

Merry Christmas

For the first time, in a very long time, I finished our Christmas cards the first week of December! Many people I don't have addresses for so since we don't want to leave anyone out...

Merry Christmas from the Rouses!

Sushi and Christmas Lights

Yesterday after school we headed to Jackson so Gene and I could satisfy our cravings for sushi. Yes - I, the super picky eater - love sushi. Not the raw kind mind you but, the steamed rolls. My favorites are spicy shrimp rolls and dynamite rolls! The kids figured out where we were headed before we told them. Trevor said,"Are we going to Nagoyas? We always stop at Wendy's on our way there." The kids take their own food but the boys like the soup (I think it tastes like dish water) and Morgan loves etamombi (sp?) aka steamed soy beans. After a delicious dinner we headed to Canton to see "City of Lights". We had no idea what to expect. I had just read about it on my friend Tyanne's blog so we thought we would check it out. We thought you just stayed in the car and rode around looking at lights. HA! We were all underdressed and froze to death but the kids loved riding the carousel and cars. They were disappointed to not get to ride the train but we didn't realize we would need cash! We are so use to using those debit cards we rarely have more than ten dollars! Needless to say, we had to promise to go back with more money and clothes! It was beautiful and we had a great time. The hot chocolate was awesome too! Since it was a last minute decission to go I had no camera! Atleast we are going back so I can get pics then. Thanks for the idea Tyanne! We are about to start getting ready for the Christmas parade. Trevor is on Beechwood's float and I am walking. Time to start layering those clothes! I'll post pics later!

Missing Christmas Tree?

I know, I know, who loses a 6.5 foot Christmas Tree? Only us! We sold our trailer a little over a year ago. Last Christmas we were between homes so we were living with my parents. We didn't get any of our decorations out since Mom had so many! Fast forward to Monday. Gene and I both stayed home with Morgan (who is recovering from Broncitis) so we went to our storage unit to get our decorations. There was no tree! After looking every where we could think, we concluded that we must have accidently left it in the shed at our old trailor. Hopefully the people that bought it haven't thrown it out. All of my ornaments are in the bottom of the box! Gene is trying to get in touch with them but we went Monday night to buy a new tree. It is our first pre-lit tree which was nice but not near as fun. I rather enjoyed watching Gene get dizzy as he walked around and around the tree! We tried to start a new tradition for decoration night. We listened to holiday music as we set out the nativity (my ceramic one from childhood and the kids Fisher Price one), stockings, decorated the porch, hung garland, etc. Then we ate dinner - a big pot of chili with cornbread. YUM! Later we put up the tree and decorated it with candy canes and the seven ornaments we collected last year. Afterwards we watched Mickey's Christmas Carol. Before bed, the kids decorated a small tree in the boys room with tiny ornaments. It was a great evening and the house looks great. The whole family is definitely in the Christmas spirit! We are trying to think of more new traditions to add. Any suggestions? Please share!

There are only four stockings for now. Morgan's stocking says Baby's First Christmas so we are looking for her a new one. I just haven't found the right one yet.

At Mistletoe I saw some of these long sleeve t-shirts that I loved! However, they wanted $35 for each shirt! I guess I have a little bit of my Momma in me because I said "Are you kidding? I can make that!" So Mom and I did! Here are just a couple we have done. We are working on Morgan a couple with her name and initials too. Total cost - $6 each!