Saturday, December 31, 2011

Christmas Finale

After attending church, we came home to prepare dinner for our Christmas with Rick's family. I have to say, it seemed like a long day.


Delaney playing photographer while I slave in the kitchen. :)


Thanks Papa for the new hoodies!

Ward grandchildren growing up so fast

I'm always sad when Christmas ends because I know that by the time we celebrate again, the kids will be another year older.  I know I say it often, but time just seems to be passing by so quickly.

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

a MERRY Christmas Morning

I think the boys beat Delaney up this year, which was a first.  It wasn't quite seven so they decided to take a quick peek before waking me up.  I of course rushed in with the camera to catch them discovering what Santa left them.  They then enjoyed opening a few gifts from us before heading off to church.








Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Cookies for Santa

Each year we make a batch of cookies. Delaney designed and decorated these cookies and proclaimed them to be her best ever. In her words, it was a well thought out plan rather than just throwing stuff on them. We typically put some of the sugar cookies out for all of our Christmas Eve guests to enjoy, but we always hide a few (in the microwave) to place out later for Santa. Well, last year, cousin Brian found the cookies in the microwave and began to eat them. This year, once again, we of course placed out some cookies for everyone to enjoy, but they looked just like the ones below. Everyone kept joking that the kids had purposely marked the cookies so Brian wouldn't eat them.
I'm not sure if Santa can eat all those cookies, but it sure looks like Bodie would like to give it a try.


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Christmas Eve

More good food, Sports Kinnect, & Dance Central make for another wonderful Christmas Eve.One of these days, I'll actually take some pictures of the adults so it doesn't appear that all holidays are unsupervised.









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Holiday Card

Due to some major procrastination, I almost didn't get cards out, but at the last minute I had some printed. I felt sort of obligated since our photographer had photgraphed this picture specifically for that purpose.  It was literally down to the wire, so I know I didn't get as many out as planned. So, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the WARDS!
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Christmas Eve Breakfast

The kids were up before seven and excited to head over to Uncle Patrick and Aunt Julie's for our first Christmas event.  Lucky for them, we didn't arrive until nine, but I'm thinking a sleep over that their house for the kids next year is definite order!






Good memories, good food, and those spoiled, lucky kiddos received many items on their wish list.

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Monday, December 26, 2011

December the 23rd

It was big bake day, which the kids look forward to each year and this year was no different. Before we could begin baking the kids insisted on finding their Santa hats and aprons.  Apparently, it's important to look the part.  (Nana, I'm not sure they will fit next year). 

Baylor said, "I think I'll drop out this year. I'll help next year." Funny guy.  He hasn't helped in several years; this is definitely Jax and Delaney's territory.
They are yelling, "Ready, Set, Bake!"

 It wasn't long before Delaney suggested we turn on Polar Express for a little additional entertainment. That of course inspired requests for hot chocolate. Of course, Baylor was happy to participate in these activities. 
Jax's enthusiasm only lasted about an hour but Delaney hung pretty strong until almost the end.  I don't blame her; I was ready for it all to end. 


We ended our day with delicious Mexican food and then attended, Celebration With Family. It was a great, even better, "free" family night and the kids loved it. The kids laughed hysterically at the comedy acts, the music was uplifting, and it was great to hear the biblical Christmas Story. Walking out, Delaney requested that it be one of our traditions each year.

It was what you call one of those "almost" perfect days.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Relay Wrapping

The kids were excited and anticipating their school Christmas party for over a week. Their teacher told them to practice wrapping presents and of course Delaney took that assignment quite seriously. I guess this worked in my favor in getting some wrapping accomplished.

 The race was boys vs. girls, which involved a kleenex being wrapped 16 times. Due to uneven numbers, Rick stepped up to volunteer and be a part of the boys team.  The neatest wrapped present at the end would win.  However, the boys felt it was more of a race.


 Let's just say the boys' present was quite the mess by the time it arrived to Rick and his student partner.  Somehow, he recruited Todd to lend a hand and they tried to salvage the present by smashing it down and using half a roll of tape, before adding the final wrapping layer.

 In case your wondering, the winner was of course... the girls.
According to the class reaction when Jax showed up to the party, you would have thought Jax had missed a week of school instead of just a day in a half, but it was nice to know he had so many concerned and caring friends.

Please...No Gown

Jax has suffered with sinus infections for the past several years but this year was particularly severe.  Since the beginning of school in August, he has been on five antibiotics.  As soon as he would finish a round of antibiotic, he would be sick and miserable again.  After a CT scan in November, it was decided that he had blockage and would need turbine reduction (sinus surgery).  Jax is quite fearful of needles and kept asking if it would hurt.  We did our best to ease his fears.

Thursday we arrived at the hospital, and he was in good spirits and relatively calm.  However, that seem to change as we were placed in a room and he was told to "gown-up."   He jumped off of the bed and crouched behind a chair stating, "I don't want to wear that."  We coaxed him back on to the bed and decided we would wait for the goofy juice.  He received the goofy juice and we kept him occupied by telling him stories.  He became very relaxed to the point of almost falling asleep when the nurse requested we change him.  As soon as we began to change him into the gown, he grew very agitated, once again.  He did not want to wear the gown and he caused a scene.  The anesthesiologist came in and said, he didn't have to wear it so we stripped him.  He was wheeled away telling us in slurred speech, "I can't believe your doing this to me."  This kind of breaks a mamma's heart.

According to the doctor Jax was the worst case of the day and was in desperate need of the surgery. He's very hopeful that this will resolve some of his problems, if not all.  It took him a while to come out of the anesthesia.  The hospital gown which was still on his hospital bed, somehow got tangled into his IV cord.  As soon as he came to, he could see that gown and he kept shaking his arm, trying to get it off of him.

Recovery has had its up and down moments.  He didn't sleep well the first evening but on Friday he chose to go to his school Christmas party and seemed to have a good day in general.  But last evening was particularly rough.  I'll spare all the gory detail.  He's still a little puny this morning but we are hoping he feels much better soon.

On the up side, no one has prayed for Jax more than his sister and brother.  They have been so quick to serve him or get him anything he needs when he doesn't feel well.  Now, that makes a mamma's heart happy!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Tis the Season

Although, I am way behind, we've been up to our usual Christmas activities. I'm sure if our life were a book, we would be boring and predicatable by now, but to my intended audience, kids, here's what we've been up to.

We actually put up the tree the day before Thanksgiving.  Our drama for the day came when I had to get up in the attic to bring down the Christmas bins and tree.  While bringing down the tree, the box handles broke and it toppled to the ground.  Luckily, no one was injured but for a moment we were a bit fearful for the tree.  Jax, immediately requested we pray for no damage, while Delaney scolded him for praying for something so insignificant.  This fear of course steams from the fact that about four years ago, the kids decided to jump all over the Christmas tree breaking a very small but significant piece.

Once again, it was quite an enjoyable experience.  With three helpers, the tree is up before I even know it.  I had some great video of the kids rock'n around the Christmas tree, but it refuses to load. Grrr...

Moving on to the first weekend in December, which was quite busy. Friday evening, Delaney danced in the Sand Springs Christmas parade.  Just as it was looking to be a great winter evening and we hit the actual parade route, it began to rain.  It was more than sprinkles but not a heavy down pour. We certainly weren't prepared and we got a little wet and cold but survived.  In the end, it could have been much worse.

 And, I can't possibly go without mentioning that on Saturday evening, OSU earned the title of Big 12 Champions and beat that other team. (It's history)  Baylor was very kind and offered to go in "my place" since it was going to be cold.  I actually missed them a lot and wished they could have been there with us.  Delaney and Baylor were texting from their iTouch during the first half of the game. Then, we didn't hear from them so I assumed they went to bed. It turned out that it was all a part of to their master plan, in making me think they went to bed, even though they stayed up to watch the game.  Sneaky kids! 

 Sunday, after church, we visited Santa and everyone put in their request.  Later in the week, the elves visited leaving pajamas.  While I'm a fan Christmas pajamas, I guess the elves know what excites your more.  Jax exclaimed, "These are the best pajamas ever!" and Delaney was thrilled to have new "smelly" pajamas.
 This past weekend, we attended the Skiatook Christmas parade and ran into many friends.

This week a little baking and Christmas parties are on tap.  Tis the season..