Rockin' out

Rock Band. Do you know it? Do you love it?


I got my first taste of Rock Band on Christmas Day. My cousin Haley got it for one of her children as a gift, and the rest of the family certainly reaped the game-playing benefits! We had so much fun. I am a true music lover, and have played guitar hero many times--but this game takes it one step higher and adds drums (much harder than it may first appear!) and a microphone to sing along.


I'm officially addicted. Well, as addicted as you can be to something you don't have.


And, by the way, I refuse to personally own any games of this nature....'cause I've just got too many other things to do. I know that I would possibly never get anything done with this game under my roof. I can barely pass my piano without sitting down to play "just one song" and ending up being there for 20 minutes!


Our band throughout the day consisted of:

Cameron--he didn't much care for the song of choice at this moment
Cameron was on lead vocals (singing, most of the time, Go, Tell it on the Mountain), Daddy was on guitar and Mommy and E were on drums

Haley and Colin took over on drums for a while

It's not pretty....but I'm posting it anyway. Not my finest hour, but....

I even tried to sing and play guitar all at once. I was barely successful, at best.

"What, Mommy? What? Oh, no, no....I did most certainly NOT just steal this microphone out of Colin's hand!"

Colin definitely enjoys the guitar the best.

I am going to have to start that child on some real lessons!

Switcharoo--Jason now on vocals. (I must say.....it was somewhat difficult to concentrate on drums through my laughter....) Seriously, Jason-- it was the best version of "Wanted: Dead or Alive" I've ever heard. Really.

What you don't see is Jason singing.

What you do see is Haley and Shane trying to play through Jason's singing!

Concentrate.....concentrate.....

I can't wait until New Year's Eve--our friends who just happen to own Rock Band and Guitar Hero and are going to bring it are going to come over and we're going to have a great time JAMMING OUT all night just sitting around and talking--whoo hoooo!

Christmas Fun

We had such a wonderful Christmas. I think it may have been one of the best ones ever.

Okay, okay. I say that every year. But this Christmas just seemed especially wonderful to me. This year, more than I believe I ever have been, I am just so thankful to God for this season. Thankful for what this season means. Thankful for all the 'things' God has blessed our family with. Christmas day just reflected that for me all around--spending time with my hubby and my boys, my mom, and my extended family; opening gifts that really seemed to have some actual thought behind them; playing games and laughing like crazy; it was just all around a wonderful day.

We woke up to the boys--Colin in particular--whispering (sort-of) in their room: "I think it's Christmas....yeah, it's Christmas!" All three of them came and snuggled in our bed for a few short minutes, and then the gift bug bit and they all wanted to go and see what Mommy and Daddy had put under the tree.

Cameron got his favorite movie--The Fox and the Hound!

(*Yay for library book/video sales!*)
Ethan got Wall-E

(*Yay for $15 off at CVS!*)
Colin got one of his new favorite "big-boy" movies--National Treasure! He is really into watching non-cartoon movies, and this one was a real hit with him when we watched it a couple of months ago. He got both the first and the second one.

(*Yay for Family Video selling their used movies for $7!*)

This is his, "Heeeeeyyyyy....I got the Treasure Movie!!!" look.
Ah, a new tradition--hide one gift that is meant for all three boys at the top of the bookshelf, and keep them guessing as to what it is until all the other presents are opened.

It drove them crazy, but they loved it!

The gift? A four-lane racing speedway!

It was immediately out of the package and put to use.

After the boys opened their gifts, we headed into the kitchen to bake some fresh Christmas cookies for my 89-year-old Grandma. She used to make these cookies for me every Christmas when I was a little girl. Of course, she let me help; and she let me think that I was doing most of the work. They always have been and always will be my very favorite cookies, and now I have the privilege of baking them for her.

And, of course, letting the boys help.

And letting them think they were doing most of the work.

Rolling out the dough

Adding the icing and the sprinkles
A little while later, my mom came over and we all opened gifts together.

Ethan's new ginormous dump truck. His whole entire body can actually fit inside the dump part! You just gotta love Tonka.

Mommy's new Bare Escentuals! (I heart BE)

The boys all generously helped me open my presents. Ethan, in particular, was so much fun to watch. Last year, he was a bit young to be too into all the gift opening, but this year, it was all he cared about! Not the items inside, mind you....just the opening part. This kid simply wanted to rip paper! It was so cute.
A new sweatshirt from my mom

Me and my boys. I love this picture.
Shane and his new duds from my mom

Colin digging literally all the way under the tree for Grandma's present

Grandma liked her gift!

Then it was off to my Aunt's/Grandma's house for more family time.

The boys got a VSmile VMotion and 2 games from Granny--they were so excited!

(Our very first gaming system....oh, boy. Here we go.)
My big boy and my sweet cousin Haley--she's more like a sister to me!

Trouble with a capital T!

All the big boys in one spot, most likely plotting an attack of some nature

Me and my mom

All in all, as I said, it was a wonderful day. I just love, love, love Christmas!

How could someone possibly be this dumb?

Someone needs to track this person down and beat them senseless. Or, maybe I should say that someone should beat some sense into them. Yes, yes....that would be much more accurate.

A real, honest-to-goodness Craigslist posting:

CAT FOUND!!

"I found this guy the other day on my back porch. I tried feeding him and it turns out that he is not very friendly because i think he may be scared. Not quite sure the breed but I am assuming he is part Siamese. I have him in a crate because he is not really house broken. If he is yours please reply."

I've said it before and I'll say it again. You just can NOT make this stuff up. This has to be a joke, right? Right?

Typical Cameron

Out of Cameron's mouth

said to Colin

when Colin was doing something that Cameron apparently didn't care for:

"Colin, stop that. You're making me annoying."

Music from Christmas Eve

This year, I had the privilege of directing the children's choir at our church for the Christmas program. The kids did so well! They sang four songs and recited several different verses; there were also a few different speaking parts.

Colin recited Luke 2:11--"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

(Oh my goodness, it was so cute and he did soooooo good! *Ahem*.)

The favorite song of all the children (including my own) by far was this one--"Go, Tell It on the Mountain." Here is a small snippet of it from the program. When it goes into the second chorus, you can actually hear Colin if you know his voice and listen for him! Both boys really sang out well and did a great job.

Cameron is sitting in the front row (in black, with a tie, mind you) and Colin is behind him to the right in a gray sweater. The boys' cousin, Mason, is next to Colin in the red sweater. Enjoy!

I love Mr. Postman

He brought me lots of Christmas cards this year, which I love....but Tuesday, he also brought me this mysterious box....

"Who could this be from?" I thought to myself....and then I saw the return label.

Julie!!

Oh my goodness....a gift from one of my favorite bloggie friends.

What could it be?
Oooh, something in bubble wrap. That means it must be good...

And, when I got it out, this is what I found: 2 very cool tall Starbucks mugs (which have inside meaning between the two of us) and my all time favorite drink--Peppermint Hot Chocolate!--with a note that said:

"Dev--since we may never get to go together in real life....Merry Christmas!"

Thanks a million Julie--what an awesome gift. I love it!

So, when am I treating you to Starbucks in real life?!?

Christmas Wishes

From our family

to yours....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Food can't do that....or can it?

Most families, I'm sure, have a word for "passing gas."

Ours is "pooter."

It's been our word since I was a little girl. Shane doesn't really care for it *grin* but it is better than the alternatives: fluff....putz....toot....etc.

So, today at lunch, Colin asked me to make one of his favorites--Triscuits with melted cheese.

I used a different kind of cheese than I normally do, 'cause we were out of the other kind....and this new cheese did some odd things in the microwave. I took the plate of crackers out, and the cheese was bubbling and popping all over the place. Odd, to me, because it hadn't even been in there very long.

I set the plate down in front of Colin, and we both watched.

Suddenly, one of the bubbles popped and made a pssssss sound.

And Colin pointed at the Triscuit and, as seriously as someone could be, he said,

"Mom. This Triscuit just pootered."

Olivia turns ONE!

Happy Birthday sweet Olivia....

Uncle Shane, Auntie Dev, Colin, Cameron and Ethan all send giant kisses for you!

We love you!

Mommy vs. Daddy

Every kid does it at some point.

But Cameron hasn't yet....that is, until last night.

We were all sitting together--all five of us, on the couch, lined up this way: Daddy on one end, then Colin, Ethan, and Mommy, and then Cameron on the opposite end--watching a movie together as a family. The boys love when we do this--they call it a "family movie."

The family movie of choice last night, by the way, was KungFu Panda.

We were all sitting and watching, when all of a sudden Cameron excitedly shouted to Shane (and I'm thinking to myself, "Goodness, he's on the other end of the couch, Cami, not on the other end of the house.....):

"Daddy!? Can I have some popcorn?"

And Shane replied,

"No, Cameron....we just ate dinner. Just sit and watch the movie."

To which, Cameron looked up at me with big, sad blue eyes and frowned.

Then, he leaned over, put his little arm around my neck and pulled me in close for what I thought was a cuddly little hug....until he put his lips directly on my ear and whispered,

"Mommy....can I have some popcorn?"

Little sneak.

And so it begins....

Christmas at Thanksgiving

Our family does "Christmas at Thanksgiving", like many families do. Here was our present opening session, in pictures!

Reese, smiling at the thought of some goodies coming her way!
Everyone gathering around, watching Cameron open his choo-choo set

Pretty sure he loved it!

Reese modeling her new PJ's

Callen got a new light-up noise-maker of some sort :-)

And Karie was thinking, "Oh great, something else that needs batteries...."

Olivia's new outfit and Veggie Tale movie

Cameron's new "my first scooter" from Grandma and Grandpa.

And, did you know that scooters are not necessarily an outdoor toy? Cameron has officially convinced me of it. He can ride up and down our hallway at the speed of light. (We just won't talk about the little nicks and dents he is leaving in Daddy's new drywall....)

And, Grandma and Grandpa were wise enough to purchase the matching CARS helmet and elbow pads. I'm pretty certain, knowing my sweet and generally not-so-gentle son (think bull in a China shop), that those safety items will be more heavily used than the actual scooter


E's new GIANT bulldozer (this is a great gift for a boy around 2, if you still have some shopping to do!) that he can be found pushing all over the house at any given time during the day

Oh, yes....and Grandma and Grandpa have officially turned Colin into a gamer with this wonderful Vtech Vsmile Cyber Pocket. He LOVES this thing! I love it too, 'cause he doesn't realize that he is learning while he is playing--I'm sneaky like that

Thanksgiving week always comes and goes so quickly, but it is the most wonderful time!