The Star Wars Ship

For Daniel, a.k.a. Benjamin's daddy, who wanted to see the Star Wars ship.
See, it's the...... uhmmm.... pointy one.

Lego Tire Shop

Micah got a bunch of Legos for Christmas-- the big kids kind. They've been getting a lot of play, but he got really into it today and wanted me to help him build a tire shop, where Clone Troopers go to get their tires fixed.

xiao mao

Here's some pics in honor of the first word Gabi learned from her Mandarin dictionary.

Sacagawea Double Takes

Over the summer, we read a book about Sacagawea, the American Indian girl who helped guide Lewis & Clark's expedition west. Gabi was enthralled and asked for an Indian girl costume for Christmas so she can dress up as Sacagawea. She is such a lucky girl that she got two costumes! Both will get plenty of use, I'm sure.

Wii Had a Merry Christmas

Now let me tell you what- we had a great Christmas. There were candies, a boat for Barbies, Transformers, Legos, glitter chapstick, costumes, books, DVDs, Webkinz, clothes.... all sorts of awesome things. But if you would have walked into our house at pretty much any time today, this what you would have seen: people in pajamas playing Wii. Wii got Wii Fit, High School Musical sing-along (which I totally rock), Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones, Mario Kart, Mater's Race, Wall-E Wii and a Wii Skiing game, plus all kinds of Wii accessories. Wii really are having a Merry Christmas!

'twas the night before Christmas.....

...when just home from church, 2 children were scurrying with a jump and a lurch.

A huge cookie and milk were laid out with care,

in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there.

The children shared a big one-

They knew Christmas was near!

Then out to the back porch with snacks for reindeer...

When up in the sky, Gabi spied a bright light!

She pointed out Rudolph's red nose in sight.

Distraught at thought of being found still awake,

a rush to tub the children did make.

The children soon nestled all snug in their beds,

while visions of Star Wars and Webkinz danced in their heads.

Christmas Eve Gift!

MiMi, Poppy, and Aunt Pet came to visit us on Christmas Eve, and came carrying a Santa-worthy load of goodies to go around. We had an Italian feast of lasagna (hooray for Stouffers) and some of MiMi's delish chocolate pie. Among the highlights were a new camera that I'm learning how to use, lots of wii games (more on that to come) , legos, another Indian girl dress, a piano keyboard for Gabi, a pile of Webkinz, and a Star Wars ship that I am not male enough to identify.




After some great family time together, we went to church together. Our family always does the lighting of the Christ candle on Christmas Eve (the perk of being the pastor's family)-- a special added bonus came this year with Gabi being old enough to read part of the meditation. She read it loud and clear.

Christmas with the Fendleys

We celebrated Christmas with my side of the family this weekend. As I sit here I am wearing a "Save Ferris" t-shirt, from one of my favorite movies. I also got other fun stuff like palette knives, fair trade jewelry, a steam mop, and a purse made from recycled newspapers. Blake is getting a new suit. But what you're really here for is to see the kids, right? Well, here you go:

Micah the Clone Trooper

Gabi and cousin Jessie being twinsies

(Gabi also got a very cool Sacajawea costume and Micah got the coolest car you've ever seen- I'll show you that stuff soon.)

We had so much fun, we jumped for joy! Or at least PaPa Jack and Gabi did!

Elf Yourself!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I Sat in Santa's Lap

My moms' group had a fun little Christmas party for the kids this week. We did crafts and decorated cookies and has a great fun!

I got to sit in Santa's lap because Micah decided he wasn't so sure about Santa even though he was happy to see a different Santa last week Three year olds are finicky. This is our Santa friend who goes by the name of Richard the rest of the year- he was a friend of my late grandpa. A really nice guy to grab his jolly suit on a Wednesday morning and come pose for pictures with our little group. Does sitting in Santa's lap mean I get extra presents?

Here's most of the crew who made it to the party- some great moms and some of Micah's best buddies. This is only about half of our moms- 'tis the season for sick kids.
It was a fun time together!

Flashback

Indulge me in this little trip through the space-time continuum to Christmas 2005 when Gabi was just about the same age as Micah is now.

In Micah's Imagination

This is what was happening during the photoshoot.


(I photoshopped the light saber into his hand.
But making the jedi sound effects all by himself he was.)

More from the Ice Day Photo Shoot

We had an ice day today- no school but no snow, so you can't call it a Snow Day. Anyway- being that we haven't been and aren't going to be home any weekends in December, it seemed a good time to try and get a Christmas picture. These were some of the good, bad, and silly. Note that Micah had to be bribed to get the photos you see here, whereas Gabi wanted me to take more and do some costume changes so there are more pics of her.

Pretend you are opening your mailbox...

...and you pull out a lovely card with this picture on it.

We Wish Your Family a Very Merry Christmas!

There, now wasn't that a lovely Christmas card from the Bradfords? So nice of them to save you the trouble of having to walk to mailbox to get it, huh?

Does Santa Like Cherries?

In case you don't read first grader, Gabi's letter to Santa says, "I want so badly a Lil'Kinz hummingbird, pretty please with a cherry on top."

Micah's School Picture

This is a couple of months old, but I'm just getting around to scanning it- Micah's Honeybee school pic.

Santa's Visit to Church

Santa visited our church this week. The kids were excited.

Everything was going fine, all smiles for the pictures.

Then (you'll have to forgive the background noise), Santa asks what they want for Christmas. Don't worry, Santa, Gabi has come prepared!



Yeah, she brought a list. For her and her brother. She asked for "a Chineez book, a Lil'Kinz Humming Bird, and a Barbie bote" while Micah asked for a "clone trooper costum, a lite saber, and DoNuts."

Micah likes Santa because he has candy.

Random funny things they say.....

Gabi is planning to join a rock band. She says her job will be pretending to play a guitar while the CD plays the music behind her. And she might write some songs.


As I was pulling out the bank drive-through after making my transaction, Micah and I had this conversation about the contents of the canister:
Micah: Are there suckers?
Mommy: No, not this time.
Micah: Are there stickers?
Mommy: Nope, sorry.
Micah: Then what's in there?!
Mommy: Money.
Micah: Oh man! I don't love that.


We were riding in the car and Gabi was trying to pick something up, but couldn't reach it. Micah had an easy solution: "Sissy, use the force!"

My head is spinning!

No, wait, that's my Christmas tree that's spinning. Yes, indeedy, we are the kind of fancy folk who have rotating holiday cheer. I had no clue when I bought this tree in the 75% off clearance last January that it spun... I just knew it was the right size, pre-lit, and hopefully wouldn't have quite so many branches in need of duct tape repair as the tree Blake and I have had since Denver. The old tree made it through 3 moves, 2 kittens who napped on it's branches, and 2 babies who pulled up on it. Ah, it was a good tree. But back to the story.... we pulled the new tree out today and discovered that it spins! How awesome is that? It made my day. The kids had fun decorating the spinning tree, too.