Visits with Santa

 
 
 
 

The Basement from Start to (Almost) Finished :)

 

 

 

 

Report Card Time

 Parent teacher conference was recently upon us and I think it's one of those things that most parents look forward to or dread. I think I need to start by saying how much I completely and totally love my boys' teachers. Love them! Spencer's PTC was just an amazing review of what a great kid he is. He had a 4.0 GPA and was excelling at math. His teacher even said he and one of the other girls in the class were bored with what they were doing, but they also tend to challenge each other when they are working on bigger math problems. I have noticed that the last few years, all of his teacher have instilled some kind of 'love' of a subject in him. His 3rd grade teacher gave him a love of science, his 4th grade teacher helped him to completely fall in love with math and this year, his teacher has helped him love to read. He is reading scary books about vampires and warewolves but still, he's reading and enjoying it. His teacher told us this year that he is just a great kid, you can tell he loves his family and he is starting to blossom with his guitar playing. We also talked a lot about up coming and ongoing programs and events. They are participating in the D.A.R.E program now, the 'birds and the bee's' program soon, and whatever else comes next in a 5th graders life. I am so excited to see all the things he is going to get to learn about. He's a great kid :)
 Now, onto my little Adam. When I sat down, the teacher started to talk to me about how great Adam is doing in math and science. So well in fact that he has become lazy about reading and writing. He is reading at a high basic/ low proficient level. And his writing has been less than stellar and at times seems overwhelming for him. However, his art work/illustrations totally rock. So, when his teacher and I talked about how to help him, I mentioned at home (cleaning his room) when he feels overwhelmed we have to break things down to 'Ok Adam, lets pick up your books, now lets work on your toys, next let's try the clothes, ect.....) She said she would work on that with him and Todd and I have tightened our night time routine to include a little more one on one time with Adam and his reading. Hopefully, if we can build up some confidence in him, the rest will follow. Now that we were done with the 'hard stuff to talk about' she told me that Adam is a joy to have in class. He's extremely funny and always entertaining. She had nothing but good things to say about him in every other aspect. He is also a great kid. YAY!!!!!! I am beginning to think that Todd and I just might be doing ok with all these babies :)

Sara and Kyzer Sittin' in a um...... Entertainment Center!

 My sweet little Sara is a sweet little cheese ball. I love when her hair in done up in piggy tails and today I had to put some big ol' honkin' flowers in her hair too. She looked so cute. She also insisted on wearing a dress and while it's not to cold yet, it's still and bit nippy outside. So, I dug out some cute tights and she she was ready to go for the day, spiffy hair do and all. Here's a picture of my friend Sala's little guy Kyzer. Sala and I get to go to breakfast frequently with our little ones while our older kids are at school.
 It's nice to have a grown up conversation with her in the middle of the day. It breaks up the monotony of Dora and Princess movies :) Anyway, Sara and Kyzer are buddies and I had to take a picture of them being silly little buggers.

Sweet Angel Lamb

 

That's right, I said it. She is a sweet angel lamb. Complete with the amazing ability to apply Mommy's longwearing lipstick and waterproof mascara like a pro. I especially thought the mascara swipes down her tummy, side and her booty were a nice touch and an added element most girls don't think of. I am such a proud Mommy. What an amazing artist.

All Hallows Eve 2009

 As the kids get older, Halloween takes on a fun new chapter with the kids. Every year, they begin to think of 'different' things to be. This year, Spencer has been into reading scary books. One of his favorites has a werewolf named Jack. Spencer decided that he was going to be Jack coming out of transformation from a werewolf, hence the torn up clothes. Spencer also felt like he was a redhead and spray painted his hair red. (Ummm... yes, Spencer is already a redhead :) I thought he did a great job with using his imagination to inspire his original costume.
 Adam's costume started out by being 'Snake Eyes' from the GI JOE movie, but ended up being more like a ninja, vampire, scary GI JOE guy. I can't remember exactly how he put it, but it was something like that :) I love how he also uses his imagination to become whatever he has decided to be. Just add some green vampire teeth to a GI JOE, possibly some kind of ninja costume and voila` you are a ..... whatever Adam was.
 Miss Lily was witch, the same witch costume from last year. She wanted a 'vampress' costume, but they are expensive and this costume already fit her fabulously. So with a little bribery with some new sparkly shoes, she decided being a witch again was an ok thing. Plus she can wear the shoes for the rest of the school year. Her only other request was that she could wear make up. I love putting make up on her. She just eats it up. She was such a cute little witch.
 Sara was originally supposed to be a ladybug. Lily had the same costume when she was little, but Sara keep telling me the the 'ladybug scary'. So, we decided to try her princess dress on her from last year. It was a little snug but fit her fine. I added her cute tights and a big flower and she was a Flower Princess. When I took this picture, it cracked me up that she needed to put her leg up like the boys did. And she was holding her sucker. It was so cute.

 

Before Trick or Treating

 

 

Trick or Treating at Grandma's house.

 

Todd had gotten off Graveyards Halloween morning and was extremely tired, but managed to keep up with the babies while they were collecting candy.

 

Trick or treating all aroud the nieghborhood. So much fun.

 

 

 

Lily's Halloween Party

So, Sara Rose and I got to go to Lily's Halloween Party with her at Miss Holly's. I think the pictures say it all.
 
 
 
 

Elly May Sparkles Rose Whitebeard

 Meet the newest member of our family. Elly May Sparkles Rose Whitebeard. The name derives from some concoction of Barbie movies and Pirate shows :) She is actually Lily's kitty, but we are all head over heals in love with her. She's just the sweetest little thing. It's actually surprised me how she loved she is. Spencer has been a massive Mommy to the kitten. He and Lily have gotten into battles over who can hold her. He wants to make sure that Elly is getting the proper amount of sleep and nutrition. Not to mention limited holding time from everyone. He is worried the kitten will die from to much snuggle/holding time.
 As you can see, I usually let Lily win and Elly sleeps right with Lily. It's so sweet. I just love how much happiness she has brought to all of us. Sweet, long named Barbie/Pirate Kitty :)

Booty Shakin' and Tumbling

 I thought I would post some cute pictures of Miss Lily at her dance/tumbling class. This year she moved to a little older class and has been doing well with learning the new dance moves. Her teacher says she is doing really well with it too. She sure knows how to shake her little booty-licious :) I have to say that I am extraordinarily happy that she is learning constructive dance moves and not always copying them off of music videos. Although, she can do a mean Beyonce, Brittany and Lady Gaga (yes, she is a big favorite at our house:) impression.
 Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'. Lily keeps on rollin'. Rawhide! Tumbling is also going really well this year. She absolutely loves it.
 This year Lily is continuing to master some basic tumbling skills. Summer salts, backwards summer salts, cartwheels, rolling, that kind of thing. Some of them she totally rocks at and others she is working on. She does cartwheels everywhere, no matter where she is at, she is constantly practicing. You know, home, the neighbors, the store.....
 Anyway, I think she is doing a fabulous job learning all the new stuff she is learning. She is such a beautiful little girl. I look at her everyday and think that we are in in big trouble as she gets older. (I am hoping that we can purchase a gun soon to keep the boys at bay.) But I am so happy that she is building her confidence by enjoying and being good at shakin' her booty. That girl just makes my heart swell with pride when I see her in action. Because that girl just shines :)

Just Chillin' with Daddy

 

 

 

Bedtime Story

 

First Snow of the Year :)

I'm sorry I'm so far behind with this one. It snowed a few weeks ago and I wanted to grab a few picutres of it. I really don't mind winter, although I hate wearing anything but my flip flops and driving on bad roads, other than that, it's not so bad :)