Night before Christween?!?

Why does Julie decide to wear Halloween clothes all the time? This was taken the night before Christmas. Silly girl.

Cut-out cookies

I think I had more fun than the kids making holiday cookies for all our friends. It took all day walking around the village delivering them but we really enjoyed it.

In the spirit of things

I tried any different poses for our Xmas cards but they all didn't really work just right. Julie was an angel and Audric was a king for their school plays. Julie decided I needed my picture taken too. We ended up with a nice family picture of us in front of an English phone booth.



Christmas tree

Making her list

Setting up the tree

Decorations are out and up

 Can't forget the train

Already with presents under the tree

Thanks Giving 2011

Thanks giving was something different this year. After moving and unpacking we were not in the mood to cook a large dinner. I was looking forward to skipping Thanksgiving all together. Audric had school so I looked at it as time Tim and I could spend together. Of course it didn't work out and he had to play American football with his work so we all decided to go and watch. I had so much fun talking with friends and seeing the kids having a good time we changed our plans to go to his work's Thanksgiving held at a real home and not a squadron. It really felt like family being with friends, meeting new ones and having the kids running around. The food was wonderful; we had a great time.

We did have plans to do a potluck dinner with friends that weekend so the stress of making dinner was reduced to one dish. Tim got his hand stepped on by a 200lbs cleated foot during football. And I can't make a Thanksgiving dinner if Tim isn't around to wash the dishes.

I can't believe how mad I am at Julie...

What a nice night. I barely had to make dinner because a sweet friend brought over meatballs with sauce. My chores were already done and overall things were just peaceful. My mood however, did a 180 when I found a nicely cut, chunck of  Julie's hair hiding in a drawer. The pain was fast and sharp. I knew she had lied to me when I noticed the hair missing from her head. But the proof in front of me and the fact that she was so convincing that she didn't do it was too much.  This is the first time a lie from my kids hurt so bad. I could see it on her face right away that she knew she had been caught. She's smart, I have to give her that. As I stared at her in disbelief she got down from her chair in slow motion, headed to make a run for it.

 "Julie" I said.
 "Are you going to cut my hair" she stopped and shouted.

My mind went over the many conversations we have had about not using scissors on hair and what would happen if she cut her own hair.

"Please don't cut my hair like a boy. I won't go outside if you do".

How could I not follow through with what I said would happen to her if she cut her hair. I looked for a loop-hole and found one.

"I will talk to your dad tonight and let you know what we decide. Right now you need to try and make me happy by eating your food".

Loop hole: we said we would cut her hair like Audric's after we had already found some hair missing. Now that I have her in a lie I will use it to get her to let me brush, braid and fix her hair more often.

Am I still mad at her? Yes. Does it hurt so bad? No, not since I've read an email that says Netflix is avalible in the UK now and I get a month free! 

Toby's in Town

Toby is our "elf on the shelf" that comes to visit every December and hops a ride back with Santa to the north pole on Christmas. This year Toby came early and with a gift from Santa. We didn't bring our TV with us because it wouldn't work here. Santa felt so bad for us and we have been so good this year; thus far. 

We love our new 42"LED. I don't really like how everything looks so sharp because I want it to feel like a movie and not like I'm in a room with the actors. I'm not complaining, just saying.  

The kids love having Toby here. Every night he goes to the north pole and tells Santa if the kids are good or bad and flies back by morning in a different hiding spot. The kids love to find him and talk to him mostly about how bad their brother and sister are being. We thought it was a good idea for Toby to come early because the kids were getting a little out of control and we use him ask a threat. Plus it was a way to explain the TV. Sometimes Toby forgets to go to the North pole but Audric always says he just liked the same spot.