Christmas fun

Every year we enjoy the Staley kid's party. The little ones can have their face painted, get ballon animals from a clown and visit with santa and receive a gift. The older ones enjoy some games of BINGO with a chance to win DVD's, Mason and Emilee both won this year. When they played the final game of blackout for a chance at a Walmart $150.00 gift card, Emilee had only 2 spaces left when someone else won. Everyone also brings a toy that is donated to local families.

This year we joined in the homeschool gingerbread house party. Every family gets their own gingerbread house kit and everyone brings something to share for the decorating. I learned my kids are not very good about working together. But all in all we had a fun time.

Andrew had more fun playing with his friend Kyle, but he also had some ideas of his own for decorating. Like the flat round cookie in the picture below, he said was the trampoline in the back yard.

Our finished Gingerbread house!

Christmas wouldn't be complete without us making sugar cookies. I just went with simple this year, white icing and sprinkles. They still tasted good!

Christmas Eve

After attending the candle light service at church we always go home and the kids get to open their gifts to each other. This year they drew names, which took about 4 tries because some kept getting their name or Andrew would tell who he had. We had to rig the drawing because Briana had already bought Emilee's gift. I always like these pictures because everyone is dressed up.

Andrew showing his super hero cape off, plus he received a bank that counts the money as it is deposited.

Emilee opening her 31 bag from Briana.

As Briana was opening her gift she joked about it being a man. It was funny when she realized it was a man of sorts. She loves the Toy Story movies and characters.

We started this tradition last year, they all get a new pair of pajama's to wear for Christmas morning. Emilee and Isabelles are matching.

Mason wasn't to surprized, he was with me at Old Navy on Black Friday when I bought them. It was his first time to go on Black Friday and he said he would never go again.

Emilee's 12th Birthday

Emilee talked me into letting her have a slumber party for her birthday this year. The girls had a great time but I'm not sure if they got any sleep. Note to self: don't let them have slumber parties on a Sat. night. Some of them tried their hand at makeup, where's the Mary Kay lady when you need her?

DQ ice cream cake, yum!! After a couple of weeks Emilee finally decided what she wanted for her birthday. Check out the picture below!

T-Ball party

Andrew's T-ball team had an end of season pool party. He had a great time, he loves the water.

Trophy!!

We forogt Belle's swim diapers so she got in with her diaper. They absorb a lot of water. Poor girl looks like she has a huge caboose.

More Belle

These are just some random shots of Belle. I love the way she propped up her ice cream cup with her leg so she didn't have to hold it.

She has discovered play jewelry, here she looks like a jewelry pirate.

Afternoon tea party with Andrew.

Sleeping Beauty

While Isabelle has fallen asleep in her high chair many times this is the first time she has fallen asleep sitting at the picnic table. After I took this picture I went to pick her up and she looked up and started eating again then went right back to sleep. I'm thankful I don't eat in my sleep!

The background is a mess, we are in the process of doing some work to the school room so most of it was crammed in the living room area.

Andrew's 1st pulled tooth

Andrew lost his first tooth last Wednesday 6-9-2010. We were eating lunch and he got up and ran in the bathroom, when he came back he was carrying his tooth. The tooth fairy must have been busy because she forgot to come on that night but she did come the next night and left him a dollar. He was so excited as you can tell by this picture.

This and That

I found this log cabin listed for sale and emailed them that I wanted it. So Ted, Isabelle and I headed out after he got off work one day to pick it up. He decided I should really ask the people where they live first. We had to go all the way on the other side of Knoxville towards Ky. to get it. It was worth it, they are enjoying it.

Our little catcher, Andrew enjoyed his first year playing t-ball.

Isabelle loves yogurt and will eat a couple of these a day. Lately she has decided she doesn't need a spoon and just squeezes the cup.

It's a little messy! At the store yesterday I put a package of these in the cart and was just shopping along when we noticed she had opened one and was sitting there eating it. At least she is getting her calcium.

Andrew's 5th Birthday

Wow, It's hard to believe Andrew is 5 already! He is growing up so fast. He keeps things exciting around here. After going to a birthday party at the jumping shack he decided that was what he wanted for his birthday. Instead of reserving a party I convinced him to have his party at Pizza Hut and then we would just walk into the Wee Bounce, much cheaper. He was ok with that as long as he got to bounce. After we had pizza & cake we went to the Wee Bounce and they had a sign up "No Walk -ins, they were having a private party. I went up and checked and they were going to be opening in about 15 min. so we just blew bubbles outside until they let us in. They had a great time bouncing and were all over the place. Ted had taken Isabelle home because we were afraid she would get trampled but it ended up we were the only ones in there.


Feet first Andrew! I don't know how many times I had to tell him that!

Obstacle course

Emilee in motion

Isabelle enjoying the cake

Scooby Doo cake, of course!

Andrew, Austin, Kyle, and Emilee

Field day

CHIMES' field day was Tuesday and the kids had a lot of fun. We had great weather, in the past several years it has rained so much that it has been real muddy. Andrew ended up soaking wet when we left because the kids decided to play in the water fountain, I had brought him extra clothes but didn't even think about spare shoes. We had to go buy some since we were headed to the grocery store. Some how I ended up with no pictures of Emilee.


This is the most Mason did all day!

Andrew loved the tire swing.

Isabelle trying to decide if she wants to throw the balls or just hold onto them.

Tossing the balls into the buckets.

cake decorating

For Keepers of the Faith today they all practiced decorating their cake with the drop star method. I think Emilee did pretty good for the first time she has ever done a cake. I can say that this is a messy job, mixing up all the icing colors. She and all the girls did a great job. As for the taste test that will be after dinner tonight. Although she didn't bake the cake, the leader baked all of them.

This cake pan was actually a carousel, but she decided to just make it a horse without the pole.

This is just a picture of Belle before church Sunday night, I thought she looked adorable : )