BIRDS!!!!

After Christmas dinner, not knowing what to do with the pan with the turkey bones and drippings - it was suggested that we stick it outside to feed the birds. My mom would have boiled the bones and made some yummy broth with it for soup or gravy - but I chose what I thought was an easier option since it got it out of my kitchen quicker. (:For a first few days - a nice cute blue bird came and picked.

Then a couple black birds.

Then -

I guess the word spread because I found over a dozen birds in the pan - and

my yard and trees FULL of birds!!!!

See those dark spots/dots: birds, birds, birds!

It was suggested that the ground was so frozen they couldn't find any other food. Well, I hope they filled up because I had to get rid of the pan - which got rid of the birds!!! (: Now I get to clean, santitize, and disinfect the table where 100 birds were hanging out!!! So in the end - NOT an easier option. (:

Happy Bday Uncle Matt

D's brother came to town and the kids made him cards and orange rolls. We sang him happy birthday and he blew out his candles. Ak kept singing to him over and over as a solo - and it was so cute that I recorded it (I thought) but it didn't turn out - so I had my kids resing to him to post here! (: We love you Matt.

New Year's Eve

We started our day with D making pancakes.The kids liked their initials!
Fun to look at and fun to eat!
Thanks DAD!!!

Then D took Ak's crib down - she's 3 years old - figured about time! (: Plus Z didn't need this anymore!!!

Kids had fun playing with each other!

Had a little art time. This is by B.

Then we went to a friend's house for an early New Year's Eve Party!!! We ate and the kids played well and the adults got to play 2 games too!

Me and B.

Ak enjoying her friend's dress up clothes!Ak w/ her friends!!!

Z is around somewhere too - but he missed all pictures! (: Mabye off watching the boys play Rock Band!

Then after coming home and getting our kids to bed - we had a four friends over (without kids) to play cards, watch the ball drop, and have sparkling apple juice!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

2nd Christmas Day - Dec. 26

In Germany - 2nd Christmas Day is a realy holiday! More time to be with family! So it was appropriate that I got to see some of my half of the family today! My oldest brother and his wife were able to come in from St. Louis. My other brother and his family came from about 30 minutes away and my parents live about 20 minutes away. We ate pizza, played games, talked, and exchanged gifts. Z loved this dog from cousin Amanda. Been sleeping with it every night since.

Heard of stick horses? YES. Heard of a stick bull? (: Grandpa got Z this - its huge!!! Funny!!!! So if you ever have need a bull - I know someone that might let you borrow theirs. (:

Mammaw had brought 3 BIG marshmellowy suckers for the kids stockings! Z loved the looks, but not the taste so much.

All mine?

Yum.

Ak liked the outside of this, YUM!
B still has hers in the bag to admire and save - we'll see for how long. (:

Christmas Day - Dec. 25

Z woke up first and was excited to see what Santa had brought in his stocking!!! (His one gift to open the night before was that CAR in his hand.)
Then B woke up next (I should have taken a picture of her loot - which included a Black Beauty book w/ CD and small black horse!)Last Ak woke up and did her normal - I'm hiding pose.
We had overnight guests!!! D's mom, sister and brother -
And D's Dad and his wife were all ready for Christmas morning with us!After breakfast all together - we opend some presents!!!!Ak was HAPPY to get a couple more Care Bears!!! Among other wonderful gifts were magnetic paper dolls, Strawberry Shortcake DVD's, My little Pony, etc. Z got lots of nice things including P.J.'s (footed and regular), new underwear, Tom & Jerry DVD, and a city floor mat w/ signs and cars, etc! D is laughing about this alarm clock that projects on the ceiling that I surprised him with - he had told me he wanted one months ago as he laughs at my clock I've been using for 20 years that was my Grandmas, who probably used it for 20 years herself - Vintage! (and okay - I admit it's been dropped a few times and the plastic is cracked and if it moves a certain way the alarm gets turned off unintintionally!)B was happy to get this Care Bear, Rainbow P.J.'s, some cute t-shirts, and Polly Pocket Dolls, etc! The kids were happy to find this rocking horse on Christmas morning!!! A gift from a friend has found it's home for a season!!!

I was surprised by this book from a friend, dishes from D's mom, and some gift certificates from D!!!

D's pappaw came towards the end of the gift giving, but in time to bowl on the Wii before eating dinner with us!!!

I unhappily cooked a turkey - but luckily D cut it up! I need to learn to not complain about such things that bring others such great joy - but I struggle with working with large amounts of meat!

But D and I did the wishbone he found - and I won!!! Let all my wishes come true!!!This was one of my favorite things of the day - how Uncle Matt would randomly sit down and play the piano!

HOPE ALL HAD A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas Eve - Dec. 24, 2009

We were blessed this Christmas Season as many people delivered treats to our door! One night there was a knock: D asked if I was expecting someone - as I said "no", he said, "go get my gun." I laughed and said, "OR it could be someone delivering treats this time of year?!?!" IT WAS!!! (: Everything we got was yummy and appreciated.

These gals get the "best festively dressed while delivering treats award" on Christmas Eve Day!!! Z was excited and surprised that the day brought him a new bed - bunk beds at that!!! (: We really hadn't been planning on getting them TODAY but they were $70 off and at Aldi's - so I didn't think I could beat that price new anywhere else. (: D's Dad and brother showed up just in time to help put it together! Thanks!
My parents blessed me by taking my kids for the past 2 days so I could rest and get ready for Christmas - like wrap all the presents and get out the last decorations! THANK YOU Mom and Dad!!!
Grandpa is always up for a game.
Growing up, my parents always took us caroling after eating chili. That's a Christmas Eve thing to do to me! With D's Dad, his wife, and his brother in town -- he used that as an excuse NOT to go to the caroling part, but my kids were up for it. (:
They wanted to wear the hats and everything!!!

We only went to one stop since I didn't want to be gone a long time and they would be singing German carols there and I was useful with that - My Dad played his accordian as he always has as long as I can remember!

Even though my kids weren't so excited once we got there and they had to make it through 7 German songs before the English ones came --There was a 92 year old German lady and she was very touched we came!!! And my kids forgot their misery when we were asked to eat off their buffet spread! (:

Once back at my house, we were going to go to a few neighbors, but it was raining, so we just sang a few carols at home. Thanks Mom and Dad for keeping the tradition!

D and I had wanted to have our kids dress up and act out the Nativity story as D read it - - but this would have been a first so we didn't know how to MAKE SURE IT HAPPENED so we got distracted from that goal. So I am a little sad as I see on my friend's blogs with their pictures of their Nativity Reinactiments . . . but we did watch the Luke II video set to "Breath of Heaven" that my old college roommate made for me 10 years ago! There's always next year to try I suppose . . . and who else has an accordian player on their blog??? (: