And the ideas just keep getting better...

I have talked with Heather and Adrienne about this idea and we all agree that we could really simplify Christmas this year.  If we all pitch in $20 bucks to Mom and Dad to aid in getting gifts for the kids, then that eases the burden on everyone.  No one has to save a month's worth of work to pay for the cousin gifts.  The kids still get gifts, but not so many that it overwhelms the spirit of Christmas or the toy box.  If you really, really want to buy gifts for the kids, maybe you could go shopping with Mom and/or Dad.  Or if they want help, maybe you could at least be willing to offer it.  (I would love to go shopping with you guys if you wanted to do it in July :)

For the sibling exchange, we'd do something totally different as well.  We each buy a $20-25 gift card to be used on a date.  Then when we'd usually do the exchange we play a little game to exchange cards (I say we, but it would really be you... since we won't be there).  This way we don't end up cluttering one another's homes, but we get something we all need... a nice date that we might otherwise get to go on.  Adrienne and Heather both suggested that whoever's card you end up with will babysit your kids while you use their card.  That sounds like a great idea to me.  Mom and Dad could even participate in this exchange rather than buy for all of us, if they'd like.  

OK, so far this is the idea going around.  What do you think?  Talk about it with those who are too cool for the blog and see what they think.  I know its May, and if we end up with this plan it won't really matter having it planned this far in advance, but if we go with other plans then I'd like time to budget and shop for it.  Thanks for working with me!  I love ya!

I've been thinking...

It is now officially May and that means we only have like 6 1/2 good months to figure Christmas out.  My thought is the earlier the better.  So what do you guys want to do for Christmas this year?  My family will not be making the trek for the holiday, but that's all the more reason for us to know the plan sooner than later.  I'm just going to list all the ideas I can come up with, good or bad, for consideration...

• family gift exchange like last year
• individual gift exchange
• couple gift exchange and individual kids 
• family gift for mom and dad's house
• festival of trees or some such service
• $5 gift exchange game
• just individual kids exchange
• homemade exchange

I know only a couple of y'all read this blog, but hopefully this will  be enough to get the ball rolling so a decision can be made soon!

I don't know how everyone felt about last year's gifts but it was great for us.  And I really enjoyed the service trip as well, although it didn't really feel like we were doing much.  I love the pictures I got of those cute girls (and boy) with the smiles on their faces.  I also have a great family gift in mind, so it wouldn't hurt my feelings any if that's what we did.  I'm quite open to whatever the family decides they want to do.  I know my list isn't complete, there are lots of options you may come up with that aren't listed and I know that some of you may hate some of the ideas, like I said, just wanted to get the ball rolling.  

Let's get this figured out soon so Christmas doesn't have to be so stressful or expensive for all of our sakes!

Haiku (kinda) for the Birthday Guy

Twinkle in his eye
Awesome funny dude
Missing a tooth
That's cool!

Happy Birthday Big Ethan!!! We love you!

Funny Kid Pics

Pic #1: Gavin instinctively knew which canister held the brown sugar and went for it with gusto.
Pic #2: David redux?
Pic#3: Though not pictured here, this was the work of the "white tornado" (aka Gavin) as well. We had a veggie platter with ranch dip sitting out on the table. From the other room I heard a huge crash and went running into the kitchen to survey the damage. The veggie tray had been dumped on the floor (presumably by Gavin who was trying to grab it and pulled it down), carrots and broccoli EVERYWHERE! The dip was on the floor as well, but lucklily had only fallen on its side so very little dressing made it on the floor. Skye (who, as you can see, was showcasing all her hairbows that day) was standing there with a shell shocked expression on her face. I noticed some of the dip had splattered on her arm so I grabbed a rag to clean it off. I couldn't figure out why she would be so upset just because of a little ranch dressing -then I saw it. A huge glob of dressing had plopped right on top of her head covering her flower clip. How the heck that happened is beyond me. Guess we'll just have to chalk it up to being in the wrong place at the wrong time and some very aerodynamic
ranch dressing.
Pic#4: As much as he likes to get dirty, Gavin's quite anxious to get clean again.

First-the kids and dirt category....

I thought there were some real winners here. The boys gave it a good shot, but I think Amarra takes the cake.

funny pics

Thanks Kimily for the idea, even though nobody else seems to care too much. But I am going to post a couple of pics that are not of the kids, cause my kids are really to hard to sneak up on with the camera, and none of them want to be on camera with the exception of Lucy........ while she is posing.

So I will share a few pictures from my travels.....


Everyone knows that in the South people tend to be a little..... hickish, well, in Florida I went to rent a movie and the largest single section of this video store fit the bill..


All the retired widowers come to the same summer camp in one area,..... I don't who's teaching but they must be good.

And last of all, when you need the best to represent you and get you top dollar for your house look no further than Jack.........

Funny Picture Contest

Hey all... I was thinking, we're not very good at posting on this here blog... so I thought maybe if we had a purpose for posting it would help get the ball rolling.  Now, I know we don't all have a gem like Gavin in the cupboard, BUT I'm certainwe all have at least one picture of all our kids that makes us laugh. 

So, I'm starting the funny picture contest.  Everyone please, please post pictures of your kids!  Make us laugh!

I'll get us started with this funny one (or two) of Jonas.  He was rummaging through my closet and found a box.  Inside what do you think he found?  Well, it is Jonas, so no matter what it was, it could be transformed into a cape.  He was delighted with his new cape...What better cape than this lovely floral lingerie?