Sledding, Sliding, and Eating Snow

The sun was shining today and yesterday so we got together with Mark and Ciochi and the kids to sled and slide. Yesterday we were at Mark's house and today we headed to the hill at the elementary school. Even though we didn't last more than an hour either day it was a lot of fun.
An example, rare example, of brotherly love.
Cousins and friends working together :)
Before we headed to the elementary school Liz was helping Daddy clear slush from the driveway.
Lizzie Lou had a lot of fun sledding and sliding.
Patrick did an awful lot of laying in the snow. I don't know why - he didn't explain. Just havin' a moment I suppose. He served as a good sledding speed bump while laying in the snow.
There were lots of pile ups on Brian and Uncle Mark. Brian was crawling up the hill with children on his back at one point - perhaps his New Year's workout plan.
Liz and Sarah Jane were real pals today. They took lots of trips down the hill on the saucers, tubes and toboggan.
And there were lots of kid pile ups too. For a while it was funny to jump in front of other sleds. Will didn't last to long today. He is still a little young to have a lot of snow stamina. The warm weather made it fun to be out but we were soaked when we got home!

Santa visited our house and man was he nice!! Everyone got what they wanted......which I guess means they were on the nice list! It was a wonderful morning, beginning at 5:15. That was my fault. Patrick woke up at 5:00 and I got him to go back to bed. However, the alarm was set from the other day on my cell phone for 5:15. It went off downstairs and I had to go down and turn it off. Of course Pat heard me and followed after. He then wanted to open presents. He went into Brian and said "Dad, Santa came." Brian replied, "Pal, what does the clock say??" To which Pat said, "5-1-5, and Santa cam. Get up" I managed to hold him off upstairs until 6:00 and then he couldn't contain himself. He HAD to wake Dad and Liz.
There's loot under the tree.......
in stockings.......
and in front of the TV!
Ready to open the first present.
Elizabeth wanted me to take a picture of her opening every gift. It was pretty funny.
This was the last present from Santa. Patrick was really nervous that it wasn't under the tree.......Santa had left it on top of the tv instead of under the tree.
Mom and Dad got Pat and Liz bathrobes and clothes - a new dress for Liz and super hero jammies for Patrick.
All dressed up and ready to go to Christmas dinner at Uncle Bill and Uncle Wil's.
Our handsome little man. How grown-up he looks!
Elizabeth just loves her uncles. Especially Uncle Dan!
All ready for dinner.
Where's the food?? We had a great dinner at Uncle Bill and Uncle Wil's house. We love our Christmas tradition of going there for dinner on Christmas.

Christmas Eve

We always celebrate Christmas Eve at our house. This year Grandpa, Pop Pop, Grandma, and Uncle Bud came over for dinner and presents.
Last minute cookie decorating so that Santa can have some variety.
All ready in Christmas jammies. At least they look like they have been good enough to get presents.
Laying out cookies for Santa. Elizabeth had quite a plan in how she laid out the cookies. Patrick went outside with Daddy before bed so they could spread Reindeer food he put together in school on the lawn. Then it was off the bed to dream of sugarplums!

Happy 6th Birthday!

I thought it was really hard when Patrick turned 5. It wasn't. 6 was really hard. It hit me like a ton of bricks. How is it possible that I have a 6 year old??
Elizabeth is so happy to give Patrick his birthday present!
Thank you hugs.
I know you can't tell what game it is but Patrick was so excited to get Lego Star Wars for the Wii.
Having a birthday during the work week in December is hard. Thank goodness for Cupcakes and Smiles!

Tree Decorating

After the birthday party stuff was all put away we needed to get the Christmas tree up. This was supposed to be the year that we get a real tree but it didn't happen. I think that there is too much that goes on in our family from Thanksgiving to Christmas to get a real tree. I have accepted this and am shopping for a pre-lit tree. If we are having a fake tree it shouldn't be a pain in the butt.
We put on our pajamas, Christmas ones, of course, and were ready to go. Both kids did a great job putting the ornaments on evenly and not breaking anything.

Patrick was even serenading us with Christmas carols using the new Dora microphone that Liz got for her birthday. We were quite impressed with how many words he really knew to so many songs.
Getting ready and excited for Santa to come!

Party, Party, Party

Today was a busy day. We had to fight traffic at the mall, after I spent the morning cleaning and Brian clearing the driveway, so that Elizabeth could dance for the Salvation Army. She looked so cute in a new tutu and buns. Too bad the camera battery was dead. Anyway, we fought all the traffic, and pushed the birthday party back an hour, only to have Elizabeth stand on the stage with her arms folded for the whole song. She didn't even shuffle. She did run right up to Ms. Linda for a lollipop when all was over though. Then we had to rush home and get ready for the kids birthday party.
All ready for our guests. Patrick is in SU gear because there was a game tonight.
After pizza and playing with friends it is time for cake. Pat picked a Spiderman cake that dyed everyones mouths black and Liz picked a Barbie cake.
Apparently the song Happy Birthday embarrasses Elizabeth. She did the same thing when we sang as just our immediate family on her actual birthday. Good thing William was there to add the excitement missing from Elizabeth :)
Peeking just a little. After all, there is cake and a Barbie there!
Will Elizabeth blow out her candles too?
Of course! The embarrassment quickly wore off and Liz was ready to go. The cake was delicious! And then there were presents. Everyone was so generous. It was a great birthday party!!

Helping Others

There was a half day of school today and rather than trying to entertain the children with a sort-of typical routine, and struggling because they know they are leaving at 10:30, Frazer decided to have a day where older students were paired with younger students to participate in some service activities. Without even asking, my homeroom was paired with Patrick's class. A selfish win-win for me :)
Our first task was to decorate Christmas cookies. So many of our students don't experience this, either because of their culture or family means. So, we decorate cookies at Frazer. Teachers bring the cookies in (I buy the nicely baked, pre-cut out ones from Wegmans) and the kids are provided with the sprinkles and frosting. The students make two cookies - one to eat and one to donate to a local shelter. Each student in the class was paired with a kindergartener. Patrick was paired with my friend Raqueeb. It was a great pairing and the two worked so nicely together.
Our next task was to make some holidays cards and spread joy. Some cards would accompany the cookies and the others were forwarded to Walter Reed Hospital. I was really impressed with Patrick's skills compared to the other kindergarteners in our group.
The last task was to attend a Anti-Bullying discussion. The discussion was lead by other 7th and 8th graders. It was a bit over the kindergarteners heads but they got the main idea. Some of the strategies they have to avoid a bully are pretty funny. We finished our discussion a little early, so the 7th graders and kindergarteners played a game of Mum ball together. The 7th graders did a wonderful job playing appropriately with the little ones. Patrick was so excited to see my students and spend time with them. He really misses coming up to my class last period every day (I, on the other hand, don't miss having Pat-ham-it-up-rick in my room everyday while I am trying to teach). This day was a great example of why I really do enjoy teaching.

Pictures

So one day this picture of Elizabeth excited to look at a new photo book will be in another Louer photo book.

Snow Day #2

Today was the second snow day of our week. Monday was super productive, and so was today. The kids were great while Mom got all the Christmas cards written out and the "junk" room cleaned out so that we can set up a table in there for the kid's birthday party this Saturday.
We also got the goodie bags for our friends coming to the birthday party decorated and filled.
Lucky friends - there is some good loot in there!

Santa's Watching!

Santa has been watching! The kids each have gotten a video message from Santa. Santa really knows know everything!
Liz's Message from Santa

Patrick's Message from Santa

SNOW DAY!

Today was a SNOW DAY!!!!! The kids were excited, I was excited. We did so much. We re-arranged the living room to make room for the Christmas tree in a new spot. We decorated the inside of the house (finally). We made a batch of Christmas cookies. We painted. And the kids went outside. Ahhhhh, I would like more days like today.
Of course Liz has a shirt for the occasion. She was a really good listener today (which is shocking) and a really good helper.
The kids and I made Peanut-Butter Blossoms. Santa, and Dad's, favorite. The kids helped to mix the ingredients and role the balls and then role them in sugar. The kitchen was covered in sugar, but, who cares, I had all day to vaccuum.

Rollin' away.Sugar, sugar, sugar.
Then yummy, yummy, yummy.
They were delicious cookies.
It wouldn't be a snow day if you didn't get bundled up to go out and play. For the first time the kids didn't really care if I went, so I didn't (I need new snowpants). I putzed in the kitchen and watched from the window while my two big kids played in the snow. I have waited so long to get here and it was great! (BTW - Don't you like Pat's pink gloves. Liz has three pairs of gloves and Pat only had one. They got a hole and had to be tossed. And those I think were hand me downs. I should start buying for him like I do Liz :)

The snow on the deck was deep and entertaining for a while. I thought the adventure would be cut short when they each kicked snow in the others face, but a good "I'm sorry" and wipe down with a towel from Mom and they were right back to playing.

Down the slide, into the snow. Deep snow. Always fun!
I was so pleased that Patrick and Elizabeth were playing so nicely together. Patrick told me at bedtime they were pretending they found this house in Antarctica and had to get warm. Then they lost the house and had to dig snow caves.



They lasted almost an hour before they came in to defrost their noses, have a cookie and some hot cocoa. Patrick was looking to go out again when Dad came home, to help him do the driveway, but all his gear was still so wet. I dare not say it outloud, but you can imagine what I am wishing for tomorrow!