Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Hedgy Turns 7

Our little hedgehog Adam is up a year and down two teeth.  Shortly before his seventh birthday, he lost two more teeth, making him too cute for words.

See?


This year Adam chose to have a movie party since a new movie theater recently opened nearby.  The party was *glorious* for everyone involved:  Adam and his buddies had a great time, and Steve and I just had to show up and watch a movie with the kids.  No cleaning the house, no cooking, no inventing (or copying from Pinterest) party games.  We had a fun time in the party room following the movie. 

The one thing I was responsible for was making cupcakes.  I figured since I really didn't have anything else to do for the party, I should make them good.  (We all know what's coming next...)  So I checked out Pinterest for some movie-themed cupcake ideas!  And, as always, my beloved Pinterest came through:  Cupcakes that look like little tubs of popcorn.  Look at these babies!  Adam and his buddies loved them.


The crew at the movie party.



Adam's movie party was actually held a couple weeks before his real birthday, which is the only way to get friends to come when your birthday is five days before Christmas. 

So we had a little family celebration at our house the night before leaving for Indiana for the holidays...




...And then we spent Adam's real, actual, bona fide birthday in Indiana at Chuck E. Cheese with Poppa and Gangee and the Nichols aunts, uncles, and cousins.



 
Happy 7th Birthday to our wild and crazy guy!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Andrew's Letter to Santa

Dear Santa Claus,

Please for Christmas I would like:

A go-cart, beyblade stuff, Pokémon DS or 3DS games, any DS or 3DS games, Skylanders, Skylanders Giants, LEGOs, a wagon that you can steer, a foam sword/s, Spy Gear.

I can't think of anything else but, what ya' got?

Love,
Andrew M. Nichols

P.S. Please no clothes, they aren't nessicary [sic].

P.P.S. How you do fit through a chimney?

Write back please!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Thanksmas

This year is an "In-Laws Christmas" year for the Moon family, so we all made sure to be home at Mom and Dad's for Thanksgiving.  We decided as long as we were all there and wouldn't see each other for Christmas, we may as well exchange a few gifts and do our annual Yankee Swap. 

Now my children think that they get presents for Thanksgiving and are apparently announcing it to all their friends (as I was informed by a certain young man's first-grade teacher).

We had a close call and almost had to miss the whole thing.  The day before Thanksgiving, Libby woke up with a fever and what was obviously an ear infection.  (Here's something I'm thankful for:  Children who are old enough to say, "Hey, Mom, my ear hurts."  No more guessing whether or not to take the baby to the doctor!)  After I called and got her an appointment with the pediatrician, I came downstairs to find Adam with "that look" on his face.  I know "that look" by now.  It says, "SINUS INFECTION!"  So Adam got to come along to see the doctor, too.  And Dr. Mom was right:  Ear infection for Libby and sinus infection for Adam.  Since both kids were running temperatures on Wednesday, we didn't know if we'd get to go be with everyone the next day for Thanksgiving -- can't be too careful with a new baby in the mix.  Fortunately the antibiotics started doing their jobs quickly, and we were able to go (with Adam and Libby under strict instructions to stay away from Claire).

Honestly, I thought we were past this.  I mean, my kids are the oldest grand kids. Isn't it supposed to be the babies and the toddlers who have the penchant for getting sick at the holidays?  I was so sure we'd outgrown this.  Guess it just proves my axioms:  It's Not Christmas Until...  (Here's another thing I'm thankful for:  Timing.  So much better to be at the pediatrician's the day before Thanksgiving than in the ER the day of!)

Is it Thanksgiving or Christmas?  It's Thanksmas! 
(Thankful for generous aunts and uncles who gave our children such thoughtful gifts!)

The Moon grandchildren:  The count is up to 6!
(Oh, so thankful for these little lives)

Andrew could hardly wait to meet new cousin Claire
(Thankful that my little boy loves babies oh. so. much.)

The oldest and youngest Moon grandchildren
(Thankful I got to spend most of the day holding this sweet, sweet baby)

Aunt Whitney and Cate
(Thankful for Cate's funny little be-bopping personality.  What a sweet little clown she is!)

Uncle Jordan with Libby and Mary Caroline
(Thankful that Uncle Jordan genuinely loves kids!)

We couldn't decide if these were supposed to be Indian headdresses or turkey feathers.  Either way, they crack. me. up.
(Thankful for the friendship blooming between these two.  MC went home referring to Libby as "my best friend Libby."  This mama's prayers are being answered!)

The men outside hard at work drinking beer frying the turkey
(Thankful for kind, hard-working dads, uncles, and grandfathers!)

The kids' Thanksgiving coffee table.  If you're thinking it looks like a Dexter kill scene what with the shower curtain taped to the floor and the coffee table completely covered in a vinyl tablecloth and duct tape...I agree.  (Mom got a new rug and wasn't taking any chances!)
(Thankful that no blood -- or food! -- was spilled this Thanksgiving!)

Sweet little Cate was fascinated with Claire and kept coming by to pat her head and say, "Awwww."
(Just...thankful for everything about this picture.)

Aunt Alison has a new baby girl to crochet for!
(Thankful for all the uncontrollable cuteness)

Just...couldn't...stop...crocheting...
(See above)

Merry Thanksmas from Ruldolph Adam!
(Words fail me.  Thankful for this picture that is quintessentially Adam Nichols.)

One last thing I'm thankful for? That Aunt Cara took such fabulous pictures of Thanksmas!