Getting Ready for Christmas!

In the past, we've always had a real Christmas tree, but this year, we broke down and bought an artificial tree. I must say I'm pleased with our decision. I don't have to worry about the kids eating pine needles, and the ornaments are much easier to hang since all of the branches are sturdy. We bought our tree on Sunday at Lowe's. Nolan was into looking at the trees, but as soon as we wondered down the washer/dryer aisle, he was in pure heaven. He went down a whole row of washers and dryers and looked in each one. I think he could have stayed there for hours checking everything out.

We put the tree up that evening, and decorated it the next day after Matt got home from work. Matt is usually not enthusiastic about decorating the tree, but since he knows how much it means to me and to the kids, he participated this year! The ornaments look great on the tree, but the bottom is a little bare....I'm doing my best to keep Nathan from yanking them all off....so for the most part, they are out of his reach!

I dressed the kids up yesterday and took some pictures. I'm trying to get a good picture so I can put them on Christmas cards. The picture isn't bad, except I can't keep Natalie from having her blanket and putting her fingers in her mouth...but oh well. Aunt Pam also mailed her Christmas presents for the kids, and we received them on Monday. Mostly, the kids got Christmas books, and we're having a blast reading them!

A Christmas book for Nolan!

A kitty cat for Natalie!

Nathan going after one of his cars!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year.... I forgot my camera, but Teresa took a family picture of us....so it's all I've got!

On Sunday, Matt, Nolan, and Natalie went down to his parents. Nathan and I stayed at home until Tuesday when we too went to Steve and Teresa's house. Matt went earlier than me for a couple reasons....he wanted to go hunting with his dad, and I wanted to stay and do some Christmas shopping. It worked out great for us. Matt said the kids did well on the way down with him, and were both very excited to see Mom-o and Pops. I was a little concerned about travelling with Nathan (just because in the past, he would cry for nearly an hour of the ride). However, he was perfect this time! He slept for about an hour, and then was awake...sucking his thumb and playing with a toy for the other 2 hours! I was so relieved!

Tuesday evening, I took Nolan over to Jason & Kim's house so that Nolan could play with Judson. They had a blast of course! Kim even saved some clothes for Nolan to put into the dryer. The boys were playing in Judson's playroom, and then marched downstairs playing "instruments" for us to hear! It was a little loud, but so funny.

On Wednesday, we went to my grandparents' house. It was a nice day, so Poppy and Matt got the lawn tractors out and took Nolan & Natalie for rides. Poor little Nathan was so tired, and out of his element. He would hardly let me put him down (this went on for the 4 days that we were away from home). As soon as we were getting ready to leave, Granny had rocked Nathan to sleep...what horrible parents we were to grab our sleeping baby just to put him in the van again!

Thursday, we went to my other grandparents' house. We got to visit with Jason and Kim again and Les was there too with his baby. We had a nice time with all the kids together. Of course Judson and Nolan were playing hard and Natalie was following them around trying to figure out if she could fit in with these boys! The babies (Nathan and Joseph) were very good. Though Nathan, again very tired and out of his element, had his fussy moments, and wanted to be held a lot! But little Joseph was an absolute angel! I never heard him fuss at all, and he was so content that he fell asleep in Mom-maw's arms. Next, we headed to Matt's parents for another dinner. The kids continued to be very well-behaved considering how tired everyone was. Nathan was showing his tiredness the most, and I thought my arms were going to fall off from holding him so much. But with so much family around, he was passed around quite a bit. When our niece Hannah got him, he was extremely content. She rocked him in a chair, and he fell asleep briefly. When he woke up, he continued to sit on her lap, sucking his thumb....just as happy as he could be.

Friday, Matt and his dad went hunting again. They came back at about noon, and I shortly afterwards, loaded up Natalie and Nathan so we could head back home. Matt and Nolan stayed Friday night so that Matt could go to Saint Albans' football game. The kids were very behaved in the van. They both slept for a little over an hour. When they woke up, Natalie was fussy, so I stopped at a rest area. We went to the bathroom, and then directly back to the van...but just this little bit of "stretching" helped calm Natalie down...thank goodness! The kids were happy to be home. Nathan went to bed at 5:30 last night, and got up this morning at 7:15. Natalie went to bed around 6:30 and awoke at 8:30 this morning. So needless to say, the kids are trying to catch up on some sleep!

Does God do Laundry?

Just an amusing story to share today. Last night, Nolan asked me why I had a picture of Pop-paw David and Mom-maw Linda in my room. Before I could even answer, he said "Remember when you missed your mommy, and you cried, and then I made you feel better?" I said "yes." Then he told me that I could see her next time (he always says this....not sure what "next time" means, but it's still sweet.) So then I was trying to explain to him that we cannot see Mom-maw Linda, just like we can't see God because they are in Heaven. He then asks, "Does God do laundry?" I asked him what he thought...he said "yes...that's what the sound of thunder is....it's when God does laundry and the washing machine is on spin cycle." I thought this was quite amusing. I had told him before that thunder was the angels in heaven bowling...but since he's never been bowling, I guess this makes no sense to him. I have also been quite honest with him, and told him that thunder is cold air and warm air colliding.....but in his mind, thunder is really God doing laundry! Whatever works to help ease the fears of a storm!

No Power

My dad and Shirley came up to visit on Friday. They arrived at about 1:00, and at about 2:30, our power went out. Matt called the power company, and they informed him that it would be several hours before they could restore power. So I was very thankful that Dad and Shirley were here to help entertain the kids since the TV and lights were out. They left around 4:30 and Matt and I were left on our own for the kids' entertainment...or so we thought. About an hour later, our neighbor Matt came over. He had fallen asleep around 2 o'clock, and was a little disoriented when he woke up to no lights, and darkness outside! Everyone was equipped with flashlights, including Natalie and Nolan. We had several candles burning, and luckily, our gas logs supplied our heat. At about 6:30, we had another knock at the door. It was our neighbor Ashlyn and her daughter Morghan. Ashlyn's husband was not home, and she didn't want to be alone in her dark house, so we invited her in. Nolan and Morghan entertained each other, and the rest of us sat around talking, and gossiping a little about neighborhood activities! The power finally came back on at around 9:15...and soon after, our little party broke up, and we were all off to bed.

Yesterday, Nolan was running a temperature, and just feeling awful. He laid around all day, and didn't eat anything except for some peanuts. We think his fever may have been a side effect from his flu vaccine. He seems to be feeling better this morning, and doesn't feel nearly as hot. We've already done a load of laundry, and he is actually up and playing with toys and yelling at his sister....so this is a sure sign of improvement!

Again this time, I have no new pictures to post. I'm hoping to get a pic of the kids sometime soon, and make my own Christmas cards, but no guarantees!

Babysitting and More

Yesterday was Nolan's appointment for the flu vaccine. He was NOT happy when he heard that he was going to go to the doctor. Matt volunteered to take him since his appointment was at 5:50 pm. He threw a fit getting dressed, and was crying when Matt took him out the door. But, Matt said in the truck, he was fine. He was very hesitant going into the doctor's building and back to the exam room (both of these times, Matt had to carry him...but Nolan was not crying). Once the nurse came in to administer the vaccine (nasal mist), he was fine and had no troubles. He got a reward for being a big boy...he picked some fruit flavored Mentos!

Today, I watched my neighbor's daughter for a few hours while she gave a seminar in Fairmont. I was a little apprehensive about having four kids at once...but it worked out great. Natalie was asleep when my neighbor brought her daughter, Lilly, over and didn't wake up until Lilly was down for her nap...so it was really just like watching 3 kids instead of 4 since they were never all up at the same time. Lilly came over at about 10 o'clock this morning and was picked up at about 12:30. I only had to watch her for a little over an hour, because she took a nap at 11:15. Nathan was really intrigued by her, and was by her side nearly the entire time....Nolan on the other hand spent his time playing games on the computer....he did interact a little with her, but she's only 18 months old and very calm (not really his type!). When Lilly's mother came to pick her up, she was still asleep in the pack and play that I set up downstairs. I felt horrible because when we went down to get her, the smell of poop was in the air. I guess she had pooped her pants while napping....I felt like a bad babysitter...handing off a child to her mother with a dirty diaper!

I'm on my own for the rest of the evening. Matt took off half a day today, but has already left to go to the WVU game tonight. I don't expect him to get home until around midnight....so dinner, cleanup, baths, and bedtime are solely on my hands this evening....but I've done it before, so it's nothing new. I hope he has a good time at the game, because this will probably be the last one he can attend this season. Normally I would be a little jealous that I don't get to go, but not tonight....it's so cold, and freezing my butt off is not how I would like to spend my evening....besides, Grey's Anatomy is on tonight, and now I won't have to battle Matt for the TV!