Happy Birthday to Me!

The day after Christmas is usually a day of rest and catching up for those who had a busy Christmas. I always get off easy on this day....it's my birthday!! I got to sleep in and then was treated to a Pumpkin Spice latte from Starbuck's. The boys were so excited to give me my gifts so they brought them to me in bed as soon as I woke up. There were about 5 packages to unwrap. I open the first one to find a bag of Kitten Chow. Being the blonde that I am sometimes, I say "What's this for?" By the time I opened the cat bowl, litter, pooper scooper, litter box, etc, well DUH, I figured it out. We had talked about getting another kitten sometime when Aiden got bigger and we would wait until at least after the holidays. Well the boys and Todd decided I deserved another kitty. We headed to mom and dad's for my birthday brunch and then headed over to the Humane Society. I found about 5 cats I could have brought home in a heartbeat. Aiden was tired and due for a nap and I didn't want to rush into a decision so I'm still thinking about what I want. I want to make sure I find just the right kitty to fit in our crazy family. A new furry family member will be on the way soon!

The boys helped Todd make me a birthday cake. It turned out so pretty but the best part is this picture. Look at those three lovely boys. How lucky am I??? My 4 guys treat me pretty well.

A Very Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful (and healthy) Christmas this year. Christmas Eve we headed over to Uncle Joe and Aunt Cindy's house for the Bozarth Family Christmas. That always means good food, good company, good fun. The family always spoils each other with gifts and this year was no exception.

This picture was taken before we headed over there.

This was before bedtime in their new PJ's. (Thanks Aunt Janet!)

We had to read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and the story of Jesus' birth.

Christmas Eve Todd and I didn't get to bed till about midnight. This Santa gig is stressful. For anyone who knows the layout of our house, you can see why I'd be scared to death of one of the boys waking up while "Santa" was busy setting things up. My heart pounds the whole time. So we finally get everything out and head to bed around 12:00am. We know an early morning is coming....the boys are so excited. So who wakes up first, you ask?? It's probably a tie between Todd and I. How lame are we?? We were so excited for the boys to wake up that we could hardly sleep ourselves. So once they were up, we started the fun. The boys were very excited over everything they got for Christmas. Our busy day continued with lunch at Grandma and Grandpa Klauser's and supper at Grandma and Grandpa Bozarth's.

Noah Claus and Aiden Claus

Aiden and I helped out at Noah's class party on Friday. One cute thing they did was put Vaseline on the kids' faces and have them dip their faces in cotton balls so they look like Santa. Then we put the Santa cap on and took a picture. The kids got a kick out of it. We were there 2 1/2 hours and Aiden was good as gold. He had so much fun with the Kindergarteners.
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Weds. night was Drew and Noah's Christmas Program. It was cute as usual. We got some good video of them singing and dancing. I can't help but laugh at them because they get so into it. At one point Drew and his friend Connor were laughing pretty hard throughout a song. Todd zoomed in and got some good video of it. I was worried they might get in trouble. Afterwards I asked Drew why they were laughing through the song. He said that Connor told him that every time they were supposed to sing the word "Christmas" they should sing the work "chicken" instead. So that's what they were doing. I'm so proud.

Christmas at the Boat Club

Sunday was the annual Christmas party at the Boat Club that we always go to with Todd's parents. There are always games, crafts, face painting, balloon animals, etc. But of course the best part is Santa driving up on his boat. Aiden was just enamored by that. He is still talking about Santa on a boat. He also thinks Santa is his best friend now too. There were probably 40-50 kids there and Aiden was running up showing Santa his balloon snowman. When it was time for presents, they called one of the kids' names and Aiden ran up and climbed in his lap too. Needless to say, when it was Aiden's turn, he was all too happy to visit with his pal.

Noah about broke my heart. When Santa came in he asked if it was the real one. I said it looked like it to me. In a sad voice he says, "It doesn't look like the one that came to Grandma and Grandpa's the other night, I guess he was just somebody dressed up" I said, "No, he really was the real one" And in my eyes he was, you couldn't get more real than him. Noah was fine with it afterwards.

I need a better picture of Drew. He was already turning to get up when I snapped this. I'll have to replace it with one from Grandpa Ken. Amazingly, Drew didn't question Santa at all that day.

We finished off the night with a trip through the Avenue of Lights. It's even prettier seeing all the lights against the snow.

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Aiden and I were at the mall yesterday running errands and when we walked by the place where Santa was, he stopped to look at the animated elves. Santa wasn't busy and came over to talk to Aiden. You should have seen his face. He also said to Santa, "Santa, you on a boat. You 'member?" I "reminded" Santa about the boat club Sunday and he played along. He also gave Aiden a high five and a sucker. When we went into Sears after that, he kept talking about Santa. I said "You and Santa must be buddies". Aiden replied "Yeah, he my buddy". As we passed by again on our way out of the mall Santa shouts "Bye Aiden". Yep, Aiden thought he was big stuff.

Santa, what I want for Christmas is this.....

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I laughed my ass off at this.

We've Got Snow!

Yesterday we got our first big snow of the year--the first one big enough to actually play in! Todd went out to shovel the driveway and one by one each boy wanted to go out and "help" shovel. Noah is the only one that actually did. They had a lot of fun playing and I captured some cute pictures.
Aiden's Trying to Make a Snowball.
Drew Gets Mom and The Camera With a Snowball

A video of the 4 boys playing in the snow!

Drew enjoyed a special date with his Godmother yesterday. Him and Aunt Cindy went and saw the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. Drew had fun and really enjoyed the movie as well as the music in it! Thanks Aunt Cindy.
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Mom and Dad came over to watch the boys last night so Todd and I could go to my work xmas party. We all had an incredible dinner at the Country Club. It was so nice and relaxing. We had our own private room and started off with appetizers and drinks. Then we had salads, our meal and finally dessert. That took about 3 hours. Nothing like a long relaxing meal with friends. It was nice to have all of us together at once to enjoy each other's company.

I'm A Believer!!

Last night was the 3rd annual Baking Xmas Cookies with Grandpa John night. Grandpa attempts to bake cookies with 5 grandsons while they attempt to eat as much cookie dough as possible. Grandma Paulette videotapes it all and chuckles to herself while snapping pictures. A good time is always had by them all.

Last night though the boys got one of the biggest surprises of their life. Someone knocked at the door and when Noah opened it there stood Santa. Hearing the description of Noah's face when he opened the door was priceless. Grandpa asked him who it was and he said "I don't know" I think he was in a state of disbelief. Santa came in and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to the boys and talked with the awhile. He also passed out gifts to them. They each got a christmas DVD and a stocking with candy. Santa also gave them each a card with his picture on it that said "You are on Santa's Nice list". They were so incredibly excited. Luckily we got to see some video that mom took when he was there. Matt and Beth arrived just as Santa was leaving and got to see the 5 boys all peeking out the window watching him leave. Priceless. What I wouldn't have given to be a fly on the wall last night. I think Grandpa and Grandma were every bit excited as the boys! Mom said it was one of the best nights of her life. I know it's one the boys will talk about for a long time to come.

Drew and Noah each took one of these pictures to school today to show their friends. They were just so excited about it.

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Aiden and I had a great morning. We met Beth and Ty at the library to watch the Rudolph puppet show. The boys were just too cute. We got home and there was a message from Grandpa Ken about meeting him for lunch so we met him, Tunie, and Uncle Scott at Krieger's for lunch. What a day. Aiden is passed out in bed and I need to get ready for work. Sounds like a nice snowfall headed our way tonight. The boys are anxious to play outside in it.

Field Trips Can Be Dangerous!

Noah's Kindergarten class and their 8th Grade Buddies took a field trip yesterday. They started off visiting the Quincy Museum and then had lunch at Cassano's. Afterwards they went to WalMart with the money they collected and bought things for the women and children at Quanada. Then they took the items over there and donated them. Apparently Noah had a little problem with his sweater at Walmart but when asked how it happened, he "forgot". Come to find out later that night that a string had started to unravel and he kept pulling on it. This is what his sweater looked like when he came home from school. I was laughing so hard, I had to take a picture. Note the long green thread hanging from the sweater.....that happens to be ripped up past his elbow!

My Little Train Conductor

Aiden and Grandpa Ken got to spend some special time together on Saturday morning. Aiden helped him set up the Christmas Train around the tree. He had so much fun with it and Grandpa snapped some cute pictures. Here are a couple. He looks more and more like his daddy everyday.

Let It Ice, Let It Ice, Let It Ice

One ice storm down, another on its way. I'd rather have the snow thank you! My friend's party was cancelled Saturday night and I was looking forward to an evening out and Drew's soccer and basketball games were cancelled yesterday. We have a day off school today and Drew and Todd were both mad about it which is unusual. Todd's students have finals next week which set him back with covering material before it and poor Drew waited all school year to be Star of the Week and this is his week and now it will be cut short. He's too funny. And with more ice on the way, they could very well not have school tomorrow.
We had a nice day yesterday. Todd and I got a wild hair and rearranged the furniture in the basement and I think I like it better now. The boys wrapped the xmas gifts they had bought. They have been so cute with their little lists and all shopping for the family with their own money. They picked out some cute,thoughtful gifts. I took Drew and Noah to see the movie Enchanted late afternoon. AWESOME movie!! If you are a cheesy, sappy romantic like me, you'll love it. The music was wonderful too so I'll have to get the soundtrack now. It was cute and funny and I loved how it was part animation, part real life. The boys enjoyed it too. Having Patrick Dempsey in it didn't hurt either! We finished off the evening by having all 5 of us crowd in our bed and watch Funniest Home Videos together. Nothing better than cuddling with all my boys and hearing the sound of their laughter!
Off to work for me, no day off here! I wonder if we'll be busy or not.....

"Mommy, I happy"

I've heard this a lot from Aiden the past couple of days. It warms my heart to hear this. Sometimes he says it while we're cuddling on the couch reading, he's told me it while we were at the mall yesterday. He's also said it while we were sitting side by side in the kitchen eating our lunch. Each time, we're doing something so simple, yet so enjoyable. And it warms my heart each time he says it. It's just a reminder that it's the simple pleasures that make us the happiest and we need to stop and savor those little moments before they pass us by. He'll usually follow his statement by asking me, "Mommy, you happy??" "Yes, Aiden, mommy is VERY happy."

O Christmas Tree

We decorated the Christmas tree last night. It was a lot of fun and Todd and I agreed this could be our best Christmas ever for two reasons. 1. It might be the last year that all 3 believe. 2. Aiden is old enough to really get into it this year. He has had so much fun with it all so far. Last night he kept putting on the Santa hat, puffing out his belly, patting it and saying "ho ho ho" in a deep voice. It was so funny. But everytime I tried to get video of it, he wouldn't do it, the little stinker. Here he's putting on a Blue's Clues ornament. Look at the concentration.....
Two of Santa's Helpers...........................

Noah striking a pose..................

We had fun decorating, listening to Christmas music and singing along. After the boys went to bed, Todd and I watched a movie with just the tree lights on. I just love that! I have a little video I'm trying to get of the boys singing to put on here. Not getting the cooperation I need once the camera comes out. Keeping my fingers crossed though.