Checklist

It's getting closer.

Presents bought?

Check. (actually credit... :))

Christmas outfits for church?

Check.

Pictures with Santa?

Check.

We're ready, Santa! See you soon!

The Excessively Long Post

I've been putting this off. It's only been a week, but I have a lot to share. So here it is: The excessively long post. Some of my friends, when covering a large amount of time, just do multiple posts on one day to get caught up. Not me. This is it. Get comfy.

It snowed! In El Paso! It was rainy, and cold enough and the raindrops turned into snow. Aaron saw like an inch at the hospital. I was thrilled! Two days later it had melted, but it was very exciting for one afternoon.Alex trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue. Silly Al - she couldn't even see them!

Last week, December 12th was Audrey's First birthday. One year ago, my beautiful third child was born - our Christmas baby. She was tinier than my other children - by a full pound - and a red-head from the start.

Now, she is one! She can walk several steps before gingerly sitting down. She loves to eat noodles (no surprise!), ice cream, and almost anything she can find on the floor. She can say, "up," "good," "bath," "Mama," "Dada," and "baba" (for her bottle). She can wrestle with her brother and sister, and hold her own. She has enough attitude for three children. We love our Auger-dodgers so much!

With her birthday cake.

Covered in said cake.

Daddy got her balloons for her birthday. He got the blue ones because of her brother and sister (who recently has a strong affinity for blue). She loved them!

The swing set is a GREAT present - not only for our kids, but the preschool kids as well. They love it, even if Alex hogs the swings.

Gave Audrey spaghetti noodles for dinner on Tuesday night. She ate a bunch, and then decided they needed to be on her head. Classic.
Wednesday night, Ben had a performance at school. They sang "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" and "Frosty the Snowman." My dear son was right in his element with a top hat and cane. That's him in the back row, dancing with the girl in the white dress. Totally cute.

On Wednesday, at preschool, we did a performance for the mommies and daddies. We sang 4 songs and did a performance of the Nativity. It went well. Then, on Thursday, I took them (Heidi - you will be proud of me!) to a local assisted living center, where they sang for the grandmas and grandpas. Although the residents were mostly asleep when the kids performed, they did wake up to receive the foamy snowman pictures the kids made. It was nice, and I think that they might have actually learned something!

All my silly kiddos at the Assisted Living Center.

It's been a busy time here, but it's finally slowing down. Christmas is almost set, and we're ready to go. Thanks for making it all the way to the end. :)

Two more days...

In two more days...

• Preschool will be over for a whole 19 days.
• Ben will be done with school for 18 days. No more getting up early to take him to school.
• Aaron will be done with Step 3 of his board exams.
• My dear friends will all be home in Michigan and New York with their families.
• I should be done with all my Christmas shopping and many of our Amazon gifts will appear at my doorstep.

In two more days, I will be able to sit, and blog our Christmas letter, and breathe.

Taking 9 preschool kids to the Senior Center tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Not blogging...

HaHA! I can do it. I wasn't on blogger all weekend.

Even though it was Audrey's FIRST BIRTHDAY.
Even though my mom was here and we played and shopped alot.
Even though there were lots of blog-able moments.

I restrained myself.

I paid attention to my kids.

I got all my Christmas shopping done.

I shaved my legs (finally).

I hosted a dinner party.

I made cookies.

I mopped the floor - oh, how I hate to mop!

But I didn't blog.

But the weekend isn't over, and Aaron is already in bed for the night, and the house is shut down, and miraculously, Audrey is actually in her own bed, and I really need to get some sleep...

and here i am on the computer.

I'll update tomorrow - I promise!

Early Christmas Present

Before...

After about 9 hours of work, a bajillion screws and bolts, the lovely smell of cedar, a few scratches, a good shin bruise, a splinter under the thumbnail, and 3 little helpers,

Merry Christmas Ben, Allie, and Audrey!

Mom and Dad love you so much!

(So do Nana and Pawpaw, and everyone else who contributed!)

'Tis the Season...

For Christmas lights....

and Family Pictures.
One day at a time, and we'll get through

all the parties, playgroups, birthdays, and shopping.

Only 19 days until Christmas!