This morning we went downtown to get family photos. Unfortunately it was VERY foggy. We were able to get pictures but they weren't as good as they could have been. I guess you have to take what you can get :-) All the kids wanted to do was run around so it was a fun day trying to get them all to stand still, smile and look at the camera all at the same time. Avery especially was not having a good day. She was up super late last night so she was tired and cranky.
The whole gang.
My brother, Jason, is starting to get into photography. He took the girls to Azalea Park and snapped a few photos.
Morgan and Uncle Scott
Avery and Morgan
Jerry and I got married at Azalea Park in this gazebo.
Jason and Dad
Morgan, Uncle Scott and Avery (making googly eyes at something)
I love this picture.
Avery loves to play pretend so for Christmas she asked for a Zoo Keeper outfit (which she got) and an alligator. I had the hardest time finding an alligator. I even looked on the internet but I like to feel and touch what I'm buying because you never know what you're really going to get. So, my parents live in Jacksonville so I asked them to go to the zoo to get an alligator. They did and..........................it was so realistic that Avery kicked it away and said she hated it!
We hope everyone had a happy and safe Christmas. Ours was pretty good considering everyone was either sick or getting sick. Mom, dad, Jason and Scott were here which was a blessing. Later in the day, Jerry's dad came over for dinner. The kids have not seen him in several months and were very excited for him to be here. Morgan and Brycen hugged him good-bye, Avery still needs a couple more visits before she'll warm up. Now that he's retiring, hopefully Grandpa O'Neal will be visiting more often.
Santa brought Morgan Lucky the Wonder Pup, instead of some roll-over dog that she had thought that she wanted.
Morgan loved giving Lucky his commands. Santa is so smart to have gotten Lucky instead of some puppy that JUST roll's over. This was also mommy's compromise instead of getting the real deal! I'm still not ready for another child!
Later that night, Nana, Morgan and I were summoned upstairs for a birthday tea party by Avery. We had pizza, tea and birthday cake......YUMMY! Avery sure knows how to throw a party! If Avery could either have or attend a party everyday, she would. She LOVES parties! My kind of girl!
Brycen received a Geo Track set and LOVED it. He could have cared less about the rest of his gifts. It took him all day to open his presents. Avery tried her hardest to play with it but Brycen would just push her away :-)
This is Brycen's remote control tarantula that I thought was so fun. It crawls across the floor like a real spider. Brycen on the other hand thought it was fun to control but refused to touch it. Clever little man that he is, figured out a way to pick it up without actually touching it. On top of that remote that he's holding is the spider, upside down with the antenna stuck in between his legs. So, essentially he 'stabs' it.
As the day went on, Brycen slowly deteriated. His fever came back and his wheezing started acting up. He was so exhausted that when Papa was giving him his breathing treatment, he passed out. He had a long day.
Jerry and I went to a friends Christmas Party last night and had lots of fun! Today I am paying the price! I contribute it all to a friend of mine that had a party last weekend and served Raspberry Cosmos. They were so good that I had 4 or 5 of them and I felt fine the next morning. Well, I decide to go pick some up for last night's party, read the directions; 1 part mixer and 1 part vodka. Well, needless to say, 'my friend' tricked me and did not make hers like the directions said because I was SMASHED after my 2nd!! I remember Jerry shoving me upstairs as soon as we walked in the door so the babysitter wouldn't see me and then waking up on my bathroom floor at 5am! with a cut on my nose that I have no idea how it got there! My sweet husband even gave me a pillow and blanket :-) Needless to say...........I will be remembering this night the next time I have a drink in my hand!
I forgot to post this picture yesterday for mom and dad. I was telling them all about the compliments I got at preschool yesterday over my outfit. I bought these socks while at Target months ago and thought they were so cute. No one believed me when I said that I was actually going to wear them out in public.
I am feeling a little compelled to express my happiness. Don't know why, it's just what I want to do......
I'll express it in the form of Smileys (things that make you smile):
-first and foremost, my kids. As much as they drive me crazy, all in different ways, I love each one of them more than they could ever know. Morgan for her maturness, Avery for her stubbornness and Brycen for his boyness;
Avery's class had their Christmas Pageant today. She is smack dab in the middle, 2ND from the top. She is an 'angel'. They sang about 5 songs and performed the 'Birth of Jesus' scene.
She is one beautiful Angel I must say. Too bad she doesn't act as cute as she looks. Maybe I should just start telling her what an angel she is and maybe she'll start acting like one. There's a concept!............reverse psychology! I'll keep you updated!
We are now off of school for 2weeks!! I'm excited about not having to get up and out the door and SUPER excited about getting to spend 2 weeks with my 3 children!! Seriously! I have precious visions of our peaceful days together baking, singing, dancing, reading together and just enjoying each other's company with NO fighting! Owwhh!! That was so weird! I just got a serious pinch in my neck as I was typing.
There was lots of hustle and bustle throughout the preschool this week. The 4yr olds were getting ready for the Christmas pageant, everyone exchanging gifts; teachers to kids, kids to teachers, teachers to teachers, etc. This is the craziest and most stressful time of year! Everyone is always trying to keep the true meaning of Christmas (the birth of Jesus Christ) alive but it always seems to get pushed aside. Every year does seem to get a little better for us though. We have scaled our Christmas spending down and tried to not stress over what we're buying for who and how much. Although my mother is not making it any easier (I'm going to get an ear full when she reads this - I know you mean well mom) by over-buying for the kids. I was excited when she said that she was going to make it easier on her and dad this year by buying us a family gift and then ONE small gife for each of the kids. Well, it has turned into 2 or 3 medium to large gifts for each of us and she's still saying it's not enough!! What they don't realize is that just them being here is going to be enough for the kids. They LOVE their Nana and Papa!I finally pulled the gingerbread house down from the top of the refridgerator. I've had it for weeks but kept forgetting about it. Jerry's working late so the kids and I had cereal for dinner and worked on decorating the gingerbread house. Brycen was more interested in watching Blue's Clues than helping (believe me I'm not complaining) but he did wonder over to put one candy on so I could get a picture. Morgan and Avery actually worked very good together and I think it turned out great!
AFTER...............................
I must have heard that 50 times since yesterday so I FINALLY put their tree up! About a year and half ago I found a box of everything that is on the tree at a thrift store and couldn't pass it up. Therefore, we got the girls' their own Christmas tree last year to keep in their room. I should have scaled down the ornaments and just got a smaller tree but instead went with a big tree to fit all of the ornaments. They had fun decorating their tree.....Brycen even got in on the action.
Say "Hello" to the O'Neal's new Christmas Tradition, Elkey. Elkey is an Elf sent by Santa to keep an eye on Morgan, Avery and Brycen. Each night he goes back to the North Pole and reports back to Santa whether the kids have been naughty or nice. The next morning Elkey is hiding in a new spot and the kids have to find him. Except on those rare occassions when the weather is just too bad for Elkey to leave, which was the case last night since he was still in his same hiding spot when the kids woke up! Ooops! Elkey only comes to life when the kids are sleeping and you cannot touch him or he will loose his magic! Morgan and Avery look forward to finding him each morning and I'll even find them whispering to him sometimes.
All that time preparing, all that time cooking..........for 30 minutes of engorging yourself and look at all the food still left over!! It's still worth the work :-)
I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! We had a great day with family and friends. The Barnes' family and Uncle Scott spent the day with us.
Morgan, Annie and Avery. Look at all that food on Annie's plate! She's a good role model for my 2 picky eaters! I think they had 2 things on their plates!
Allison and Kris. Whatcha pointing at Allison?
Me and Jerry. Quit grabbing my butt Jerry!!
Look....it's Uncle Scott!! Don't blink because you don't when you might see him again. Uncle Scott doesn't come around much but the kids sure do love him.
