Top 50 Things of 2011

1.     Jacob learning to ride his bike without training wheels.
2.     Jacob getting to see “the real Darth Vader” at Disneyworld with Brian and John.
3.     Jacob going to Kindergarten.
4.     Watching Jacob score a goal in his soccer game.
5.     Jacob getting to ride the bus (which has been a lifelong dream of his!).
6.     Jacob having so much fun at his gymnastics birthday party…including the light sabers – party favor of the year!
7.     Cherishing each of Jacob’s infamous homemade “books.”
8.     Amazed at how much he has learned this year and Jacob’s improvement in his reading and writing.
9.     Jacob learning to tie his own shoes!!
10. Getting to spend time in Jacob’s classroom this year with Valentine’s Day party, field trip to the zoo, end of year party for pre-k, field trip to Dewberry Farms, book character parade, handwriting lessons every other week, Thanksgiving program and feast, and Christmas party.
11. Annie talking in full sentences.
12. Watching Annie go crazy at her Little Gym birthday party when she turned 2.
13. Annie finally having enough hair for some little pigtails.
14. Annie drenched in strawberry juice after strawberry picking.
15. Listening to Annie sing her favorite songs “twinkle twinkle little star” and Justin Beiber’s “baby, baby.”
16. Annie finally transitioning to a big girl bed…we’ll work on getting rid of those pacifiers at naptime and bedtime in the spring!
17. Annie saying CHUCK CHEESE every time we pass Chuck E Cheese in the deepest voice humanly possible for a toddler.
18. Hearing Annie call Jacob “Bubba,” Gwyn “Ginny,” Brian “Daddy,” and me “Mama.” (It won’t be long before she drops the Mama and goes to Mommy)
19. Hearing Annie say prayers, so sweet!
20. Watching Annie try to keep up with Jacob and Gwyn…her running after them with her little hair flying (she is just now growing out of her little mullet - business in the front and party in the back!).
21. Gwyn picking out Sparkles at her Build A Bear party when she turned 3.
22. Watching Gwyn at her dance recital.
23. Gwyn and her special lunch dates and Strawberry Bucks dates with her Daddy.
24. Listing to Gwyn making up sweet and silly songs about anything and everything.
25. Gwyn learning how to swim this past summer.
26. Getting to spend time in Gwyn’s preschool class with Valentine’s and Easter parties, field trip to the zoo, end of year party, and Christmas party.
27. Gwyn’s first pedicure with G in Tulsa.
28. Watching Gwyn perform in her preschool Christmas Program…Jump for Jesus!
29. Gwyn riding her princess bike with training wheels round and round in circles in the driveway.
30. Gwyn learning to swing by herself (hooray for Mommy!).
31. Our year of pets:  babysitting guinea pigs and birds, our ant farm, Charlie the squirrel, numerous bugs/lizards we caught and released (or in a couple of cases left in a bucket in the sum), and our new water frogs (Pistol Pete and Bullet).
32. Doing fun things with the kids:  taking the kids to the movies, out for snow cones, discovering create your own yogurt places, family bike rides to the park, bowling, CEC, the park, craft time at the kitchen table, etc.
33. The hours upon hours we spent swimming at the house this year!
34. Ladybug hunting in the easement and making Duck Soup in the yard.
35. Playing outside with the neighbor’s kids…we are blessed to have awesome neighbors with young kids.
36. Intense made up games of “Squeaky Mouse,” “Tickle Monster” and “Step on Daddy.”
37. Trick or treating with the kids dressed up as Anakin, Rapunzel and the cutest clown ever!
38. Summer trip to Oklahoma to visit family and friends.
39. 4^th of July trip to Florida to visit John and Claudia (and that awesome green lantern).
40. Brian’s cakes for the kids this year:  Star Wars (Jacob’s birthday), The Little Mermaid (Gwyn’s birthday) and Boots from Dora (Annie’s birthday), and his bug and owl cupcakes.
41. Christmas traditions with the kids:  decorating cookies with Jason, driving around looking at Christmas lights, Kong Kong our elf, advent calendars, decorating the gingerbread house, new ornaments for each of the kids’ trees.
42. The 1^st Annual Spring Break visit with Em and her girls.
43. Beach trips to Galveston with the Mulsows.
44. Taking the kids to Disney on Ice and the Willy Wonka play with friends.
45. Celebrating Thanksgiving with everyone at our house, and Christmas in Oklahoma.
46. Nightly dance parties with the kids while I cook dinner.
47. Two Words:  Phineas and Ferb!!
48. Retiring the crib, which has been in constant use since July 13, 2006 (the day we brought Jacob home from the hospital).
49. The obstacle course for the kids (and Dads) in the easement after Thanksgiving.
50. Inside tent camping with Daddy on New Year’s Eve!

Christmas was AWESOME!

We had a great trip to Oklahoma to visit family and friends for Christmas.  It was a short trip, but we squeezed in several visits with friends and lots of family time.  The kids are dressed up in their Kong Kong pajamas in the picture above.  This was Christmas Eve night, and I buy them new pajamas each year...these were Elf on the Shelf pjs that I found, and they were super excited!!

We started off the trip with a stop in Dallas to visit Em and her girls...the kids had a great time playing together, I only wish our visit could have been longer...how I miss the Kalina family!

 When we got to Rick and Sue's house, the kids played outside a little, but you can tell we've got Texas blood in us now...here is Annie bundled up while outside for all of about 30 seconds...which was longer than Gwyn lasted!

 Annie's signature smile:

 Jacob and his little buddy Buster hit it off again...he asked to take the dog home.  We said a big NO!

 We stopped by for a visit to see the Huff family...they now have 3 kids and so there are 6 kids between us!  I didn't get a group shot...Annie and Blythe weren't cooperating, so I'm anxious for Erika to send me what she got since I'm sure it is hilarious!

 Gwyn loves this little swing at my parents house:

 She wanted Papa to sit by her:

 Then of course Jacob wanted to get in the picture:

 The hammock got some good use for some fake sleepers:

 It did warm up a bit, and the kids were able to play outside:

 We spent Christmas Eve with Brian's family, here is Gwyn about to open a present:

 Annie got a Dora dress-up from her Great Grandpa...a perfect gift for her!!

 Calico Critters galore for Annie...she was in heaven!

 All of them opening a present:

 Jacob was most excited about his very own pack of gum!!

 We went to Christmas Eve service and then followed that up with a group picture.  We missed out in getting Brian's Uncle Kurt and his kids who came in from Kansas City for the day...we had a full house!

 Back to my parents to spend Christmas Eve night and Christmas Day.  Here is Gwyn who wrote her name!!

 Here they are on Christmas breaking in Jacob's new pencil sharpener...they sharpened an entire box of pencils, then Gwyn also discovered on the colored pencils that don't have erasers on the other end you can sharpen both sides...this present got A LOT of use within the first couple of hours of them having it.

 The kids had fun hanging out with my Aunt Susie, who got busted with a cup in her ear?!?! (this is an inside joke between the kids and Susie)

 Oh how I love these two little sisters:

 Jacob got another jersey...now he has 3, which he will rotate every day for the rest of his life (or so he says):

 A group picture at the Brown's house:

 We got this video of the kids coming in from Oklahoma to see that Santa had came...LOVE it!!

12 Days of Christmas

On the 1st Day of Christmas my true love gave to thee, 1 sneaky little girl who gets up at 5 am every morning in search of Kong Kong.

On the 2nd Day of Christmas my true love gave to thee, 2 school Christmas parties at the same time on the same day (Brian and Annie went to Jacob's, I went to Gwyn's), and 1 sneaky little girl.

On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to thee, 3 precious stair stepper kids, 2 school parties, and 1 sneaky little girl.

On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to thee, 4 very scrumptious homemade funnel cakes, 3 Katt kids, 2 school parities, and 1 sneaky little girl.

On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to thee, 5 homemade elves representin' our family, 4 funnel cakes, 3 Katt kids, 2 school parities, and 1 sneaky little girl.

On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to thee, 6 minutes of Gwyn singing in her preschool Christmas program, 5 homemade elves, 4 funnel cakes, 3 Katt kids, 2 school parities, and 1 sneaky little girl.


On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to thee, 7 presents rewrapped because of Annie Lou Who (who looks like Cindy Lou Who from the Grinch Stole Christmas), 6 minutes of singing, 5 homemade elves, 4 funnel cakes, 3 Katt kids, 2 school parities, and 1 sneaky little girl.

On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to thee, 8 ways to countdown to Christmas (3 paper chains, 3 boxes of chocolate, 1 Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar, and 1 Playmobile Advent Calendar). 7 presents rewrapped, 6 minutes of singing, 5 homemade elves, 4 funnel cakes, 3 Katt kids, 2 school parities, and 1 sneaky little girl.

On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to thee, 9 days straight of Jacob wearing a jersey, 8 ways to countdown, 7 presents rewrapped, 6 minutes of singing, 5 homemade elves, 4 funnel cakes, 3 Katt kids, 2 school parities, and 1 sneaky little girl.

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to thee, 10 minutes of eating breakfast in a tutu before spilling orange juice all over it, 9 days in a jersey, 8 ways to countdown, 7 presents rewrapped, 6 minutes of singing, 5 homemade elves, 4 funnel cakes, 3 Katt kids, 2 school parities, and 1 sneaky little girl.

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to thee, 11 pieces of candy the kids caught in the audience when we watched my friend Julie's daughter perform in the Willy Wonka play as an Oompa Lumpa, 10 minutes of breakfast in a tutu, 9 days in a jersey, 8 ways to countdown, 7 presents rewrapped, 6 minutes of singing, 5 homemade elves, 4 funnel cakes, 3 Katt kids, 2 school parities, and 1 sneaky little girl.

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to thee, 12 months of fantastic memories with our awesome kiddos, 11 pieces of candy, 10 minutes of breakfast in a tutu, 9 days in a jersey, 8 ways to countdown, 7 presents rewrapped, 6 minutes of singing, 5 homemade elves, 4 funnel cakes, 3 Katt kids, 2 school parities, and 1 sneaky little girl.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Three Little Sugar Plums

We’ve got the Christmas Spirit going strong at our house!  We went to Jason’s house last weekend and made some gingerbread cookies, decorated them, ate some, and then saved (froze) some for Santa.  We used icing in these "easy cheese" like canisters and that is highly recommended...very little mess!  Brian, Jason, and I then each took one of the kids to Target and they each had $7 to pick out gifts for their two siblings.  I helped them wrap the presents yesterday, and Jacob commented on just about everything that  he thought Gwyn or Annie would share what he picked out with him, ha!  We then watched Home Alone, which Jacob thought was just great.  It was a great Christmasy Day!! Here is Annie diligently working on her masterpiece:

 Jacob with his candy cane:

 Jason and Gwyn with their cookies:

 The kids snuggled up for the movie:

I took the kids up to Westside while Brian was playing volleyball after dinner one night.  It was super fun watching the kids get so excited about all the lights, and then run around the empty tennis courts…this also exhausted them and they went home and went right to bed (yes, it was part of my plan!). 

 Just loved Annie's face in this one...she's actually yelling CHEEEESSSSEE!

 Contemplating life:

Who let the crazies out??

They are all getting to be quite tough Christmas light critics…saying things like “those are too small,” and “he just hardly did anything (disgusted),” as we drive around neighborhoods looking at lights.  We are planning on taking them over to River Oaks this weekend to check out the mansions and see how they do it on the other side of the tracks (as in having their lights professionally hung and one last year even hired a Santa to sit outside their house!). 

One thing we learned this weekend is that Annie and candy canes don't mix.  She does like them, went and snuck one off the tree and ate half of it with the wrapping and everything...10 minutes later puked it all up, wrapper and all.  

 I usually let the kids do some kind of craft while I cook dinner.  I had a couple of canvas', so I let Jacob and Gwyn paint on them and Annie used some paper.  Jacob was very careful to get his just right.  Annie, not so much...she had her third change of clothes of the day after that.

 Gwyn was doing so great, I had traced out a Christmas tree for her, but then she decided to use her hands and smear it all around???

 Jacob loves gum (thanks for that Papa).  He found some in my purse and I told him he could have a piece.  Then Gwyn and Annie wanted a piece.  I said okay, we'll see how the girls do without swallowing it.  Here is Annie and Jacob showing me their gum after about 5 minutes:

 Here is Gwyn getting comforted by Brian after swallowing her gum after about 2 minutes.  She is calm here, this was DEVASTATING to her.  Oh, and by the way, don't ever give Brian gum.  He swallows it.  Every time, he still does.  It's gross.

 Crazy kid:

 Gwyn was quite happy about her little gingerbread hat (yes, that is what it is supposed to be):

Jacob had his first basketball practice on Saturday, he’s playing in a little church league with some other boys from his school.  I think he was a little nervous and thought he couldn’t do it, but he did awesome and can even make baskets (I think they use a 6 ft goal).  Today after school he was dribbling and showing me what a chest pass and a bounce pass was.  I took the ball and starting dribbling between my legs and showing off my ‘skilz,’ he looked at me so shocked and said, “Mommy, you are awesome at basketball!!”  Not sure how much longer I’ll be awesome to him,, but hey, my 9 years of playing impressed him today!!

Still loving all this Christmas themed art…Jacob’s is technically “Holiday” themed since apparently you can’t celebrate Christmas in public school, but Gwyn’s learning all about Jesus, Hallelujah!!

Funny things the kids said this week:

Me to Jacob:  Did you play soccer at recess?

Jacob: No, Wes forgot his ball, so we played “get the girls.” (and so it begins…)

Gwyn:  I think Kong Kong went in your stocking Mommy because he thought there was candy in it!

Annie:  I want to watch Dora.  Turn it on.  No, I don’t want that one, I want Halloween Dora.  (I kid you not…talking in full sentences and demanding specific episodes of Dora…we’ve created a monster!!)

Annie:  I not Annie, I’m peppa pig!

Jacob to Gwyn:  I've got two jerseys, an OSU one and a Notre Dame one.  I would have three jerseys if Mommy hadn't  of dried my blue one and messed it up.