Our Visit with the Big Guy!

We made our annual trip to see Santa today in downtown Naperville. It is a pretty nice set-up where they have Santa in the warming house on the Riverwalk. You go into a little shelter and they serve you free hot chocolate and popcorn while you wait for your turn to go in see Santa. He is in a nice room (with heat!!) and you privately get your photos and tell him your desires. They have you fill out some info on the kids before you go in so he seems very familiar with your kids. It works like a charm. My favorite part was when he looked at Logan's list and said (with no help from me I might add...) "You know I can't bring EVERYTHING on this list right?" I've been telling Logan that for a month but actually hearing it come from Santa himself should help things along on Christmas morning. Noone was afraid but they were very quiet and polite. After we went to Lou Malnattis for pizza and chocolate chip cookies. The boys love going there every year as much as they love to go see Santa. This time we order Calamari and Lawson asked what is was...I said "squid" and he asked to try it. He ate more than half!! His words..."This is awesome!" What a kid! It is now 7:15 and the boys are already in bed...it was a big day!

A cool gift idea for the person who has everything...

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE to shop! It really doesn't matter what I am shopping for...groceries, furniture, accessories, clothes (except I hate shopping with Steve for things for him)I love to shop. I was browsing thorough the Costco website a couple of weeks ago and saw those throws and you could have a photo put onto it. I showed it to Steve since he was in the room and he wanted me to order one for his mom for Christmas. I did it (and ordered myself some things as payment for my shopping services...) and it came yesterday. It turned out very cool. I'm usually not into things like this but the photo I chose really is subtle. The boys loved and have been posing by it. The photo of them is larger than them in person. I highly recommend this idea for the person who has everything. I should have ordered one for my mom too! (Sorry mom...you aren't getting one of these...maybe Mother's Day?!)

Two surprises from Jingle for Tuesday!

Tuesday started out great with Jingle leaving a new toy for the boys to share. It was a Hot Wheels toy and the boys loved playing with it before school. After school Jingle left a note with a plate of cupcakes ...

Hi Boys! I got a call from Santa today and we are having a production line problem with the candy canes...He really needs my help so tonight when I go to give my behavior report tonight I need to stay to help out or there won't be any candy canes for Christmas this year. Here is an early treat of cupcakes...I will be back as soon as I can! Be good!!!

Love,
Jingle

So we haven't seen Jingle since yesterday. He wasn't here this morning but we keep waiting. I hope he makes it back tomorrow...we miss him!!

Snowboots, snowpants, hats, mittens and more...

Why of why do I live in the snowy midwest with 4 small children to dress? I finally broke down over the weekend and purchased the snowpants for the season. Last year I bought 4 new pairs and never took the tags off but of course they don't fit this year. This year I haven't been so lucky. I have been told by 3 five year olds that if you don't have snowpants on at recess (I think recess lasts about 10 minutes!!) you can't leave the blacktop on the playground. I don't know why they think that they NEED to leave the blacktop because I don't believe that they are allowed to pick up snow anyway....but I was harassed all last week to buy snowpants. So now that we have them the boys rush to get into them each morning. Today it was 40 degrees and pouring rain. They stood in the driveway this morning soaking up the raindrops. Buckling them into carseats soaking wet was not fun. I can understand somewhat that they want snowpants but why do they want to wear them TO school? They go right inside from in front of the door. They really don't even need boots for the walk in. So here we are every morning...Coat? Check! Snowpants? Check! Boots? Check! (I need to add socks to this because Landon somehow missed that step at least two days last week!!) Hat? Check! Gloves? Check! Add to this list a packed lunch, homework folder packed in the backpack, and a spare pair of shoes to wear when you get into the classroom. Oh...and don't forget glasses for 3, hearing aids for 2! Well...on the bright side summer vacation will be here in only 177 more days and shortly before that we won't need snowpants anymore... I'm tired just thinking about doing it again tomorrow!

Jingle

Our Elf Jingle arrived last week and has kept us hopping ever since. The boys have been waiting all year long for him to come back and they have been thrilled once again to wake up every morning to see what mischief he has been up to. So far he has brought Advent Calendars, left giant chocolate bars, a Christmas Tree Gingerbread kit, new Jibbitz, a recipe for cinnamon ornaments that we made, christmas card kits for making our own cards, and a new I SPY Bingo game. He has been found playing in a elf size ballpit and climbing the chandelier. You just never know what he is going to do next. Tonight we were at the mall and we caught a glimpse of him in the Hallmark store!! I told the boys he was sneaky...

A little backtracking...

I've been pretty busy so I've been neglecting this blog for a couple of weeks. We had a nice quiet Thanksgiving (well...as quiet as you an have with 4 small boys!) The boys brought home lists of things that they are thankful for and Logan left off his brothers "because I ran out of room" but Mom and Dad along with Mrs. Erwin made the list. Lake is again thankful for his dog this year (!?) We STILL don't have a dog but he continues to be thankful for it. We ate a nice dinner at home and the boys had a big game of touch football during the afternoon. Lawson was sick so he stayed inside with Mommy but we watched from the window. Then we all went on a rock hunting expedition for Logan's first grade project. On Friday Steve took Landon and Lake to the Christmas Parade while Logan and Lawson decorated the Sports themed tree in their room. Over the long weekend we went shopping so the boys could make their lists for Santa. It is very interesting to watch their little minds think about what they want to ask for and why. Logan has a list about 15 items long while the other boys were less "needy/greedy."

Charity Starts at Home...

Yesterday after a full day of shopping, donating, Santa visits, pancakes breakfasts and haircuts I overheard the boys talking. Lake had "recycled" a empty milk jug because he was goin got make a "money collector." This of course made my ears perk up and I went to invesitigate. When I asked Lake how he was going to collect money with his jug he said that he would just put it out and people would walk by and stuff money into it. I guess he HAS noticed the Salvation Army collection people. Then I asked what he was going to do with his money. He replied "I'm going to give it to Logan!" So either the spirit of giving has touched Lake or he has really picked up on the oldest childs obsession with money and it going to help him out. I wonder if I should be worried?!