Carter's Christmas Concert

This kid is in seventh heaven!  A Neighbor brought down a John Deere Santa hat for him to wear!

Check out that handsome kid!  Carter did a wonderful job at his Christmas concert as well.  Ava is much more animated on stage while he appears to be barely singing most of the time.  But he did send us a couple of smiles during the concert which made it all worth it!  Merry Christmas!   

Meet Shadow!

Well, we finally made the plunge this weekend and found a puppy at a shelter.  The kids decided to name her Shadow.  It was a name I threw out because I was trying to steer Ava away from blackie.  All three kids agreed on Shadow so it stuck!

We are still working on getting her 100% housebroken, but luckily I'm home during the day to work with her on it.  Ava loves to cuddle her, and most of the time Shadow is happy to oblige.  She has been so wonderful with the kids, I haven't heard her growl or bark at the kids once.  

Dawson was a little hesitant about getting a dog.  He spent most of Saturday morning crying on and off and I finally asked him if he was scared about getting a dog.  He just started sobbing because he didn't want to get a dog because it was going to eat angel baby.  But once he met Shadow he wanted to take him home!

These kids run her ragged.  She barely has time to rest during the day because as soon as she lays down someone makes a loud noise or tries to poke or cuddle or grab her.  The kids are not allowed to disturb her while she is in her crate and luckily she seems to like resting in there.

I have to say, I've really been enjoying having a dog in the house!

Santa!

Today we got to visit Santa!  The kids were very excited to meet him this year, only Dawson was a little tentative.  

Santa loved chatting up each family, in fact I had to shorten the video.  He sang jingle bells with the kids and reminded all of them to tell baby Jesus that they loved him.  I thought it was important that he added that in!  Carter asked for his "zombie nerf gun mixed up with a mega gun" Ava asked for My Size Elsa and a dollhouse and Dawson asked for John Deere.  A very nice experience for our three!

Beautiful Smiles!

Thank you Santa for mentioning the whole room cleaning thing.  A certain little boy's room has been one piece of paper away from a Hoarder's episode.  But as soon as we got home he ran upstairs and cleaned his room!  Then he ran downstairs and said "I picked up my room, just like Santa said!"

Ava's Christmas Program

Ava had her Christmas program at school today.  She told Mike and I before school that she was excited, but she would probably feel a little shy.

It was so nice to hear children singing Christmas songs.  It definitely gets you in the spirit!

Well, she may have felt a little shy, but I didn't notice it!

S - A - N - T - A

Merry Christmas from a sweet Roover girl!

Happy Fourth Birthday Dawson!

Dawson!  Four years old.  I love it, because it's such a fun age.  Today we had a little play date with your preschool friends from school.  We sang Happy Birthday, played John Deere's in the beans, jumped on the trampoline and enjoyed the balloons.  You seemed to have a fantastic time, and it was a nice way to make the day special for you.

Your Cake, handcrafted by Mom.  A few flaws here and there, but I am proud of the final result.  A tractor cake was the only one that would do!

You helped me decorate the table with John Deere plates, party hats and blowers.  We also made a craft with scrapbook paper with a barn on it and farm animals.  Everyone seemed to enjoy this easy little craft.  You were so excited all morning long for your friends to arrive.

Daddy had to go to a work Christmas party this evening, so we decided to open birthday presents first thing in the morning.  A John Deere Mega Blocks Set!

Surprisingly enough, the John Deere Calender was the biggest hit.  You have been pouring over the pictures and repeatedly asking for me to find today's date on the calender.  

We also took you to Red Robin for pizza and chocolate milkshakes this weekend after church.  

A close up of your tractor cake

Here is a little birthday interview that I did with you today:

Your favorite color: Green

Favorite Toy: John Deere

Favorite TV show or Movie:  Rescue Bots

Favorite Food: chicken nuggets with honey and macaroni and cheese

Favorite Outfit: John Deere Overalls

Favorite Game:  Candyland

Favorite Art Activity:  Coloring

Favorite Animal:  Gorillas

Favorite Song:  Instrumental (this is what you call TSO's Carol of the Bells)

Favorite Outdoor Activity:  Digging in the Dirt with a big John Deere

Favorite Drink:  Sparkling Water

What do you like to sleep with:  Angel Baby

What do you want to be when you grow up:  A farmer with Dad

What do you like about Carter:  He plays John Deere with me

What do you like about Ava:  She's nice to me

What do you like about yourself:  I play with John Deere

What do you pray about:  John Deere

What do you like to do with Daddy:  throw pillows at him

What do you like to do with Mommy:  play the Ladybug Game

Favorite Book: Rescue Bots (although I have to add that he really likes The Three Billy Goats Gruff illustrated by Paul Galdone)

Dawson: Heard Around the House

Recently I took Dawson shopping at a party store.  We found John Deere plates, cups and decorations for his birthday.  This was obviously in seventh heaven so he told me:

Mom!  You didn't disappoint me today!

Welp, I guess I'm just a disappointing mother.  Love you silly little guy!

Thanksgiving Fun!

 Five Cousins, Growing so Big!

Don't you love Ava's pink cowboy hat?  She picked it up at Tractor supply (because Dawson's birthday, of course!) and has been wearing it nonstop.

Funny, but I think I like the silly picture the best.

We also visited a nearby entertainment center.  It was so FUN! and BIG!  Mike clearly enjoyed himself on the bounce houses!

This was the biggest bounce house I've ever seen!  It was 36 feet high and thankfully Mike took the kids on it for the first ride.  Ava got scared at the top and Mike had to give her a little "encouragement."

Wow!  This kid had a ball bouncing!

Here is Ava and Carter on the wrecking ball.  Ava was really good at this, she rarely fell!

The kids also enjoyed laser tag for the first time and arcade games.  Sara was the sweetest and took Dawson in the laser tag arena.  He had a ball with her!  Carter and Ava went in with Daddy and apparently they really got into it.  I was nervous they would be scared because it was so dark.  (Neither kids will go upstairs if it is dark!)  But they did great!

A close up of Ava in her pink cowboy hat, how cute!

I love Thanksgiving!  It's so nice to spend time with the ones we love and we are so blessed to have a wonderful extended family!  And of course it wouldn't be thanksgiving without......raw sewage in the basement, Myla eating two dozen freshly baked pumpkin cookies, ongoing construction, stepping over power tools to sit down at the lunch table, enough mashed potatoes for everyone to have a tablespoon, gallons of gravy and cranberries and fun with our cousins.  Love you all!