Gingerbread + friends = FUN

For the past four years (I think) our playgroup has been doing a gift exchange with the kids for Christmas.  This year one of the mom's suggested we take the kids to Kids Cooking Co. for the Gingerbread House class.  It was a great idea.  The little guys were dropped off at Courtenay's to play with a sitter we had lined up to watch them.  It was so fun to have the older ones together!  The kids got to decorate their own houses, make the filling for chocolate sandwich cookies, dip marshmallows in chocolate and drink white hot cocoa.  It was so fun!!

Two weeks of pain!

Last Wednesday Bennett got his stitches out.  Hooray!  I was a little nervous about the appointment.  I was afraid the stitches might get stuck and really just not sure what to expect so was expecting the worse.  Ella had a playdate after school so off she went with a friend.  She was soooo excited her teacher said the girls were so giddy towards the end of the day.  Faith's dad picked them up and Ella just waved and that was that.  Bennett was awfully curious in the exam room and asked Dr. Hayes for the "Lig" (light) so she pulled it over and shined it on his thumb while taking out the stitches.  He just watched intently.  He didn't even flinch and they all came out smoothly.   Thank goodness!  She put on a band aid and off we went to get a cookie.  Later that night at bath time I noticed Ella's knee had a red bump.  SHe said it had been hurting earlier and she told her teacher but she was ok.  It looked like a bug bite so I said I'd check it in the morning.  Well, Thursday it was bigger so I call the doctor's office and they said to give Benadryl and watch it.  She took some before bed.  Friday it was huge and she was in so much pain she couldn't walk up and down the stairs so I called and made an appointment for after school.  She couldn't miss the Christmas program!!  Again, I was expecting the worse.  Dr. Hayes came in and took a look.  She said she was going to have to drain it back in the room we were in Wednesday...the special examination room.  UGH!  Let's just say this was one of my worst nightmares as a mommy.  Watching Bennett get the shot for the stitches was bad and then get the stitches was not good for my stomach but this was flat out painful.  Poor Ella was holding my hand and trying so hard not to cry and then her little body just starts trembling as the doctor applies more and more pressure to drain the gunk.  When she doubled over in my lap the tears just started streaming down my face.  I couldn't take watching my sweet little girl suffer.  And, without any pain medication.  She milked it for everything it was worth over the weekend.  She's back to normal now but we have to be careful of the infection until the wound heals.  I'm so glad it's cold and she's wearing pants everyday.

Here's a picture of her knee just before we left for the doctor.

I'm praying for an injury free remaining month of December!

Christmas Program

I'm so far behind in posting.  Where to begin?!  On Friday Ella's pre-school had their Christmas program.  Chris was in Chicago at a training class.  They were both sad he was missing it.  She had been practicing the songs like crazy.  Remember she wants to be a singer when she grows up.  She can't wait to pick up the DVD on Friday and show it to daddy since he'll be back home Friday, too!  Little did I know that she'd be wearing the same costume and performing the same program as last year!  But, this year she sang different songs and stood on the opposite side of the stage.  I guess I'll get to watch the same program two if not three more years!!

The people that sat in front of me were really tall so my pictures are somewhat blocked,  I can't complain though because they could be Ella's future in-law's one day.   :)  I believe there's a post with a picture from her Thanksgiving feast.  You might scroll down and find it if you're curious who I'm referring to.

Top row with big smile because she just spotted me.

Singing her little heart out.

After the show with sweet friend, Taylor.

Boo Boo

If you haven't heard yet, Bennett has the Boo Boo of all boo boo's.  So far, that is.  He is a boy, after all.  Let me begin by stating this is how the morning started:

me: "It's the first Sunday of Advent so we're going to go to church."

Chris: gives me a look

Ella: "I want to decorate the tree."

Bennett: could care less what we did

I gave in to my husband and Ella and we started on the tree gigantic tree.  Since it's so small, we ran out of lights, naturally.  I had a lunch to go to so I told him to run to Target and I'd take a quick shower so he could finish up before I left.  Then we could decorate while Bennett was napping later and I was home.  Bennett comes into the bathroom not even three or four minutes later and his little hand is covered in blood and his eyes are somewhat glazed.  He had dropped a snow globe in the living room.  I jump out and find something to put pressure on his hand and try to find where all this blood is coming from without panicking.  I yell up to Ella to get down and we're going to the hospital.  I'm trying to find a phone to call Chris so he can meet us there.  Little Bennett was so still and just held onto the washcloth.  He had calmed down and was so quiet the whole time in the car and at the hospital.  That is until the doctor came in and took off the washcloth.  The boy was getting upset.  The doctor took a quick look and said he'd need 4-5 stitches on his thumb.  A few minutes later the nurse comes back with a pillow case and I'm thinking what in world is that for.  To piss him off is what it was for!  They put him in it and then laid him on the bed and wrapped him like a burrito baby swaddle with just his right arm out.  Hysterical, screaming!  And then the lidocaine medication.  Holy cow.  The boy was not happy!  When I saw the instrument they use for the insertion of stitches I got queasy.  He only ended up with 3 stitches in his tiny thumb.  I'm lucky enough to change the dressing once a day which really mean twice a day because it is usually off when he wakes up.  I can now add nurse to one of my many hats.  I'm not good at it in case you were wondering.

This tells me one thing: stick to my gut and go to church!  If that wasn't a sign from God!!

A couple pictures of his Boo Boo.  Hope you don't get grossed out easily.

This was the nurse's dressing

The wound

My first attempt at dressing

He's very careful with it and keeps his thumb up most of the time.  He's tells everyone, "Boo boo."  It hasn't slowed him down at all!  The only time he sits still is when he's in my lap to change the dressing.  We go to the pediatrician next Wednesday to have the stitches removed.

We are aware that this will not be our last trip to the ER but I would be perfectly happy if it were.

Bennett has a new word

Can you figure out what he learned to say this evening?  Ella and I were so proud of him and cheered him on over and over.  It is hard to understand on this video but he does say it a little clearer in person...

Thanksgiving Feast

I volunteered at the Thanksgiving feast at the pre-school today.  It was so cute.  It was for the 3 and 4's.  They came in wearing indian vests and feather headpieces.  They all sat on the floor and sang a couple Thanksgiving songs and then said grace and then ate lunch.  Ella sat next to Stone, whom she says she's going to marry.  I had to leave right after they started eating to take my car to the body shop and get my rental so I could be back in time for pick-up.  Fun times.

That is her teacher dressed as a pilgrim right behind her.  All the staff was dressed as pilgrims.  Loved it!

Indian Ella

Stone & Ella

Ella singing a turkey song they learned at school...

Silhouette

This is one of my favorite photos that I took while in California back in April.  I love the silhouette of my daughter, the seagull flying and I love the pier in the background.  It was a beautiful day on the beach in San Diego!

My first entry into I heart faces weekly contest.

Eyes

A photo of my happy little guy and his cheerful brown eyes.  He's happiest when he's outside playing!

Homework

I've been assigned homework.  First time in a long time that I have had homework and probably the first time that I've actually looked forward to the assignment.  I am taking another photography class at the community college.  It's another lecture class but we have assignments each week.  This week we have to bring to class two portraits without learning how to take a proper portrait yet.  Interesting.  We even have to show our two of choice to the entire class.  Now I'm just in this class for fun to better my knowledge and learn more about my camera and take better pictures of my kiddos.  At this point in my life I'm not striving to become the next up and coming professional photographer.  I mean if that is the plan for my life one day I will not prevent it but I am not holding my breath! :)  My little model was ready to go until she figured out she had to sit still and couldn't do what she wanted to do.  "This isn't fun, mommy."  "Can I have my candy now?"  I heard that a few times.  After the first round I decided to try a different area in the house and I thought the pettiskirt would be more fun.  She really got into the modeling this time!  We were told to have a head shot, upper body and full body.

Upper body

Head shot

First two are SOOC - no editing, the rest are auto corrected

She just wanted to lay down and take pictures

I like this one but I don't think he will since it's not straight on.

There are so many photography blogs out there in bloggy world.  I was reading one this evening and came across a photo challenge "Windows to the Soul" or eyes.  I've never entered a photo into a photo challenge but thought what the heck!  Despite the shadow cast on her sweet face I really like the expression.  You can see in her eyes that she is really enjoying her "modeling" shoot.

I ran Amy McMaster's Day Dream action and adjusted the brightness slightly.

Halloween weekend

Halloween is like a never ending event around here.  It's fun but good grief it's tiring!  We had such a full weekend the kids barely made it to trick-or-treating time.

On Friday after school we carved our pumpkin.  Thank goodness we waited until Friday because it started growing mold yesterday.  Gross!

First glance at the inside

B went right at it

Both hard at work

He was pretty interested in the gutting of a pumpkin

Yep, I totally cheated!  A book of patterns came with the carving kit and Ella thumbed through it and picked this one out.  Made things easier for me.

Silly girl and a jack-o-lantern

I asked them to pose next to the pumpkin together and this is what happened.  Play time!

Saturday morning Chris headed to College Station to watch the Aggies whoop some Tech butt.  That left me solo at the soccer game to cheer on Ella and play tag with Bennett.  Whew.  He's a workout.  He loves to play ball and thankfully Annabelle is sweet enough to run around and play with him for part of the game.  Annabelle is in second grade so you can only imagine that a two year old is not her favorite playmate!  Then home for lunch and B's nap.  I had to wake him at 4:30 to get dressed for the Halloween party across the street.  He was ticked and wanted nothing to do with his costume.  We just took the costume with us.  I finally got it on him but he wasn't happy about it.  No mask or booties.  Finally, he was running around playing in his element.  Ella was having a wonderful time playing with her friends.  Then, the gummi worm, crushed Oreo & chocolate pudding concoction falls and makes a mess.  On her new costume.  AHHHHH.  Two years in a row this has happened!  No more treats in costume!  The party was great with some really great costumes.  One boy, 8 years old, was Texas Rangers Mr. Potato Head.  It was made out of paper mache.  I have no idea how long it took his mom to make but it was great.  If you look at the group picture you can barely see him on the end.

Ella & Ava

Spidey looking like he just woke up

Ella making that concoction

Bobbing for apples, toe style

All the kids except Spiderman.  He was off to the left and wanted nothing to do with the group photo.

 After the party Annabelle and Ava came over around 8:00 to spend the night since their parents were at a party.  The girls were up until 10 or so and up at 6:30.  Yikes.  Not enough sleep for them!  At 2:00 Ella and I were headed to the neighborhood carnival.  There was a clown there.  I had high exceptations but was let down!

Princess Jasmine ready to hit the carnival

She was all sass!!

The lame Stringbean the clown

Elmo arrived as we were leaving.  Too bad Bennett didn't come.  He would have loved him.

Our family Halloween tradition is have chili for dinner.  One year Ella and Bennett will discover they like chili. :)  After dinner it was finally time to go trick-or-treating.  

The girls

the boy, a bit blurry

Aren't they adorable?!?

Wait for me!!!

Beautiful night!

Wow, this is awesome!

Yea, candy!

Skittles for Ella and a Tootsie Pop for B.

And that's our weekend!  Whew.

Good night!