Believe it or not, we all went to the mall on Christmas Eve. Are we crazy or what? I know I don't really like the idea of going to the mall on Christmas Eve, but we went mostly to let the kids see the Christmas decorations and the big Christmas tree in the center of the Ice Rink. Yes, the mall was crowded! But it really didn't bother me like it usually does. I don't know why. We spent a good few hours walking around and we stopped and had lunch and everything. It was nice. Here are a few pictures we took:

       

We had a very good Christmas this year. Santa was good to all of us. The adults made out like bandits as much as the kids did. We opened presents and had a late breakfast. After breakfast, Frank, Carter, Gail and I got ready to go outside so that Carter could ride his new bike. We pulled Gail in Frank's new little wagon (used for yard work). It was a pretty day and we made a couple of trips around the lake. We went back in and the kids took their naps. I started cooking dinner while they were napping. We had a nice dinner and let the kids play a bit more before going to bed. It was Christmas, why not? But we were all bushed by bedtime. I haven't felt so tired in a long time. Here are a few pictures from Christmas Day:

              

(More Pictures in Family Photos/Christmas 2007 Album)

 

I was brave to let Carter feed Gail today. I sat down and started to feed her and she started turning her head away and crying. I got up to do something and Carter got up in my chair. Before I knew it, he had the spoon in her mouth and she was eating. I let him feed her (supervising of course) and he fed her her whole dinner. I couldn't believe that she was ok with him feeding her as she usually starts having a fit when he gets around her. I had to grab the camera. Here are a couple of pictures:

   

The kids had their Christmas parties at school today and had their program tonight. It was tough to juggle their class parties. I wanted to spend the entire time with Carter and Gail in their classrooms but had to divide my time since I am only one person. I went to Carter's first and then Gail's. I took lots of pictures. Their preschool program was tonight. Frank's parents went with us to watch the kids perform. Both Carter and Gail got to be in the program this year. Carter's group sung and Gail's group just jingled bells that were strapped to their wrists. Carter didn't sing at all. He sat down most of the time and didn't participate. Gail was kind of the same way. She looked like a deer caught in headlights. She didn't move at first but then she got ansy and started squirming in the girl's lap. Here are a few pictures:

              

(More Pictures in Family Photos/Christmas 2007 album)

 

Today was Carter's Christmas program at CBS. He was singing and making the hand motions in the car on the way to CBS but he hardly did anything up on stage when it was time to perform. Instead, he pulled his shirt up, and another time, he stuck his hand down the front of his pants. Boy, oh boy! Everyone's kids does something, but when your kid is up there and doing something embarassing, you feel like the spotlight is on him/her.

       

(If you go to the Family Photos/Christmas 2007 album, you can enlarge them. Carter is in the Black & Red checkered shirt)

Gail went to the doctor last Friday for her 18 month checkup. She weighed 21.1 lbs and she was 30 1/2 inches tall. She is petite for her age but the doctor seemed fine with her development. She did, however, have an infection in her right ear again (or it hasn't healed since her last visit) and she was given a breathing treatment while we were there because she was congested and wheezing. The doctor sent a nebulizer home with us to continue to give the breathing treatments to her. She doesn't like it when we start it but she eventually calms down and just lay there.

January 1, 2007

Georgia vs. Hawaii - Sugar Bowl

Florida vs. Michigan - Capital One Bowl

It is hard to believe that another AIM Christmas party has come and gone. Time is flying by. We had a good time at the party and a good crowd showed up for it. The agency reported that atleast 350 people were there (more than ever before). Each family brought some kind of dish and it was all good. It is hard to choose what to put on your plate. It was good to see everybody. We met up with our friends, Cherie, Darin and Max, and sat with them while we all ate. The kids got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they wanted. Carter actually sat in his lap this year. He sat in his lap the first Christmas (he was a baby and didn't know who it was). His second Christmas, he sat in his lap but cried his heart out. His third Christmas, he would only sit on our leg next to his chair. So, we were really happy that he would sit on his lap without a fuss. I guess it helped that he was older and could tell him what he wanted. Gail did good too. We expected her to cry since she was almost just as old as Carter was that time he cried. She was ok as long as her sippy cup was in her hand.