Check. . . .check. . . .check. . . . . .

So, I am checking off things on my To Do List. Christmas cards-check, christmas shopping - check, baking- check, and gifts for the neighbors- check! Started wrapping christmas presents last night. Here are some pics from last week.
Eli was a big help w/the english muffins for the neighbors.

Eli wrapping the muffins. All the boys delivered the muffins. I am so glad that they love giving at this time of year. They just LOVE going up and down the street being little Santa's!

Here are the sugar cookies that I made for the Bff's. Eli made peanut butter blossoms and Noah made praline bars. I also made some pfeffernusse cookies. They were a big hit especially Noah and Eli's cookies! They were calling me Martha Stewart. Hardly. LOL! If they saw my mom's cookie trays- I would have been put to shame! But I am glad they enjoyed the cookies. Well, the house is too quiet these days. No boys or Tovi. I have to work the next 4 nights and I will be glad when this week is over. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! God Bless!

Birthday parties and field trips!

Jordan turned 11 last week. So, the weekend before last, we celebrated his birthday nerf gun style. While the older kids played at my brother's house- I took my younger boys and Scott to one of our fav parks. Tovi came with us, of course! We played until after dark and the kids had a blast!

Lucas had a field trip to Kaleidoscope. I was at the flower pot station-which wasn't very popular with boys. Although a few made a flower pot to take home to their mom. Lucas spent most of his time running around and looking at everything. I can't tell you how many times one of Lucas's friends came up to me and said "Where's Lucas?"

Well, I plan to hopefully get alot done on my Things to Do List this week. Eli helped me make peanut butter blossoms yesterday. But I still have a lot more baking to do. My christmas letter is done, just need to address and mail the christmas cards. Oh, finish christmas shopping and at some point wrap all of them. Well, I better get started!

Noah the clarinetist!

Noah also did a great job! In this song the teacher added to what the kids had in their music books because the clarinet players were showing they could do a more challenging piece.

Eli the cellist!

Eli's teacher says he has a natural talent and shows great promise. Lucas took the video-so its a little shaky. But we are ALL proud of our Eli!

Awesome musicians!

Noah and Eli had their music concert for strings/band. They both did a fantastic job! All their hard work over the last few months paid off!

I can't believe it's December!

I am in complete denial that it is almost Christmas! I haven't even begun my Christmas baking! And my BFF's at work will be looking for them soon. The boys and I have been busy with decorating, music programs, birthday parties, meetings at work, the school skate party, and family photos. I was thrilled to find out that the school wanted to donate a family photo session w/a local studio. I haven't had our family pic taken at a studio since the boys were 5yr, 3yr and 1yr old. And we got a ton of photos, Christmas cards, gift tags, and a huge composite. When I figure out how to use my new scanner/copier ( early Christmas present from Santa Mom and Dad)- I will try to post some of the pics. Here are pics of the decorating the Christmas tree:

I wasn't sure how Tovi would be w/the Christmas tree. He loves to get under it and for the most part doesn't bother anything other than the tree skirt. Although, today he took an ornament off and was chewing on it. Luckily it he didn't damage it.

Oops!

Well, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. The boys and I did, but I didn't pull out the camera once! Hence the title of the post. The saturday before Thanksgiving- our family had the family Thanksgiving since one of my brother/wife/nephews were going out of town and the other brother had his in-laws in town for Thanksgiving. It was fun and LOUD. But what do you expect with 7 boys in the house. The boys last day was on Tues, so we packed up and went to Nana's. It felt like a mini VK and was fun! We bake cookies-chocolate crinkles, peanut butter bloosoms, 2 kinds of sugar cookies, wrapped fudge, lemon bars, molasses cookies, and more. I have been going to my mom's to help her w/her baking for the last few years and it is a good tradition. The boys love helping! Esp since only those who help can eat the cookies. They samples all to make sure they met the standard :)! LOL! On Thanksgiving, Andrew and his family came over after their dinner- and the boys did a little imprompto concert w/my brother and his wife who play cello and clarinet. It was great, but I had already loaded all my stuff in the car to include my camera sooooo they promise to do another at Christmas and I will get a video! We have a busy few weeks ahead and I plan to do better about taking pics to keep you updated!

Noah's music program

Noah had a music program the first week of Nov. It was a Veteran's Day celebration!

!st grade can be tough . . .

Lucas fell at recess yesterday. The pic doesn't do justice. His eye is swollen. And all the skin is raw. Poor guy! My baby :(!

Halloween fun!

This is going to be a long one. The boys parent teacher conferences were the week of Halloween, so Wed was there last day for the week and there parties.
Lucas's class needed sugar cookies. So, Chef Lucas and I made cats, ghosts, and pumpkins, oh my!

Here is a pic of Lucas's class. Lucas finally decided on wearing his karate uniform. It is tough to be just 1 thing :).

I was in charge of Noah's class party. Noah said that his friends wouldn't want to play games. It's hard when your baby grows up *sniff*sniff*.

Here's Eli's class. I have to breeze in and out to make sure I go to every one's party.

Eli and Lucas both had mummy wrapping-but I was only able to get a pic of Lucas wrapping up his friend.

The boys and I went w/a few neighbor kids to a Candy scramble in Shawnee.

Lots of games/fun. Pumpkin bowling.

Halloween twister.

Pumpkin painting.

On Thursday, we had plans to go to the pumpkin patch, but the rain forced us into an indoor activity. So, we went bowling and then went home for Halloween party and movie marathon.

Noah had some left over dry ice from his halloween/science project ( I am still trying to upload that video) so we had a little it.

The boys decorated a Halloween gingerbread house. But since they decorated it in their pj's, without shirts-I thought I would just post a pic of the final project.

Bubbling, drinks completed w/floating eyeballs were a big hit for the party.

Noah's birthday celebration . . . .

We took Noah out to dinner on the 2nd. We went to Cinzetti's. They surprised Noah w/a delish chocolate cake. He had already hit the dessert station but still made a good dent in the cake. He, of course, shared w/everyone.
The waiter was nice enough to a take a pic of the four of us!

Lucas took a pic of Eli and I.

Noah had several friends over on the 7th for a video game party. The weather was gorgeous, so the boys ended up going outside to play for awhile. After presents, Nana took the youngest boys-Eli, Scott and Lucas to the movies to see Where the Wildthings are.

Noah got some new video games for his DS and the Xbox.

Noah also got some money that he used to get even more games w/. Hmm. Wonder what he will be doing when his homework. . . .

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you . . . .

The boys had cake and pizza. Noah didn't want anything fancy-just vanilla w/my frosting. He said best birthday yet! I hope next yet is so easy!?!?

Family pics and family fun!

So, a long, long time ago, we took the annual grandboy pics. Getting all 7 coordinated is a difficult task, especially when Trevor was in no mood for pic. Might be because his mom is always w/the cam! LOL! I think we all got some good pics, and the weather was great. I was able to get a family pic w/the boys and I. And then it was time for fun!

Procrastination or swamped . . . . .?!?!?

Well, I know I have been off the map of blogger world but I have loads of pics/videos to share but have been too busy/overwhelmed to even start. I have been helping out w/the boys school w/dental screens and flu shots (which is funny since I am not an endorser of the shots! LOL!). And between party planning, work and playing games on facebook :)- I have put off updating my blog. But I will try to update you on all the coming and going the last couple weeks. The boys get overall good reviews during their parent teacher conferences. Noah is doing an awesome job w/reading this year and making a great effort w/his spelling (he is working on the words for the spelling bee) and is doing well on his monthly projects- there will be a video. Eli is also excelling this year. He is now working outside his class w/a few other students in math/science/social studies. Lucas loving first grade. He is doing well in his class. His teacher says since his class is more vocal- they are also loving to write in their journals. So, I may have another writer in the house. The boys are trying their best w/all of their extra work at home. And they are all enjoying cooking during the week. Noah cooks on tues, Eli is wed, and Lucas is thurs. We been having pot roast w/mashed potatoes (Eli's night of course), chicken sandwiches, lasagna, challupa and breakfast- just to name a few. So, I am sure that I have both been procrastinating and swamped. But I will leave for now and begin downloading pics/videos. Stay tuned . . .

Happy 11th Birthday Noah!

My baby turns 11 today. It is a happy sad thing. I am so proud of you Noah. But I wish I could rewind and stop time. The above pic is of Halloween when Noah was 2yrs old. Noah and Jordan went as Bob and Larry from Veggie Tales. Noah is growing into such an awesome young man. I am awed at how good you are w/his baby cousins or little kids. You can be such an asset around the house. You are doing so good in school this year and really accepting the challenges. I love you Noah!

Cooking and cooking and parties!

Well, the boys and I have been busy w/birthday parties and cooking. Dad came back into to town so we celebrated his bday on Saturday and Eli went to a friends house for a bday sleepover. Noah cooked potato soup on Tues and Eli cooked chicken/mashed potatos on Wed. I like having the boys doing most of the cooking 1. because I know they won't starve when they move out :) and it allows me to clean the pots/pans when they are done making cleaning the kitchen a faster job!

Chef Lucas also wanted to help. So, he helped pound some chicken.

Eli has had a long time love affair w/mashed potatos. So, he was thrilled to be making them. Can you tell?

Eli got very good at coating the chicken.

All the boys got seconds so Eli did a great job!

Noah got all the potatos ready and fried up some bacon to top off our soup. It was yummy!

We surprised Dad w/a bday party.

Papa liked all his presents.

The boys made Dad 3D puzzles for his bday gift. Noah thought his didn't need a paint job.

Eli worked very hard on his paint job on his airplane.

Lucas didn't realize that his scorpion was a gift but after a promise that he could get another one for himself-he willingly said good bye to his scorpion. :)

The boys and spent the rest of the week, just hanging out and playing w/friends. It was nice not to have no schedule to keep and just enjoying our time.