Cyber Monday Shopping??

How many of you shopped today? I usually take advantage of the day, but I was extremely busy in my classroom today (new student, student teacher observation, first day back, etc.) plus another phone call from the school nurse. Honestly, there is nothing online this year that I thought was a great deal too great to pass up! Santa is finished with Mr. C and only have one more gift or two for the Cinderella. Therefore, I really didn't think it was worthwhile and after my marathon night and day of shopping, I didn't even want to THINK about shopping of any kind.

So now, I am trying to get back into the swing of things and boy did I struggle after having a full week off!! My new goal is to get the Christmas card photo taken this week so I can order our annual Christmas photo cards. This is one of my biggest challenges because getting two kids to look cute, smile, and look at the camera is about as hard as a miracle at times.

Thanksgiving 2011

Our Thanksgiving started on Wednesday when we had dinner with Matt's family. Thursday came quickly with dinner with my family. Then, my sister and I started our marathon of shopping!

The sales started at 10pm. I have never been one to buy electronics but when a Wii goes on sale for $99 and Christmas is coming....hmmmm! It's a no brainer for sure! I finished my shopping for Cody at 3:30am this morning. I have to buy Carleigh one more gift and she is finished! It's nice to have done a HUGE amount of shopping in one day!

Black Friday is such a sporting event and every time we try to outsmart other shoppers, they surprise us by figuring out our game plan. All in all, we got everything we wanted despite waiting in lines for items such as games, tvs, and yes towels (fight happened last year at the store we were at).

We have had a great holiday and will enjoy the next two days together.

Wordless Wednesday - Leaf Fun

John Glenn

Today was a special day for Cody. He presented his famous American during the second grade Biography Fair at his school. My mom and I watched him read a page LONG report about John Glenn. To hear this sweet, special boy READ and participate with his peers makes my heart swell with pride for him!! He is accepted by his classmates and that is SUCH a relief!! Cody was not in the classroom when we arrived as his educational assistant was helping him to get dressed in his costume. A little girl in his class saw Cody and exclaimed "Oh! Look at Cody! He is so cute!" To which Cody heard her and went over and gave her a hug. He charms everyone he is around and his regular education teacher thinks he is the sweetest little thing!! He's such a very special boy!!

Quiet, calm, and....

enjoying it! I am sooooo not used to having quiet time at home. I work with 7 and 8 years old all day and usually have maybe 30 minutes before my wild stallions arrive home. When I take a personal day, it usually (99%) involves taking one of my two kiddos to a doctor's appointment or IEP meeting. Needless to say, I am enjoying these two days.

Goals for these days include:

Finish cleaning (already thoroughly cleaned the majority of the house)
Put up the big Christmas tree (Princess already has her tree up in her room)
Organize laundry room
Watch "my" tv shows on DVR
Enjoy a slow, quiet breakfast and lunch

1 more day to go!!

I have one more school day before I am off for an ENTIRE week for Thanksgiving! I am so excited! I really need a week off to do house projects, cleaning, and of course Christmas SHOPPING! And did I mention that I have TWO entire days at home without children or husband?!! Ahhhh!!

National Adoption Month

Every November, I think about how God has blessed me with the most precious children I could possibly ever have. We are so blessed! If you have considered adoption, I strongly urge you to make that step and become an adoptive parent. The benefits are out of this world and will completely change your life!

Words cannot describe what adoption means to me and for Matt. If it were not for adoption, we would not have our very special family! No matter what struggles we have faced in building our family, nothing could ever fill that hole than our two beautiful and precious children.

If you would like to learn more about adoption, feel free to leave a comment!

Post-Surgery

Miss Cinderella's surgery went well! She had 3 caps and 3 fillings and no extractions! Thank you JESUS! The sedative they gave her before the gas made her QUITE loopy and my mom and I had a laughing fit over some of the cute/funny things she was saying or doing!! Afterwards, she was in some pain, but not sickies or blood! Yay! She got to ride a race car wheelchair out of the hospital. Too bad she was a little loopy or she would have really enjoyed it!

So now, she is snoozing and I am relaxing until we need to pick Mr. C up at the bus stop. We are so very glad that these surgeries are over and are praying that no more are in the near future!

Another surgery day....

Tomorrow, Miss Cinderella has her dental surgery at the hospital. This is her first time with general anesthesia and we are a little nervous for her. We are praying that it goes smoothly and no teeth have to be pulled like in Mr. C's case!!

If you could, please keep her in your prayers tomorrow!

It's that time again!

Since the weather has been GORGEOUS we decided to take advantage of it and put up our outdoor icicle lights and LED lights on our wooden fence. I have been thinking of adding a little bit more....wreaths or bows on the fence and maybe a snowman. I love decorating for Christmas! Mr. C and Cinderella have poured over the ToysRUs Wish List Catalog and they are going to be so easy to buy for this year! I love their excitement! It definitely keeps me young!

Haircut

Yesterday, we decided to cut Cinderella's hair since she decided to play "Beauty Salon" and cut her hair into lots of layers. It originally was supposed to be a simple bob on her shoulders. Well, due to her handiwork, we had to go with a stacked bob with side bangs. Of course, I LOVED her long blonde hair, but I keep telling myself, it will grow out quickly. *sigh*

4 years ago today.....

We finalized Cinderella's adoption! Words cannot describe the joy we had on that day! We had been her foster parents for over 2.5 years and were thrilled to become her forever parents! Our lives would not be the same without our little Princess! Happy Adoption Day Sweetheart!

Wordless Wednesday - Candy Coma

Halloween 2011

The kids went trick or treating with their cousins again. I cannot BELIEVE that they walked the ENTIRE 2 hours! Of course, that meant one thing....TONS of candy! After this holiday, I am cutting out candy. Only one time of the year am I going to allow some candy and it will be during this time. Due to their teeth issues, they will NEVER eat fruit snacks, fruit rollups, Laffy Taffy, or any other sticky candy. I am going to bring in the stuff that I have banned and plan on giving it to my kids in my class store.

Mr. C managed to pet every dog on our adventure and wanted to take home every cute or well-lit Halloween decoration! Cinderella felt that it was an episode of "The Amazing Race" and considered it her duty to be the first one at each house. (Obviously she was dragging on the way bag and begging me to carry her candy bag that was at least 10-12 lbs in weight.)

We had quite a crew of kids on our trek along Matt's sister's neighborhood! We had at least 7 children the whole time and walked MILES! Needless to say that we all were exhausted! Mr. C fell and I was carrying him and his 12 lb bag of candy for a bit. The poor thing was so ready to stop at the end. The kids and parents slept VERY well!