Finally Finished

I finally finished Rex's birthday present from two? years ago.  Now everyone wants to move to the bottom bunk .  Brech has requested a blanket that is that same as that one.  He's a happy sleeper now.

Concert Pianists

Ain't they adorable?

Bum with a Bandaged Toe

This bum has been laying around all weekend.  He had surgery on his big toe the day after Christmas.  He had the same thing happen that happened to his other toe.  Read about that toe here. Big Toe
We've spoiled him as rotten as we dare allow.  He has some amazing brothers who have filled his water bottle, gotten ice packs, found him pillows, and even started movies for him.  Too bad this is his last big toe in need of a bone removed and the last time he will have this type of treatment for big toe surgery.

A Ten Year Old Cormac

Today Cormac turned 10 wonderful years old.

He had a great start to his birthday with bacon and eggs for breakfast.  Then this afternoon he was blessed to attend Mass.  What a lucky guy.  I told him I thought Grandpa Bestgen would offer his Mass and communion intention for Cormac. That put a smile on his face.

 This even we had pizza in the basement and watched Penguins of Madagascar TV show. All of us laughed and laughed.  Good memories for Cormac and all of us. 

 Star Wars Rebels birthday cake with TEN candles!!

Star Wars dice game from Kiara 

 A card game about airplanes from Brigid.

 Batman helicopter toy from Gianna.

 An amazing Wolverine car from Brech.

 Lego-like jet from Rex.

 Army men Cormac has been eyeballing for months now from Stephen.

 A cool Lego-like tank from Blase.

 Stars Wars toys from Uncle Peter, Aunt Mauri, Bella, Jenna, and Baby.  THANKS!!

 "A Spiderman car just like Loman's!!" He loved it!  

Thanks Grandma, Grandpa, Andrew, Kaylene, and Loman.

 Nerf gun from Mom and Dad.

 A big gun....he can't wait until he can try it out.

What a haul!

Thanks Aunt Courtney for the card and "fun day" gift.

Thank you Uncle Dirk, Aunt Twyla, Shelby, Taylor, and Tory for the card and money.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Gebes for the card and money.

Thanks to Uncle John, Aunt Maria, Lia, and Baby for the birthday card and holy card.

Christmas Day 2014

 What a wonderful morning to open presents!

 Stockings were filled with candy, toothbrushes, toothpaste, pencils, cereal, and a few odds and ends.

 The first present to be opened was for the twinnies.

 Oh look, a castle for the twinnies and Daddy to play with together.  It even sings.

One happy boy! 

 Oh yah!

 Cormac, Rex, Brech, and Stephen each received one of these quadcopter. 

 School work for Gianna.  She couldn't be more pleased!

This boy has been waiting and waiting for one of these. 

 Kiara is having a blast.

 Brigid is not so sure about opening present, but she won't put down the presents she's already opened.

 Gimme another!!!

 That paper isn't as good as I thought it would be.

 Ponies from Grandma and Grandpa Gebes.

 And a new pair of pajamas!  She is well loved by her grandma.

 Grandma Gebes buys every grandchild a new John Deere tractor when they are little.  I think we will have to mark these to remember whose is whose.

 Thanks Aunt Courtney!

 Again, thanks Aunt Courtney.

 Everything is awesome, Aunt Courtney!

 Aunt Courtney knows Stephen very well.

 Aunt Courtney is the bestest aunt.  Gianna has been begging for slippers.

 Thanks Aunt Courtney for the amazing shirt!

 Gianna's Godparents loaded up this backpack with lots of school supplies.  She's so excited to be doing more school work.

 Brigid loves her castle.

 Snow White was singing to her.

 Kiara was playing with the new blocks.  They have all animals on them, one for each letter of the alphabet and one for each number 1-10.

 This handsome bunch was on their way to church.  Someday...when they are older...I will get ONE decent picture with them all looking at the camera and smiling non-forced smiles.

 Brech and Darren decided to take the quadcopter for a spin.

That "light" by Darren's head is the copter. 

 Just beginning to take off.

Higher and higher....

And then it flies right by my face and hits Rex in the cheek.  It has since been grounded until outside shields can be purchased and installed on all quadcopters.  Dangerous, but fun!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Last weekend we decorated our tree.  What a whirlwind of excitement.

 The kids managed to get every Christmas ornament we own, that wasn't broken, on the tree this year.  Normally I will limit the amount of ornaments a poor tree has to display for us.  This year I decided it was about those kids and the fun they were going to have and not about how the tree looked.

 We had a very adorable audience.  They kept their daddy busy trying to get down and help with the tree.  I am sure they could have been SO helpful.

 You've been naughty, Brech Earl!

 The finished tree.  It turned out better than I had thought.  Then again - this isn't a close up of the tree by any means.  The four boxes of candy canes lasted exactly 1 day and change.  I knew it would take Gianna and Brech long to eat them.  In fact, when they were done with school for the day they would sneak one or two thinking Mom was clueless about the whole situation.

 Rex helped me decorate the windows this year.

 We have snowflakes and other decorations on the upstairs windows as well.

 It is winter here!

 My $8 find at Wal-mart that lasted only a couple of days.  It was the thought that counts.  I think maybe I'll find a nicer quality one next year. I did have to take down the kids' pictures awhile ago, so this actually filled that spot nicely.  First thing that will happen after the Christmas tree comes down - the kids' pictures ALL go back up.

 Stockings hanging....waiting.

 The reason for the season proudly displayed on the piano this year.

 My new piece for this year was the little children. I think they go nicely with the pregnant lady.

Now onto today....

 Gianna baked some Frozen cookies.  While she isn't crazy addicted to Frozen like some girls are, she does find new Frozen things amazing.  These cookies were on her "I'm gonna wub you foreber if you buy them for me!" list today.  Who am I to deny the sweet girl some cookies.

  

 As a family we drove around town to see the Christmas lights.  This is by far the funniest display I have seen in a long time.  We were out driving for almost two hours and yet the prettiest, 5-Star rating, most awed at display was in Horace.  I almost wished we had made up an award to present them with.  Of course we saw that house at the end of the drive and there were a lot of cranky kids.

 The tree is ready to go, fresh candy canes replaced, presents from the aunts/uncles, Godparents, and grandparents are already under the tree.  Santa can just keep going this year.  No need to stop.

Night all.  God bless you and yours tonight as you hopefully dream of beautiful angels singing praises to God, of shepherds kneeling in adoration, of St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary gazing upon the face of the newborn King, and of all your loved ones gathered close to you.

Merry Christmas.