Getting Holly Jolly

This has been our 4th year going to the Belmont Christmas parade. It is something the kids and I really look forward to attending. We met up with the Sherril's and Larck's this year. I love it when Dorothy waves to all the people in the parade.

We decorated our tree together. We started the tradition of eating Chinese food before we decorate the tree. Last minute the boys decided they would prefer freezer meals instead (eww!). Most of the ornaments are towards the top of the tree, since the toddler likes to take them off!

Speaking of Dorothy, she has become more curious, rambunctious, and loud. She tried to swing Link's heavy pirate sword around all while yelling, "GO, GO, GO." She definitely fits in around here!

This makes my heart happy.

This boy is reading at a 4th grade level. He comes up with really funny comebacks too! Dave and I were reminding Drake that it was not a good idea to make naughty choices. Lincoln muttered under his breath, "Gonna ask he train conductor to borrow some coal." This is probably because Lincoln has to put up with the majority of his naughty choices!

Another one happened when we were driving home from church. Dave was driving in front of us, because he had an earlier church meeting. Lincoln noticed he was speeding. As soon as we parked he told Dave that he was speeding and shouldn't do that. Dave kind of brushed him off. After we went inside, Dave mentioned he needed to go back to the car for something. Lincoln said, "Ha, go back to the POLICE!"

The kids and I visited Hickory and took a trip to the Science Center. I don't know why Drake has to have his tongue out in every picture?!

St. Nick came to visit!

Drake did a great job at his preschool Christmas performance.

What is Christmastime without crafting? Even Dorothy was able to bead the pipe cleaner.

My sweet helper making lemonade for our lunch with the missionaries.

The Sunday before Christmas and day before family came.

Poor Chelsea ended up with major teeth pains from the plane ride and had to go to an urgent dental office. Everyone else went to Mercy Place, a low-income assisted living center for seniors. We met up with other friends from the community to sing carols and make ornaments with the residents. It was a great experience!

Later that day mom, Kristin and I took the kids to Goat Island Park.

The women had a great time at Rock Barn Spa a few days before Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, this group went to Star Wars, while Mom, Penny, Dorothy and I hung out.

Art Time

Lincoln has an art lesson once a week. It's always teaches some new principle of design and then he gets to do a project. The other 2 usually join him.

 A few weeks ago, he really enjoyed drawing a picture, tracing over with black crayon and then using water color. He liked it so much, he began to make more to sell. He called up family members to pitch his paintings. He sold quite a few for $3 a piece. 

I wish I could say he wanted to spend the money on some grand charitable thing, but is was just used for a new Lego set. I'm proud of this entrepreneur spirit though! He found some money on the kitchen counter and asked if he could have it. I told him no, that my friend just paid me back $4 for something I picked up for her. He then replied, "You should have told her it cost $10." Geez, we may have created a shark!

I think he got his artistic abilities from his dad. The bed he welded for us turned out amazing!

*update 1/11: Lincoln had a call with his teacher. She thanked him for the Batman picture he painted for her for Christmas. His response was, "You owe me 3 dollars." Oh man, we had a serious talk about gifts vs selling. Both Ms. Smith and I had a good laugh though!

November Recap

Lincoln has been enjoying homeschool PE at the YMCA. It's a small group of kids, but they have a great time getting exercise together.

When Dorothy sees an open lap, she quickly jumps on it. 

Cleve and his kids came down in Veteran's day. We spent most of the day playing outside, because the weather was gorgeous! Dorothy gave Cleve the best gift Veteran's Day present by giving him some good hugs.

We normally don't do anything Christmasy before Thanksgiving, but we do make an exception for the member's preview of the lights at the botanical gardens. 

These boys are always making silly faces for the camera.

Drake actually sat in Santa's lap this year! He didn't really ask for much. He asked so softly I couldn't hear.

Lincoln had quite the list including a Wii, Lego Death Star set, and many other things.

While we were waiting on Santa, Dorothy and Dave walked around the gardens.

For thanksgiving this year, we continued with our beach tradition. Just the five of us went to Mrytle Beach. I was amazed that we had 70 degree weather, so the kids were able to get in the ocean.

The first day we got there, we told the kids we were just going to put our feet in the water. Lincoln hikes his pants up to his bum, so that nothing would get wet. Drake on the other hand...

It was as if he had missed the ocean so much, he needed to give it a hug!

Dorothy was fine in the water that first day, but after that, she didn't want her toes to touch the sand at all. We would try to put her down, and she would use all her ab muscles to make sure her feet didn't get on the sand.

Everyone loved swimming in the pools. All the outdoor pools were heated and they also had an indoor pool. Dorothy picked up Drake's goggles and very clearly said "goggles." She is totally holding out on us if she can say atwo syllable  word like that!

We didn't do any touristy things and we didn't go out to eat. The only time we ventured out of the resort was when we walked to Krispy Kreme for breakfast one morning.

We had a great time just being on the beach, trying to fly kites, and playing board games.

We had a small Thanksgiving dinner, but we made sure we had a few pies. A few nights later we were having spaghetti for dinner. Drake wasn't interested in eating, but we reminded him that he couldn't have any pie if he didn't eat his spaghetti. 

I looked over at Dorothy's plate and told her she did a good job with her spaghetti. She looked up at me and said, "Pie?". For a girl of very few words, this made us crack up!

I'm so glad we had that time together! It makes me look forward to having Dave home during Christnas break!

Here is our Thankful list this year:

Happy Halloween

The Monday before Halloween, it was Lincoln's turn for a breakfast date with me. He chose Waffle House. I have 2 very sweet sons, and it was great to spend time with them individually! This month, it will be Dave's turn.

On Wednesday, Cleve and his family came down for our church Trunk or Treat. I don't remember a ton about that night, because mom had an unexpected hospital visit. She is fine, and she

 really wanted us to go so the kids could have fun. The kids did look adorable.

My Dorothy

Chewbaca

Optimus Prime (He won best kids costume.)

The Cousins

Chewbaca got to wear his costume again for the preschool carnival and for a birthday party the Friday before.

Mom and dad came down Halloween night and treated us to dinner. There must have been lots of parties this year, because only about 8 neighbors were gone for trick or treating. I would have taken the boys to anther neighborhood, but they said they were done. They liked passing candy out and checking out their stash!

It was too cold for Dorothy to be Dorohy, so she wore the monkey costume that the boys wore when they were toddlers.

Dave made a Frankenstein Trump and Bride of Frakenstein Hillary pumpkin.

It is beautiful when it isn't raining. The kids have all natural jungle gym in our backyard.

This is proof that I do get out sometimes. A group of ladies from church took a sweet friend out to dinner for her birthday.

Dorothy was still in dress up mode the next day before church.

Now we are looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving!