Catching up, again...

Ok, I started that last post back on November 8th, I guess, and never finished it. I sorta forgot about it. I went ahead and published it, but thought I should probably do a new one.

Still haven't found the camera. Grrr... So no pictures of the house yet. I will have to use David's camera and get some posted. There just won't be before and after pics. Oh well. We have been so busy! We have pulled out almost all the shrubs and plants in both the backyard and front. Ahhh... I have wanted to do that since before we moved in. It looks so different without them. I can't wait for David to work his magic with the landscaping here. We have 6 trees in the front yard. Yes, 6! Wait, maybe 7... Anyway, trying to decide which ones stay and which ones go. I have my opinion, but I don't think David and I agree. I'm sure the shade in the summer is nice, but it would also be nice to see the front of the house from the street, I think. Although, the privacy is nice too. Ugh... Like I said, trying to decide how many stay. Haven't made much progress with the painting. But, all the Christmas decor is up and the boxes are gone, for the most part. Not put away, just shoved into closets! But... we got some FURNITURE!!!! That is soooo exciting!! You have no idea. To be without furniture for 2 1/2 years, it's so nice to actually have a kitchen table to eat on. We also got 2 leather club chairs (love them!!!), a coffee table, bar stools and our couch is ready to be picked up! Yay! It's starting to look like we actually live here! Now, if only I had stuff to put up on the walls! Working on that...

Amanda turned 8 in November and was baptized. It was such a wonderful event. We had 11 people come and stay with us - in our new house. It was great! They all stayed here and we weren't on top of each other. We played games every night -haven't done that in YEARS! That was so much fun! It was so nice to have everyone come from far away to help celebrate with Amanda. We really had a great time!

David's parents stayed until Thanksgiving. It was really nice to have them here with us for that. I actually baked my first apple pie. It was so easy (thanks to my firend Markelle, for the easy recipe). And it was so yummy!!! It was a dutch apple pie, so it had the crumbly top. I also used fresh apples that my mom brought me from their trees. It was a very yummy dinner.

Michael made the High School Soccer team. Yay Michael! He plays keeper and does a great job. He really enjoys it. With practice everyday after school, he is a bit more tired every night. They have played 2 games and have another game this week. I don't think they have won one yet, but they will. He started the last game and no goals were scored on him. But then they switched out keepers and 2 goals were scored. He was a little bummed, but it's all good. I think they tied that game.

Amanda was in a 2nd grade Christmas Program last night. It was such a cute program. She was a reindeer, Cupid. She took her part very seriously and listened to every instruction given by Ms. Wilson. She memorized her lines (and everyone else's!!), she practiced the songs (nonstop for 2 weeks), she practiced her dance moves (the reindeer had a dance scene) and she did a great job. I think she may have enjoyed being on stage more than I ever thought any of my children would. She absolutely loved it! We may have started something with this. Time will tell...

I don't think I mentioned that Ryan had a birthday back in September. He is now 6! He loves kidergarten and is doing really well. He is so excited to go to school everyday. So excited that he is up and ready to go, usually by 6am!! He has made many new friends and is learning so much.

Tyler is enjoying pre-school. He will be 4 next week! Crazy! He has come a long way in his speech. I pretty much understand just about everything he says. He is talking nonstop!! David often tells him that if he keeps talking so much he will run out of words byt the time he is an adult. He tells him that we are only allowed so many words in a lifetime and he's going to run out. He and Ryan love playing with all the boys on the street. We pretty much don't see them from the minute we get home from school until it's dark. There are LOTS of boys on our new street.

Christina... Today is Christina's birthday!! See next post that is all about her!

I guess that pretty much does it. Looking forward to a Merry Christmas and a fun visit with family in the snow!