Sockin' Around the Christmas Tree

 Socks are often flung around our residence, and

this one of Jalen Andrew's actually became part

of our holiday decor.

It made me laugh every time I saw it,

so it remained on the tree through Christmas.

 Jalen Andrew was SO thrilled to get a new big boy bike 

for Christmas -

in fact, he stole the camera from me,

and took about 10 pictures of the bike,

including close-ups of the pedals, the reflector, the seat, etc.

 As James' mood has been quite unpredictable lately,

we weren't sure what the excitement of Christmas morning

would do to him,

but he had a good Christmas, 

and was, for the most part, happy.

Yep, Joseph is officially discarding the "need"

for toys, or at least little boy toys.

His wish list, and his Christmas morning haul,

included a bow and arrow and a slingshot.

Christmas is Coming . . .

Joseph as Joseph.

James as a sheep, 

and I might add,

he took his role quite seriously.

James conversing with Santa.

Joseph not ready to give up the magic of Christmas yet.

Even Erik gets into the holiday spirit.

What did you say?

Oh, yes, we do have another boy in the family.

Well, you see,

Jalen Andrew opted out of being an angel in the pageant,

afraid of everyone looking at him,

and instead of sitting on Santa's lap

(which obviously is a traumatic experience)

he insisted on coming with me to pick up his

sister from work.

Oh well, he'll think that it's fun, one of these days.

All Things Halloween

Most of my kids use the stickers that Grandma and Grandpa Tober

send in the mail, to decorate their journal pages.

Not Jalen Andrew.

His stickers are for self-decoration.

(and he's not too thrilled for it to be documented on film!)

And what is October without 

 our  Oktoberfest.

I usually don't buy the ready to bake cookie dough, 

but this year, I was just looking for a quick way

to have a little fun with the kids.

Who knew that the cut-out masks on the back

would be almost the best part.

Our church's Trunk or Treat

didn't fall on Halloween this year . . .

the boys had a great time -

and then went trick-or-treating

again on Halloween -

the benefit of being the younger kids, 

is that there are plenty of left over costumes,

so they chose to be different characters . . .
introducing . . . 

Darth Spider

or 

Spider Vader.

Soc it to Them

I've finally made the plunge,

and added a little more chaos to our lives.

I've signed Joseph and James up for soccer - 

and YES, their practices and their games,

are at different locations, 

and sometimes at the same time.

Thanks to my life-saving friend, Suzi, we are managing.

Both boys are enjoying it - 

and learning that winning isn't everything.

It's fun to watch them play,

and to do their best.

Hair Today - Gone Tomorrow

It's not only the girls in the house,

who are concerned with their hair lately.

Joseph has decided to get a little fashionable with his hair.

He's been wanting me to add a little design to his hair

for quite awhile, 

but the thought of me messing up

gave me true anxiety.

I finally consented,

and gave him a lightning bolt on the side.

Then just before school started,

we put stripes on both sides of his head.

It actually looks pretty cool,

doesn't look as gangsta as I thought it would,

was easy to do,

and grows back quickly.

Hi Ho Hi Ho It's Back to School We Go

After the summer we've had . . .

Ahhhhhh. School's back in session!

We did have a little reprieve these past few weeks, since we put James in a summer daycare program.

Now . . . Let the fun begin . . . taxi service, after school activities, appointments, homework, no sleep

All Things Cub Scout

James has earned his Bobcat, and is well on his way to becoming a great Cub Scout.

Doesn't he look handsome in his Dad's old scout shirt?

Joseph has worked so hard! He has earned his Webelo Badge, and also his Arrow of Light.

Joseph also pushed really hard as he turned 11,

to finish all of the Webelo Activity Badges. We are so proud of him, and all the hard work he has done.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

With the end of the school year, yet another chapter closes.

Rebekah is done with elementary school and her junior high years. It's time to move on, and head off to high school.

We're proud of her contribution to the school; all that she did is reflected in her receiving a Pride of Paseo Award.

And Joseph finished off the year, by receiving the Band Student of the Year Award, voted on by his fellow band members. We're so proud of both of you!

11 Years & Counting

• J - Jolly smile, jolly laugh, and a Joy to have around

• O - Older, but still the same
• S - Silly and serious - but never at the same time
• E - Eager to learn about history & the world around him
• P - Pancake & waffle lover
• H - Helpful and kind

• Happy 11th Birthday, Joseph!
• I can't believe how old you have become!
• It still feels like just yesterday that we held you in our arms for the first time.

Congratulations on eleven full years of life - packed with emotion, learning, and discovery.

• You give to those around you, so much happiness, contentment, and acceptance.
• Your smile, your laugh, your hugs, and your love help others want to endure another day.
• Thanks for sharing the last 11 years with us, and here's to many more years to come!
• We love you!
• Happy Birthday, Joseph!

Could Someone Hit the Switch, Please?

Erik, and his pneumonia, have been home now for 2 weeks straight. I took Joseph to the doctor on Wednesday, the 1st of December, and he too has pneumonia. He has now been home for a week and a half (half of that was Thanksgiving break, but a week of it was days missed from school, and he missed his 1st band concert). James has joined the fray, with a nasty cough, a fever, and an aching ear. Even sick, he's still James though, and has a ton more energy than the rest of us. When the energy burns down, then he looks and acts sick, and he cuddles up on my lap, and lets me hold him, and kiss his hot forehead. We've had a lot of kindnesses, well wishes, and prayers sent our way, and we appreciate so much the thoughtfulness of everyone. So many friends have asked us how they can help. There's really not anything that anyone can do. We're just trying to keep the boys well rested, well hydrated, warm, and on schedule with their antibiotics. I probably sound flippant most of the time, about their being sick, but in truth it scares me. Joseph's fever should have broken by now, since he's been on antibiotics for 5 days, but it just keeps persisting. I'll need to take him to the doctor tomorrow to find out what's going on. And although Erik is doing better, no fever anyway, he's just still so tired - he and Joseph both. I feel so discouraged. It's the Christmas season, and I should be filled with hope & joy, but I feel despair - despair that someday pneumonia will rob me of both my boys - not this time, but I know that it will always be lurking around waiting to claim them. And despair that the issues with James (not his fever & earache), but the other day to day things that we deal with, will never get better - that no matter what I do to help him, that those issues will rob both he and I of the joy in living. I get glimmers of hope, tiny feelings of peace, but they're fleeting, and they are dashed by his behavior, almost as quickly as they come. Yes, I'm still taking my Zoloft. Yes, I know that I always feel depressed this time of year. Yes, I know that the darkness doesn't last, that the light will come back, that the warmth will return. I know! But still . . . it's so dark, and I can't seem to find the light switch. Maybe tomorrow will be better! All I can do is hope . . .

New faces

"What kind of face is your pumpkin going to have, Jalen Andrew?" "A smile face - don't look at the eyes! It's scary!"

Joseph took on the challenge of carving his own pumpkin this year, and learned that it is harder than it looks. He did a great job, but in the end, he and his Dad got a "little creative."

James was a trooper about cleaning out all of the pumpkin "goobers" - a task that he didn't enjoy much, but stayed with anyway.

The girls went jack-o-lantern free this year. Christine was too busy with high school stuff, to take the time to carve. She even missed our ward's annual trunk -or-treat, because she was at U of A for a band competition (by the way, they got Excellent as their rating!). Rebekah, who has NEVER liked touching the pumpkin goo, or smelling it, opted out of carving one this year, but asked us as she walked through the room, "Can you buy pre-carved pumpkins? If you can, I think that's what I'll have my kids get when I'm a Mom."