Operation Golden Birthday - Xela

Guess what? I'm less than two weeks behind in my family blog! WOW! Now, on to more important items....

I was a little more excited about this Golden Birthday thing than I think Xela was. What wasn't to be excited about? Come on now, how often to you, for example, turn 16 on the 16th of  2016?!? I mean really, how many people get to turn their age, on the same number as the date AND calendar year? Kids born in the year 2000 will have a once in a life time chance, but how many on such a cool birthday as 16? Yes, I thought it was totally cool and therefore, of course, it needed a little something extra!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO YOU - XelaRu!
Pudding in a Pyrex

I wanted to make the birthday celebrations a little more fun than usual, especially because Xela is a pretty low key kind of person and "whatever" works for her. Her birthday fell on a school day so, after asking for suggestions from a co-worker, I decided to give her 16 small gifts during school. It worked out well as Aurora had been asking various friends and teachers to say happy birthday or do other small things for her. I bought gifts and she coordinated finding the friends to give her the gifts. We spent part of Tuesday night wrapping the gifts (without tape - used stickers & glue), which I had been hiding in my closet and in my car.

Xela spent Monday and Tuesday not feeling well, which started to worry Ro and myself. If she didn't feel well enough to go to school on Wednesday, how would we pull off Operation Golden Birthday? Thankfully, Xela felt well enough to go to school (although she skipped Seminary) Wednesday morning. Our plan was finally in motion!

Ro went to Seminary and I picked her up at Little Flower when I took the Graigry, Nate and Neta for the breakfast. I had put the gifts in the trunk of my car Tuesday night after the kids were in bed. I had purchased a dozen roses Tuesday afternoon, had put them in a vase and in my closet before Xela saw anything. Before she came downstairs on Wednesday, I got the vase out of my closet and put it outside so Xela wouldn't see it when she came downstairs. Graigry held the flowers when we drove to Little Flower. I hadn't told the kids anything because I didn't want them to accidentally say anything, but now, with them in route to Little Flower, they wouldn't see her until after school.

I picked up Ro from Little Flower thinking we would just head to Herron. No. We had to stop by the house because Ro was wearing slipper like shoes and needed to get her backpack. Ro was quick but as we pulled out of the driveway, Xela opened the front door and asked us to wait a minute so she could come. That wouldn't work, of course, but for one immediate reason is that Aurora had the vase of flowers in her hands. I told her that Dad would pick her up and get her to school before 8:00, Ro had to get there by 7:30 for an accapella thing and this would give her, Xela, a few more minutes to get some homework done (she had not finished Tuesday night because I told her to go to bed because she kept falling asleep & wasn't feeling well). Xela closed the door and Ro and I were off with smiles on our faces. Xela, seemingly didn't have a clue., at least I hoped she hadn't seen the flowers anyway.

We got to school, I trimmed the rose stems while standing in the parking lot and we headed to the administrative office to wait for Mr. Westerfield. When he didn't show up after 10 minutes, we went back to the holding area for students that come between 7:30 and 8:00. Ro saw one friend and gave her one of the 16 gifts and then talked to Ms. Klinger and asked if she could take the flowers to Klinger's class room to wait for Mr. Westerfield. I needed to leave before Xela showed up, so Ro took the vase and bag of gifts and was off to work her magic.

I had a hard time focusing while at work and wished I could get Xela's facial reactions to the gifts. The plan was for her to get the flowers during lunch, but they were delivered during first period. So Xela had to carry her backpack, the vase of roses and Bruce (her water bottle that is 48+ ounces). Anyway, she received her gifts throughout the day, and soon figured out who was behind the gifts, even though Ro wanted it all to be anonymous.

I was anxious to get home and was given permission to leave work 15 minutes early. I dropped off the mail and rushed home. When I walked in the house, Xela came into the kitchen with a big smile and gave me a big hug with a "thank you." That made it all worth it. Then, while we made chicken nuggets and divided up the green grapes (Xela's requested birthday dinner) Xela and Aurora told us about the day. I sadly can't recount everything like they did to me, but it was a good day for each of them.

Here are some pictures from the kitchen as Xela pulled out what she'd received during the day. Some of the items she received were: R2D2 bubbles, several 16 gauge wires to sculpt with, can of Pringles, basketball shorts, sidewalk chalk, Olaf bracelet, heart earrings with necklace, Skittles, Mike & Ikes (she said these were her favorite candies when I asked her, and she said that she could eat them carefully and not do damage to her braces) and of course her flowers.

Beautiful flowers
for a beautiful young woman

Jessica Wingate from work made a card
for Xela and had several coworkers sign it.
(Xela opened the wrong end, that's why her arm
is going through the envelope.)
It included 16 pennies in a small pouch.
Xela thought that part was awesome!

Instead of a cake, Xela wanted banana pudding. Jessica and Katie at work asked if I was going to make banana pudding, with wafer cookies and real bananas. Nope - just instant boxes from Walmart. Like I said, Xela is a no stress, easy going kind of kid when it comes to that kind of stuff. :)

16 candles
and wax melting into the pudding

Make a Wish!

Wednesdays are our crazy days: get home from work and piano around 5:30, eat dinner, leave just after 6:00 to pick up people for mutual and then head to the church. The mutual had a combined activity on the 16th, playing Hungry Hippos (human version) and then fruit basket. I think it was a good ending to her day. They sang to Xela there too.

I was especially glad that she'd had a good day because not only was she sick, but she has been fighting a B in her Latin class all semester. She thinks she does well on a test and when she gets it back, her multiple choice section is always worse than she thought. She studies and goes to the teacher's office hours, has asked other students, has fasted and prayed and had blessings for help and she has felt like nothing she does works (been there). I think some of the being sick was the exhaustion, frustration and feeling depressed about all that. It was good to see her be her happy and smiling self again.

Can't believe she's 16! Driving and dating age. We went on her first date with her that Saturday, the 19th. A 17 year old from Fishers drove down and we went Duck Pin Bowling and to Santorini's (a Greek restaurant). Daniel King, was his name and he handled himself wonderfully on a date with a girls parents. He opened the door for her (which was totally unexpected by her and showed Eric up; Eric started opening the door for me as soon as Daniel did for Xela). I think we all had a good time, although when we got back home, Eric and I left those two to chat/say good bye. When Xela came inside, I asked if she walked him to his car, gave him a friendly hug or what she did. She said they chatted a minute and then he went to his car and she came inside. "I don't know what to do, Mom!"

She'll get the hang of it. So proud of my sweet 16 year old Xela! Don't ever forget that you are AWESOME!!!

Jan 2016 - It Snowed!!

Nate wanted to go sledding for his birthday, but, typical Indiana winter, there was no snow. February is usually when we get the snow piles and ice storms. However, we got enough snow for the kids to play in on January 10. It made them very happy, as you can tell by the photos below.

Snow buddies - Nate & Neta

Neta loads the sled...

...Nate pulls the sled.
There are options to snowblowers & shovels.

Graigry helped some with the shoveling. He took a little time to smash some snow as well. :)

"KER - 

- SPLAT!!

Sadly the snow didn't last but a few days and we didn't get sledding in. Since then (this is being written in March) we have not had enough snow to allow for sledding, much to Nate's displeasure. Maybe he'll get lucky in December of 2016. Maybe :)

New Year's Eve Events

Because Indiana doesn't really get wintery until end of January-mid February, there is the option to play outside. With the newly acquired birthday Nerf gun, all armed themselves and went outside to battle.

Nerf'd and Dangerous

War paint is more visible in a close up

Nate lets Graigry borrow the Mega blaster

Here's a quick video of the action in the backyard. Neta was told to hide, which she did, that's why she doesn't make any appearance.

Some time after the nerf war, we played some Carcassonne. Xela and I had promised Eric that we would play on New Year's Eve because we'd all be staying up until midnight, so a game that took four-five hours wouldn't be a problem.

This is the very beginning of the game.
By the end of the game, the table is covered in game tiles.

We munched on various things all night, which is nice because it made dinner easy. I'm all about an easy dinner. :)

Some of the kids played LIFE on a second table,
that shared the snacks i.e. dinner

Right before midnight, having finished our Carcassonne game, we brought pots, pans and spoons with us to the backyard. We also brought the stacks of paper and cardboard and decided to start a new tradition.

NEW YEAR'S EVE BONFIRE!!

Me & My Kiddos (Xela's camera person)
welcome the new year together

Upon official countdown, we whacked the pots and pans and creamed around the fire. Gun shots and fireworks were heard and seen around the neighborhood as we welcomed in 2016.

Thank you 2015 for the lessons and memories. 

Welcome 2016! 

We look forward to the adventures ahead of us!!

Nate Turns TEN!

Due to the December 30th date, Nate's birthday always falls over Christmas break. We told him he could invite a friend and to go to Chuck-e-Cheese for lunch. He invited his best friend Broadie Walters, who is in his 4th grade class.

We got to Chuck-e's, they snagged their tokens and went to play the games. Skeeball was first on the game plan.

I was impressed at how quickly
these boys finished a game of skeeball.
Guess I'm a little more methodical.

Just a little bit of excitement after
that roll!

Then it was time for a drive.

A very focused driver

Pizza came, so they ate a little...

"Can we go play now?"

...then played a little more. Then took a bite, then grabbed tokens and went to another game. They had a good time and quickly burned through each of their 50+ tokens. They had a good time together and that's what counts.

That night, we opened presents with family.

Ninjago Lego Dragon from Gma Hibbert

Captain America - He and Broadie's
favorite superhero

I love the face!

Again with the face!
I love his sincerity & pure joy.

Graigry gave Nate his camera

As always, we have fun in the cake decorating department. I decided to use the bundt pan, just do to something different than the usual 9x13 pan. Xela asked if she could decorate the cake and she and Nate went to town.

Xela prepping the Lego person
for his role in the birthday cake display

This birthday Lego scenario required the cooperation of an entire community. :)

Lego person is drowning in a well

Fire fighters to the rescue!

Helicopter view of the rescue effort

Now fire fighters have an actual fire
to extinguish - a 10 candle fire.

Gotta get a pick with cake and birthday boy:

Such a cute face!

Dragon makes an attempt to fan the fire...

...BUT...

...to no avail. Nate & his fellow Lego friends, quelch the fire and save the drowning boy. HOORAY!

I can't believe how quickly my kids grow up. He's on the downward slide to being 18, on a mission and on with life. I love my Nate the Great!

Christmas Weekend 2015

We wanted to surprise Neta with the bed, and more importantly, wanted to see her reaction to the bed. Eric carried all the children from their rooms upstairs to the kitchen, with promises of keeping their eyes closed. We had breakfast together, as is tradition, before opening presents. Once breakfast was eaten and cleaned up, I positioned myself with the camera...

Eric lined up the kids..

...the waited momentarily...

...then OPEN YOUR EYES!

I was a little depressed when I found out that Neta had already seen the bed, so her reaction captured here, is not her initial reaction. Here are some other snapshots from the day. All of these pictures, of course, will be totally flattering. :)

Xela opens the art manaquins.
She was so excited.

For as much as Eric is frustrated by Aurora's
desire to be a musician, he bought her a
microphone to sing into.
She hasn't been able to use it, because
there is another part she needs an amp.
It's the thought that counts, right? 

Nate got a set of pocket knives!

Graigry asked for footies, he got footies,
kind of. The foot coverings
were  not included.
New pajamas are soo soft!

Neta's new bed

The "live action" Cinderella movie
A gift from Patience Gaydos

"The Dark Side has Cookies"
A gift from Patience

All-in-one tool - another wish granted

Scriptures for Neta
Just a little later than her 8th b-day

This is Patience.
We love her like a sister & aunt.

Graigry got a bat,
so we went outside to play.
Nate, in the background,
is riding his Razor
from Uncle John & Aunt Diane.

Graigry and Nate received Razor Scooters and have had a blast with them, zipping them up and down the driveway almost everyday there hasn't been snow on the ground (which has been more often than not).

Neta waiting her turn for a present

Black pants to wear at her concerts

Aqua-bots. They also got a tank
so they could have "pet" fish

We went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house shortly after opening our family presents. There we opened more gift from them and Kimmie & Bacca then a few hours later we had dinner at our house. I treasure Christmas break and the time I get to play with my kids.

On the 26th, we played games and watched movies or tv. We played Uno Attack for about two hours, adding points after each round and adding different Killer Uno rules before starting a new round. Good time and lot of laughs.

Establishing the rules

Poor Nate! On the last hand, he got
WALLOPED!! The dispenser
always spit cards out at him.
I think he ended up with over
500 total points. 

Sunday, the 27th, there was more games and I didn't feel like making dinner, so we went simple:

Canned Chicken Noodle Soup,
Biscuits and a "picnic" on the
kitchen floor.