Barrett's Letter to Santa

The other day at lunch Barrett wanted to make his Christmas list for Santa. I suggested he might want to say a few words to Santa in his letter about how deserving he is rather than just sending a list of toys. So he dictated the following letter to me:

Dear Santa,
The first thing I want to tell you is I have been good. All year. I help my mom and dad by cleaning up my toys. Kyle doesn't. And I am always nice to Jack and everybody. I am nice to my brother sometimes and all the time nice to my baby sister. I set the table for dinner and once I helped Daddy clean up his tools. And I help with the laundry and I make my bed if I don't forget. I always do what Mommy and Daddy tell me...except when I don't.
Here's my Christmas list:
Transformers
Sail boat
Hot Wheels

Love,
Barrett

(He wrote the toys himself with our help sounding them out. After Transformers, I think he was just trying to think of toys that were easier to spell. I am not sure if those are toys he really wants.)

NOTE TO FAMILY: Please do not buy the items on this list. This is a list for Santa.

an attitude of grattitude...startin' 'em young

(These are all pics taken with a camera phone)

Today, Annabelle did some volunteer work with me at the food pantry. Here's a pic of her working hard bundling food for pick-up.


She enjoyed her work to help others...until she fell asleep. (Thank you Leslie for the pictures!)
Then, we picked up Barrett from school and my heart was warmed by the Turkey he and his classmates had made. They listed what they are thankful for on the turkey feathers. Oh how I love this kind of thing!

Here's Barrett's feather:

Next week, Kyle will be putting together Christmas gifts for children and families in need. And today, he brought food to donate to the food pantry. I hope they continue to give to and serve others and grow up thankful for all they have. I am very proud of their generosity and giving spirit.

Random Halloween Stuff

I call this lunch "Mummy loves you" Bwahahahaha...okay, I know it's cheesy...there I go again!


Barrett and Kyle at the Dallas Arboretum.


Annabelle at the Arboretum in her super cute ribbon pants that Gigi made.


Sadly, this was Barrett and Kyle's very first time to go real Trick or Treating...at houses. Barrett kept saying "Trunk or Treat!" when the door was opened. Kyle came back from the door and saying "Mom, they gave us candy!" every time. EVERY. TIME. So cute! He just couldn't believe that people would give him candy for knocking on their door. They are with their friends Jack and Dylan, A.K.A. Darth Vader and Super Why.


Yes, I know the previous post had pics of Annabelle in her costume, but she smiling in this one! Gigi and I took all three kids to the Farmersville Fall Festival on Saturday night. It was really unbelievable how many people stopped to look at Annabelle in her costume. A man standing next to us at one point said he estimated about 60 different people took her picture and she smiled for every one. That's probably about right, not even exaggerating.

Trunk or Treat

Last Sunday, we went Trunk or Treating. It's always a treat for me to see the kids dressed up in their costumes. This year Barrett is a Lego Man, Kyle is a Sock Monkey and Annabelle is a Baby Chick for her first Halloween. Gigi and I made these costumes this year. It may be the last costumes Barrett and Kyle let us make for them. They have asked to be Darth Vader and Iron Man next year. I guess I have to let them. I guess. So this year I have to soak it up!

Can you guess which teddybear is the sweetest?

No, this is not her Halloween costume. Kyle and I were home yesterday and he helped me set up for this shot.

disgusting!!! Thanks, Mom!

I have been trying to make the boys' lunches special and fun to eat so their lunch box doesn't come home full. Here's some of what I have done.


For an October/Halloween theme, I did Frankenstein: This idea came from a Brookshire's flier. It's craisins, almond slivers, marshmallows, and eye holes I cut out with an icing tip. Kyle loved it.



When I found these Scrabble tile Cheez-its I think I squealed aloud right there in the grocery store aisle. I just used a little peanut butter to glue them in place. If you're wondering about the bite taken, it was my breakfast.

To stick with a Halloween theme, at lunch today the boys found (gummy) worms crawling out of their sandwiches. This one got rave reviews from both boys. So the grosser the better, I guess.
Sorry I don't have a pic of that one.

In the middle of the night

I hear a baby crying in my sleep. Not a demanding cry, but a soft cry that seems to say, "I am a bit hungry, would you feed me please?" The clock is blurry, but I can make out between long blinks that the the first number is a three. Despite the sweet manners, I am not too happy about being awake at 3:00 am. She has been sleeping through the night most of the time now. I guess this is not one of those nights. I grunt and slowly roll out of bed to change her diaper before feeding. I have managed to pry one eyelid halfway open so I can see what I am doing. The crying has stopped as if she knows I am here and I am going to take care of her needs. Through my one half-open eye, I see her smiling at me with her huge wide awake grin. Then something strange happens...I can't help but to smile too...desipte the hour. After I feed her, I put her back in her bassinet next to my bed. She is still awake, but she just coos a couple times and then allows me to go back to sleep.
Thank you sweet girl, for bringing me sunshine in the middle of the night.

Here's some pictures I took of the little cupcake in a tutu.




and we can't forget the little piggies