Ok, I know it's been 2 weeks but I did work 1 so better late than never here are some Christmas pics:
We had a great Christmas. Hope everyone else's holidays were great!We tried to avoid the jealousy and pouting this year but it didn't work. I will have to post Christmas pics later. I have to work 6 of the next 7 days so I won't have time to get the pics up. Everyone here had a great day. We got various dvd's and video games. Abby & Jordan got guitars. Jordan wants to know when he gets guitar lessons from Brian now. Megan got a barbie laptop. We also got a couple of presents/treats for our baby Yogi. He loved them but still felt sorry for his little self. He would get up and watch people open gifts and I gave him so many treats this morning I was afraid he would get sick. He kept running back to his new little bed and tucking his nose down into the corner. After all the fun was over the kids piled thier goods on the couch and all their new clothes onto a chair in the living room. While everyone was running around playing with their new things Yogi nuzzled himself between the gifts on the couch and pouted. Usually he is right there with everyone. When I left for work he was all cozied up in the pile of new clothes. I guess he just thinks he should ALWAYS be the center of attention!
I finally got around to making gingerbread houses. I made them smaller and simpler than I usually do but the kids had fun decorating. My favorite part this year was this extra large spatula that I happened upon while grocery shopping last week (& it was only $3!). It made it much easier to transport the dough from the counter to the pan and back! 
Every year we get together with the cousins that live here in town and have dinner and let the kids exchange gifts. Here are all the pics.
I peeked out to see what the kids were eating for breakfast this morning while I was getting ready for school . . .
They had each made themselves a salad. Yes, a breakfast salad. We didn't even have bagged salad either. They broke lettuce off from the head of lettuce that was in the fridge added some dressing, cheese and bacon bits and all had a breakfast salad.
Well, it's been a few weeks. We're always up to the same old things but here's an update anyway. Megan recieved a paw power the week after Jordan did. She was holding the door open for people at the end of the school day. I guess they are looking to recognize kids who are looking out or doing good for others. You get your picture and a description of your kindness hung in the hall by the office. Megan is also progressing in school. She was having trouble staying focused and working for the whole day but that seems to be resolving and she is doing great. She gets 12 out of 10 every week on her spelling tests (2 extra credit words)! Jordan is passing off his times tables and is doing great. I don't know if it is just his teacher or if things have just clicked this year. His grades are great and he has a really good attitude towards school. Now if only we could get him to stop antagonizing Megan. Abby is working on Algebra. Her teacher doesn't quite know what to do with her. It's good to not have her struggling but I wish there was something we could do to challenge her without making her feel like she is just getting extra work to do. I don't want her to get bored. I am so grateful to have kids who are learning and progressing in school and can take on that responsibility on their own!
I can't believe Brian and Audrey are already gone. I didn't get to spend as much time with them as I had hoped but with working and going to school full time I never have any "time!" I also didn't take a whole lot of pictures. Here are some pics of the cousins on Thanksgiving day. I had to include all three because not all of the kids look good in just one. I love that Haley is trying to make Greta smile in the second one. It was the end of the day and she was pretty done with all the commotion. She was "loved" (by loved I do mean mauled) by ben's "puppy" (4 month old black lab), she liked Yogi from a distance though.
We are getting ready for Christmas slowly. Hopefully we can get mostly decorated today. I still have 2 finals to take over the next week before I am done for the semester. Hope all is well with everyone!
Today after school as kids were rushing out of the building a garbage can in the hall got knocked over. Jordan stopped, picked it up and cleaned up the mess and one of the teachers caught him. The teacher took Jordan aside and filled out a "power paw" for him. I don't know exactly what that is but Jordan was so excited because they don't pass those out every day. Good job Jordan!
This is what Ben got me for my birthday. Now all I need is time to use it! With this and the atomic cupcake stuff my sis gave me I will shortly be in digi scrap heaven. (Well after I finish with work and school for the week anyway.) 
It was naptime so she wasn't at her happiest but she is still one of the cutest people in the world! (I love the face she is making in the last pic :) )
The kids had fun trick or treating last night. This is the first year they haven't had to wear a coat over their costume! It was almost 70 degrees! It did get windy and sprinkled a bit right at first but then it cleared up for an enjoyable night. Here are the kids:
Yogi getting his glowsticks on
My Ninja Geisha
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
