Gingerbread Houses

We made our gingerbread houses on New Years Eve.  It is a great way to spend the time until the ball drops while also allowing us to eat a bunch of junk food that we don't usually eat. 

The supply options...

Eric's house....

 Chrisi's house...notice the awesome, amazing details...little trees, a cardinal is in one tree (red speck), and an owl in the barn (yellow speck on building).

 Aeden's creation...he explained what it was...after he had created it.  We are pretty sure his plan is to use as much of everything as he possibly can and then describe it all.  :)

Christmas 2013

Waiting to come downstairs....

 Blue doesn't want to wait for Aeden to move.

 This picture really shows how much he has grown and changed this year.

 Rainbow looming with Jessie, Riley, and Khiana.

Daddy love

Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas Eve

May your holidays be filled with as much joy as ours.

Tree at Venetian

Vegas 2013

Planning Nefarious Deeds

Vegas 2013

The Grinch

Vegas 2013

Just shy of 15 years

Eric & I went on a 15th wedding anniversary trip to Vegas...a couple of weeks early. :)

Many faces of a 12 year old

The many faces of Aeden all taken within 3 minutes of each other. 12 is such an awkward age!

5 ft

Tigtigs measured Aeden last night.  He is exactly 5 ft tall.

--
Chrisi

3rd Grade

Aeden volunteered at my school's Christmas Around the World celebration last night.  He ran the dreidel table in the 3rd grade classroom.  He was fabulous and (not so oddly enough) amongst the myriad of compiments I received on his manners and ability to work with younger kids, I also heard how he is almost ready for Vegas and that he was similar to a dealer running a roulette table.  I choose to take these as compliments. ;)

On the way home he told me that one issue he had with the dreidel game table was that with all the kids it wasn't very professionally run. Min fact at one point he stopped counting out even nukbers of coins and just gave people a pile.  The students never noticed.

Right before we got home he said the following: "Now I know how you feel, I am exhausted!"

--
Chrisi

3rd Grade

Aeden volunteered at my school's Christmas Around the World celebration last night.  He ran the dreidel table in the 3rd grade classroom.  He was fabulous and (not so oddly enough) amongst the myriad of compiments I received on his manners and ability to work with younger kids, I also heard how he is almost ready for Vegas and that he was similar to a dealer running a roulette table.  I choose to take these as compliments. ;)

On the way home he told me that one issue he had with the dreidel game table was that with all the kids it wasn't very professionally run. In fact at one point he stopped counting out even numbers of coins and just gave people a pile.  The students never noticed.

Right before we got home he said the following: "Now I know how you feel, I am exhausted!"

So very true!

--
Chrisi

Dear Santa...

Here is Aeden's 2013 letter to Santa, very illuminating...

Eyebrow Raise

Aeden is very skilled...

Boys and Trains

view full image

--
Chrisi

Impossible

Jessie attempting the impossible...

Evan & Aeden

Off to storm castles & put out fires...

Evan's Request

"Aeden, there is a fire in my trick or treat bag."--Evan

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Popsicle has been waiting all year for the tree to come back out.

 Ready for the ornaments...

 Decorating the tree...

Photo bomb

It was a great picture of Evan...

Aedenism: Partmester

What the rest of the world calls quarters Aeden calls partmester.

Sent from my iPod

With his eyes closed...

Aeden trying to impress me by playing the piano with his eyes closed while waiting for his lesson.

 

 

 Showing off that he can raise his eyebrows while I can not.

 

Overheard: Factorials

Eric: "When you get to chapter 12 you get to do factorals."

Aeden (sounding interested): "Oh what is that?"

Chrisi (in my head): I would never describe doing factorals as something I "get" to do.

--
Chrisi

At the library

Overheard: Prime or not prime

Some people roll dice to determine who goes first. Not my boys, they roll 3-5 die and call prime or not prime.

First Day of 7th Grade

Aeden on the first day of 7th grade.

Then & Now 2013

Apparently the boy has become very difficult to photograph!

Happy 12th Birthday

Aeden's 12th birthday started with an attempt to play golf with his friend, Logan, Papa and Dad.  Unfortunately they were mosquitoed out so we ended up going to see "Turbo" instead.

 12 and still crazy!

 Birthday wishes are a very serious business.

Birthday Boy

Aden at 1 year, 6 years, and 12 years old.

Creepy picture

My new haircut and a (washable) green streak.

Overheard: Danger

While listening to "The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey" a discussion of "danger is my middle name" came up.

Aeden said "I like danger...with a side of salsa."

Then he said "Danger is my middle name, afraid of is my first."

Eric:  "For Mommy"

Both boys break out laughing.

--
Chrisi

Chrisi & Aeden

Cape Blanco

Picture by Eric

Cape Blanco Lighthouse

Picture by Eric