Christmas Day

So...great mom I am...I didn't take any digital pictures on Christmas Day. But I caught the kids in bed Christmas night. They all curled up with the beautiful blankets that Grandma Ruth made them. The girls are sleeping with their new American Girl dolls. When I saw these pictures it made me think that this is what Christmas is all about. I love my children and my husband. We had a wonderful time with lots of fun!!! Merry Christmas to all!!

Griswold Family Chirstmas Tree 2008 Tourtillott Style

So...I love our house, but our ceilings are too short. We had vaulted ceilings in our house in Olathe, KS so we bought a beautiful 9 ft. Christmas tree two years ago. Well, our house here in Texas has 8 ft. ceilings. So, here is our mushroom top Christmas tree squished into our house.

Thanksgiving 2008 "Playing in the Leaves"

So thank you Uncle Kenny...he taught the kids to throw leaves in the air at Nanny's house on Thanksgiving. The older kids were able to run from the leaves but Jack thought it was great to have them fall in his hair. We bathe out leaves from his hair for over a week.

Yes, that is dirt, not food. This is what Jack looked like after he came in from playing outside at Nanny's. True boy!

And his hands were just as dirty as his face!!! Yuck!!!

Jordan's 5th Birthday

Jordan turned 5 on Nov. 26, 2008. I can't believe that he is that old and will be in full day kindergarten next year. We were able to have a birthday party at Grandma Brenda's house and one with his friends in Olathe, KS. He met his friends at Chuck-E-Cheese! He sure had a blast. Aunt Linda made his cute Star Wars cake and Amanda Floyd picked up his cute basketball cake. He was pretty proud of his Super Mario shirt that grandma Brenda gave him. Happy Birthday Jordan....we love you!!!

Ellie helps make rolls

So...I was making homemade rolls...yummy...with my last Christmas present...my super awewome powerful Bosch. (Thanks, honey-love the Bosch) Well, I had in melted butter and milk and two cups of flour in the Bosch. I thought...well....since I have in flour with the liquid I probably don't need the splashguard lid. So, I do a quick mix and out flies the butter onto the floor. Ellie runs over and starts to lick up the butter. So, then I thought well...I have done the quick mix and I am sure the flour is mixed in so I do another quick mix and turn it on. Out flies the flour. Whoops!!! Ellie is a big white snowball covered in flour with butter all over her lips! We all had to laugh at mom's great thoughts!! But the rolls were great!

Our trip down to Texas

Well, we finally made it to San Antonio. We unpacked the last box today and situated the garage. It feels good to finally see a house and not boxes. The trip down was not the best, but we made it in one piece. Katelyn had the stomach bug the whole way. The traffic in Dallas was unreal!! And BYU lost at TCU bad!! But here are a few pictures of what was good. We got to stop at the American Girl Doll store in Dallas and have lunch with the dolls. The kids thought that was great, but the girls were sad not to be able to buy a doll. Jack was pretty good on the ride down. He even read the road map for me. Note: Do you all love the packed car? Check out all the junk in the back seat!!

Jack eating with his doll at the American Girl Doll Restaurant.

Jordan wanted to eat with a doll too!! He called her Pocahontas.

Katelyn eating with her doll that she borrowed too.

Is this the TCU sign??? Maybe that's what went wrong!

Abby with her doll that she borrowed! The food was yummy!

Katelyn driving in the car with a forced smile because she doesn't feel good.

Jack reading the map...hopefully it is the Texas one!

Halloween Oct 2008 San Antonio TX

Happy Halloween late. Here are a few pictures of the kiddos in their costumes. Katelyn was a snow princess, Abby was a Queen, Jack was Buzz, and Jordan was a Ninja Turtle. They had a great night. I believe Jack had the most fun. He was not scared to knock on the doors and get candy. In fact, a couple of days ago we were walking home from taking the kids to school and Jack was ahead of me and ran up to a random person's door and knocked on it. I think he thought he was going to trick-or-treat at their house. Lucky for me, no one was home at that house. But, they had a great night. Note: Do you love the weed garden in the front yard? It is now gone...I will have to send some more recent pictures.

45 days until Christmas!!!

Sorry to say but the first picture of the new house is of the kids infront of the girls' room and the water heater door...but there are only 45 days until Christmas!!! The girls made a count down with links. They plan on cutting one off each night. Do you think anyone is excited???

Knee Boarding

Okay...love you Tammy...sorry Shannon but she is my new BFF!! Tammy invited me and the kiddos out on the boat the other night. The kids had a blast!!! Here is a few pictures from the lake!

Aren't these the cutest kiddos ever???

Are you smarter than a second grader???

So Katelyn has made me laugh the last couple of days. I am sure it won't be as funny typed on a blog...but at least I will have the memory written down. So, the first one:

The other day I was looking over her homework. She had completed a full page on one story problem for math. The problem said: Sarah makes stuff bears and uses two button eyes for one bear. How many buttons will she need to make 6 bears? Simple multiplication problem right??? The whole sheet was over this problem. She had to fill out a chart and answer some basic questions about the problem. One of the questions said, "What do you do to figure out how many buttons she needs for 6 bears?" Katelyn's answer was, "I don't do anything...I just count!!" Had to laugh at that one.

A few days before that I was having a very bad mommy day and had put myself in timeout. Katelyn came in and asked if she could call her friend Paige and just talk to her. I told her that would be fine. She came back about 10 mins. later and looked a little discouraged. She said, "Mom, I can't find Paige in the dictionary!" We laughed for awhile on that...she meant directory!

I love you Katelyn!!! You make me smile and you have been so pleasant to be around!! Thanks---mom

First Day of School

Well, my kiddos started school August 15th 2008. It is so nice and I loving it. Abby is in the 5th grade. It has been very challenging to her, but she is doing great. Her teacher's name is Mr. Conner. She is also in the quest program and goes to 6th Math. We are so proud of her. She will be starting Band or Strings next week and also is in the chorus. Mrs. Richardson is Katelyn's teacher and Katelyn is in 2nd grade. She loves school. She is doing well and also goes to the quest (gifted) program. Jordan is having a blast with school this year. About ten o'clock he is ready for school. Mrs. Hite is his teacher and he has three paras in his class that help out. Their names are Ms. Egan, Mrs. Epperson, and Mrs. Smith. He is in the peer model preschool that is inside the girls school. It is great to have them all at the same place. His class has half peer models and half children with disabilities. Jordan is a great friend to all of his classmates and they LOVE him. We are so proud of him. He goes from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.(when the girls get out) and Jack takes a 3 hour nap during that time. It has been SO nice to have a little free time to get some things done...or just take a nap!! But things are going great and the kids are loving school.

Abby's first day of school-August 15th 2008

Katelyn's first day of school-Aug. 15th 2008

Jordan's first day of school in front of the kids school- Ravenwood Elem. 2008

Jordan and Madison Hermann on their first day of school laying on their preschool circle time mat.

Puppies

Uncle Jason brought over his dogs' new puppies. They are a week ago in these pictures and their eyes were still not open yet. They were so cute and mom thought about letting the kids keep one for about....hmmmm....ONE SECOND!! No more dogs!! One is enough!! But I thought these pictures were fun. I think the dogs are puggles???? (not sure on the spelling!) So cute!!!