Christmas 2010

Here's a present Paul wrapped for me.TJ opens his stocking
Paul gets the "big" Lego set
Paul made this plate for me in school
Amina opens a gift
Poppy opens one. We miss Poppy.
Papa's turn
Coker next
Paul is happy
TJ is a ham
Merry Christmas!

New York

Coker had to go to New Jersey for work, so he went to New York a couple of days early and took me along. We went to the Lego store in Paul's honor. We went to Tiffany's in mine!Central Park - no I didn't ice skate!
It was cold!
Rockefeller Center - still no ice skating. We'd probably still be waiting in line, or "on line" as those New Yorkers say.
We saw Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson on Broadway and walked around Time Square. We ate lunch at Grand Central Station and shopped along 5th. Fast, but fun!

One of the Best Things I Ever Ate

I don't want to forget how to make these. My neighbor, Sheila made them and brought them by with yummy fudge and nuts. But these lovelies are amazing. Take two Ritz crackers, make a PB sandwich and then encase the sandwich in melted semi-sweet chocolate chips. Sheila went one step further and added a drizzle of white chocolate. I don't think there will be any left for Coker when he makes it home on Wednesday. Too bad. I'll save him some of the nuts.

TJ: Paul's Prodigy Student

TJ made up a Christmas song this morning, then asked me to sing it. I tried, but it was really long and by the end, I really didn't remember how it had started. There was something about a guy wanting to put up his Christmas lights and bumping his head. He was disappointed with me, but when I asked him to teach it to me, he had to admit he couldn't remember it either.

He started on a new song and we decided to write it down this time. Part way through, TJ wanted me to write our names on it. I guess I was too slow, so he took the pencil and said he would do it. He wrote the following (I wrote the TJ above mom):

I asked him how he knew how to write my "name." He said he'd watched Paul write it.

Paul is the Best!

I'm in the wrong season. Instead of pulling out Christmas decorations and decking the halls, I've decided to go through closets and toy chests to organize and (secretly) get rid of a few things. The boys will ask, "where are you taking that?" I provide a vague answer about just moving it to another room or rearranging. They'll forget about the Sonic tot toys and McDonald's talking plastic Chipmunks soon enough.

I pulled some photo albums down from the top shelves of TJ's closet and looked through a few pictures. I took a picture of me from my senior year in high school to Paul and asked, "Who do you think this is?"

He barely glanced at it and said, "That's you mom." I asked how he knew and he said, "It looks just like you. Look in the mirror."

I love that boy.

Great Wolf

We went to Great Wolf for the weekend. Scott and Cissy were there with Cayelyn and Casey. The boys had a great time playing with their cousins. Here's TJ with some character.The boys loved the bunk bed.
Paul poses.
Everyone try to look as sad as TJ looks.
The bunk beds were in their own little "cave" in our room.

Halloween

Welcome to Roswell.Acquaintances ask Coker if he's an alien all the time, so we decided to embrace the alien theme for Halloween.
Here's Pre Vizsla (according to Paul, that's pronounced 'prinz allya') and an astronaut.
We went to a party at a neighbor's house. The kids decorated pumpkins. TJ looks on as Paul and Alec work.
Amina and TJ hang out at the party. Yes, they have an orange tree!
Paul's pumpkin masterpiece.
Coker is a robot alien monkey. You'll have to ask him about that one; he'll show you a webpage with a reference to some old movie or TV show. I'm an angel. The alien mask was too uncomfortable, and I'm more believable as an angel anyway, right?
We went trick-or-treating at dusk and I'm currently trying to keep TJ out of the candy.

TJ's Favorite Photography Subject

I'm always finding pictures of TJ's feet on my camera and on my phone. I've deleted so many pictures of his little feet, but I decided that it's kind of funny. Here's a taste. Yuck! A look.

Feet in the car with shoes
Feet on hardwood
Feet on carpet

Paul's 6th Birthday

Paul's birthday fell on a Wednesday, so we celebrated again! He and TJ decorated the cupcakes.Opening more presents...
He likes the monkey.
Here's the big Lego set.
A new Nintendo DS game.

Paul's 6th Birthday Party

Paul wanted a big party at a bounce house. OK, he really wanted a party at Chuck E. Cheese, but I can't deal with CEC on a Saturday. I talked him into a bounce house instead. We went to Jump for Fun in Southlake and had a great turnout. Paul loved his party with so many friends this year.Emily and Makayla, two of Paul's friends from YCW
He's a little worn after playing with Blake and Grant
Air hockey with the boys
I don't think everyone made it in this shot
Blowing out the candles
Dillon, TJ, Gavin, Tucker, Parker, Ryan, Blake and Grant
Paul, Alec, Colby, Daniel, Easton, Marshall and Parker

Tucker, Grayson, Parker, Ryan, Blake and Grant
Kyleigh, Alec B., Paul, Alec F. and Colby
Rylee, Bailey, Austin and Gracie
Sarah, Makayla, Emily B., Emily R. and Reagan
A better picture of Reagan

Opening presentsThat was it! Paul loved having his friends celebrate his birthday with him!