Basketball!

Walter started basketball a couple of weeks ago.  He is in the 7 and 8 year old division.  He loves playing basketball during recess at school so I asked him if he would like to play basketball through the youth services on post.  His team's name is "The Suns" and their uniforms are orange and white.  He has practices Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-6:30.  I take him on Tuesdays and Gil takes him on Thursdays.  I enjoy taking him.  I get some quiet time to read and to be able to watch Walter. Of course when Gil goes to Ft. Rucker for 5 weeks for Warrant Officer basic training, it won't be so much fun taking the other three to practice.  I had to take them all last night because Gil had to work later, and it is difficult keeping them all off the court and on the benches.  Shirley loves balls and so much wants to go get the balls on the court that the kids are playing with.  It is fun to watch 7 and 8 year olds play basketball.  I played basketball as a kid and love it.  I can't wait till they have their first game.  That will be very entertaining to watch.   they must not be too strict about traveling or double dribbling, otherwise I don't see how a game will get very far.  I will find out soon.  Maybe the kids will surprise me.  Who knows? These pictures were taken on the first day of practice which was also a parent's informational meeting. We all went to that.

Taxes!

My taxes are done.  I would have had them done earlier, but I had to wait for my W2 form to be ready online.  I started my taxes two weeks ago using the amounts shown on my LES but waited for  the W2 form to make sure the amounts were the same.  They were.  I love getting my taxes done because we always get a pretty good return.  This year was even more than normal because for some reason we had only 2 exemptions listed when we qualify for 6, so more money was taken out for taxes, and we got it all back.  We are going to be more frugal with our money this year and save more.  I am, however, buying a new video camera.  I don't know which one I want to buy yet.  I will have to do some research.

Christmas Sweaters!

My Grandma makes gifts every year for us and the kids and I love what she makes. Two years ago she crocheted dolls for the kids. This year she knitted sweater vests for the boys and a sweater dress for Rilla. They are so cute. I loved dressing them in them for church on Sunday.

Christmas!

Christmas was  a lot of fun.  We do Christmas jammies on Christmas eve.  Here are the kids in their jammies:

Christmas morning the kids woke up at 6:30. I was happy it wasn't earlier. I would have made them go back to bed. We had a nice quiet morning opening gifts. The kids really had fun. Rilla especially. She loved opening presents and seeing what was in side. Later on Christmas we had a couple of friends over for Christmas dinner. We all made a portion of the dinner so no one had to make a lot. That was nice. We also let the kids cut out sugar cookoes and decorate them. Here are a few pictures from Christmas day:

Thanksgiving!

I am a little behind.  Thanksgiving at my sister's was a lot of fun.  It is always nice being with family.  My Grandma was able to visit as well.  My sisters parents-in-law and her sister-in-law and her family also came.  It was a full house and pretty noisy, but I really enjoyed it.  All the kids got sick at some point, as well as most of the adults.  That part wasn't much fun.  But we got to go to movies, play games, go shopping.  I am happy we went.  The kids even got to have a little bit of snow to play in.

Christmas Parties!

We have had three Christmas parties this past week and they were a lot of fun.  the first was a winter carnival on post.  They had games, a free toy for each child (Walter got a soccer ball, Jem an airplane, Rilla a Polly Pocket, and Shirley a Tigger stuffed animal), crafts, and lunch.  It was a lot of fun.  A little crowded, but fun.

Our Ward Christmas part was fun, too. it was more spiritual and I liked that. I loved the Christmas music and the Nativity skit that was put on. It was a dinner as well and the kids got to decorate Sugar cookies afterwards. They also had a really good Santa.  Rilla wouldn't go near Santa, though.

Our last Christmas party was a Battalion part for Gil's work. It was in an airplane hanger and had lots of fun activities for the kids, plus a really good dinner. santa also flew in on a plane. That was really cool. The hardest part about the holiday's this year is not being able to eat a lot of stuff because of Shirley's allergies. There was so much good food and treats that I could not have.

I am looking forward to Christmas now that my Christmas cards are done, packages are mailed, decorations are all up, and gifts are all bought. I still have some wrapping to do. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Shirley's 1st Birthday!

Shirley turned a year old last Saturday.  We drove back from Colorado that day so we celebrated his birthday on Friday.  Nothing fancy, but it was nice.  It was nice being with family.  Shirley is starting to eat more solids and is pulling himself up and cruising a little.  He has six teeth now.  I wasn't sure if he would even eat his birthday cake (a gluten/dairy free chocolate cake) but he actually ate  quite a bit.  I am still working on getting him to drink out of a sippy cup.  I did get him t start drinking with a straw, although he hardly wants to drink anything out of a cup.  He is starting to climb on things that are low to the ground, like a stool, etc.  I am not sure if I am ready for him to start climbing.  I am just amazed at all he has started to do just in the last two weeks.