Mom Bucks

We go through job charts like socks.  Ever couple of months we need a new one.  We will get a new one, and the kids will get really excited, the it looses its nostalgia, and then it doesn't work any more.  Our newest, and probably most effective one so far is using Monopoly money.  My kids convinced me to make a chart were they earn money called "Mom Bucks". They can save up their Mom Bucks and buy stuff.  Kyle bought a date me with to Chuck E. Cheese.  Kyle is the ultimate worker if there is something to save up for. I love going on dates one-on-one with my kids.   

   This is actually a funny story.  A while ago we went to Chuck-e-Cheese as a family.  Darren and I played Deal-or-no-Deal together.  We put in two coins to double our money.  We choose our suitcase and started playing.  We were having the best time getting totally into it.  I insisted we go all the way! We ended up with the suitcase we choose- and it had the million dollars!  We won 50 tickets!! I couldn't believe it!  Darren and I were celebrating like we had really won a million dollars!  It was a ton of fun! Anyways, so Kyle and I played the game again, and guess what??  We choose the suitcase with the million dollars in it again!! What are the odds?  I need to get on that show for realz!     

Anyways, we had such a great time.  Kyle is such a good little boy.  I had so much fun spending some time with him.

Kyle wanted a kite for his birthday.  We have flown it a couple of times and have really had a great time with it.

Little Hickory Beach

Before I move onto 2014 I want to finish up 2013.  I took the pictures off my cell phone- which only happen to be Nov. and Dec. since that's when I got my phone. These pictures are of my new favorite beach I just discovered- Little Hickory.  It is a short 20 min from our house.  Once you get to the beach it is about a half mile walk- but sooo worth it.  It has great shelling- which I love. You have to go at the right time- when the tide is low, and then it's amazing!
 

This is my new absolute all time favorite beach! It has awesome shelling and shallow water when the tide goes out.  Which makes it super fun for the kids.  We found all sorts of amazing stuff in the tide pools in the sand. 

There were lots and lots of 9 legged Sea Stars walking around.

Gabe had a great time playing in the water.  But of course- he wouldn't look at me.

Nine legged sea stars are so cool.  If they loose a leg- they grow it back- you can see this one has started growing back 3 of it's legs. The ocean is SO amazing!

Acorn Worm Poop.  It's not really poop- its pretty much just discarded sand.  How can something so gross be so cool??

Kyle with a Smooth Brittle Star. 

See all those shells in the sand?  They are Fighting Conch's that are coming up out of the sand.  It is so awesome to see them crawling all over the beach.

Close up.

Another One

And last but not least- a surprise gift for Paul.

Another gift

After the kids opened all their presents we told them we had something else for them.  Gifts from Grandma Rita and Opa.  It was awesome.

Christmas Day

We had a fantastic Christmas filled with toys, Christmas music, good food, naps, and lots of love.  The best part was Darren had Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off!  It was a Festivus miracle!  I guess since he worked them last year he got this year off.   Santa knew just what to get my kids, since they had written such thorough letters to him. 

WOW!

Fun Christmas video

We heard about Netflix having a "fire" station.  We we cranked up the air conditioner and turned on the fire! It was pretty funny.

3 toy motorcycles for my 3 motorcycle lovers. 

Christmas dinner for Gabe.  Seriously, why even try?

He kept saying, "MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!"  We had chocolate coin wrappers everywhere. Seriously, everywhere.

Ellie is so cute and sweet!  She loves anything soft and snuggly. 

Ellie pretty much read all day.  I love it.

All the boys got nerf guns- which were a ton of fun. 

Every year we say that it was the best Christmas ever, but this one really was.  Best Christmas ever.  My kids were so good and happy and I felt so grateful to be together as a family. We ended up the day by going to see the movie Frozen.  I think I am the only I know who didn't like the movie.  Maybe cause I was in charge of Gabe and he had no interest in sitting still, eating popcorn, or suckers, being quiet, or watching the movie.  All he wanted to do was swing on the bar in front of us, and run up and down the stairs or the aisle.  It made it hard to enjoy the movie.  Through the day, I kept thinking how happy I was, and tried to savor each moment- but in the back of my mind I couldn't help but wonder, where we will be next Christmas?

Kyle's Letter

Kyle wrote the cutest letter for his cousin, Peter, I just had to take a picture of it. - Ellie made some corrections.

Dear Peter, 
It was fun to have you here.  I had such a fun time with you.  I'm so excited for Christmas.  Are you? My elf on the shelf came.  De you have an elf on the shelf? I made my Christmas list on 12-2-13.  When are are macking your list?  Oh yaa! My birthday is coming up.  Tell your mom to take you to a stor and get me a present.  ok. good.  I'm done so good by.  ps. send back a leter.

What My Kids Want For Christmas

 My family has been e-mailing what kids wanted for Christmas 100 years ago compared to what they want today.  Here's what my kids Christmas list looks like for the year 2013.  I told them to put lots of things so Santa would have more to choose from.

 Lets start with Paul's list- as an 11 year old:

To Santa Clause

I have been very good this Christmas, so I want these few presents.

1. Any star wars Lego set above $15

2. A small Nerf gun and bullets

3. Anything Pokémon

4. A scooter

5. DS Games

6. Electronic Wipes, Micro SD Card, and a Tablet Cover

7. Real Clay

8. $10 For tablet games

9. Art Stuff

10. Lego Star Wars The Complete Saga Wii game

11. Rainbow Weave Kit

12. (Most wanted thing) Super Scribblenauts DS Game

Thank You, Santa!!!

Ellie's List, 10 years old:

Dear , Santa   (A.K.A Mom) 

I have been very good this year so I made a list of want for Christmas. Just so that you know I am NOT  expecting to get everything on this list.

1.I would LOVE it if I could have a package or two of LPS (Littlest Pet Shop)

2.My little pony Princess Cadence

3. Lego princess with dragon or horse

4. jewelry (the pearl necklace kit for $10)

5. Money for tablet games

6. A soft blanket

7. Scooter

8. DS games

9. DS Case

10. Pokemon Cards

11. A chocolate orange

12. Candy

13. Anything else you think I would like.

And then Kyles- who wrote his.  This kid made it easy.  He divided it into 3 sections.

Stocking list. 1.chocolate coins  2.DS games. (3 to 5 games)  3.tadlet with moste my money. (a tablet that he has saved up for and he wants us to pay the rest)  4.tree ordament. 5.flart  6.bubblegum machine  7. pocket knife with gadgets and stuff

Birthday list  1.Kite  2.Legos   3. ice age dawn of the dinosaurs

Christmas list  0.Scooter  1.Hot weel set stick on walls set 2. Hed bans Act Out  3.chocolate orange

 There they are.  They are such good kids.