Funny Thing

Most of my family has heard this story, but I had to post the pictures. Christopher was eating dinner one night and complained that his foot was really itchy. I didn't think too much about it, but did notice that it was swelling a bit and he thought it was a bug bite. I put him to bed not thinking too much about it, but he came out about 20 minutes later with his lips swelling. I immediately gave him Benadryl and called the doctor. It was a Sunday night, so of course it was the on call doc who said that since it was swelling in the face, they always want one to go to the ER. Alex was home teaching and had the car. I called him up and he got home and I took Christopher to the local ER who confirmed what my gut instinct was in the first place. Just some strange virus. As long as he kept Benadryl in his system for 24 hours, he should be fine, but to keep an eye on his breathing. He was fine, but he is growing up because as we were getting ready to go, he was most concerned that someone might see him that way! It was funny as he couldn't but keep playing with his much enlarged lips!

Ahoy Mateys! Mark turns Five

Mark had his fifth birthday party on about a week and a half before his actual birthday, since his birthday is so close to Christmas. He really wanted a pirate party and he really wanted it in the party room of our apartment complex, so that is what he got. I was really glad in the end too because I forgot how much energy that 4 and 5 year old boys can have and they were running around like crazy, but we all had a wonderful time! Alex and I (mostly Alex) made cardboard boats and the kids loved them. They were surprisingly intact by the end of the party. We made parrots to go on our shoulders, but Mark was playing around with the supplies before everyone came.

The black balloons were cannon balls and they had to sit on them for a game. A lot got popped before the game even started.

We also had two teams each in a boat and they had to pelt each other with cannons (newspaper balls) and whoever had the most in their boat was sunk and had to walk the plank (a wooden board up on 2x2's). We had a few cheaters who would take them out of their boat, but the game was overall a success.

Anna tried to get in the mix, but it did get a little rough for her, so she was rescued soon after this picture.

The party was after lunch and before dinner, so we just had light snacks. The fruit on the skewers went the fastest!

The cake, which really wasn't too difficult to make.

Anna inspecting things!

It's hard to believe that Mark is five. Christopher had his fifth birthday five months after we moved away from California and it seems so fast that Mark has caught up. Time really does fly and I hope that I am making the most of the years that my children are in my home!

First Snow

Last year we didn't get much snow at all. This year, the first weekend in December brought a small snowstorm and it happened to be when we were going to get our Christmas tree. It was kind of fun, like we had seen in the movies, but very cold!

The boys ran to the balcony once they realized the snow was everywhere!

A picture from our balcony.