100th Day of School

Tuesday was the 100th day of school. I was lucky enough to be helping at school that day and got to participate in some of the activities they had planned. Maddie's class made crowns that included 100 stickers.

Here she is wearing hers and then her class all wearing theirs.

Then we headed out to the lobby for a 1-0-0 picture. Maddie told me the girls were smashed between the boys.

After I finished helping with the kindergarteners, I went to Ashton's class to help them with counting out their 100 items to make a big batch of "trail mix". The kids got to nibble on it all afternoon and it was a big mixture of things. I actually thought it looked pretty gross myself, but the kids seemed to enjoy it. :-)

Caroline is one of the little girls in Ashton's class. I have spent a lot of time "tutoring" her and she is such a sweet little girl. She told her mom she wanted to be a little different with her items and not just bring them in. She told her mom she wanted to attach them to a big piece of paper instead. She stapled 100 suckers to this strip of paper which we then wrapped around her. It was cute and creative! I'm glad I got to help out. The kids had a lot of fun with all the festivities.

Ashton's Writing

9Alex and I went out for a date night just before new years. We had dinner and then went to his hockey game. I rarely get to watch him play because their games are typically too late for the kids to go or me to get a sitter. Just after the second period began, Alex was headed toward the net and he hit a rough spot in the ice and went full speed into the boards. He was instantly on his face on the ice. His legs had gone all crooked and it looked like he had gone head first when he hit. I jumped up and kept telling the other wife sitting with me that I wasn't going to be "that wife" that went to check on him but that it didn't look good. :( After a few minutes, he was up, holding his arm in visible pain and headed straight for the locker room. A friend that plays with him immediately yelled at me to get ice. When I got back to the locker room with the ice, I discovered it wasn't just one of those shake it off kind of injuries. He thought he'd dislocated his shoulder or possibly broken it. A guy was helping to get his skates off and then we got as much of his gear off as we could without hurting him. I took him to the emergency room where we spent the next several hours finding out what the damage was. No dislocated shoulder or even broken shoulder. Yay for that! It was an AC Separation, which is where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the shoulder blade (acromion). They sent us home with meds and orders to see an orthopedic the next week after the holiday. It was a long weekend for Alex because he couldn't get comfortable and therefore couldn't sleep. The kids and I all tried to help him with as much as we possibly could. I tell you all of this because Ashton has to journal at school and this week his entry was about his daddy. Check it out!

Just in case you need help with it. This is what it says:

My dad is hurt. He can't play hockey because he broke his shoulder at hockey against the boards. He hit it because there was something on the ice. He had to go to the emergency room. I have to take care of him because he can not open his water bottle. I have to do everything for him. BOO! My dad is a pain.

I love it!

**Happy Birthday Sarah**

New Years Day was Sarah's birthday. After church, we took her out for Mexicans food. She ordered a drink which alerted the waitress to the fact that it was her birthday. After we had all finished up our dinner, out comes the birthday song and a little dessert to the face. Sarah had no clue it was coming! How I'm not sure?!?!? We were literally the ONLY people left in the restaurant. She was a great sport though and the kids thought it was so funny!

Happy Birthday Sarah!!!

Christmas Wrap Up

We started our holiday activities on Friday before Christmas. We had lunch with my family at my Dad's house with my two brothers, sister, grandparents, aunt and uncle. The kids enjoyed the craft my sister brought for them. They strung popcorn and cranberries on a line to drape over the bushes to feed the birds.

Later, we went to dinner at Alex's grandparents' house in Murfreesboro. The house was full of aunts, uncles and cousins. Traditionally, there is a wrapping paper fight after presents have all been opened and this year was no different. Ashton and Maddie fully go in to it this year. Its their highlight of going there. Its not often that you get to throw things in the house. ;-)

Christmas Eve we spent at home. We had some of our best friends over to have lunch, exchange gifts and then the girls dominated the boys in marbles.

Kaleb and Erik were checking out Kaleb's new spy gear.

Ashton can't get his guns unwrapped and opened fast enough.

We are still thanking Katrina for this karaoke machine. Maddie no longer talks unless she has her microphone and we've been serenaded more times than we can count.

Kaleigh was the most enthusiastic as she was opening her gifts. It was so cute!

Christmas morning came and the kids were excited. I took a ton of pictures, but just picked a couple to share. :-)

Ashton checking out his new shirt after opening several spy gear pieces for himself. He can't wait for him and Kaleb to get to spy on the girls.

Maddie said her favorite gift was her ipod case. WOW! One of the cheapest things and its her favorite! Go figure.

After some breakfast, playing with new toys and picking up the mess, we headed over to Grammy and Papa's for Christmas with them. The kids had a great time over there as well.

Ashton was excited about his new flashlights so he can play flashlight tag and not have to use his daddy's.

Maddie was extremely excited about this pillow thing with a stuffed animal inside.

Our Christmas 2011 Family Picture.

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too!