The Night Before Christmas!!!!

Christmas tree - AFTER!

Christmas tree - BEFORE

Early Christmas present

The kids (and I) got an early Christmas present this year courtesy of my parents.

THANK-YOU!

Ella's new hobby

This was taken about a month ago. Ella's favourite thing for about one whole week was to make balloon animals and other things. The balloon pumps broke and she didn't like blowing them up herself so she lost interest!

Movie Night

Last night we watch the last Harry Potter film: The Deathly Hallows Part 2.    I love it when the kids sit quietly for 2 hours; particularly the night after a rowdy sleepover!   The night before I set up the sleeping quarters in Declan's bedroom bring down Ella's mattress as well as Darby's from the next room.  Despite the kid friendly set-up they fell asleep on the floor in front of the TV - twits.

Pong will never get old

Halloween night

Our Jack'o'lanterns

FIVE!!! Five cavities!

New Chair in the "Play" room

Butterscotch Treats

Ella and I made these tonight: http://www.ricekrispies.com/recipes/butterscotch-treats.aspx#/recipes/butterscotch-treats
They taste awesome.

Archery Club

I took the boys to the Powell River Archery Club last night.  They had fun, I flung some arrows too and had fun.  Spent two hours there!  We'll be going back again.   Brett and his Grandfather go regularly so I think we'll go whenever they go.   We might actually become members at some point.

Stickman Wars

Its overcast and rainy today. It sucks. However the kids seem to have invented a game that they like: Stickman Wars.

Diva

Ella insisted in wearing the same Diva shirt to school again today. This never happens. She has a hard time being convinced to wear PJs two nights in row let alone going out in public in the same outfit two days in a row. She loves her new horribly fitting shirt!!!

Ella in her oversized Diva shirt

She is wearing it to school today despite the size.

Tonight was RAW night!

Darby showing off his Cena head and wrist bands!

Declan in his new Big Show T-shirt.

Dad, I think I sharted.

Its not exactly something you want to hear but I did.  Darby explains that he thought he just had to fart but a little bit of poop came out!  Well, he's cleaned up now after a shower and is in a new set of briefs.

We got Slurpies today after school.  I wanted to get a The Miz cup and Ella obliged - what a sweetie - she's AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWESOME!   I'd never done the slurpie thing before but the kids had been begging for weeks.

A package came today and it was greeted with joy.   The WWE was having an online clearance sale so I ordered Ella a $4.99 Divas long sleeve shirt.  Unfortunately, its way to big but it doesn't seem to phase her - I'm the only one upset.  She loves it!  She'll grow into it - perhaps I will get Gramma to wash it :) until then its a nightie! (is that how you spell that?)  Darby got Sheamus and Cena T-shirts for super cheap and Declan got a Big Show shirt for $12.99 and it came with a DVD!!!  (which I squirreled away for Christmas).

BTW: Ella didn't go to school today.

Sick Day

Well Saturday didn't go as planned.  Ella was complaining about her stomach ALL day.  She never threw up but she carried a bucket with her wherever she went just in case - she kept saying that she was very close to throwing up but it never happened.  She felt hot but she didn't have a temperature.  I'm hoping tomorrow is better.

Darby was supposed to spend his birthday money today at Wal*Mart but he had so much trouble with it.  In the end I split the cost of Thor with him.  The games he really wants for the Wii are not out yet: W'12 and the new Zelda game.  Of course he does want certain games that mom won't let him have, a-hem, Call of Duty Black Ops, a-hem.

Declan and Darby have gone over to Brett's for the night.  Last night was a big sleepover here: Jonah, Brett, Thein and Austin so I am grateful (and I think Ella is too).  I've learned that one of them snuck a movie over that I wish wasn't watched.  As well the boys watched one of my movies they should not have watched.   I have to try better at staying up later than the kids during sleepovers.  Still, I wonder where the kids got that movie - it is completely inappropriate.  I'm not for censoring at all what the kids watch but if it is a mature themed film I'd rather be there with them to explain things - they waited to I was asleep!  The biggest problem is that Declan is sensitive to scary movies and has nightmares so fortunately it wasn't a horror movie they watched.  Darby's language is improving but he still isn't the angel he once was - that potty mouth demon will be exorcised.  Films with swearing don't help that situation.

I want to try and find "Something Wicked This Way Comes" to watch around Halloween but I think it's unlikely to show up in Powell River.  I'm debating as to whether or not to get it from Amazon.

I hope Ella is better tomorrow.

Eventful Sunday

Well it was a strange day. I slept in and I rarely do...I was awoken by Declan yelling in my window...which has never happened before either. Declan came over. Brett came over, Thein came over. Then Darby came over. Then Misha and Ella arrived. Then Declan, Brett Thien and Darby left. Then Darby came back. Then Ella and Misha left. Then Declan, Brett, Thein, Brett came back. We had a wicked game of Super Mario Strikers Charged. Then everyone left. Then I get a call that Declan is in the hospital (with Marla, Ella and Darby). I go pick up Darby and Ella. I didn't have any food for the kids because I wasn't planning on it so I took them to McDonalds - its closed. Dariy Queen is closed. A$W is open - phew. Misha comes over. Then Brett and Thein. Ella is blasting music and the boys have another game of Strikers going. Eventually, Declan is back from the hospital so we go up and see him. No stitches for the nasty gash he got. I go home alone. Then Declan shows up, then Darby, then Thein and Brett. Eventually Jonah phones then comes over - wicked game of Strikers strikes up again. Ella comes over. Then Misha. Music is blaring again - woo hoo Vampire Weekend and Stevie Wonder. I was feeling superstitious. Eventually they have to back for dinner. And I am home alone. Sea Hawks lose but at least the Jets win. Dinner done and Declan pops over again. And Jonah. They watch football with me. They leave and I am home alone again. My house is a mess!

School

We finally find out what classes the kids are in tomorrow!

They've been in school for two days so far.  I know, I know, it makes no sense.

Today had a bit of controversy:  Darby was apparently teased at school with the help of his older brothers and his friends.  He swore he was never going to go back to school again!  I'm hoping its all forgotten about tomorrow.  It was certainly tough to deal with after school.

Darby and Ella bike riding

Declan's Birthday Party

Note Declan's new awesome John Cena shirt.

More from Ella's B-day

These are some of the hundred+ pics that Darby took.