Much to Be Thankful For!

All is well with A^4 and we have much to be thankful for! We are healthy, happy, and having fun. We got Grandpa Ric's train running, made gingerbread houses, Ayson attended a birthday party, Addie and Mommy got their nails done, and we had a dinner date with Mr Bob and Ms Annie! Sunday is also Aunt Shirley and Auntie Julie's birthday! Happy Birthday!!!

Sunshine sent Mommy pictures from last Sunday's Teddy Bear Tea Party (Mommy left her phone/camera in the car).


The Hotel Syracuse




25 tables with kids of all ages participated in the day.


Picture with Mommy and Sanata!


On Tuesday evening, Daddy and Ayson picked up the train from Mr Bob...the train works!


The train belonged to Grandpa Ric from when he was a child...we are pretty sure on this as we found Grandpa's hearing test, from Dec 8th, 1958, in a bag that contained some of the train parts.  TOO cool!


The three kiddos enjoying the train and the trees that Mr Bob and Ms Annie gave to the kiddos.


The kiddos lounging with their real and talking pets on Friday evening.


We built our gingerbread houses Friday night so that we could decorate them on Saturday.




Both kids added a chimney to their houses :)


AND both kids ate their share of the candies :)


On Saturday afternoon, Ayson attended a painting birthday party.


While Ayson was at the party, Mommy and Addie went and got their nails done!  The ladies LOVED Addie and loved how she sat down and immediately spread her hands out flat on the table :)


Mommy and Addie :)


Addie picked red polish and she got a snowflake on each ring finger with white, gold, and silver paint...love it!  Addie was a good girl and waited patiently for Mommy to be done!


SO, Presley's mom, Victoria, totally set the "Mom bar" to unattainable heights by getting 16 kids to paint an entire picture on a blank canvas!!!!  Wow!


Check out the little artists!  Ayson had a blast with his friends and painting the picture! A Paint and Sip without the wine!!!


A pretty picture that Addie colored last week.


On Saturday evening, Mommy attended a "girls only" Christmas party at Donna's and we had such fun (as always!).  The game pictured below involved drawing a winter scene on a plate, on our heads, without looking...


Check out the results...we could have all used help from Victoria :)


On  Sunday, we had a dinner date with Ms Annie and Mr Bob and while Daddy and Mommy were busy getting the food ready, Addie and Ayson were busy making pictures and cards for Bob and Annie.


Ayson's thank you card for fixing the train and the village setting.


The kids helping Ms Annie decorate a little tree.


Addie getting a little help :)


Enjoying the greenhouse room


Ta Da!


Ms Annie and Mr Bob gave the kids each an ornament.  Thank you!


After dinner, The kids even got to roast marshmallows!  How cool is that!


Mr Bob, Annie, the kids, AND the teenage mutant ninja turtle sitting in the middle of the wreath. Ayson gave the TMNT to Ms Annie as she (her grandson) lost her other TMNT.  Thanks for sharing, Ayson!

Early presents, Happy Birthday Daddy, robots, and Teddy Bear Tea Party!

We had a fun filled week with early gifts from neighbors Josephine and Gianna (Dave too:), we celebrated Daddy's birthday, Ayson bought his first robot with his own money, and Addie and Mommy attended a Teddy Bear Tea Party!

On Monday afternoon, Josephine and Gianna surprised the kiddos with early presents!


An advent calendar and special glasses that turn Christmas lights into santas and reindeer! WAY cool and thanks, Jo and Gi!!!


Daddy was away Wednesday and Thursday on a quick work trip.  Poor Daddy was away for his birthday!  To celebrate Daddy's birthday, Mommy picked up baklava and Lebanese food Friday night...yum!
The kiddos making Daddy's birthday cards Wednesday evening.




Ayson reading us bedtime stories :)


Friday:
One more day closer to Christmas!


School work:  Ah school work... Mommy started off hanging up the pictures the kids would bring home BUT after awhile some items just have to be thrown away as there is no more room on the walls!  The kids get VERY upset with Mommy when they find their artwork hidden in the recycle bin...hmm, Mommy may have to start putting pictures on the wall going upstairs :)
Addie




Addie and Mommy playing outside and the sun is out.  We could possibly be on the trampoline BUT Addie could not remember :)





LOVE this one!!!



Ayson's work: He is writing about minecraft...




A picture that Miss Annie drew for Ayson


On the back of the picture, Ayson drew a tree with all of us (including Mason) on the tree by age (hahaha, he made Daddy older than Mommy...Mommy is 1 year older then Daddy :)


On Saturday, we were working on Addie's homework...finding (and cutting out) pictures that start with the letter "K."
Addie showing off HER chipmunk cheeks!!!


LOOK who finally got a hair cut (Daddy does not like to "cheat" on Barber Sam and since Daddy has been away/busy, that is the reason why it has taken so long for Ayson to get a hair cut)
Daddy and Ayson went to the barbers, Home Depot, the Robot Store (Hobby Lobby), and the grocery store. While at Hobby Lobby, Ayson bought another salt powered robot with his OWN money. Daddy had a 40% discount so Ayson only had to part with $7.50!


Now Ayson's hair looks just like Daddy's!


Ayson catching up on his advent calendar and writing out the three toys that he would like to get from Santa: Robot dog (check!), legos (check!), and robot arm (umm...)


The kids and Daddy working


GO Clemson!  We all wore our Clemson clothes/colors Saturday night!  Daddy was up until the bitter end as Clemson made it a "stressful" game to watch...Clemson did win :)


Pictures from the Teddy Bear Tea Party on Sunday...tea for the parents and not the kiddos :)
Mikhan and Addie in tiaras (Mommy is not dealing with the upside down pictures...so everyone else must just "deal with it")




The girls!  Both Addie and Mikhan did a great job at the Party! The girls received an ornament, got to work on a craft, had glam pictures" takenm participated in the Teddy bear parade, AND got to sit on Santa's lap!


Grandpa came over Sunday afternoon to watch the Giants with Daddy and to cuddle with the kiddos!