Mother's Day 2013

Gwen made me a cake

Saturday we went to the Play for All Abilities Park in Round Rock with Grandma B

Sunday we went to the Zilker Gardens and saw Fairy Houses

Last Day of First Grade

Last Day of First Grade, 2013

Best Friends

Mrs. Woodrum and Gwen

Elphie 2012

A few of Elphie's adventures this year.  Or - Elphinious Sparkle Pants fun at the Mills.

Our elf returned this year after Thanksgiving and there was much screaming and hubbub his first day in the house.  Each morning he was in a different spot and the kids were eager to find him each day.  Sometimes he left treats, like candy canes, Hershey Kisses, glow sticks.  Sometimes he hid in their rooms and played with their toys.  Occasionally Jack would comment that his hiding spots weren't very good, and the next day he would be MUCH harder to find.

Many thanks to Mom Swim Bike Run, for posting pictures of what their family elf was up to.  It gave Elphie good ideas and maybe reminded him to move on more than one occasion!  We also heard the harrowing tale of Buddy, the elf across the street, who was touched one too many times and had to return to the North Pole to keep his magic.  It was a good reminder of the rules for the Mills.  I love that the kids love Elphie so much and it gets them into the holiday spirit.  Elphie was given their letters to Santa and pictures and thank you notes.  Maddy has asked a few times were he went and already wants to know when he's coming back. 

Merry Christmas

Christmas morning John and I were both up early.  It may have been excitement over Christmas, but more likely it was the huge meal and wine we had consumed the night before.  I got up first and started making Monkey Bread and getting things ready to make chili for dinner.

The kids finally started waking up around 7:30 and run down to open their stockings from Santa.  Jack dumped his stuff out, then ran to the kitchen table for breakfast.  I thought they would all be too excited to eat, but they have been eating breakfast first thing in the morning since they were born and I guess its a sacred habit.  After eating they woke up Aunt Jenna and we went upstairs to open gifts.

After the flurry of paper ripping and squealing with glee the kids opened all their toys - of course!

Gwen received a Lego Friends house with 695 pieces.  She immediately opened it and got to work.  It took her about 5 hours to put together and she did it all by herself, following the directions and carefully applying the stickers.  So awesome!

Maddy was very excited about her Barbie and Fairy dolls and her own Lego sets.

Jack got his first real Lego sets and spent most of the day begging Mom and Dad to help him build stuff like Gwen.

We spent the rest of the day watching holiday movies and playing with our new toys.  It was a wonderful day!

Elphie's Antics

The Elf on the Shelf is back again having fun at our house.  The kids are so excited and love hunting him down every day.  What kind of trouble will he get into this year?

Take us out to the ball game!

A couple weeks ago we took the kids to a Round Rock Express game.  It was kind of last minute, but we got decent seats and we were excited to take Jack and Maddy to their first game.  Last year we had thought about attempting the full family baseball night, but realized that was crazy.  We got our seats, middle of a row on the third base side, and the kids jumped around before demanding cotton candy and snacks.  Gwen had gotten everyone excited about the cotton candy, but when Jack and Maddy actually saw it were not nearly as intested as Gwen.  They did enjoy opening the peanuts for John and climbing all over us.  I think we made it through 5 or 6 innings and it was 1 inning too long.  John actually had to go get the car because Gwen refused to walk and was very upset about not being carried like the little kids.   So our first attempt at taking all the kids to a game was sort of a draw, not great but not a nightmare.

This weekend, our kick ass neighbors took us to a game and we got to sit in one of the box suites.  Oh my goodness, this is seriously the only way to go to a game with 4 adults and 6 kids.  The kids could go inside and run around, they could be outside in a fenced area and run around.  They had their sippy cups and snacks and had a great time.  Even more awesome, we had food and beer in the suite (thanks Ross & Dawn) so John and I also had our sippy bottles and snacks.  I got a new Rangers hat, and Jack and Maddy picked out RR Express hats.  We stayed until 9pm and the kids were still having a good time.  This time there was no crying on the way to the car or meltdowns.  WINNING!

Jack watching warmups

She is trying to be a crazy fan

Holiday Traditions - Baking Cookies Edition

Holiday traditions can be meaninful, fun, a pain in the butt, and change from year to year as we grow.  I remember making and eating homemade cookies with my mom growing up, but maybe I remember it more fondly than the reality, or maybe we didn't really do it every year.  For the past 3 years I have made cookies with Gwen and we did it again this year.  I let her pick which kind to make - Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies and we made the dough together.  She was disappointed that it had to sit in the fridge 2 hours before rolling it out.  In that time frame we made and decorated Spritz cookies.  By the time we got around to rolling and cutting the gingerbread cookies we were getting tired and cranky.  Maddy helped some, which she enjoyed.  Before dinner, I gave each kid a cookie, mini M&M's and frosting to decorate their cookie.  Jack dove into his snack and demanded more cookies.  Maddy touched each M&M to the cookie before eating it.  Only Gwen pain stakingly placed 300 M&M's on one butterfly cookie before eating it. She also decorated a few more with Alex.  I quickly covered any remaining cookies with icing and sprinkles to finish them off.  It was a long day, and I remember in kid-free years past making 5 different kinds of cookies in one day.  I can't imagine getting that much done now!  Maybe next year I will let Pillsbury make the dough and the kids decorate while I make the more elaborate cookies. 

Other holiday traditions for the Mills family -
Driving around to see Christmas lights (yes, I'm my mother's daughter)
Leaving cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer
Opening gifts Christmas morning (not Christmas Eve for us)
Not attending church - this isn't a NICE tradition, but I can't imagine the tourture of 3 little kids and long Christmas service.  This will change eventually.
Dad decorating outside - John put up the inflatables and lights, the house looks lovely
Mom decorating inside - Tree is up, Christmas village is lit and the stockings are hung

Traditions to begin -

Elf on the Shelf - Jenna sent it last week, I'm looking forward to having a good behavior weapon

Special holiday meals - since my kids refuse to eat anything consistantly, we don't have a favorite go-to-meal that is special.  Last year Aunt Jenna made lasanga, which was awesome.  Growing up Christmas Eve was Busha's pierogis, golabki (stuffed cabbage), mushroom soup and her special rolls.  Christmas Day was ham, Cheesy potatoes, shrimp, green jello and Grandma's coconut cream pie. 

What are your holiday traditions?