The Mind of a Middle-School Boy

How does it work? Not completely sure at times. Especially when I walk into his room and find this:

No cause for alarm, though. The only crime committed here was one against the carpet.

Snowy Saturday

Snow in Charlotte is always a big deal because we usually only get it once or twice a year.

Unfortunately, the snow was really icy, so it didn't pack...at all. So no snow balls or snowmen. Hence, the kids didn't stay out very long.

But at least there was still hot chocolate...

...with lots of whipped cream. =)

A Night Out with Jerry

Jerry Seinfeld was in Charlotte again.

Guess where we were last night!

Merry Christmas, Jason!

Dining at its Finest

Ok, not really. But the kids had the day off, and Ikea was having kids-eat-free day, so it was a fun diversion.

Happy New Year!

We spent New Year's Eve at home hanging out as a family. Everyone got to request something for the party menu, and we spent the nite eating, watching a movie, playing games, and watching the ball drop at midnite. (Jason and I could barely keep our eyes open.) =)

Our junk-food buffet

Happy New Year!

Christmas Fun

It's been a nice Christmas break. Lots of relaxing, lots of good food and treats, and lots of sleeping in.

Here are the kids making cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. (Based on what he left the next morning, Santa must've really liked those cookies.) =)

The kids also decorated gingerbread houses that afternoon.

Christmas morning officially began around 7 a.m. when the lights in our bedroom suddenly came on. And then the music started. Unbenownst to us, the kids had been working on a song just for Christmas morning. They took a Jonas Brothers song and wrote new lyrics for it - all about trying to get parents out of bed on Christmas morning. Courtney was on drums, Alyssa provided the vocals, and Jordan rounded out the band on electric guitar. (And yes, he brought the amp.) It was quite the way to wake up...

Here's Courtney with her Webkinz llama (a.k.a Joe). Don't you love their matching Santa hats?

Jordan with some of his Christmas haul. What would Christmas be without a new Lego set?

Here's Alyssa with her new organizer for all of her teacher stuff. And Santa left surprises in every drawer.

Here's Jordan posing with his marshmallow gun. You stick a marshmallow in the top and blow, and it shoots out the other end. I found them at a craft show and got the family a complete set. I think we'll be finding marshmallows for weeks...

Courtney was thrilled to get this little hamster!

Alyssa with her Webkinz (Spot, Pork Chop, and Courtney)

Jason, Alyssa, and Jordan rocking out on Guitar Hero. We got the drums for Christmas, so now we have the complete band. =) Definitely a fun Christmas!

Goodbye, Furry Friend

Pretzel the Gerbil

March 5, 2009-December 17, 2009

R.I.P.

Poor thing... He was fine the night before, out of his cage and playing. The next evening, I went in to add some bedding to his cage and realized he was...(gulp)...gone. Courtney was devastated. It was heartbreaking.

We had a little funeral yesterday and buried him in the backyard. We all tossed mini pretzels in the hole. He was a crazy, messy gerbil, but he will be missed.