Landon's 5th Birthday/Family Time

My nephew Landon is turning 5 on the 23rd.  For his birthday he couldn't decide between bowling or Chuck E Cheese.  We decided to try to do both.  Saturday afternoon my mom, my brother's family and our family went bowling.  I bowled the best I have ever bowled.  I bowled a 141, unfortunately I knocked my hip out of place doing it though!

Landon.  He had the highest score out of all the kids for most of the game.

If you look close enough you can see my score on the second line down.  My mom kept trying to obstruct the picture.  She couldn't believe that I bowled a 141!

Afterwards we planned on going to Chuck E Cheese.  When we got to Chuck E Cheese the line was out the door.  Adam convinced Landon to go to John's Incredible Pizza instead.  When we got to John's Incredible Pizza the line was wrapped around there too.  Landon agreed that he didn't want to wait in that line either, so we drove to RoundTable Pizza in Riverbank.  They had a party room there that wasn't being used so we got the whole room to ourselves.  Just perfect!

Landon playing with the Lightening Mc Queen V-Tech Computer game we got him.

Mikayla and John helping Landon with his game.

Landon opening gifts

Singing Happy Birthday and getting ready to blow out his candle.

After dinner we went to Funworks.  Everyone had fun.  Landon enjoyed his birthday.

Honor Roll/Academic Excellence

Today both girls received Academic Excellence Awards for having a 4.0 GPA.  Great job girls.

Ashlee shaking her teache (Mr. Sundy) hand.

Mikayla shaking her teacher (Mrs. Crawford's hand)

Christmas

On Christmas Eve we let the girls pick one gift they would like to open up.  Ashlee got some shirts.  Mikayla got the whole Ramona Collection of books by Beverly Cleary.

Putting cookies, milk and letters out for Santa.

 Christmas Morning- Standing by the gifts that Santa brought.

Two happy girls.  Santa brought them both Ipod Touches.  Something they have been wanting for a long time now.

Ashlee got- shirts, duck tape, friendship braclet string, lanyard string, Cinderella Cleaners books, a robe, and a DS Game.

Mikayla got:: Ramona Book Collection, robe, slippers, sketch pad with Twistables, a DS Game, a multiplication facts computer game and a Crayola White Board/Black Board.

 John got a wireless meat thermometer, a food dehydrater/jerky maker, and jerky seasoning.

Libby got clothes, a dress, a necklace and some braclets.

We had Christmas Lunch/Dinner at our house.  My brother and his family came over, my mom and Terry, and my grandpa and Kay came over.

Landon opening his gifts.

Dylan with the gift we got him.

Mikayla got clothes, money and some Target Gift Cards

Ashlee got some clothes, money and Target Gift Cards

Adam, Dylan and my mom.

John made some rabbit jerky with his new jerky maker.  Everyone who tasted it said it was good.  John spent the day trying to get the girls Ipod's to work.  After about 12 hours of trying to get the Ipods to work, he ended up loosing our internet connection in the process.  The next day he drove the kids into town, parked in front of an At&T store and had the Ipods working in a matter of minutes.  We should of just done that on Christmas day, instead of spending the whole day messing with them.  We had a great dinner. Ate way too much food, and had a good time spent with family.  The girls are both liking their Ipods very much.  John say's he wants one too.  We will have to see about that.

Tonsilectomy

Five years ago when Mikayla was 3 she had her adenoids removed.  At the time they kept her tonsils.  They thought her tonsils where enlarged because of the adenoids being so infected.  Everytime Mikayla goes to the doctor they comment on how large her tonsils are.  This year she has had strep throat 4 times over the course of 5 months.  Today her tonsils were removed.  And again, the doctor said "they were large".

Before Tonsilectomy:

John got to go in the surgery room with her while she was being put to sleep.  Here they are ready to go in.

After Tonsilectomy:

After surgery trying to eat a popsicle and stay awake. 

Tonsil Update: As of today 12/27/11 it has been 5 days since her surgery and it hasn't been easy.  We were told that she should be able to eat soft foods and smoothies the evening of the surgery.  She has yet to really be able to do this.  Throughout the day she alternates between pain medication and antibiotics every 2 hours.  Throughout the night she gets pain medication, fluids and popsicles every 4hours to help with her pain and soothe her throat.  It has been difficult for her to talk.  The first couple of days she communicated with us by writing on a dry erase board. Her ears hurt her off and on. She has had periods of time when she can't hold things down. She has had a couple days where she is some what "perky" for a while, only to be wiped out later.  We have been debating over taking her in to have her checked to make sure she isn't dehydrated.  As of today, we decided to wait one more day.  We will see what happens tomorrow.

Mikayla's 3rd Grade Ashlee's 5th Grade Xmas Parties

Today was the last day of school before Winter Break begins.  Mikayla's class wore their pajamas to school, made ornaments with their picture inside, watched The Polar Express and enjoyed hot chocolate, hot apple cider and cookies.

Mikayla with her ornament.  She gave it to John since I was in the class helping them make them.

 Ashlee's class had a pajama party.  They also got to have pizza for lunch, have a gift exchange, watch the movie Mr. Poppers Penguins and then they fed the class snake a huge rat (to hold him over until they returned from break).

The class watching Bart (the class snake) eat the rat.