Christmas??

Can you recognize what is wrong with this picture? No, it isn't one of those optical illusions where you see a hidden picture if you stare at it long enough. What is wrong with this picture is.....

NO SNOW!! ZERO!! ZILCH!! NADA!!

No one writes songs about a brown Christmas! Looks like that is what we are getting this year. No snow in the forecast for the rest of the week! I am so bummed by this. It just doesn't feel like Christmas without any snow! Yet, the festivities must go on!

Sam, our resident elf continues to show up daily. He has been getting himself into some pretty interesting predicaments around here! 

 Tree by Claire!

 All 4 Christmas trees have been assembled and decorated

 Santa has been visited. No prize winning photo this year! As we were waiting in line, Claire suddenly becomes very shy, hiding behind my leg and states, "Sometimes I like Santa, sometimes I don't. Today, I don't think I like him" She did get close enough for a picture with Santa but drew a blank when it came to telling him what she wanted, so luckily Carter did the talking for her. 

 The stockings have been hung! 

 And cute pictures of babies in Santa hats have been taken! 

 Can you tell which one is Case and which one is Carter? 

School is out tomorrow for 11 days, presents all wrapped, supplies for Santa's cookies bought, groceries for our special Christmas eve dinner purchased, Christmas music playing in the background, now if we could just get some SNOW!!

Family Pictures 2011

My Champion

 Wrestling season is in full swing! Carter had his first ever tournament 2 weekends ago in Martensdale. He came away with a shiny gold medal! We are so proud of him! The wrestling mat in the basement and practice 3 times a week is paying off! I am not sure my nerves can take 12 years of this! His first match the opponent forfeited, he pinned the second opponent and won the third match by a technical fall (16-1) to capture the title. 

This past weekend we had our hometown tournament in Waukee. Again, he took home the gold, making his record 6-0. Two pins and another technical fall.

These meets are so much fun! I am learning to be a wrestling mom! This entails having bleacher butt, packing enough activities and snacks to keep a 3 year old entertained all day, enduring a loud, stinky gym full of sweaty little boys, attempting to learn the scoring system, jocking for position near the mat when your kid is up, and feeling bad when the losers cry. I am sure I will be a pro at this when the season is over! I just pray he continues to have fun, shows good sportsmanship and doesn't get hurt! 

Big helpers and my sweet boy!

I have the best helpers in the world (almost too much help at times) Carter and Claire have made the transition from 2 to 3 a piece of cake. Case is blessed to have such great big siblings! I have lots of help at bath time, arguing over who gets to give him a bottle, and Claire always makes sure he has his pacifier, his blanket and lots of kisses! Carter is very protective of him and Claire is the ultimate Mother hen. Now, if I could just convince them to change a diaper! 

 My sweet boy is 7 weeks old today. He is such a blessing and is the BEST baby! He is full of smiles and coos at anyone he meets. We just eat him up! 

Special visitors

Case got to meet two more grandma's this month!

Meeting Grandma Freeman! He is the 6th grandchild on the Freeman side and the 5th boy! 

 Meeting Great Grandma Mehlmann. He is the 16th great grandchild on the Mehlmann side.

Four generations! Ida Spieker Mehlmann (95) Phyllis Mehlmann Berry (62)Dana Berry Freeman(36) Case Freeman (5 weeks)

Happy Halloween!

Isn't this a cool pumpkin? 

Carter grew this in his pumpkin patch at Grandma and Grandma Berry's. He picked it especially for me because "it just looks like a mom pumpkin" Okay so now you all know what a "mom" pumpkin looks like! Once again we have pumpkins and gourds of all shapes and sizes coming out of our ears. I think Carter's pumpkin patch grows each year and we end up with more on our front porch each year! Luckily, we were able to donate some pumpkins to Carter's class for a science unit, learning all about pumpkins. 

The kids each picked a pumpkin to carve, chose a pattern and ditched me to go play!

Carter dug out a handful of goo, Claire had nothing to do with it! 

I made the mistake of starting these 2 pumpkins in the early evening, so after making dinner, feeding Case and baths for everyone, I finally had them finished 4 hours after I started them, only to have Claire remind me that I didn't do one for Case! Sorry buddy! 

The kids headed out on Sunday night for Beggars night. We live in a great neighborhood full of kids so it was so fun to be out and see everyone dressed up. Jeremy and Case handed out candy and were out of loot in about 45 minutes! 

LUIGI

PRINCESS CLAIRE

Claire was really cute, when someone asked her which princess she was, she replied, "I am princess Claire!" Of course!  And last but not least

BOWL OF SWEETNESS!