Brandon reading 2 Christmas bedtime stories to his brothers...
and, leaving cookies for Santa! 
Andrew checking out his latest fish, the black blur in the tank.
Andrew has had a loose tooth for what seems like forever! Finally, Friday evening he presented us with his very first fallen tooth! He was very excited to put it under his pillow at bedtime, but then was up until 11:30 waiting and worrying about it! He was a little scared about what might happen, what she looked liked and wanted to sleep with us. He eventually fell asleep in his bed after I went over a few times with the "goods" thinking he was asleep. (Brandon is just dying to tell Andrew the "truth" but I have threatened big time if he spills the beans.) The only reason Brandon knows the truth is... the last time Brandon lost a tooth, we forgot to retrieve it and leave the money and he woke up the next morning saying, "This can't be happening, I don't believe it, the tooth fairy forgot all about me", so Thinh and I felt it was the right time to fess up and let him in on the secret. But, for now, mum's the word for the little two! So, Andrew woke up and found a note and $5 to go buy a fish for his tank. And that we did after B's indoor soccer practice. He picked PetSmart for the purchase and we had two very nice ladies helping him pick out just the right fish for his tank and money. He picked a black moor goldfish with two big ugly eyes on it's side and he named it "Fatty" since it is the biggest fish in his tank. 
Andrew's preschool had their little program on Thursday. I just love this type of thing, my guys participating in singing and what not, way too sweet! The kids sang quite a few songs and listened to the Christmas story and then we all went back to the classroom for some treats. Here they are singing the 12 days of Christmas. Andrew got to hold number 11. He also sang a dear little song, Happy Birthday Jesus with motions and then the other end of the spectrum, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Jingle Bells, plus a few more. 
Posin' for mommy with a full set of teeth for a day yet! :(
Thursday night, the boys and I picked up Donna and off we went on the hunt for Christmas lights. Byron, Donna, Thinh, Craig and I used to do this long, long ago every year and Donna always made us listen to her Neil Diamond Christmas album all along the way, but it has dwindled down through the years to just Donna and I the little ones. We try to listen to Christmas music, but we are usually drowned out by fighting, screaming and sometimes even laughing. Oh well, one day...
We drove to the Franklin County Career and Technology Center to enjoy the tech students light display coordinated with music, all you do is set your radio to the designated station and dance along to the fun. The FCCTC just asks for a canned good donation for their efforts and they donate it to the local food bank. The boys did enjoy this. 
Look at poor Mason all bundled up!
Our lovely family decorated Christmas tree...
And fireplace with stockings waiting to be filled!
Every year, we bake and bake and bake, in one day, and give it all away, it is lots of fun and the boys love to deliver the baskets to the neighbors and our family. Brandon was a very big help this year, he knows how to count our measurements, package the goodies, and dipping things in the chocolate as well. Brandon also loves to help taste test everything, well so does Andrew and Mason too! I do believe by nursing all 3 boys for over a year each, they have all developed my love for chocolate! (Thinh could live without it, crazy guy!)
Peanut butter temptations
chocolate peanut butter crisp balls in the background and chocolated covered candy canes and pretzels too sprinkled with broken candy canes.
Andrew LOVES Brandon! But, lately Andrew has finally come to love and play with Mason. After school on Tuesday, they played and played in the snow, making snowballs, snow angels and just being little boys!
Andrew insisted I take their picture hugging each other before school, so sweet, Mason has the same love for Andrew that Andrew has for Brandon and Brandon tells me he loves his younger brothers.
Every year since Brandon and I can remember, we have been invited to my friend Doretta's house for a Santa visit. Santa arrives in a red convertible mustang (although this year it was pouring down rain!) and comes in a jingling a way. The kids each get a turn to sit on his lap and let him know what they are wishing for on Christmas morning. Brandon had said on the way over, he was not sitting on his lap and only one picture. Well, Brandon said he would be brave and got near Santa and even gave a gorgeous smile with his brothers. Andrew asked for a fish, Mason asked for candy and Brandon didn't ask for anything, well, maybe a fish also he said. It was a fun evening out. 
Last Saturday, Thinh's friend from work, Jason, came to help install the wood floor in the bedroom and closet area. They did an awesome job! We (as if I am going to help with it) are going to sand it and then clear coat it to keep the all naturale look to it! 
Thinh touching up some paint on the trim around the windows. 
Another shot of the floors! I am so excited!!!
Do you like our leaning tree? Brandon and Andrew and Mason were very into helping to decorate everything this year. It was the typical tree decorating...a lot of ornaments at their height and all in one spot! I did get to fix it later on and have the tree standing a bit more upright too! But, it is nice to have helpers! 
Saturday was cold and cloudy. The boys have been great about some new rules we are trying to implement, such as much less tv time and computer time as well. They have been playing with their toys more and are enjoying the Wii again, now that it is fixed. So, they collected all their hot wheels and lined them up color coded and played "car lot", a game Brandon used to play all the time. 
Brandon wanted to bake something. He checked out a new Christmas cookbook we have and picked out this cupcake Christmas tree. 
Then, Brandon and Andrew decided to have a dance competition. We used to have jumping competitions on the trampoline this summer. By the way, they did jump on the trampoline in the snow today for about a half an hour! Anyway, all on their own, Brandon and Andrew made "numbers" and taped them on their backs. Brandon is showcasing his number, "2009". 
Well, another Thanksgiving has come and gone, but not without it's memories for me. The boys and I were invited next door to the Camp's for some pre-Thanksgiving snacks and fellowship. We had a nice evening and as usual, Kim out did herself in the kitchen. I was starting to feel a little sore throat coming on but thought I may just need some rest. So, we came home and went to bed. By the morning, I had the flu, I ached everywhere! I plopped on the couch while the boys destroyed the house! Thinh came home from work by noon and went right up to bed unitl 2. After that, he packed up the desserts I had made and the boys and headed to Lititz for Thanksgiving at my aunt's house. Meanwhile, I am still on the couch trying not to notice the disaster around me. Finally by 5, I could not take it anymore. I called Donna and help was on the way! She brought me tylenol and cleaned up the kitchen while I slept! What a friend!!! By morning I was feeling a bit better and today just have a slight stuffy nose. I still can't believe I did not get to taste my favorite meal of the year, but think of all those calories I saved!
We are slowly but surely will get there, to the finished product that is! These are trim boards I primed this morning. Thinh got an awesome deal on 18 boards and 2 rolls of insulation from a guy at work.
The jacuzzi tub is in the bathroom, but that is just it, not hooked up. The boys can hardly wait!!!
Thinh is currently working on my girly walk in closet. I am hoping to put a funky chandelier in it, a girl can wish right! 
We bought a mattress last week from a store going out of business. We upgraded to a king, since every morning instead of two people in bed it is always 2 adults, 3 boys and a dog! 
Also, the walls and ceiling painting was finished. Thinh could not sleep Saturday so got out of bed, I did not even know, and worked on the room until 2 a.m. and got up again at 6 a.m. to work on it some more! He is really excited about this project. This weekend we hope to finish the closet and floor in the bedroom and maybe even some trim too! 
Saturday was kind of a boring day. The boys were all fighting some kind of a GI thing and Thinh got home from work late and then slept until 5. So, Mason decided he wanted cookies. Luckily I had these place and bakes in the freezer for him to bake and eat and play with.
And going for one more...
And one for you all...
Brandon's elementary school, Mary B. Sharpe, is closing on Wednesday after 101 years! It is such a nice little school, I hope to blog more on it another day. Anyway, we traded Oliver for Mason this night, poor Larry and Kim! Oliver, Andrew and Andrew Kimmel are having a soft pretzel snack.
This blurry pic is Brandon either skating really fast, or backwards, or maybe even doing the limbo, either way, he had lots of fun and never gave up, even after many, many falls!
Andrew was very happy for side rails!
Oliver coming in for a crash landing!!!
And, the old classic of the roller rink...the Hokey Pokey!
Brandon's 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Miller, has a tradition of putting on a fabulous and very involved and detailed Thanksgiving feast and program. The kids choose to be either Indians or Pilgrims, make their costumes, study their parts, prepare the food, learn many poems and dances and have a great time doing so.
Andrew took this picture of his friend Andrew in Brandon's class.
Elijah's Indian vest was very detailed, beads and all! 
Each student had 3 speaking parts, Brandon said he was, at first nervous, but then not at all! He, and all the kids, did AWESOME!
BRAVO! MAGNIFICO! EXCELLENTE!
