Bernice week 3!

December 17

December 18

December 19 - The problem with this Bernice set up was that the kids thought it meant that Ken and Bernice were now a team!  Ken didn't fit into Mom's future plans, so I had to do away with him, quickly.

December 20

December 21 

December 22

Bernice will be leaving us tomorrow.  It's been a lot of fun finding fun stuff to do with her and of course, seeing the excitement of the kids when they find her each morning.  I do have a confession...I'll be glad not to wake upin a panic after falling asleep on the couch because I forgot to set her out somewhere!  

I tried really hard this year to set aside my big list of 'to do's' and really focus on the kids.  Going to bed at night with toys out and laundry on the floor is something I've been working very hard on.  I need to stop worrying about everything being in a perfect place and be thankful for the three little Houdinis and their amazing Daddy.  

I was so caught up in thinking about what needed done one evening last week, that I almost looked past a little card in Gabe's folder.  He showed it to me with a crooked grin on his face and was quite eager for my response.  This little guy couldn't write anything in August except his name and now he's writing sentences?  Thank God for great teachers who answer the call to teach these little monsters...I mean kids :)  Thank you, Mrs. Wiles, for your patience and passion for Gabe and his classmates :)  

I confess that I love surprising my kids and I love surprising them even more at Christmastime!  Matt and I put this note in a sack, hung it from the front door and rang the doorbell.  They ran to answer the door and got a little surprise.  

We were waiting for them in the van with popcorn, hot chocolate and cookies.   

Yesterday we surprised them with an ice skating adventure.  It was a first time for all three of them.  I think Nate and I enjoyed it the most.  Adri and Gabe liked it, too, but were over it pretty quickly.  I thought we'd be sore from all the falls, but in fact, my stomach hurt more than anything else today...I think it was because of all the laughing! 

This is what we got on the way home :)

This morning was our Christmas program at church.  The kids did awesome!  Seeing kids recite memorized scripture, sing silent night and depict the nativity scene was heart melting.  I love our church family and all the little cherubs that make volunteering in our children's ministry so rewarding.  

Merry Christmas, friends!

Bernice Week 2!

December 8

December 9

Bernice tried to encourage the kids to sleep in last weekend, but it didn't work.  As always, they were up WAAAYYYY before the sun! 

December 10 

December 11 - I guess the toys didn't like Bernice hunting in their territory!

Adri has been sleeping with Bernice every night!  Somehow, Bernice manages to sneak out and hunt for the special gift after Adri goes to sleep.  I think we're going to miss her when she leaves!

December 12 - I was so sick that night and begged Matt to be in charge of Bernice so that I could go to bed (before the kids).  He managed to have a little fun with her, too!  I appreciated his efforts and then realized that he had really taken the panties off of Adri's baby doll!

December 13 

December 14 - Mommy was really tired that night, too :)

December 15 - Our toys just aren't used to Bernice sneaking around the house at night!

December 16

When Adri got up this morning, she told me, "Bernice must really be missin' Rudolph because he painted our noses so that we'd look just like him."  

By the way, that's LOTS of chapstick...not drool!

Bernice continues to hunt for the gift (even though it's been on the coffee table since the weekend after Thanksgiving).  Nate knows what she's hunting, and that she's not really a magical elf, but is keeping his mouth shut not to spoil the fun for his bro and sis!  

Only one more week of school and then we get to spend 2 weeks away from our normal routine...I think Mom is as excited, if not more, than the kids :)

Merry Christmas!

Bernice Week 1!

Bernice was hunting like crazy this week!  She's been making a good effort but can't find the special gift anywhere!  Mom just doesn't think she's looking hard enough!

December 3 - Telling the kids not to hide things in my flower pots is a neverneding battle.  You never know what you're going to find in there...and Bernice must have known it was a good hiding spot, too!

December 4 - She'd only been here 4 days and she was having sugar withdraws!  She had to make her own donuts this week!

 December 5 - Apparently, Bernice is afraid of coyotes, too!  I told her that if she went outside after dark the coyotoes would get her...oh...maybe that only works on Adrianna!

December 6 - I don't think Bernice knew that she was using a disconnected phone!

December 7 - No explanation needed :)