Highlights from today: (click here for pictures)
(click here for birthday party video 1)
(click here for birthday party video 2)
(click here for birthday party video 3)
(click here for birthday party video 4)
(click here for birthday party video 5)
(click here for a behind the scenes video of taking a Christmas picture with 9 kids)
Since today was Anderson’s birthday party day, we were up and ready pretty early to go to Krispy Kreme for doughnuts. Anderson didn’t want to go to the “new place where the doughnuts were different shapes” (Shipleys) but wanted to go to “the old place where the doughnuts were circle shapes” (Krispy Kreme). We beat the crowds and easily found a place. The kids devoured their free glazed dounut and then picked/licked at the other one. Anderson blew out his 4 birthday candles after we sang to him. He was on cloud nine. After singing, he opened up a small gift from us. It was space men and he was ready to open it and start playing.
After the doughnuts, we had to come home and change clothes since we didn’t want people mentioning that we smelled like doughnuts. Everyone had baths (kids) and showers (Mom and Dad) in an hour which is a pretty quick turn around. Campbell stayed by the edge of the tub while the boys and then while Reagan had their baths until she was put in. She kicked her feet and splashed until Mom drained the water out.
We loaded and loaded up the car. It was so very full and then Dad added the final piece-the 7 by 4 foot piece of cardboard that Mom had drawn a dinosaur on. Guess what? It didn’t fit in the trunk…but it did fit over the kids heads. So on the drive to church, all 4 kids had resting on their heads a huge piece of cardboard. They thought it was hysterical, Campbell even tried her best to hold up the sign.
Pops was there when we arrived and we started getting things ready. Reagan just ran in a circle-she wanted everyone to see her skirt fly in the breeze. Campbell was excited to be able to crawl where ever she wanted. Anderson and Graham just ran around too and were both beside themselves with excitement. Graham thought that it was his birthday too (he had already blown out Anderson’s candles at Krispy Kreme).
Anderson had quite a crew at his party this year: Lilly, Cash, Camryn, Kennedy, Jacob, Ethan, Brody, Caleb, Will, Owen, Everett, Reagan, Graham and Campbell. When every one arrived, they enjoyed just running and playing. Then we painted little dinosaurs and next up we a dinosaur fossil hunt. They all took turns finding a dino fossil (Mom just barely had enough). Then after a few minutes of playing, it was time to eat some dinosaur food-dino nuggets, pizza, and dino chex mix.
Next up was presents. Anderson was very polite and told everyone thank you. Mom and him had been working on it. At one time, he said that he wasn’t going to open anymore until everyone sat down. They did and he continued. The kids enjoyed hitting the pinata and Dad finally had to crack this one open. Reagan is a candy hog! She had more than anyone else and she made sure that Mom wasn’t going to give any of it away. Everyone then took pictures behind the dinosaur cut out and then it was time for dinosaur cake.
Mom had worked for quite awhile on the cake and she couldn’t have been any prouder of how it turned out. Anderson told her yesterday while she was working that she was the best Mommy ever. He said this because she was making him a dinosaur cake-this made the back ache and lingering hand cramp from all of those stars worth it! He blew out the candles and we all had cake and ice cream.
Anderson handed out his goody bags as his guests left. And told them thanks for coming to his party (when Mom reminded him). Mom, Dad and all the grandparents stayed and cleaned up. The place was cleaner than it was before and the van seemed must fuller on the way home.
At home, we unloaded and just as Mom said that we had left the ice cream, Uncle Jason pulled up with the ice cream. He stayed and opened present packages for the kids while Mom and Dad unloaded and put stuff away. The first things out of the box were the tunnel for the train track and the big dinosaur but by the time nap was over, everything was out of the packages.
Graham was pretty tired and Campbell needed a nap too so they were put to bed. Anderson and Reagan hung out downstairs and watched a movie and then Grannymom and Grandpa came to see the Christmas card Dad had worked on. Anderson practiced shooting his new gun up the stairs while Reagan hung out in the bathroom trying to drink her cough medicine-she has a touch of the crud like everyone else.
Soon the car was reloaded and everyone had on Christmasy outfits. Campbell was dressed a little Santa Claus. Mom thinks that everyone has worn that Santa outfit. Maybe she will try to find the pictures sometime. The Thursday night crew Christmas party was at Amber’s house. When you put 9 kids (soon to be 10 with the new Pennington baby coming) in a house, it is an instant party.
After a supper of salty and sweet snacks the kids played until it was time to open gifts. Campbell got a doll, Graham opened a firetruck, Anderson had a bathtub fishing pole and Reagan had more Strawberry Shortcake dolls. We opened presents from youngest to oldest-poor Reagan and Kennedy had to wait the longest and it was a pretty long time. After opening presents, everyone found something to play with and the kids were all pretty calm (for a minute or two). The grownup even had a moment to talk and relax (a brief moment-but a moment nonetheless.)
We changed into pajamas for the ride home-Anderson had on his new Mickey pjs so everyone else had to have newish pajamas. That was pretty easy to do and we headed out for the windy ride home. It was so windy that Dad had a hard time pulling into the garage because the carpet on the floor of the garage kept blowing up. Poor Santa and Thomas inflatables were really blowing and waving in the wind. Reagan ran out to push Santa up but she didn’t last long in the chilly wind.
As Mom and Dad were unloading, Mom’s laundry basket of food fell out onto the driveway. Mom’s trifle bowl was the only thing that broke and Mom was glad that her only 2 Christmas dishes stayed intact. And she was pretty relieved that only the bottom of the bowl broke so she can still eat what is inside.
Campbell went to sleep immediately, Graham had to fight it for a few minutes and needed Dad to come and recover him up a few times. Reagan and Anderson watched a movie and then headed to bed. The wind is blowing so hard that it is making spooky sounds coming in through their window. Mom turned the fan on pretty loud and hoped they didn’t noticed it! Anderson wanted to know what we would do tomorrow and then what we would do the next day (his birthday)!
No comments:
Post a Comment