Christmas 2009

We all know that the presents are not the important part of Christmas but I have to admit most of my Christmas pictures this year are from present opening. The kids just seem to get so excited to get into the good stuff. The most important part of the pictures of course are the family that we got to share this Christmas with.
Hayden was all too ready to help anyone open their presents. This was the biggest present and he had to be a part of it even though it was for Kimberly and TJ...well....or baby Kruze anyway!!

This would be the calm after the storm picture. It took days before I could see the living room floor again. I am glad we only have to do this once a year!!

More mayhem!!

The storm cannot begin with out a pot of coffee brewed for the adults. Sometimes I am not sure which one is the adult in this picture. Makena loved seeing aunt Keri though!!

Christmas for Hayden at age 4 1/2. He is sooo much fun these days!! (I NEVER thought those words would come out of my mouth. Did you just see that pig fly by??)

Every year Grammy bring cookies over for a little Christmas eve cookie decorating. I am now at the gym daily trying to work off all those cookies. Only another 700 hours to go!!!

Another Christmas is now in the books and just as special as all of the rest! Now to 2010!!

Busy Little Elves

Really?...... Has it been a month since I have done a blog???? Time is flying and again I am struggling to keep hold of all the memorable moments that are racing by. We had a great Thanksgiving and it only took minutes for the kids to unload every container that said "Christmas stuff" on it. They have been very busy "decorating " the house and they are very proud of what they have done. I am leaning more toward the "less is more" theory, but, I have clearly lost that battle. Blaine has waisted no time working on his exterior illumination project and even added a three story lighted Christmas tree to the back of the house. So if you are in town....its not hard to find us!!

With the decorations have come the Christmas movies, hats and of course the never ending wish lists.

We did take some time to do the tree of sharing this year and let each of the kids choose a child and we went to by gifts for them. I hope this is a tradition they carry on themselves.

So from the crazy Dodson clan, we really hope everyone is having a great holiday season and takes some time to record all the memories!!!!!

Some Days

I took this picture in my laundry room last week. I think it is a good representation of life right now. Moving forward....a little messy and chaotic sometimes.....but we are getting it done!!! However this is not a one time thing. My laundry room looks like this a little more than I would like. The good news? It does get cleaned out about once a week and I am thinking about painting it green!!!

Halloween Craziness

In between all of the homework, sports and house painting this week we did take a little time to have a little fun. We started with pumpkin carving Wednesday night followed by a couple of little school parties and ended the week with the BIG night. TICK OR TREAT?????
Hayden was as proud as ever of his jack o lantern. He wanted it to look just like him. I think the resemblance is remarkable???????

At Hayden's preschool there were no costumes this year but lots of fall fun!!!

His favorite part of class was singing the pumpkin song.

Hayden and I joined Bryden at his school party. I think that these parties are defiantly job security for Blaine. Sugar, sugar and more sugar with that please!!!

You will have to excuse the horrible picture but Indiana Jones, the Pirate and Bumblebee were not dressed until dark and the lighting was bad.

Sis at her school party.....

Hayden as Bumble Bee. When people would ask him what he was going to be for Halloween he would say "Bumble Bee...The Transformer not the stinger one".

Dear Blog

Dear Blog,
I know it has been so long since I have updated you. I know it seems an eternity since I have downloaded new pictures to save as memories. I know everyone probably thinks I have forgotten you completely. The truth is I think about you everyday. I know I have been so busy that I have neglected you BUT........ I promise to update soon. Its just crazy with three kids playing soccer, basketball, swim team and flag football right now. Seven days a week we go go go and one day I will stop and reflect on the craziness. I PROMISE!!!!

Just Another Saturday

The days of lazy Saturdays are DEFINITELY over. With three kids all doing different activities our days seem to all mass together into a long week of school, homework, and practice. The week then culminates with Saturdays in which we rise early, scatter for shoes and uniforms and we are off to a day of games. Three to four every Saturday..... but really... what else would we be doing on a Saturday afternoon??? Truly I forget what it is we used to do!

Makena is busy with her 4th year of soccer. This year the field has gotten much larger but so have the goals. She equates this to a lot more running.

This would be Hayden's inaugural year to any extra activities. For years he has followed us to games saying "When can I play soccer?" Now he is getting his chance to "play" soccer. It looks a little more like him chasing the crowd. He is still a little unsure of what to do. It is really cute watching the little guys and a little sad he is my last one!!!

Bryden has chosen to give up the soccer and take a chance at flag football. He does love the "pushing" or tackling but other than that I am not too sure he knows whats going on out there. Those coaches have such patience.

And when it is all said and done this sports fan is tired and ready to head home for some R&R

The Happy Dance Recital

So for nine years now I have been home "raising" the kids. A job I have loved but I will have to admit in the back of my mind I was dreaming about the day all of my kids would be in school. What would I do with myself??? I would be free at last, free at last.....
People, that day has come and Hayden started his first day of preschool yesterday. We have talked (and dreamt) about this day for so long. The whole time Hayden really hasn't said too much about the topic so we did not know what to expect from him. The weekend before school started we took the kids to dinner at our local Mexican restaurant. In the middle of dinner Hayden decides to bolt under the table and is crying "I want to go home..I want to go home...". Come to find out his teacher is two tables down. Score one for Hayden..mommy zero! The next day we all accompany Hayden to his preschool open house. He proceeds to attach himself to the post outside the building and refuses to go in. Score two for Hayden..mommy zero...!

As the first day of school neared I found myself getting a little stressed about this first day. This may or may not have been due to the fact that his teacher asked me to be the last car in the valet at drop off. So if they have to peel him off of the car door he doesn't scar the other clueless preschoolers. So day one I put my battle gear on and off we go.......
that is after I peeled him off the staircase.......

I did get him to give me one pose for a quick silly face picture to document the occasion, good or bad. We hopped in the car and were off. We pulled in and waited patiently for all the cars to get in the valet and placed ourselves in the back. He studied the kids jumping out of the cars very intensely. I held my breath. His teacher opened the car door and out he jumped. Although he looked a little confused it was a done deal and he was a big preschooler!!!!! Yaaahhhhh!!!! Score one big one for mommy!!!

I do have to admit that driving away I was the happiest mommy in the world. My mother thinks I am cruel since I didn't cry my way home. After nine years, I had three kids in school (even if it was only three days a week for a few hours). I had dreamt about this day and it was finally here. Now what do I do with myself????? Ha!! Lots. I have had nine years to think about it!!

When I picked my big school boy up we celebrated at McDonald's and I continued to do the Happy Dance AAAALLLLL day long!!!!