A Saviour Is Born!!!

What a week of excitement this has been! Broken arms, asthma, laryngitis, and my poor, poor husband getting kidney stones just 2 nights before Christmas! We are just a mess around here! But you can't postpone Christmas so we had the lowest key celebration we have had ever. Poor dad was so doped on pain meds (and STILL in pain and nauseous) that he made a brief appearance for the opening of gifts then went to lay down again...what a man! :) But even with all that craziness we can feel grateful for many reasons. One is that in our struggling economy we have the security of the military and the many benefits...thank you Lord. Second, we have friends and family that are second to none (MANY thanks to ALL of you). And last but not least we have the hope that these bodies are nor eternal bodies and will not house our souls forever...one day we will peel them off and be free from pain and strife. This Christmas I am thinking of HOPE as our theme...as I am sure many Americans are as well. Thank you Father for all you many gifts and most of all for your son Jesus Christ.

Our picture parade:

Thank you Grandpa Thomas and Grandma Ann for Gold tickets to Wild Adventures for the second year in a row. We are all so thrilled we can't put it into words...but these smiles do the talking for us! Look at these girls and their happy faces! What a generous gift!

Kaela holding her Santa gift while I was still snoozing. Look at the barely controlled glee...whee!

Emma holding her Santa gift.

Santa brings Emma a Spyro the dragon game for the Wii.

And Kaela gets yet another Pokemon game for her DS player...hey, as long as I don't have to hear about it all the live long day.

Kaela bought her sister a stuffed and oh so yummy (oops, I mean soft) pig.

Kaela got a pair of Chip and Dale pants from my Aunt Debbie. She is so thoughtful to continue to think of us every year. Thanks Aunt Deb! You're the best! ;)

Here Emma is snugging her new cow from mom and dad.

We decided to get Kaela an artist's pad so all of her artwork could be in one place. She certainly looks the part of a bohemian artist with that bandanna on her head.

Here is Emma with her gift from Aunt Debbie. How fitting for her to wear Eeyore! If only the flip side had Tigger it would be a perfect representation of Emma's dynamic personality!

What in tarnation is THIS?!

Mom did you wrap me up a stick?

Emma's unwrapped "stick" for her room from Michael's Memaw.

A beautiful paint by number sent by Michael's Memaw.

Awww...Eeyore

Kaela, recapping the day with her grandparents, wearing her new earrings. BTW, even though the pictures aren't in this blog entry we are so appreciative of Grandma and Grandpa Ritchey's Christmas gift this year! They gave us the gift of time spent together in Chattanooga by paying our way and putting us up in a hotel with them . That's something that will never spoil and can never be thrown away. Thanks for your thoughtfulness and generosity...some things never change. ;)

Thanks also to my brother Bryan and my sister Dee! You guys are the best! We are going to post the picture of our new piano in February for all to see so stay tuned! We loved your Christmas card...such a cute couple ya 're!

Merry Christmas to All!!!!

Our Own Evil Knievel

Emma was the one that watched as her sister stubbed her toe and tumbled off the edge of the trampoline so she was pretty shaken up about it. The whole 3-4 hours Kaela and Dad were at the ER she cleaned Kaela's room and made her a welcome home sign for her door. Our sweet, sweet Emma. That IS why I call her my "Sweet Pea". Aww

Well, Kaela's stunt days were cut short after attempting just one of her dangerous somersaults off the trampoline. Here she is posing just minutes after returning from the ER. She may have surgery in a few days if needed. And she still smiles...whata girl! :) Get this, she didn't complain one bit the whole ride to the hospital or even while they were tugging on her arm to help set the bone into place...only while they put the IV needle in! When the bone doc was pulling and pushing and tugging he was so surprised by her quietness he asked if she had fallen on her head as well! He did then ask if it hurt and then she looked at him and said, "Well, yeah it hurts!"...like you *&#$@. That's her sarcastic side and I like to think she gets that from me. :) Anywho, she has broken both the radius and ulna clean through about 3 inches down from the elbow and it looks like she may have surgery on Tuesday but we will see for sure Tuesday morning. Here's to Tylenol #3! Cheers! :)

Party Time!

Look at the loot these girls brought home from trick or treating! Now it's time for our annual Halloween party, which this year doubled as Emma's birthday party.

The birthday girl with her candy and her new NeoPet "Sprite"

Time for CAKE!!! Wow, Kaela sure seems enthusiastic doesn't she? If she gets any more excited she may fall asleep!

Huff, and Puff and...

blow the cake down!

Bobbing for apples. With such a simple activity you'd think lots of kids would have done this but the girls have never had a friend over who have had the pleasure so it ends up being a huge hit every time.

Trick or Treat

Ah, Halloween on the base...so much fun! The girls had fun but sad to say that Dad had the most fun. Michael made that costume himself (we're very proud of him) and he just loves going out and having about every parent in our neighborhood take pictures of him with their kids. Good times!

Fun with Balloons

Dr. Pepper enjoying Emma's balloon...who knew string could taste THIS good?!

Kaela being goofy

Kid's Night at Pizza Hut

Here we are at Pizza Hut celebrating the beginning of the school year for Kaela with GVA, and Emma getting on the honor roll this quarter. Tonight was Kid's Night, so there were balloons o' plenty and a fire truck out front for the kids to check out with their "certified tour guide" (Pizza Hut employee). :)

The girls each got a "goodie bag" with stuff like pouches of Teddy Grahams, miniature Hershey bars, and coupons for free cinna-stix. Emma, with her expert taste in chocolate, shows her excitement and approval.

Looking at the menu on the wall.

Kaela enjoying one of her favorite foods (non-meat, of course). The list is short and her menu rotates around about 3 foods. Well, I guess consistency can be a virtue!

The girls after their "tour". They look like a patchwork quilt with all that pink and white!

The whole family

Homeschool with K12

Here is a picture of Kaela's school literature book. Literature is her favorite subject (along with science) and we have read 5 fantastic stories in the past 2 weeks.



Here is how we start our day...with the online school screen. It's really groovy to have all the planning done for us! YAY!




We are very excited that this year we have decided to enroll Kaela in the Georgia Virtual Academy. It is a virtual school (what gave that away?) that uses the K12 curriculum (K12.com). We have almost finished our first month and are really having a good time learning, but be careful because we wouldn't want anyone to get the idea that learning could be FUN! Here is picture of one of the many pieces of science gear that K12 sent us. Mufasa, our neurotic cat, is showing it off for us. He does a good job, no?

Kaela & Dr. Pepper

Kaela and her shadow, Dr. Pepper. He has chosen her to be his mommy and follows her EVERYWHERE!!!! I have to put him outside when she goes to bed otherwise he stands at her bedroom door crying and scratching the carpet. Poor baby. Here they are in a happy moment.

Science Lab #1

Well, here it is...our first taxonomic chart! Kaela and I have been learning about taxonomy in her life science class, but this was her first bona fide lab activity. Did you know that the father of taxonomy was Carolus Linnaeus?

Kaela's Fall Picture

I can't believe my first baby girl is almost a teenager now! Here she is enjoying her last fall as a "'tween". :)