Happy New Year from Ohio

Insect Invasion!!!!

Frankie & Mandy sent the kids insect masks and hats from Germany. They were a total hit!!! We are still playing with them. (I don't know how I evaded the camera, but thank goodness!)

Merry Christmas

December

Our biggest event in December, other than Christmas, was Aidan's adenoid surgery. The picture of him wrapped in a blanket was 3 days after the surgery. One week before Christmas Aidan had his adenoids removed and sinus surgery. He was a total trooper and even a little excited at first because he got to miss school and knew he could eat a ton of ice cream. After the surgery was a different matter, though. It took him about 5 days to get back to normal and the only complaint he had was that he never wanted to 'give his blood again!' (ie. have an IV in his arm) That was the only part he really remembered. After that we were in the home stretch for an awesome Christmas.

November in pictures

It has been a whirlwind of activity over the holidays. We had a wonderful time and saw so many good friends and family. We traveled to Gate City, VA for a great, but too short visit with Granny Linn Snapp. The kids loved running wild on her farm with the dogs, cats and horses. We met the Snapp and Smith families in Kingsport, TN for Grandma Snapp's 80th birthday party. (Shannon's mom's maiden name was Snapp).

Aidanham Lincoln

Aidan dressed up as Abraham Lincoln for his classroom Halloween character sketch. I have to say, I think he made the cutest little 'Aidanham'. The hat was about as tall as he is. I was surprised with his choice as first. But then he explained that he wanted to be a Lincoln like his friend and classroom partner, Lincoln Jeter.
In preparation, we read 2 small biographies and then wrote a simple 4 sentence little sketch giving clues about who he was and ending with "who am I?" Aidan even embellished a bit on stage by adding "I died when I was shot in the back". A fact which I had consciously omitted, being that these were 1-3rd graders. Aidan, of course, didn't leave out that very important morsel of information. As you can imagine, all the parents and students were easily able to guess his identity.
What a cute and most memorable way to celebrate Halloween!

Happy Halloween

Oh, what a night!!! After much anticipation and preparation Halloween finally rolled around again this year. We trick-r-treated in our neighborhood this year with our neighbors, Logan & Robin. Ashley and Robin both dressed up as the cutest little bumblebees and Aidan and Logan both decided to go as Clone Troopers. This was the first year that Ashley actually understood what was going on and she got into it, big time! After about 2 blocks, though, she and Robin pooped out and decided to crash with some popcorn and a Wiggles movie. Aidan and Logan pushed on joyfully for another hour collecting as much candy as possible. I had hoped that all the fresh air and exercise would wear the kids out and they would go fast asleep, but no such luck. Ashley giggled and played in her bed til 10:30 and Aidan was still awake at 1:30. So much for the myth that large doses of candy don't keep you awake!