Christmas #3 ~ Bachmann Fun

Bachmann Family

This weekend we had our last Christmas celebration.  Dave's parents arrived on Friday and his sister and her girls arrived on Saturday for a few days of fun.  We enjoyed a delicious meal on Saturday in between opening stockings, cards, and way too many gifts.
 


Preston trying to get his Batman costume back from daddy

While we were cleaning up the kitchen the kids decided to put together a play. They handed out tickets to everyone and when they were all set up we all piled into Savannah's room to watch the three part show. Of course between acts the older girls had to explain to the little kids what their role was so the adults headed back downstairs for more games of quadruple solitaire.


Preston was a doctor in the play.  He loves his new scrubs but isn't quite sure how to wear the hat!



Aunt Susan missed the first two acts of the play.  She desperately needed a nap.
 

A few too many late nights for this girl!

After the show was over, we all piled around the kitchen table and played some games.  We played Uno, Pictionary, Farkle, and ISpy too.  What a fun way to wrap up Christmas!



Merry, Merry Christmas

Although it was questionable as to whether or not Santa would come (even though both Savannah and Preston got a video from Santa saying they were on the good list) on Christmas morning these two kiddos found lots of presents under the tree just for them!


Santa DID come!!

Some of their favorite dress up items

Family Christmas morning picture

They were both pretty excited to get some of the main items on their lists from us and Santa.  For Preston that was a Spider man costume, skates, and a Thomas ride on toy.  Savannah's main items were also skates, scientist kits, and a PSE shirt.  She was a bit disappointed that she didn't get her Nintendo DS, but little did she know it was coming later from Pawpaw!

Crazy kids

After opening our presents here at home we all got ready and headed to Burlington to celebrate Christmas with my family.  Savannah and Preston were SO excited and refused to nap on the way, but their energy level did not indicate that they were running short on sleep in any way!  As soon as we arrived at Grandma's house these two got a graham cracker and then started running laps around the house.  Shortly after we arrived everyone else came and the fun really began. :)

Christmas cousin picture

Page Family picture

So once again there were a lot of happy kids.  It was such a fun way to spend Christmas Day, surrounded by my family.  We ate way too much, laughed a lot, and enjoyed some quality family time.  Here's hoping we have another many Christmas Days just like this one!

Merry, Merry Christmas to those we love so much!

Jesus' Birthday Party

This morning we had a birthday party for Jesus at our house!  Savannah has been so excited for days about having the neighborhood kids over for her party.  She and Preston helped me bake the cupcakes yesterday and they iced them this morning.  We had everything set up just as the first guests arrived at 10:30am. 


Making the birthday cake craft

Listening to the Bible story while I cut out the manger

Playing Pictionary

The kids enjoying their cupcakes with sprinkles and yummy lemonade

All in all, I think everyone had a great time.  I have to say it was eye opening that the one mom that came said the word "manger" from the Pictionary game wasnt' in her vocabulary.  I guess we have a bit more work to do around the block before we even think about moving!


4 Lessons Learned from Spilled Paint

This has been such an emotional week for me.  With trying to finish up Christmas shopping, doing the wrapping, going to school activities for both kids, redecorating Preston's room, selling and shipping mass loads of toys on eBay and Craig's list, and planning our Happy Birthday Jesus party for tomorrow, I've been a bit overwhelmed.  So on Tuesday as we were just applying the last touch up paint well after 8pm, I messed up.  Big time.  I accidentally stepped into the can of (not so) light blue paint that was sitting on Preston's beige carpet.

At that point, panic set in and Dave and I both rushed to get as much paint as we could off of the carpet, by the handfuls.  We both ended up with a lot of paint on our clothes and were frantically searching the Internet for ways to get paint out of carpet. 

The Internet gave us several options.  The first was to remove the paint using fingernail polish remover.  Lesson 1 - Fingernail polish remover does not get spilled paint out of carpet.  The next option we found was to cut out a piece of carpet and take it to the paint store.  Have them dye paint to match your carpet's normal color and then just paint over the paint spill with more (carpet colored) paint.  Lesson 2 - Any fool can write a solution to a problem on the Internet.  We did not try this option.  Finally as I was still scrubbing the paint up, I told Dave to call Lowe's and ask if they had any chemical to try to get the paint out of the carpet.  Of course they sell some product so Dave rushed over to purchase it before they closed.  He came back home and we immediately began spraying the floor like crazy and scrubbing up paint.  It was working!  But not working well enough.  After almost 2 rolls of paper towels and hours of scrubbing, we still were no where close to having the paint out of the carpet.  We finally retreated for the night sometime after 11pm and decided to call our little carpet cleaning man in the morning.

As I went to bed I realized two huge lessons.  Lesson 3 - I am married to the most amazing man.  Really.  Through hours of scrubbing, a trip to Lowe's, and lots of frustration, never once did Dave complain.  Never once did he ask "How did this happen? or Didn't you see the paint can?"  Never once did he moan, groan, or sigh.  Nope.  He was there by my side the entire time and never even said a negative thing.  As we laid in bed and I was able to slow down and think, I thanked him for being so patient with me.  I also thanked the Lord that I, not him, was the one that stepped in that paint can . . . because with realizing how graciously Dave handled the situation, I realized that I would not have handled it as nicely. Lesson 4 - I tend to lose my cool and overreact to things way to frequently.  I knew that had he been the one that made the mess I would have been so angry and would have immediately started to complain.  At breakfast the next morning I was telling Savannah what happened and how daddy was so nice to mommy.  I asked her if she thought I would have acted the same if daddy had spilled the paint and she said "no way."  It was right then that I realized I have to get my overreacting under control now.  If, at 6 years of age, Savannah knows that I tend to lose my cool over spilled paint, is she going to feel comfortable coming to me to talk about a problem or bad decision she made at the age of 12?  No way! 

So to make a long post a bit shorter, the next morning I called the carpet cleaner only to find out that he was on vacation until January 7.  I left an urgent message and he called me back right away (before 8am) and suggested that I wet the paint and try using a shop vacuum to suck it out.  I immediately tried it and once I realized that it was working I knew I needed more power and speed.  I called Stanley Steamer and the only appointment they had the entire day was between 9 and 12 that morning.  Perfect!  They came out right away and were able to remove over 85% of the stain!  After the furniture was delivered yesterday I realized that the entire remaining stain will be completely under Preston's bed.   :)

As horrible as the entire situation was, I'm very thankful for the lessons that I desperately needed to learn.  I'm also thankful that there is a small stain left to always remind me of these lessons.  Now every time I climb under Preston's bed into his fort I'll see the spot and remember what an amazing husband I have and that I can't overreact to accidents, big or small!

A Much Needed Sunday at Home!

Dave and I completed our first craft project together, a wreath

We decided after a super crazy day yesterday that we would make today a much needed day at home.  It's very rare that there is a Sunday when I have no errands, mystery shops, or places to be, but today was finally a day where we could all stay at home.  So, as soon as we walked in the door from church we all changed into comfy clothes and enjoyed a family day. 

After lunch we put the kids down for naps and I was finally able to catch up on a few things around the house, including a lot of eBay, Craig's list, and more present wrapping!  Dave and I then finished up our project that we started yesterday trying to make an initial wreath for inside the house.

Then, after naps, the kids were able to finish making their first ever gingerbread house.  It was quite a task, but Dave managed the chaos until the very end.  Our little ones are very proud of their house!



Our first gingerbread house is finished!

So now we're rested and ready to start another fun, festive week!  

One Last Rock

As soon as we decided to get Preston a big boy bed I put his current furniture on Craig's list.  Little did I know the rocker would sell within a day.  Thankfully, the lady that came was very pregnant and said that her husband was out of town for a week.  She wanted to know if she could pick it up when he was back in town.  Perfect!  So we've had a week to warn Preston that his nighttime rocks were coming to an end . . . and a week for me to realize that my little boy is not going to be sitting in my lap every night for "more rock". 

Last official rock with daddy

Dave and I had a routine that we alternated nights to rock Preston.  The time spent with Preston was very different for each of us.  Preston and Dave started a tradition of calling each other food.  I know, it's pretty random, but I loved hearing their conversations as I was working on the computer . . . "hi peanut butter cracker", "Hi, banana ice cream with cool whip, pickles, and crackers" were some of the many random things they would call each other.

Many, many nights we've said our bedtime prayers just like this

Mamas final rock with Peanut

My rocks with Preston were generally filled with singing songs and talking about our favorite parts of the beach or Disney.  Although it will be nice to be able to just put Preston to bed and not go through the drama of rocking, singing, etc I have to say that I just might miss our snuggle time.  My baby is growing up! :(

Christmas Countdown

Savannah has been wanting to make a paper "keychain" to do a Christmas countdown for some time now.  Yesterday while I was getting dinner ready she and Preston split up the 20 links and each decorated their share. Preston insisted on using Halloween stickers on one (which about sent Savannah over the edge) but we finally agreed to let him use them only on the first link that we would tear off today. 

My little chain makers!  Preston had a hard time keeping his eyes open for the picture so this was my third and final attempt to get a picture of them with their paper chain.

Check out the detail in this chain! It took me awhile to realize how Savannah was spelling Christmas and make the necessary corrections! :)

The countdown is on!!



Happy Birthday Ashley!

Today we travelled to Simpsonville, SC to celebrate our niece Ashley's 3rd birthday.  She had a pool party at the indoor YMCA pool so our kids were super excited to get to swim in the winter! 

Cousins swimming before everyone else arrived

Not sure what to think about everyone singing to her

Preston trying to help open Ashley's gifts

We had a great time and enjoyed seeing our family again this week.  Happy, happy birthday Ashley!  We Love You!!