Daughetee Christmas 2011

Christmas evening Jeremy left work an hour early and we headed over to Mary and Tom's place for our final Christmas celebration. They always cook a fantastic prime rib meal for everyone and this year did not disappoint.



Daughetee Cousins



Again everyone was thoroughly SPOILED!!! and we went home with way too much stuff. Ellie was so excited to get a new sleeping bag (this is one of the only things she wanted!) and Owen again loved everything he got, his favorite thing was a new Elmo movie that we have watched a zillion times!

A SLEEPING BAG!!!

Total Chaos :)

After opening presents we sat around and relaxed in the living room. We stayed up way too late, but it was great to catch up with everyone! Jeremy, the kids and I spent the night at Mary and Tom's new home for the first time! It was a great set up with each of us being able to sleep in a bed with one of the kids. The next morning we woke up, Tom made us a great breakfast and we headed over to Grandma Daughetee's to wish her a Merry Christmas!

And some pics of the girls....

Heins/Stackis Christmas 2011

 The kids and I went to Aunt Georgia and Uncle Peter's house for Christmas Eve. It was soooo nice to see the Stackis side of the family again. I'm embarrassed to say how long it has been! It was the first time that I was seeing my Grandpa Georges old house all fixed up. Peter did a great job! It really is a beautiful home!

Merry Christmas!

The next morning we woke up at Papa and Yiayia's house to open presents. Same thing goes with the kids present opening styles....Ellie rips through them and Owen takes it slow. Owen reminds me of a mix of my dad and Jeremy in this way. Owen eats slow and does things at his own speed (just like my dad) and Owen is also very meticulous and studious about certain things (just like Jeremy).

A Book Bag!

Tinkerbell

Papa collecting Owen's garbage

The kids and I were given WAY too much from my parents! After gift opening we had a very nice brunch and headed over to my Grandma and Grandpa Heins' house. Ellie got Rapunzel and these really cool melted down crayons from my cousin Kate and Owen got a tent and a tunnel from our cousin Jesse. It was all a huge hit!

Christmas Extravaganza 2011

Santa came to our house 2 days early because Jeremy had to work. I originally felt pretty bummed out about this, but in the long run it was GREAT! We were able to spend the entire day together at our own home. I think that this will be something that we will make a tradition to continue in the future.

Ellie had a very difficult time going to sleep with the anticipation that Santa was coming. At one point she came out of her room in tears because she just was too excited (Jeremy and I could both relate :)

The next morning Ellie and Owen came running into our room early to tell us that Santa had come and brought us presents! I barely had time to grab the camera before Ellie was ripping into her gifts. Ellie and Owen open presents very differently. Their "present opening style" fits both of their personalities perfectly. Ellie rips every gift open and wants to move onto the next without even looking at the gifts. Owen is very meticulous in opening his presents slowly, putting each piece of wrapping paper in the garbage bag, and wanting to play with the gift he opened instantly. I think that we eventually just had Ellie start helping Owen because it was taking soooo long!

Merry Christmas!

Ripping Open the presents

They made out like bandits some of Ellie's favorite gifts were; cabbage patch doll, stamps (just like Grandma Mary), barbie car, barbie ballerina, and Mary Poppins the movie. Owen's favorites were; a semi truck with cars on it, a wooden train, a magic doodle board, a fire truck and a harmonica.

Already playing with their toys

After opening presents we ate a large breakfast and then relaxed for the remainder of the day. It was probably my favorite day in our new home thus far!  That night I made a big dinner for us, and Josh came over. Josh spoiled them of course and bought Owen a drum set and Ellie a bunch of princess stuff. But, the gift that I think she LOVED the most was this tiny pair of plastic scissors that came with one of the princess activity books, she loves those scissors and wants to "cut" paper all the time.





Christmas Dinner



Rocking Out

Princess Magnets

Merry Christmas!!!!

Christmas 2011 Photo Shoot

A Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus

This past weekend we went to the firestation in Robins to visit Santa Claus! It was so much fun and such a nice event that the city of Robins puts on. The kids got to sit on Santa's lap, he gave them each a candy cane filled with M&Ms. After telling Santa what they wanted and taking some pictures they were able to get a cookie, enjoy some hot chocolate and make a cool picture frame craft to take home. The kids had so much fun, and Jeremy and I did too!

Owen would not stop flinging his candy around

Playing Shy

Mmmmmm cookies from the North Pole!

Say CHHHEEEESSSEEE!

Decorating for Christmas

This year we had to get a new Christmas Tree...old one was ruined in the "great basement flood of 2011". I took this as a great sign to start plugging for a real tree...and got voted down :( Jeremy's complaint about a real tree is the needles falling off, and it is just too much work! I feel very partial to real trees and think fake ones look plastic like. The whole fam went off to Mernards to pick out the perfect FAKE tree. Jeremy picked one out while I grabbed a few boxes of lights to help spruce it up.

The next morning we started the process of putting up the tree. The kids helped Jeremy put each plastic branch on the metal stem, we fluffed the tree out, cleaned up all of the plastic needles all over the floor and then sat back and I heard Jeremy say...."You were right we should have gotten a real tree"...to which I replied "Could you just say that first part one more time?" :) Next year his plan is real tree upstairs and fake tree down, I may need to get him on tape saying this so he doesn't back out of the plan in 11 months.

Putting up the tree

Ellie and Owen had so much fun decorating the tree. We have many ornaments on the bottom of the tree and a few branches have more than one ornament on them, but it looks great! Owen had a difficult time remembering that ornaments are not balls that we whip across the room...I would say 2-3 were broken by him throwing them. He has since only broken 2 more and seems to leave the tree along for the most part.

Christmas Tree 2011

My 2 Favorite Ornaments

Take 1



Take 2



Take 3

Another Point for the Good Guys!

My first year teaching I was lucky enough to have Joann in my classroom. I will be the first to admit she quickly became a favorite of mine. Despite her academic challenges and her home life Joann persevered and was one of the hardest working students I have ever had. Joann was very likable to most, her downfall was that she didn't give teachers the benefit of the doubt and would be at constant battle with a staff memeber if she felt they didn't care about her. This worried me immensely for her future....fast forward 7 years....Joann has come to visit on a few occasions....but this past Wednesday she walked into my classroom and told me she was graduating the following night from Metro High School with her High School Diploma! I was thrilled to see her, and thrilled to get an invite to the ceremony. I could not have been more proud of her and all that she has accomplished! She is currently working at a nursing home and going to Kirkwood in hopes of completing the CNA program.

Me, Joann and Fanaye (another McK teacher)

With the good news comes the bad news. Three days after Joann graduated her mom passed away from an illness. This leaves 5 children displaced and without a home, thus adding to Joann's responsibility, as she is taking over custody of her 6th grade sister, 3 nieces and 1 nephew, not to mention that she has her own son. Joann will now be the provider for six children. I plan on keeping in close contact with her in hopes to help her meet her goals and complete her CNA program. I also think often of those children (2 of which are currently in my classroom and also great kids!) I worry about them all the time and hope that I can somehow help to show them the importance of staying on track, and feel assurance that they have a role model in Joann to look up to!