Rockin around the Christmas tree

Since we'll be out of town next weekend, we decided to get out the Christmas decorations yesterday. I'm glad we did, because I am having the girlscouts over on the 3rd, and don't know when else we would have gotten it done. The girls love to be helpers.

We got a lot of new decorations on clearance last year, so they were excited to see the new things. There were also 3 Christmas shirts in the box that we had gotten on clearance last year as well, so they all wanted to wear those right away.

I didn't have to move too many ornaments this year. Kara was quite the dictator about spreading out the colors, etc. I wonder where she gets that? I did redo the icicles, because they had just stabbed them in or laid them flat on the branches instead of hanging them by the loops. They also were keeping some of the icicles aside with the intention of throwing them at Ben when he came up. They are the little skinny plastic kind with pointy ends. But I told them they couldn't throw them at Daddy.

Christmas cuties.

Evie wasn't content with just handling the lower branches, so Kara helped her get a few of them higher up.

I let them hang up Ben's Chiefs ornament even though it doesn't really go with the rest.

I really dislike these kind of hooks. All the ornaments we've purchased within the last 3 years have had these annoying things. I think I'll throw them out and buy some regular ones for next year. They just get all tangled up, and the kids have a hard time with them.

They all were holding on to the last few decorations waiting for each other to put them up so they could have the glory of putting on the last one.

But Ben ended up getting the last ornament honor, since he can reach the top of the tree to put the star on.

All finished up. Ignore what I did with the curtains, ug! I did that when I was carpet cleaning, and just now realized that I need to take those down.

Do you remember our ugly carpet runner? I have hated this since we moved in, but we didn't want to rip it out, because we thought it was going to be such a pain to change it out. Ben ripped it off this weekend, and it actually didn't take long at all. The carpet was totally fine underneath, so once I had the steps cleaned, he bought me a new runner that I like much better.

Yay! now the stairs actually go with the rest of the house. I like this so so much better.

Ben decided to do carpet rails, and I wasn't sure about them at first. I think they're starting to grow on me though. I had no idea this would be such a quick, easy, and inexpensive thing to change. Now I feel silly for suffering with the ugly rug for 2 1/2 years. (Or maybe Ben just made it look easy because he's so talented.) This morning, Ben was surprised that someone took the old runner out of our trash can overnight. So I guess not everyone hates that pattern. It was clean and in pretty good condition, so I'm glad someone got a free rug.

Evie just looked cute the other day, so I how could I not snap a picture? She does have a little sore on her nose where she scratched an itch with a too-sharp fingernail. Her curls are growing out, and it is absolutely killing me. I blame Ben because he got her hair cut this summer. I knew it would never be the same.

Girls on the Run 5K

Last Saturday was Kara's 5K for Girls on the Run. It was a brisk 22 degrees at 7:30.

She was excited to find all of her friends and get her hair spray painted green.

Ben made her wash the green out of her hair as soon as we got home. He didn't want to drive down to Kansas City with her sporting "Seahawks colors". She was kind of disappointed. She really wanted to show Kiersten, who was at a girl scouts event.

The crew ready to run!

She did a lot better than the practice 5K. I only let her walk 4 times, and just for a short while. I kept telling her if she slowed down she'd feel cold again.

She was crying by the end, but was proud that she did it. Her time was 41:27, so just under a 14 minute mile. That's better than she usually does for a mile, but I have seen her get closer to 13.

It was pretty flat, and kind of a fun little race. I was tempted to leave her behind a few times, but stayed back with her. I'm sure she'd have walked the rest of the way if I'd run ahead. It was kind of fun to get a good look around downtown, where we usually are just driving past. As cold as it was, it was not as bad as the Chiefs game the next day. Somehow sitting in freezing temperatures for hours feels much worse than running in the cold for less than an hour.

She has been helping with dinner more. I'm trying to let her cook 2 or 3 nights per week. She's doing great, but I need to keep a closer eye on her seasoning. She leans a little to the bland side, but always says that's how she likes it.

My birthday was Monday. I got to visit the girls at CCL for parent's day, and Evie took me out for breakfast. It was a good day.

There's just one person in the world I look at that way. He surprised me with pretty flowers and an ice cream cake. He also took care of dinner, and took Kara to basketball practice, which I totally consider the best gifts I could get. (But I'm still glad about the new iron, scentsy warmer, living room blankets, new silverware, and new sheets too.)

It was a nice family evening together.

Today after school Kiersten had some friends over, so we all baked cookies together. It was pretty fun, even though I burned one of the batches. Ben was in Chicago yesterday for work, so he took today off. So it was fun to pal around with him today. We usually have the kids in tow whenever he's off, so it was a fun day. I just like being around that guy.

11/10/14

Ben ordered this coat for Kiersten. Though she isn't smiling in the picture, she is so thrilled with it. She wants to wear it all the time. She says it makes her feel warm as a polar bear. She also got the night gown she's wearing with it.

Kara got a new sleep mask. It might just be working out for her, because she's been falling asleep earlier, and waking up early this past week. This morning she was up at 5AM.

Last week when I was straightening up, I grabbed Kiersten's blanket off the dining room table. Lo and behold, someone had left a cup with red Mio-water underneath it. So that went flying, and I had this lovely mess about 3 minutes before I needed to leave to pick up Evie from preschool. I cleaned it as much as I could, and then when I got back from picking her up, I used my carpet cleaner on the area for an hour and a half.

I finally got it this clean. The picture looks better than real life. It is really pink, and I'm now taking donations for the "Becky screwed up the carpet" fund. I don't know if it'll be cheaper to replace the carpet (it is a small room) or buy a big hutch to place in this corner. I have wanted something in there for a while.

On Saturday, Kara announced she'd be making dinner. So I suggested spaghetti, since that's pretty easy. I was nervous, because last week she set a pot of macaroni and cheese on fire. But she really wanted to do it herself. She even insisted on making meatballs, though I told her it would be easier just to make a meat sauce. Of course I had to sit there and tell her exactly what to do, but I didn't touch a pan, utensil, or any food. She was very proud.

The part she was most worried about was draining the pasta, but she did fine.

Everything tasted great. She even insisted on serving everyone herself. I told her she had to make a vegetable, so she picked broccoli. I was trying to get her to put more seasonings, but she said it was the way she wanted it. So we had slightly undercooked, bland broccoli, but it was a pretty successful first dinner. It did take kind of a long time, but it was worth the wait.

Yesterday, after we came back from Kiersten's last soccer game and bowling party, Kara really wanted to sew. She ended up making a hat and mittens. They are kind of funny, but she's over the moon excited about them. I let her wear the mittens to school today, but she chose to wear a different hat, and I didn't really blame her for that.

Of course, Kiersten and Evie had to have me make them something too once they saw Kara's mittens. Kiersten asked how fast I could make a dress. I threw this together in about 15 minutes. She is pretty happy with it. She wore it to school today. I think I might need to make a belt for it, or maybe a bow for the front.

I also made her this hat a few nights ago. She asked for an all pink hat with a flower.

Evie got a purple hat with a flower.

Karalee also wanted purple, so I put a bow instead of a flower so they'd look different.

This is the skirt I ended up making for Evie. I felt badly at first, because it didn't turn out very cute, and I didn't sew straight along the waist band. But she loves it and looks cute in it, so I guess it was a success after all. She wore it to the gym, but I probably wouldn't send her to school in it.

Turkey Trot

Kara and Kiersten had a Turkey Trot at school yesterday. Kara's was just after lunch. We got to visit the classroom first. The kids taught the parents a math game. I got to play with these cute girls.  

Then we headed outside so the kids could run their mile.

The starting line.

I did see her walking a few times, but she finished and was happy. She came in 61st.

We got to come back a little later for Kiersten's turn. In her classroom, she read me a book. She is a fantastic reader, and did a great job. Her class was the first outside, so they got to hang out for a few minutes while the other classes came out.

They were anxious to get going.

Kiersten kept a pretty good pace, and I didn't see her walking at all. We will find out their times tomorrow.

She came in 30th place. She wasn't happy with that, but I tried to convince her it was great. She was in the top half. She said next year she's going for top 10.

I love these adorable turkeys!

And a few pictures from the Chiefs game last weekend. It was a little chilly, so I didn't bring Evie's cheerleader dress. She was furious!

We got to ride in the courtesy cart. The girls liked that a lot.

Kara was nervous she would fall off the back. I told her if anyone was going to fall off, it'd be me, leaning over to get pictures of the girls.

We made it to the games area pretty quickly!

Big Ben!

Kara nailing the shot I can never seem to hit...

Ben got Evie's face pained. She was thrilled.

It's extra fun to be there when they're creaming the other team!

There were a bunch of hall of famers signing autographs. Ben got his Joe Montana jersey signed by some guys who played with Joe.

He almost peed his pants about meeting Tony Richardson. He was in line to meet Priest Holmes too, but he had to leave to go on the field and bang the drum before Ben got to the front of the line.

It was a really happy and fun weekend!