Another Teenager in the House!

Action has been talking about this day for 2 1/2 years.

I don't know why, but when Sassy turned 13, back in 2014, I thought it would be fun to get her 13 presents ~ a couple bigger items and a bunch of little items: lotions, nail polish, fun socks, you know 13 year old girly stuff.  

What I didn't realize was, I was creating a new tradition.  One that Action couldn't wait for.  Thirteen presents on your 13th birthday! Oh, the anticipation!

Fast forward to Sunday January 22nd.  Oooh the air was abuzz with excitement.  Action came down from his bedroom in the morning after a good nights sleep to see that there were indeed 13 presents lined up in front of the fireplace just waiting for him.  However, upon further counting, he was bummed to see there were actually only 12.  I had to explain to him that the headphones he "needed" a few days earlier because his older ones had broken were actually part of the 13 (*wink *wink ~ more to come later!) gifts.

No worries, he was still excited!

Now he just had to wait until his Dad and Sassy got home from softball practice........

When they finally got home, present opening began:

He received:
A Book Light
Nerf Gun Darts
Body Spray
Body Wash
Deodorant
Twix Candy
A DVD
A Duvet
A Duvet Cover (time to redo his room ~ an update the decor he'd had since he was 2)
A Book
New Wall Art
And
Sneakly I wrapped presents 12 and 13 together in a one, so it looked like he was only getting 12 presents!  #12 was his first cell phone and #13 was a case for his phone.

Needless to say he was excited!

We went to Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch and when we got home it was time for CAKE!

True to form, he requested his favorite chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (RECIPE HERE ~ with update pictures!).

A week later Grandpa and Grandma were able to make the 4 1/2 hour drive to visit.  Sassy had a volleyball tournament, but we still found time to celebrate our newest 13 year old.  This time the requested dessert was cheesecake ~ yummy!

(I think 13yr old stayed up too late the night before ~ he looks a bit sleepy in this picture!)

But that wasn't all!  Just last weekend, Action had a couple of buddies over to celebrate as well!  They went to an indoor paintball facility for a few hours, came back to our house to have  ~ you guessed it ~ CAKE, chocolate cake (although in cupcake form), and spent the night.

I think this kid of mine had a good time celebrating his 13th birthday!

The Theatre

As a Christmas presents for Sassy and Action, I gave them tickets to go see a children's production at our downtown Children's Theatre.  The plays there are always fabulous.

Sassy had been there before, but it was Action's first time.  Actually it was the first play he'd ever seen.  And, he wasn't so sure it was anything he was interested in.

The three of us went out for dinner, then drove downtown to the Theatre.  Sassy loved the way it looked from the outside and snapped a picture.

Then we took a few of us inside.

The kids both had a great time.  And Action ended up being pretty happy with his gift!  

Windy Wednesday

Windy

definition: • (informal)  using or expressed in many words that sound impressive but mean little

Since I haven't been blogging lately, I have a whole lot to say.  Here's where we've been, what we've done and potential random thoughts of my own:

Christmas was nice.  Busy but nice.  Holidays get a bit crazy for us as our families live out of state and we try to see everyone.

The 22nd ~ Our little Christmas at home.  Pizza and gifts from each other.

Passing out gifts and new rollerblades for Action

A Minnie Mouse blanket Sassy made for Smiley

Sassy modeling some new clothes

The 23rd ~ hubby's parents and Christmas Celebrating with his parents and sister's family

Pittsburgh Steeler golf towel and snowball gun

Movie watching with cousins

Someone was wiped out

Hot-tubbing 

The 24th ~ Hubby's Grandma's house to celebrate with Grandma, Aunts, Uncle and cousins.  Chili, Oyster Stew (I stick to chili), gifts, cards, midnight mass.

The 25th ~ my Parents house.  Here we celebrate with any of my siblings who can make it (this year it was only my youngest sister and my little brother), Aunt, Uncle, Cousins and their kiddos.  This year was very low key, which was ok.

The 26th ~ Home sweet Home to see if Santa made a stop.  AND....... he did.

Relaxing at home

Hubby had the week off of work.  We spent some good quality time picking out new bathroom tile and accessories.  Then he "relaxed" by ripping out the old and putting in the new ~ floor anyway.  I am still working on painting the trim and next up are the walls, now that I've decided on a paint color.

Goodbye old powder room! 

At the end of the week, we decided to head up to another state to see my sister and her family.  Her and her husband just built a new house and moved it just before Thanksgiving.  We had yet to get up there for a visit and decided it would be a good weekend to go.  So the kids exchanged Christmas gifts, we went to a college basketball game and rang in the new year together!

Admiring the gift for her cousin

Fondu time

Ringing in the new Year!

Hey Auntie E..... next year, wait LONGER than 7pm to pass out noise makers! :)  

Live and learn ~ HA!

Happy New Year everyone!  

And don't worry, I have lots more to say :)

Visiting the Jolly old Man and Santa... if you're reading this:

Last week, I mentioned we took the kids to see Santa.

It seems 2 of 3 kids have some high expectations this year.

Sassy asked for a nice camera "with lenses that can be changed and zoom in and out.  Like my mom's."
FYI, "mom's" camera is a Nikon D90.

(source)

TO SANTA ~ if your not to busy to read this:

Santa, here is my word of advice.  Sassy loves to take pictures.  She wants to be a photographer when she grows up.  However, I think it's a bit risky to give such a nice camera to a 10 year old.  Not that she wouldn't take care of it, or doesn't deserve it, because for the most part ☺ she is a really great girl.  Respectful, hardworking, honest, helpful.  Don't get me wrong, I get the sass now and again ~ that is her nickname ~ and she does bother her brother and sister from time to time.  But anyway, I just think that that camera may be a bit fancy to take on school field trips, to the lake, camping and places like that, which I know is where she wants to use it.  A camera perhaps, maybe just not that one :)


Action.  Action looked at Santa with his baby blues and LONG eye lashes.  Flashed his charming, dimpled smile and told Santa he really wants a puppy.

(source)

TO SANTA ~ 

Santa, you were right to tell him that you would only bring him a puppy if it was ok with Dad and Mom.  Because quite honestly, one dog in the house is quite enough.  He certainly was bummed that night.  But I'm glad you were honest with him.  I appreciate that.   Especially after the time he asked for a punching bag and you asked him, "isn't that what your sister is for?" I still haven't gotten over that one!  Besides a puppy though, I'm not quite sure what he wants for Christmas.  I hope you or your elves have been watching.  If you come up with any ideas I could use, please let me know.... my email is ordinarymol@hotmail.com.  Thanks!


Smiley was excited and nervous to see Santa. She had really been thinking hard about what she was going to ask for when she got on his lap and had her opportunity.    Lipstick.  Lipstick is all she could come up with when her time came.

(source)

SANTA ~ 

So little Smiley climbed on your lap with the help of her sister, smiled for a picture and then it was time.  Time to tell you all of the things she was hoping for.  And what did she tell you?  Lipstick.  And she does want lipstick, let me tell you.  But, if you do decide to go with that, please stick to a flavored kiddy chapstick.  I don't need anything drawn on with real lipstick :)  But besides that, the rest of the things she had on her mind to tell you, but just couldn't get out were this:

* princess panties (she ~ along with her mom! ~ is very excited about being potty trained and loves checking out all of the fancy panties at Target ~ she is especially fond of the princess ones :)
* beds for her doll house
*shoes
*and dress up clothes.

THANK YOU SANTA!

And because, what's a post without a bunch of pictures?  Here are the kids and Santa through the years (and yes, these are pictures of pictures, so they aren't the best quality, but you'll get the idea):

2001

 our first experience with visiting Santa with our kids ~ Sassy was 9 months old

2002

My ABSOLUTE favorite Santa picture 

Sassy was so excited to see him, but was terrified when it was actually her turn

2003

2004

Actions first experience with Santa

2005

2006

2007

2008

Wow ~ hard to believe Smiley was this little :(

2009

Another one of my favorites ~ love love LOVE Smiley's expression!

2010

Sassy was home sick (super sick) with the flu ~ very bummed she couldn't go

2011

Everyone was all smiles ~ this was before the puppy got denied :(

So, what's on your (or your kid's) Christmas list this year?