Naughty or nice list - visiting Santa

Youtubing

Alicia and Ben (well really just Alicia with Ben as her sidekick) has been really wanting to be a youtuber.

Here's a quick demo of their talents.

If the link doesn't work.. send Drew an email and he'll grant access.

Drew

happy 13th birthday, Tanner!!

Our first baby (er, furbaby) is turning 13... pretty crazy, we found Tanner's birth paper certificate stuff while cleaning out an old box the other day and then realized we were celebrating his birthday month with the kids wrong all these years. lol. We thought he was born in October, as we got him in early November, so really we were almost celebrating the time we got him vs his actual birth date which was Sept 17, 2002. Either way, we couldn't be happier with our crazy dog-like cat that we have in our family. He surely keeps us all entertained and gives lots of snuggles and love, and has adjusted to the changes well, not to mention he acts like he hasn't aged a bit and doesn't act like an old fat cat yet (knock on wood). 

Happy 13th birthday, Tanner!

 Tanner, as a kitten, not too long after we brought him home. 

Ben and Alicia realized they add up to how old Tanner is! Ben (4) + Alicia (9) = Tanner (13) #funmathfact

 A little frosting and ice cream for the birthday boy. He didn't care for the vanilla ice cream and went for my mint ice cream instead. only way he'd wear the birthday hat was for some Betty Janes grasshopper mint ice cream..

First official rain at home

Got about 1 1/2 inches rain today , yeah! First official rain count at the new place.

Tent fort is under the Watchful eye of the tiger

Tanner found a new home this morning when we were starting to move stuff around . Of course, he's sitting high above the kids' tent fort in the kitchen keeping a watchful eye.

Happy bday Alicia from Ben

Ben did a great job at wishing Alicia a happy 9th birthday today. He knew his sister well by picking out her favorite toy and by making an awesome card for her. He wrote/drew her card all by himself with minimal help from mommy too. Alicia said it was a good day :)

Kitty statue

Tanner likes to sit by the door and wait for the kids if they are outside or when Alicia comes home from the school bus stop. He's almost statue-like here :)

This is how we beat snow days..

Thank goodness we have a pool relatively close to our home, not too far to travel in snowy weather :)

The big 4

Happy birthday little Buddy. Ben, I can't believe you are 4 years old today! Glad you enjoyed your special minion cake!

But mom I got up here all by myself

No, Ben you can not sit there... No, Ben you can not climb up without a chair and get your own banana...

"But mom I got up here all by myself, why not?"

What are we?! Monkey boy or almost a 4 yr old?!

Reading lesson

Alicia was helping Ben read a book, more like Ben "wanted to spell," he said. either way, it's awesome.

A reading lesson with big sister