Austin's 8th Birthday

Austin wanted a video game party this year.  We looked at a local arcade and realized it wasn't for us.  I considered Chuck E Cheese however it's always so busy. Then a friend gave us a recommendation of a video game truck coming to our house.  We knew that was perfect.  Austin was very excited about it.

However a major snow storm came the weekend of his birthday party.  We got over a foot of snow.  And the truck had to cancel the morning of his party.  We were bummed however we were determined to have still have his party.  Brian and I were a little stressed for a bit but we put it together for him. Thank goodness for this addition to the house.  His friends brought over some gaming systems and Brian set them all up.  We had 2 gaming systems upstairs and two systems downstairs.  The kids really had a great time!  Also Austin loves the drink Switch.  We found some a GFS so that is what the kids had to drink.  It was awesome for them.  We covered chocolate bars with paper as a video game controller and that was the party favors.  It was a great party.  Everyone had fun!

On Monday it was Martin Luther King Jr day so the kids did not have school.  Friends invited us over to swim inside which was a lot of fun for them.  The next day was Austin's birthday.  Well because of the cold and snow, it was a snow day.  He got his birthday off school.  We went to Chick Fil A for lunch and friends came over to sled.  Then that night, Brian took them skiing.  Austin loves skiing!  And he's getting really good at it.   That evening we went to Wendy's for his birthday dinner. Then he came home and opened presents.

He got a lot of beyblades, games, Switch games, and Mario Odyssey comforter.  It had a great birthday.  And I even got a picture of Austin carrying him.  I know my time being able to pick him up is numbered.  He's gotten so big.  It's crazy that he's now 8!

Start of New Year

Austin and Sydney are both playing basketball this winter.  Their practice is the same day and time. It works out.  Unfortunately there are not many girls doing it so it makes it difficult for Sydney.   Many times she has to play with the first grade boys and she's not a fan of that.  I have come to the realization that this is likely her last year playing basketball for her school for a while.

Austin loves basketball however he tends to be more mouthy with Brian since he's a coach.  We are really working with him about that.  Some of the boys are rough and they think it's still football and not basketball.  It should be interesting next year when they start games.

Austin also plays indoor futsal on Sundays.  He enjoys that.  He only has one friend on the team.  However he enjoys it and is good at soccer.  We are not sure what will happen with football so maybe soccer will be in his future.

We call Sydney a cuddle bear because she loves to cuddle.  She loves being a close to us a possible.  She is the sweetest thing.  She loves her stuffed animals and all her squishes too.

I am working on planning a 5K race for the kids school.  It has been way more than I thought.  Luckily has have another lady sharing the chair position with me and we have a good committee but it's like a part time job.

Brian had to travel to North Carolina for a week.  The kids did well while he was gone.  They didn't like having to be at school so long on the days I worked but they did it okay.  We went out to dinner once while Brian was gone.  Austin and Sydney liked that.

School has kept the kids very busy.  Austin still struggles with reading.  The school recommended him trying speech at school to see if that helps.  We are open to anything that would help.  However he did back into enrichment math.  He was very happy about that.  Sydney is in enrichment math and reading.  Things seem to come a little easier for her.  She loves school and homework.

Sydney has started her piano lessons and enjoys that.  She likes to practice and is catching on very well.  Austin doesn't mind doing his homework at piano lessons. 

And Austin is almost 8 and I can still pick him up! 

Christmas and New Year's

On Christmas Eve, we went to Mass.  Our friends saved us seats so we even got to sit close for once.  The kids enjoyed Mass with their friends.  After Mass, we went to McDonald's for our annual Christmas Eve dinner.  It works for us.  The kids got a Happy Meal and got to play.  Brian and I chatted for a bit.

My mom came over and spent the night.  The kids cut up a lot of carrots for the reindeer.  They made cookies for Santa.  However as Austin told me at 1am, we forgot to leave out milk this year for Santa.  Santa still was very generous to them.

Austin was up from 4am laying in bed with me waiting for his clock to say 6am.  At 6am, he went to wake up Daddy.  Then he went and got Sydney.  Sydney said "wow that went fast".  They woke up Meemaw then open their presents.

Sydney got a piano, ice cream truck for her dolls, and a camper for her dolls.  Austin got Nintendo Switch with Mario Kart and Odyssey.  Austin also got bey-blades.  At after school care, Austin explained to me that everyone other boy has them except for him.  And he got a car race track that goes upside down.

We had breakfast that morning.  I had breakfast ready but thought it would be best to get our annual photo first.  I had the cinnamon rolls in the oven and I thought I pushed warm button. I later figured out I hit self clean.  So the oven, locked and I was unable to get the cinnamon rolls out until the oven cooled enough.  Austin and Sydney were so sad.  I felt terrible!  Brian was able to get some of the burnt off but they weren't the same.  However they did have lots of cinnamon rolls over break though.

Over break, Brian took the kids skiing while I worked.  They loved it.  We took them to a Monster's game which was fun.  Sydney did some gymnastics camps that she loved.   For New Year's, we went swimming with some friends.  Then they came over for play.  That evening, the kids watched some movies.  Austin stayed awake until midnight.  Sydney fell asleep 20 minutes before midnight.  Brian woke her up at midnight.  She was not impressed.