My Christmas train

For the last several years I have wanted a train to run under my Christmas tree. Have you ever priced the trains that run underneath the Christmas trees? That has pretty much put the big NO to me wanting a train. That and the fact that I have 2 boys ages almost 4 & 2--seriously can I really expect them not to play with a $100 train? So anyway I was at a store (let's just say the store had the word "Dollar" in it) a couple of weeks ago and came across my dream train. Okay, it wasn't my dream train, but it was at my dream price. And who cares if when you turn it on it sounds like an actual freight train is in my house--it looks great and if the boys mess with it I'm only out about $5. Yeah me!

Nathan's lounge chair

The bathtub has become my son's new lounge chair. At the risk of being, ahem, too revealing, I only included a headshot. You can imagine that his feet are crossed, because they are. And when I came in his hands were behind his neck. This has become his traditional bathroom pose. Getting him out is no picnic either--of course, I wouldn't want to be pulled from my warm lounge chair either.

My planned spontaneous fun

I had a friend comment to me yesterday that she really appreciated how fun loving I was. I left lunch feeling a little perplexed because I certainly wouldn't describe myself like that. Then I got to thinking about it--I am fun loving at heart. In fact, before I had children, I was extremely spontaneous and fun loving. One weekend when we lived in Dallas we drove 5 hours to San Antonio to spend only about 4 hours there on Saturday morning before we had to drive back. We decided to go about 3pm on Friday afternoon. It was a blast! We did that kind of stuff all the time. So I decided yesterday evening that I was going to be more intentional about having some fun. Well, this morning while we were eating breakfast out, we were discussing what we were going to do if we lost power today. (We are in the middle of an ice storm again (we had one of these in March too). What are the odds of that? Joe said do you live in the Midwest? Well, I guess that answered my question to what the odds of that are) Anyway, we decided we were going to play UNO by candlelight if we lose power. Then I came up with the great idea that we could play UNO by candlelight even if we didn't lose power. It was at this point that I said to Joe, very proud of myself, that see I can be spontaneous and fun. Joe's response "Yeah, if you have plenty of time to plan for it." Ahh, once again he speaks the truth.

The fairytale wedding

We've been discussing next summer's family vacation and one of the options was Tennessee. This also happens to be where Joe & I went on our honeymoon. Yesterday I mentioned this to my girls. Then I asked them--do you know what a honeymoon is? Ashley immediately pipes up: "Yep, that is where the married people are going in their carriage." Ahh, the fairytales--I'm just glad that we have managed to live happily ever after.

The Horn children Christmas meeting

Last Saturday morning the annual Horn children Christmas meeting convened around 8am. Sara was appointed secretary and was responsible for initialing each toy that was desired for Santa's list this Christmas. As you can see, this meeting is taken very seriously at our house and was very productive this year.

Girly Night

I was feeling brave last night--well, brave and very busy. Sara wanted her fingernails painted and I didn't have much timee, so I decided that the girls could paint their own fingernails. So after taking proper precautions (multiple threats about getting it on stuff other than the fingernails with multiple towels laid on the counter), they went at it. I must say, they did a great job, I think. Maybe even better than if I had done it for them. I even got in the spirit and painted my toes bright pink--nope you don't get to see pics of them.


Sara's pretty pink

Ashley's pretty pink

Proof of 1st time success. They didn't even have to wipe any off their skin.

John's new hobby

I am not a puzzle fan. Actually, that is putting it mildly. Working a puzzle is probably one of the last things I would choose to do in my free time. John has recently decided that he LOVES puzzles. And his 25 piece puzzles were becoming too easy so I went in search of a 50 piece one for him. Unfortunately, in a town this size, puzzles don't come in many sizes or varieties. So we came home with this one--a lion that was 100 piece. He really wanted a dinosaur one, so maybe we will attempt that at Christmas. So we spent the day the other day working this one 3 times. Ahh, the things you will do for your kids...

Happy Autumn

It has become a family tradition to do pictures in the leaves every year. Okay, it might not be a family tradition--I think it is just a mom tradition. I'm determined to do it every year. I've included this year's pictures. And, since I don't have a video camera, I thought you would like the commentary that went along with the pictures.

Okay, that was good. Ashley, why don't you try sitting up in the next one. And, even though we've never done it before, let's try to add Nathan to the picture this year. (After playing tug of war with Nathan, I decided the sidewalk chalk and blanket could be included this year as well). John, look at me please. Seriously, Ashley can you sit up.Nathan, please don't eat the chalk. Nathan, Nathan, I'm over here. Better Ashley, but I kind of meant your whole body, not just your head.

Okay, great new pose. Everything was great. John, I really need you to look at me and not the leaves.

Seriously, Nathan don't eat the chalk!

John the camera is up here!!!

(The pattern between Nathan eating chalk and John being fascinated by the leaves went on for several more shots, but I thought I'd spare you the agony of having to see them all.)

Okay, that is definitely a wrap. We will try again next year for the perfect picture.

Let's hope they don't end up in California!

Our mighty hunter and provider heads out tomorrow morning at 5am for the big deer hunt. I have an empty freezer that I am ready to have filled again. I was communicating this to my kids and my Ashley, who happens to be very partial to deer steaks, got straight to the point (as usual): "So Daddy's going to shoot a deer, cut it's head off and put it on our wall. And then we get to eat the rest?!" You could hear the eagerness in her voice. "Yes" I responded cautiously, not sure if I should encourage this conversation or not. Sara, in a dreamy, hopeful voice "Yeah, I sure hope he gets a buck." So, I left the conversation confident that somewhere out there is a little boy who will one day love to marry my supportive daughters. They could be in trouble though if they end up moving to California before they get married!

You know you're bored when...

you start measuring your belly button to see if it really is the size of a button. We'd been in the doctor's office yesterday afternoon for at least an hour and Ashley got bored. Somehow she got on the topic of belly buttons. "Why do we have a belly button? Why do they call it a belly button?" etc. I, of course, answered I don't know to all the questions put forth. And so she decided she needed to measure it to see if it was the actual size of a button. I was bored too, and so we both had a good laugh over it. And, no, I did not measure my own belly button!