Happy New Year from Asher! Okay, so I celebrate it at noon because I’m way too young to stay up till midnight. Anyway, hope everyone has a great night!
 |
| From December 2008 |
Archive for December, 2008
31
Dec
08
5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
If you don’t know, I’m pretty anal about putting away holiday decorations right after the holiday. All the Christmas decorations were put away this past weekend except my wreath on the door because I thought I could get away with leaving it up for one more week. Even Rilyn, noticing every discrepancy to the smallest detail said to me, “Why is our wreath still up? Christmas is over.” (She also told this to the Chick-fil-A employees today who still have their Christmas decor up.) Well, I should of listened to Rilyn.
As a child growing up in southern California I despised birds. The seagulls would come up to my towel on the beach and eat my lunch. I specifically remember one of them grabbing my sandwich bag filled with oreos and flying off. I HATE birds.
So, imagine my horror when I opened my front door yesterday (from inside my house) and a big nasty bird was sitting in my Christmas wreath. I shrieked, and it immediately flew into my neck/shoulder. I think it probably was the grossest feeling I’ve ever had. And it even scratched my neck/shoulder with its nasty feet. Did I mention I HATE birds? My Christmas wreath was immediately replaced with a wreath full of silver prickly branches for winter that I hope if a bird tries to nest in, they will die.
 |
| From December 2008 |
Consequence for leaving Christmas decor up for too long.
27
Dec
08
a first christmas and a surprise
Christmas morning started out with presents. We decided to start the tradition of 3 presents to each child like the wise men gave to Jesus. One present is a need, one is a want, and one is a gift for spiritual growth. Rilyn’s want was a bike this year and Ella’s was a microphone! (We are taking advantage of Asher not knowing what is going on so he didn’t get presents from us this year.)
 |
| Ella Montana? From Christmas Day 2008 |
 |
| Rilyn rounding the corner and seeing her bike under the tree!! From Christmas Day 2008 |
Then we had a birthday cake for Jesus for breakfast!
 |
| From Christmas Day 2008 |
James surprised me with my very own laptop! I’ve never had my own laptop so this is a pretty big deal for me! After presents, we drove to my parents house. Asher celebrated his first Christmas this year. He, unfortunately, slept through Christmas at our house (morning nap)and my parent’s house(afternoon nap). But I still commemorated the event with pictures after he woke up.
 |
| From Christmas Day 2008 |
After we all opened our presents under the tree at my parents house, my parents surprised us…
 |
| From Christmas Day 2008 |
In late spring, my parents are taking the whole family to California for a 5 day vacation!!! For those who don’t know, I was raised in southern California for 16 years. It has always been my dream since Rilyn was born to take my family to Disneyland and show my children where I grew up! I am beyond excited!!!!!
More pics from Christmas:
 |
| From Christmas Day 2008 |
Ella got a Sleeping Beauty wig from Asher!
 |
| From Christmas Day 2008 |
sisters sharing crooked smiles
 |
| From Christmas Day 2008 |
 |
| From Christmas Day 2008 |
23
Dec
08
home again, for a moment
We just got back from Christmas #1 with James’ parents in Fort Worth. We had a great time!! But, there is really nothing like coming back to your home-especially when your husband forgot to turn the heater on before you left for 5 days so your house is at a very comfortable 62 degrees. After I thawed out, I downloaded a couple of cute pics from our trip before I have to start wrapping Christmas presents for Christmas #2 (our family)and #3(my family)…Merry Christmas!!
 |
| From December 2008 |
You must look stylish while driving around in Dallas/Fort Worth.
 |
| From December 2008 |
Asher agrees.
 |
| From December 2008 |
According to Paquette family tradition, it is customary to make your son try the lemon in your water several times while laughing as he makes pitiful faces.
 |
| From December 2008 |
Here is Rilyn showing us a good time at the bowling alley. Woohoo!
 |
| From December 2008 |
Wrapping paper-it’s whats for dinner.
18
Dec
08
sudsy santa
Asher is almost 8 months old now! He is such a good boy and a very good sleeper. He is working on his 6th tooth, (he just got his 5th tooth this week). He is still not crawling, but that is okay with mommy! He is rocking on all fours like a crazy man though! He absolutely hates his bath(both the girls loved their baths), this is a rare moment in the bath where he is not crying.
 |
| From December 2008 |
15
Dec
08
it makes me wonder
It makes me wonder where my daughter comes up with these things but, alas, here is one of her recent creations. A robot that guards mommy’s door so I can sleep. She told me what words to spell for her and obviously she wrote them herself and then taped the robot to my bedroom door all by herself. Now I finally feel like I can sleep in peace. Thanks Rilyn.
 |
| From December 2008 |
 |
| Momma is sleeping. Don’t go in there |
13
Dec
08
he’s not so scary after all
Apparently he is actually quite boring to some, but to babies he is quite interesting…(what is that white curly thing?)
 |
| From December 2008 |
Some just think he is sweet.
 |
| From December 2008 |
Today’s Santa meet and greet was really quite uneventful. Asher was a pro and Ella acted like she sits on big men who wear red suits and have long, white, curly beard’s laps all the time. Yawn. Rilyn told Santa she wanted a pink dress and Ella looked at him blankly when he asked her what she wanted for Christmas as if she was thinking, “You don’t buy me presents, grandma does, so why are you asking?” Here are some more pics to document the magical 5 minutes.
 |
| From December 2008 |
 |
| From December 2008 |
 |
| apparently it was bright in the room From December 2008 |
 |
| From December 2008 |
 |
| What do you want from Santa this year? From December 2008 |
12
Dec
08
merry multiplication
Today I hosted the 2nd annual Austin Stone Community Church neighborhood Christmas party. Last year, we had 7 kids (4 families) in our neighborhood that went to the Stone. It was so manageable that we could take a picture like this:
 |
| Halle, Cole, Rilyn, Ellie, Ella, Malachi, and Anna From December 2007 |
This year, however, we had 21 kids(from 9 families)!!! And yes, we all live within 5 minutes walking distance from each other and we all go to The Austin Stone. Crazy, I know. I guess we could be considered a commune of sorts. Anyway, we had a great party! We had lunch, crafts, decorated cookies, heard the Christmas story, and had a book exchange. Sadly, we could not get all 21 kids into one shot this year so this is the best I got of the Christmas party chaos.
 |
| Christmas book exchange game From December 2008 |
Amidst all of this fun(remember 21 children) there was, however, one casualty at my house. (Warning! This picture is graphic.)
 |
| From December 2008 |
10
Dec
08
scary Santa
My girls and Santa don’t really get along. I guess maybe because we don’t emphasize him at Christmas time. The other day, Rilyn’s hairdresser asked what Santa was going to get her for Christmas and Rilyn asked her, “Who’s Santa?” The hairdresser looked at me a little shocked. I was too. But, I think she would of recognized his name if she would of said, “Santa Claus.” (She is really into ‘last names’ right now. She told me that Jesus’ last name is “God” the other day.)
Hey, nothing is wrong with the fake man, I always take my kids’ picture with him each year so I do give him a little props. I just rather talk about baby Jesus. So, now we are in countdown for Santa pictures…3 days left. Will Asher continue the ‘Paquette pout’ with the big guy? I’ll be sure to post!
 |
| From December 2005 |
 |
| From December 2006 |
 |
| From December 2007 |
05
Dec
08
Sin
I was putting laundry away in my room this afternoon and as I was walking out, I thought I heard a crackling sound. I knew Rilyn was asleep, but Ella could of been awake, so I tiptoed in the kitchen to see if that was her. I grabbed my camera when I saw her (she didn’t see me) and I quietly whipped around the corner of the kitchen island where I saw this:
 |
| From December 2008 |
Oh yes, she took a candy cane off of the tree and was eating it ever so sneakily (or so she thought). I love her ‘deer in the head lights’ look in this picture. She very quickly gave me the candy cane when I asked her “what are you doing?” and then confessed her sin to me.
the paquettes 