Husker Basketball with Santa Herbie

After the Symphony Samantha, Alden, Papa McKnight and I (Doug) went to Lincoln to watch our Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the Jackson State tigers. The game was not the main attraction it was santa and Herbie. Samantha brought her letter to Santa. Alden would not even let me set him down out of fear of Santa as he was screaming one elf(a cheerleader) asked Alden if she could hold him and he practically jumped into her arms. After Sam placed her "order" with st. nick. we went to our seats and papa had supper waiting for us. Alden loved the band and every time they stopped playing he yelled "Band on Band turn on!" Sam did very good and only asked how much longer after the star spangled banner. The half time entertainment was a family of 14 that travels and spins basketballs. They ride unicycles and juggle stuff too. Sam and Alden loved it! The whole family got in the act. Then we hit the road and they were out once we got on I80

Christmas Symphony in Omaha

I (Doug) took Samantha to "Christmas with the Omaha Symphony" last weekend. She had lots of fun. It was both of our first times in the Holland Center. we met Aunt Debbie and walked to the center accross the Gene Leahy Mall. There were live rain deer to pet but Sam wanted nothing to do with touching an animal. We found our seat and setteled in. Sam was upset she could not see the trumpets, She thought they should be right in front and I had to agree. She loved the dancing santas and the sing along at the end. She belted out the tunes. She really loved the dancing. The first pic shows us with the Holland Center over my left shoulder. And a snap shot of Sam and her anunt Debbie.

Samantha's Sunday School Christmas Program

Samantha had her Sunday School Christmas Program on Sunday, December 13th. She did an awesome job! She had the letter 'C' (they did the whole alphabet). Her line was "C is for crowds, growing larger each day, with more people, more animals filling the way". We practiced a few times and she had the lines memorized. We had to practice a few more times to get her to slow down and enunciate (it must be the public speaker in me that wanted to practice so much). She also spoke very loudly, even into the microphone! We also practiced the songs they sang in between the letters and she did very good with those words too! She held her letter up in front of her the whole time and told us later that her arms were so tired from holding it, but she kept doing it! And her feet hurt, but she knew she needed to stand up anyways. :) Grandma & Grandpa McKnight, and NC Grandma and Aunt Susie and NC Papa, and Great Grandma & Great Grandmpa McKnight all came to see her program!

Blizzard of '09

We had a blizzard here in Plattsmouth last week! We got about 12 inches of snow and lots of wind! The kids and I were trapped inside from Monday - Thursday and then again Friday - Sunday! :( Doug even got to stay home on Tuesday because it was too bad to drive to Lincoln. I did all the shoveling of the driveway - taking different shifts to get it done! It was very cold and hard work....but I needed to get away from the kids! The kids begged to go outside during the blizzard, so we told them when the snow stopped, we could go outside. The problem was, that we had below zero temps and bad windchills after the snow stopped. We finally got to go outside and play in the snow on Saturday (the blizzard started on Monday night). The kids really didn't like the snow. They whined alot and were fairly annoying outside. Clair didn't mind it at first, but then decided it wasn't for her soon after that. Alden really wanted to help me shovel.

Sam's Christmas Program

Trying something new let me know what you think!

9 weeks old!

Last Friday, Clair was 9 weeks old already! She's growing up so fast! She is really starting to "coo" and smile a lot. She really seems to like it when it's quiet and she can't hear her sister and brother fighting. :) She's jut a little dolly. :)

Trimming the Tree

We put up our Christmas Tree on Saturday, November 28th this year. We had 2 very big helpers (not really). Samantha helped us "fluff" the tree and Alden played under the tree. One of us had to constantly hold Clair because from her crying we could tell that she obviously needed a part in the process, so I got out my baby carrier that just made it very awkward for her - but at least my hands were free. :) It took over 4 hours to put up and decorate the tree this year. (RIDICULOUS!) The kids enjoyed wearing the "santa hats" and were very excited when we opened the totes of ornaments. Samantha loved hanging the ornaments on the tree, we later found out that she put all of her ornaments on "lights" on the tree. She thought that you had to hang all the ornaments over a light bulb. Where do kids get these things?!? Alden took some ornaments to put on the tree, but they never actually got put on the tree. He would get distracted by something else and leave them lay on the floor or the side table. He did manage to break 4 of our ornaments by the time we were all done with the tree!! Boys are so much different than girls! :) He loved the plastic gold trumpet ornament that he found last year and tried to play it backwards just like last year. It was very cute! We are afraid to put any "wrapped" presents under the tree for fear that Alden will open them all!

Santa's Lap

We got our family pictures taken on December 2nd at Oakview Mall in Omaha, so we made sure the kids got to see Santa Clause that day. Alden was afraid of him and wouldn't sit on his lap, so we just got a picture of the girls. Clair didn't even cry!! :) Alden made sure to tell Santa that he wanted Legos for Christmas though! He started by whispering it in Doug's ear, but he was told Santa had to hear him so he started to yell Legos until Santa had heard. Samantha had specific details on the My Little Pony House she wants! Santa asked if she meant a stable for her ponies but Sam was clear that it was a Doll House for her Ponies (witch it does say doll house on the box) What kid corrects santa? Clair didn't give him any requests, so it will be a surprise what she gets! Alden made sure to give Santa a "high five" as he left just to secure his Christmas Presents. :) As we left, they gave us "elf ears" that the kids could wear. Santa's Helpers also made sure to point out that there was a coupon for Build A Bear on it. We kind of ignored that comment, and didn't think the kids heard them. Boy were we wrong!! Doug had to leave to go back to work, so I took all 3 kids to eat at the food court while we waited on pictures, and all I heard was are we going to Build A Bear next?? And the winning started when I said 'no way'! After a phone call to Doug, we both decided they could get a $10 animal and no clothing for it - since their coupon was for $5 off a $10 animal. Luckily, they picked the same bear, so no fighting over each other's bear! They both zonked out on the way home! Exhausting day! I was wishing that I could sleep on the way home too! :)

Thanksgiving

Hello Again! We are 2 weeks behind again....OOPS!! :( Things have been busy at our house. Lots of doctor appointments to cram in before the new year and new deductible! :) We've had practices for Samantha's Sunday School Christmas Program, and family pictures, and of course lots of Christmas shopping! We experienced a blizzard here in Nebraska over the last 2 days! I won't be driving anywhere anytime soon! :( The kids and I already have a bad case of "cabin fever," and we've got many more days to be locked inside house! :(

We stayed in Plattsmouth for Thanksgiving this year and went to Sandy. She fixed a wonderful Thanksgiving feast! The night before Thanksgiving, Samantha spent the night at grandma McKnight's house with Auntie Debra. She got to spend the evening with Debra in Omaha doing fun things and they ended up at grandma's house later in the evening. She had a blast! We enjoyed the evening with only 2 kids! On Thanksgiving morning, Alden, Doug, & Clair watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in their PJs. Alden really enjoyed the parade! He loved the giant balloons of cartoon characters and the bands!

We went to Sandy's house at lunch time and Doug's aunt Teresa and cousin Michelle and her daughter Shaely were all there, as well as Doug's aunt Jodi, Debra's friend Jannelle and her fiance, and Doug's grandma & grandpa Holman. We headed for home shortly after supper and met my mom back at our house. The kids played with her for awhile, then when the kids were in bed for the night, my mom and planned out our shopping strategy for Black Friday. We went to bed around 10pm and we woke up at 1:30am to go to Omaha to meet my aunts and cousins for a day full of shopping! :)