{1st week off}

 The boys winter break started off with class parties. It turned into a disaster! My parents & I split up so each boy would have someone in attendance at their party. I wanted to go to Maddox party since its his first year of school. I showed up at the school Maddox attends, put cooper in the stroller and went to sign in at the front desk. Well the front desk is as far as i was able to get. I was turned away because i wasn't cleared at that particular campus in the district. I was devastated. I texted my neighbor who is a 3rd grade teacher in the district & she tried to get things straightened out for me. (apparently the school was NOT following protocol at all.) School let out before it was straightened out, but I love Gabby for trying! Cooper & I just cried in the parking lot for the 90 mins instead. Maddox came out of the building all smiles with gingerbread house in tow. I was so worried he would be upset, but his teachers assured me he got over it. funny how these things often get mommas more worked up then the children. After this hiccup things turned for the better! & the big boys had a great time with Opah at their class parties! 

Heres cooper crying right along with me on Friday...

Rod came home for the weekend. It was a big surprise! Cooper loves his daddy! Cooper has been sleeping in our closet while My parents are here. He woke up early as usual & I warmed his milk to get him back down. He saw daddy in the bed & was so excited that he decided to stay awake the rest of the morning. He loves his Daddy.

The boys have been sleeping in....well all but Maddox who is up before sunrise every day.  Its been nice not having to wake them each day. Lazy jammie mornings are a favorite here. 

Our elf, Bradley kept the kids excited for Christmas. 

 The children decorated 5 little gingerbread houses. Omah helped me with baby cooper so I could help the kids with frosting 

& snap a few pictures. 

the kids love having Luca here. They even made him a rainbow loom collar. We love Luca! He is such a good dog. 

 The neighborhood had a party at the pavilion. Santa came! The kids were so excited...but two of them decided they were much too cool to stand in line & talk to the jolly old elf. I stayed back home with the babies so they could make it to bed onetime & I could get gussied up for a date night with Rod. The boys came home happy after roasting marshmallows & drinking cocoa. 

Other happenings in the first week off....

Maddox fell off a skateboard & needed stitches. Tre came running in to the house screaming that we had to go to the hospital now. I ran out the door in my socks leaving the little ones with my Mom.  My poor neighbor Natalie was running Maddox up the hill getting blood all over her! I screamed for my Dad as i ran to meet Natalie. Maddox had blood dripping all over his face. I couldn't tell where it was coming from. He was a bloody bloody mess! I  started running towards the house and my dad met me 1/2 way up the hill and took him the rest of the way. All we saw was blood so the panic was big. My mom grabbed a washcloth as we buckled Maddox into the car.  We ran him up the house Gabby & Natalie wiped Maddox face to try & find where the blood was coming from. We all calmed down a little & thanked everyone for their help & left my parents with the 4. I was covered in blood, in my hair, on my cheek, on my shirt.  Maddox looked worked! We got to the ER and people were clearing the way for us. They took him in right away. Checked him out & gave him an orange pop cycle to calm him down. they took care of the many gashes in his head. As we left, Maddox said it was "my best day ever!"  all because he got an orange popsicle! Gabby brought over a bottle of diet coke and chocolate for me & a fun activity for Maddox & Natalie's girls, M&M brought over cute cared and candy! Maddox was spoiled! funny part of the ER trip was telling the doctor & nurses that Maddox had just received a brand new helmet for his birthday a week earlier. He will now not be taking that sucker off...ever.