Christmas 2009

Christmas started out kind of bumpy, with Austin coming into our room at 1am and saying he just couldn't get back to sleep because he was too excited. He ended up sleeping on our floor. Before we got to sleep Drew started crying, but not for long. I didn't have to go in and rock him. So I was a bit tired when Austin woke me up to open presents. And I forgot to make a cake for baby Jesus!

BUT we had a great Christmas 2009 at the Hakel household. Lots of good food and gift giving (and receiving). Last night Austin said it was his best Christmas ever, and I'm glad because we got him more gifts that weren't toys. I think he got only one bionicle out of all his gifts! He loves his new watch and new boombox. Not really sure if he is all about the books we gave him but I think once he gets into them he will be pleasantly surprised (20,000 leagues under the sea and mutiny on the bounty). Drew loved everything and wanted to stop opening gifts after each one to play with it! He also ate 8 hersheys miniatures when I wasn't looking. Not very nice later in the day let me tell you!

We went to my parents' house later in the day to celebrate with the rest of my family. It was a good time and Tony made his excellent spinach artichoke dip as an appetizer. Today we went to his brother Stephen's house and Stephen and his wife made an amazing meal - beef tenderloin, brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, and lots of desserts - all made from scratch! They also made a type of polish bread from a recipe that has been in Rachel's family for at least 4 generations. It is very good and we brought some home. It should make excellent french toast in the morning.

Now onto getting ready for the new year, which for me means sorting through the boys' clothes and toys to end the year with a big goodwill donation. It will be nice to be organized again, as I really have not been since before the fall semester of school started!

On a side note, got a 4.0 for this semester. I am so glad it is over and looking forward to my classes for next semester (except microbiology lab). More to come once the new year starts - Happy 2010 if I don't write more before then!

Kitty cat

I remember when I was growing up my parents always used to tell me about our first cat, Jocosta. (And by the way thank goodness they got her first or that would be my name!) Jocosta loved to climb trees and also jump onto window screens, second story or not. Every year at Christmas she would climb up our tree and also loved to sit underneath the branches and watch what those crazy kids - my brother and I - were doing in HER house.

I was reminded of Jocosta tonight when we were all in the living room. Drew decided he wanted to wiggle around on his belly under the lowest tree branches. I think at first he wanted to play with the Christmas birdhouses I have placed under the tree instead of presents, as presents would not last until Christmas Day. Drew got all the way around the tree on his belly and when he had made a full circle rolled over onto his back and looked up the tree.

This was so adorable I just had to take some pictures to remember this time and our "kitty cat" under the tree!

Thanks to my hubby for helping me upload these pictures.

Last Week

Well I have made it. Sort of, I still have one week of classes left then finals week. I am so glad for a long break before next semester, I feel like I haven't been caught up on household/family stuff since August. This week I have a presentation, lab praactical, group speech, and a write up of an interview of an older adult. Not much right? :)
Next weekend I hope to have some family fun before I become a studying hermit - there is something free at the fairgrounds that has horse rides, among other things. I also am determined to get my family out to look at lights on the houses nearby.

Austin flunked his eye exam at school. It was so nice of him to tell us before we got the paper from the school nurse (except he didn't). Now I need to find an eye doctor for him and get him some glasses. Not exactly sure how excited he is about that . . .

We are trying to decide whether we should stay in our apartment at least another year or find a rental house. I am all for the rental house, but am not sure Tony is sold on the moving idea. I would much rather stay more years in a rental house, especially since there is a garage and yard. Apartments make me feel very closed in and even more so in the colder months. We will see what happens, we must tell the office by the end of January.

Off to finish up my English presentation for tomorrow. Have a great week!