Thanksgiving Weekend!

We had a fun filled Thanksgiving holiday!  We also celebrated an early birthday for Drew, while the family was in town - so it was a double celebration.  Cannot believe the baby is now 2!  That will be for another post.....Here are a bunch of picture from all the festivities!

Me and the boys before our Turkey Trot!  Jon was awesome and pushed the triple stroller this time and I ran by myself.  The boys had a blast, we are going to make this an annual tradition.  About 700 people ran it - lots of families - neat to see everyone out.

We went home and got everything ready for our Turkey dinner!  Everyone came to our house this year - and we all had a great time.  Of course, zero pictures of the table....I was a little busy!  Here are some pictures of Drew opening his presents after lunch.

Love the milk dripping off his face.

So excited! Sitting on his tractor from MiMi!

Playing with his first Thomas set.  This kiddo is obsessed with trains!  LOVES them!

After the obligatory afternoon naps we packed up and headed to Dallas.  We had tickets to see the Texas Tech v. Baylor football game at Cowboys Stadium and had plans to get together with some of the Armstrong family.

Funny Story:  We (kids and I, no Jon) were riding in the elevator at the hotel.  The boys love the movie Elf, but I have about decided that we need to limit the intake of the movie....one reason is this.  In the movie, Elf, played by Will Ferrell tries to hug a stranger in an elevator because he does not look happy.  Yes, folks, Ryan yells at a guy getting off the elevator, "I forgot to give you a hug!" and tries to run after him to hug him.  We had a little talk about strangers and keeping our space!

On Saturday morning, we killed time at Bass Pro Shop.  I knew they had a really good free Santa display and wanted to check it out.

Ryan checking out what he wants for Christmas!

Jaxson ready to go!  Cast and all!

Jaxson with frosty!

All three boys telling Santa exactly what they want.  Light Sabers are the choice this year - interesting since we already have about six - but they are always in Toy timeout because of injuries that occur.....we may have to have a talk.......

This is as close as Drew would get - the boys took their picture - but Drew did not want to get really close.  This was the first year without tears!  Yippee!

Jaxson riding the carousel.

Drew looking at the really big fish!

Ryan riding!

What is up there?

All the boys at Cowboys Stadium!

The view of the field from my seat!  Pretty good!  We bought our tickets at different times, so Jon and Ryan sat in a different spot and Jaxson, Drew and I sat here - so there are not any pictures of Ryan.  Sorry!

Jaxson entranced by the big screen......love the football hat.  He is eating a pretzel - child loves carbs!

Drew getting excited!

On Sunday we got together with the Armstrong crew and had a great time!  I did not get any pictures of this part, why because I was chasing kiddos around!  Sorry, not a good excuse.  The boys had a great time with their cousins and cannot wait to see them again!  Especially Brent, he and Jaxson bonded big time....they had big Star Wars discussions.

We arrived home late on Sunday, so we waited a couple of days and got the decorations out.  I went to all shatter less ornaments a couple of years ago - so the boys had a blast decorating the tree.  Ryan especially, he is really into decorations.....takes after his MiMi!

Showing the boys how cool it is to sit under the tree and look at the lights.  They have also figured out that they can spin the tree......yes, yesterday they were spinning it as fast as they could.....lovely!

Drew cracking up at this!

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving weekend!  Today is a big day in the Armstrong house - the baby is turning 2!  I am so happy he has survived these past two years with his brothers!  Will post school party pics later!  The day began with the boys and I singing to him Happy Birthday to wake him up....yes, nice and quietly, hehe I am sure you can imagine!

 

Sometimes you have to laugh.....

This past weekend was one of those that I will remember for a lifetime...Saturday was insane and that does not even seem to do it justice.  Let's start from the beginning....Saturday morning - Ryan slept in until 6:30 - I should have known something was up then.  Usually his "normal" wake up time is 5:30.  Jon always gets out of bed and sits in the living room with the boys while I lay around in bed then get out and get a run in before the day starts.  He is awesome that way!  I have my workout clothes on and I hear gaging from the living room.  Jon says Ryan is gaging himself and saying his throat hurts....ok, I call the doctors answering service to see what doctor is on call and when they were going to be in.  I am pretty sure it is strep since that has been going around like crazy.  I wanted to catch it quick.  I call the doctor, they say they will be in the office at 9:00.  In the meantime Jaxson wakes up and is complaining that his arm hurts. 

Flashback a day - on Friday Jaxson had told me his arm hurt a couple of times, he said his brother had stepped on it at school.  I looked at it - no bruising or swelling, I pushed around on it - the bone felt strait - he was using it still, so I decided to keep a watch.  (A guilt trip will come of this later......)

Saturday morning - Jaxson comes in complaining about his arm and as he is doing this - Ryan comes into the kitchen and pukes his milk he just drank all over the floor - NOTHING smells like puked up milk......NOTHING!  Jon is running around trying to find a towel and I am running for a bowl.  Jon just starts laughing at the situation and Ryan and I start crying....the difference in our personalities!  We get the puke cleaned up and look at Jaxson's arm. His arm is swollen pretty good - so I call the doctors office to see if I can get Ryan and Jaxson both in for strep (because I guarantee they both have it or will both have it) and for them to look at his arm.  During the week they have xray on staff- but apparently not on the weekends!  Yeah!  Great luck!

All five of us load up in the car and head to town to the doctor.  I take the twins in and Jon sits in the car with Drew - who is always along for the ride....poor guy.  I take the boys in they are both positive for strep, really quickly and they say that Jaxson actually has it worse...Ryan is always my puker with strep.  Jaxson and Drew nope. Weird how strep affects each kiddo differently.   Both the boys get shots for the strep and really are good about shots now....barely cried.  The doctor looks at Jaxson's arm and thinks that it may have gone out of socket or something....we try and call any orthopedic surgeons that may be open on Saturdays, but no luck......so off to the ER we go.  

This would be the 3rd time I have been in the ER with Jaxson...I have been once with Drew....in fact this is our 3rd trip this year!....I have never been there before kiddos......it has become my new home.  Thank goodness on a Saturday morning it was really quiet and very quick.  We went in at 10:20 and by 1:00 we were out, that is quick for the ER!  Jaxson and I went into the ER and Jon and the other two stayed in the car.  Jon has a DVD player in his car and we packed DVD's so we knew we were ok for a long wait.

We got back quickly and saw the same doctor we saw for Jaxson's black out fall he had in May.  The doctor looked at his arm and asked Jaxson where it hurt - he pointed to his forearm- so the doctor said he did not think it was broken but let's xray and see.  While we were waiting on the xray, I gave Jaxson my iPhone to play Star Wars on.  He would grab it with his right hand (the arm that hurt) but then quickly switch to the left to work it.  I knew by watching him, something was up.  The doctor came in and wanted me to come down the hall to see the xrays.  He showed me a break in the outer bone of the forearm that broke when Ryan stepped on it then went back into place.......he said it was the best kind of break to have it would not have to be set - just casted for about a month.  Completely surprised the doctor.  The doctor said we would splint it up then cast it in a couple of days.

Jaxson thought he said split instead of splint and went ballistic because he thought he was going to cut open his arm......this was the only time the entire day he even cried or got upset....tough guy...after I cleared up the confusion...we got the temporary cast on and headed out the door.....to what......pukeville......remember I left Jon with puker Ryan and Drew in the car...yep....

I get out to the car and Ryan has thrown up like three times, once in the car seat....the other couple of times outside the car by his door.   I meet Jon on the drivers side and get Jaxson loaded up then run over to my side of the car and load up....Jon forgot to mention to me that Ryan puked on my side of the car.....step in it, I sure did!

We get the troops back to the house in time for the all important football game....and get them down for a nap.  By 6:00 that night......we are completely back to normal...except now Jaxson has a weapon he has figured out how to use against his brothers.......

I asked Jaxson how it happened again and this is what he said.  He was playing in the gym with his class and playing Frisbee with his teacher.  He fell on the ground and Ryan stepped on his arm....he said he cried and told his teacher, but then he said he went back to playing....so of all the kids at school, of course it was his brother that did it!  Yep!

That was our adventure this weekend.....how was yours?  We are ready for a relaxing week.  Jaxson will get his arm cast today or tomorrow.  The boys have their Thanksgiving feast at school tomorrow, then we will have ours here at the house on Thursday.  We are running in the local Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning, the boys are excited!

Joanna

Preschool Praise Concert!

The twins had their end of semester praise concert at church yesterday....I was a little worried, because last year they just stood there and nothing came out....this year they were a lot better!

Jaxson marching in with Miss Helen!



 Jaxson spotting baby brother!



 Baby brother spotting Jaxson!

The whole crew lined up.Smart teacher...do not put the boys beside each other!

Yes, weapons we can use!

 Notice Ryan swinging his weapon!

Jaxson trying to undress in the middle of the concert...

Could not quite get his arm out...thank goodness....

Baby bro!

The boys had a blast this semester in choir and really enjoyed marching and singing!  



Armstrongisms.....

I wanted to write a few of these down before I forgot...sorry folks...no pics..

The boys have their own saying for things, and it is hilarious because if you try and correct them, they will still use the old sayings. They have also said and done some pretty funny things lately, so I want to record them.

1.  Up Sleeves and Down Sleeves - for Short sleeves or Long sleeves, I have to tell them go pick out some pants and some down sleeves!  Love it!

2.  Mama is Darth Vador!  - I have my winter black long boots on, usually for church.  Yep folks, Darth Vador goes to church!

3.  Jaxson is big into characters right now - so "Buzz has to go potty or Aunt Ray has to go poop" are commonly said around our house. 

4.  I have been starting the very beginning stages of potty training on Drew.  For him to at least come and tell me when he is stinky.  Yesterday morning, during a conference call with three other companies Drew comes toddling in yelling,  "I am stinky now!, I am stinky now!".  Yep - and Nope phone was not on mute!

5.  We are now taking turns praying at meals.....the fighting during prayer was counterproductive!  Yesterday morning, Jaxson prayed for Ryan to have a better attitude......yep...then Ryan told him to be quiet.

6.  Jaxson has become a ladies man in preschool.....all the little girls want to play with Jaxson.  Ryan has been hitting down others kids block towers......nope no difference at all in their personalities!

7.  I went into quiet the boys down at bedtime the other night.  My hair was already down from the usual pony tail.  Ryan exclaims, "It grew! It grew!".  Ok - note to self to wear my hear down a little.

8.  Just realized this week in preschool during their Turkey unit - that we actually eat turkey and chickens....that use to be alive....now we are asking if we eat flies, beetles, you name it....I am just waiting for someone to "try" something.....

9.  Drew is talking up a storm now that he is in Mothers Day Out......the teacher said that she had never heard him talk so much....-get him out of the other two's influence and he is a talker!

Hope you have a good weekend!  We plan to relax and enjoy each other!

Jo

Trick or Treating!

As I mentioned before, we all had stuffy little noses, so we decided to stay around the house on Halloween.  The boys were pretty pumped about their costumes and their glow sticks that I bought them at Wal-Mart. 

Before the trick or treating we go ahead and start loading them up with candy!  We figure start them earlier in the evening...then they will crash earlier!

Outside ready to go!  Jaxson really gets into his character, not taking the mask off very often.

I took the twins around the neighborhood in the wagon and Drew stayed behind and had a blast handing out candy!

This is the candy from earlier, already kicking in.......

Drew playing with the wagon for a bit.

And we barely got in the door......

Please open these!

I love how he is about to fall asleep while trying to chew these open.....

Fighting over the buckets.......

 Got one!

 And the sugar.......

has officially kicked in!