We went to Hollywild last night with our Church. The Chickens really enjoyed the animals and the lights. Chicken got really excited when we first pulled up and was asking Ben, “Daddy who put up all the lights it must of taken forever!!!”

We were able to feed some animals and pet them. Chicken complained about the smell though and held his nose. Boo was adamant that she was to tiny to pet the bull.

It was super cold and we planned to grab some hot chocolate on the way home but all the good places were closed. So we came home and had some hot chocolate and homemade blue berry muffins. Then we watched Prep and Landing it was 11 by the time we got the Chickens in bed. But it was a fun night of making Christmas memories with our little family.

But cold weather makes it nice to snuggle inside at night by the tree and watch a Christmas movie. One thing I have done this year with the Chickens is an Advent calendar. It’s just a small one but I have been giving the Chickens a little gift everyday. They have been so excited each morning to see what is in their box. I told Chicken to not be disappointed if their was not a toy everyday. On Saturday I put Christmas shaped cookie cutters in their boxes. They looked a little disappointed but after we made the cookies and cut them out Chicken said, “Mommy this was really fun.”

So the fun part has been to finding little things to give them, Christmas pencils, Christmas erasers, tiny Christmas books and Christmas puzzles. I plan to take them downtown one day and take them to see the festival of trees. And a special visit to the O.P. Taylor toy store.

I want to make the days leading up to Christmas special, but I also want to teach them the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it. They are both to the age where they understand it a little more. I want them to understand that Christmas is not all about getting but it’s about giving too.

After we looked at all the cars we walked down to Reedy River to look at the “quack quacks” (aka ducks) as Boo calls them.

Then as we made our way back to our car Boo and Chicken gave some advise. Boo said you should never eat rocks. Chicken said you shouldn’t drink poison. Boo said you could and I quote “drink coke but not houses”. They shared their opinions on many things but I will leave you with this little tidbit from Chicken.

“Never eat leaves unless your are a bug.”

” We’re married.”

I asked them how long they had been married?

“Five days. But we are waiting for kids.” Chicken said.

Then he explained how they lived in a little house in the middle of the forest and it was all “covered” in bricks and had a chain on the door. I told them to let me take their wedding picture since they were newly weds. And I got this pic.

I am enjoying all this sweetness between them now because I know it won’t last. But this picture will be great blackmail material when they are teenagers. =-)

And the video below is Chicken being his charming self. We made this video to send to Ben to show him what we were working on in school. Chicken’s expressions crack me up in this one. He is so busy watching himself he is not really paying attention to what he is saying. Needless to say it’s never a dull moment around here. Sorry for the shaky camera, on this one the camera was being held by a Chicken.

He won’t be old enough for kindergarten until next year. So my mom a former kindergarten teacher suggested that I start doing some stuff with him at home. So we have started doing K-4.

The Chickens LOVE it. We read and do crafts they have little work books and they are learning the alphabet. It’s like their little brains have been unlocked and all they want to do now is cut and color and draw pictures. Just the difference in Chicken has been so amazing his creativity has increased so much. Just his drawing skill alone has gotten better. It’s been so neat being able to tie different things in through out the day that we have learned. Chicken used to ask every night before he went to bed what are we doing when we wake up? The kid gets bored so easily. So when I started saying school he thought that was great. Now he does not even ask anymore what we are doing the next day because he knows we are doing school. I heard him tell his nine year old cousin the other day that he does school too. He was so proud.

We are even thinking about homeschooling for kindergarten next year. This comes as a HUGE shock to me of all people because I swore up and down before I had kids that I would NEVER homeschool them. I was home schooled and I liked it but I never thought I would possess the patience to homeschool my own kids. I have learned to never say never especially when it comes to your kids. But I have actually really enjoyed it.

Below is a pic of the Chickens first craft project. Boo is crying because I asked her to smile. Girls and drama on second thought they will definitely be going to school for high school.

Chicken is so proud… Boo not so much.

Sitting together.

The big dinosaur scared her…

So Chicken held her…

She knew her brother would protect her.