Happy 29th to Me! {Christmas Post to Come}

Hellllooooooo!  Today I turned 29.  I'm old.  But that's okay.
This 29th year, my last in my 20s, is going to be amazing.  I just know it.  I'm so excited about the path my life, family, etc., is on right now…. Big things are coming :)  It feels good!

Today didn't start out so well, though.  I needed to get a new drivers license.  I arrived at the DMV early, I checked in, and I didn't have all my paper work.  So I drive home, get more paper work to prove I am who I am, and head back to the DMV.  I exit my car and the persons behind me tell me that I have a really flat tire.  GREAT.
After new license is given--with the 500+ documents stating I am Shannon of the D--I go to the car and started changing the tire.  It went well.  I was taught the basic steps by my dad, and with some trial and error it all came together in the end.

Come home and prep some food for dinner, then me and Marcie (who is here for a visit--YAY!) go into Savannah for some space to work.  Mood is improving by this time.
Work is productive, and we head back home.

Food is completely prepared, and then completely eaten by me, the boys, Matt, Marcie and Tyson and Jaxson, and Paige and Zach and V and J.  The food is sooooooooo good!!!  Some Cafe Rio style chicken, burritos, and just plain goodness.  HEAVENLY.  (I might be hungry again while I'm writing this, so all I'm remembering is the food, haha)

The cake is served.  Listen, let me tell you about this cake.  I wanted to make a pretty cake.  And I really tired.  And I kinda failed.  Frosting prepared the night before, cake baked the night before----everything homemade.  I woke up extra early this morning to bring it all together, and then the frosting started to hate me.  Grrrrrr…. Fondant.  I hates you.  Buttercream.  You are delicious, but too heavy.  
So.  Pretty.  But a hot mess.

After cake was eaten I opened presents.  I had a lot of littles helpers, and I loved it.
Got some good presents.  Good job, babe.

Matt and I then got goofy, and we tried to do Butt-Fives and Back-Fives.  Matt's backside pushed me a lot to the ground, but we got some good pics in the process.  Plus it was just fun.  And if I didn't know before, I was once again reminded: Matt's athletic, and does sweet moves (reminiscent of his "skater-punk-days").

Boys went down to bed.
Me and Paige went on a walk.  Sweet.
Me and Matt went on a run.  Sweet.  Then I finished a mile or two more and completed my OldGuyRunning's TinMan challenge!  93.3 miles ran for the month!  Yay!


So…. That's my birthday.
Happy 30th, to you all!  Kisses and hugs!

Last Week of School: Still Sane! (Sorta Of)

The boys are doing well.  I mean, as well as expected with Christmas break around the corner and present starting to be stacked up under the tree!

Everyday Eli asks if it is Christmas, and if he can open up some presents after school.  Every. Day.  That boy.  Sometimes I wonder if he really can't understand time, if he's really that forgetful, or if he just wants us to crack and say "yes".  Maybe all three?

One thing he was looking forward to A LOT--and I mean, A LOT--was his class Christmas Party.  30 times a day he'd ask Matt if he was coming to his class party.  Each time getting a big, "Yes!"
And when he day came that he had his party, and Matt and I showed up, Eli was the happiest he could be!  So happy.  (Apparently I don't matter, haha!)

Isaac had his Christmas Party, and Matt was able to attend that one as well.  (I had to stay home with Titus).  Isaac said it was really fun!  Played "Grinch Games," decorated a cupcake, and ate lots of yummy food.  Sounds awesome. 

Titus didn't get a class party for us to attend, but he came home with a ton of treats.  I mean, SO MANY treats.  He was in sugar-high-heaven.

Each of the boys also had a "Polar Express".  This day they all wore their PJs to school (nice PJs) and had hot chocolate and were able to watch a bit of the Polar Express movie.  Sounds pretty fantastic!  They thought so, too.

Oh, and Santa came down our street on a Fire Truck Wednesday night.  Titus was convinced it was the real Santa, but Isaac wasn't convinced.... It like woke up the whole neighborhood!  Lights!  Sirens!  Kids running down the street, including our own!  Matt had put the two littles to bed already, and I was on my way home from with Isaac from Cub Scouts.  But we all piled into the car and chased the Fire Truck down!  Sweet candy canes, man.

But one of the best things that has kept them sane before Christmas break is the friendship they are each forming with our neighbors.  You'd think that living in townhouses would equate to a million friends, but that hasn't really happened.  But thankfully there are a few groups of kids that seem to play well with each other, and the boys play well with them.
Lately, every non-busy afternoon, we've opened our garage and all the kids come and play with some of our goodies!  Guns and scouters and basketball and mini-trampoline.  All hits.  It's been a lot of fun!

Oh, plus the boys got a surprise present from their Uncle Chase.  Sweet new guns.
That really helps the boys keep their sanity!  Yay!

OH, and remember that one time when I said we were keeping our sanity despite the fact that Christmas is just days away.  Well.... I might have lied.  Or spoke too soon.  Because while I was composing this blog post, look what Matt and the boys started doing:
Flying down the stairs on flattened cardboard boxes!  WHAT IN THE WORLD.  So I took pictures, of course.  It's really hard to talk Matt and the boys out of the something fun, when they're in the processes of having fun.

(Don't worry, grandparents, I'm sure your grandsons will survive to adulthood.)