Like a Kid Again

Dan & I did it again. We coordinated our Christmas gifts without knowing it. Our first Christmas together, we got each other small framed Thomas Kincaid pictures. We each didn't know that the other had gotten almost the same thing, so we were very surprised when we exchanged gifts. We had only been dating for a few months, and already we were on the same page! This year it happened again. I got Dan a two-seater trailer for his bike, so that he can take all the kids on a bike ride once in awhile. He and the big kids have been going on rides every weekend since we moved into the new house. I thought the babies might like to go, too. I was so excited for Dan to open his present, because I thought I had done a good job thinking of it & because I knew he had no clue what I had gotten him. I was speechless when I came downstairs Christmas morning to find a beautiful metallic blue Schwinn bike waiting for me. This morning Dan built the trailer, adjusted the seat on my bike, and we have all ridden bikes this morning, except the babies, who were already napping by the time Dan finished the trailer. We plan to take everyone out this afternoon, before dinner. Beautiful bike

Ducks in a row

I think you could see Nathan's grin from space. He was so proud to be riding bikes with Mommy

Exciting Nights

This is a picture free post :( But it is still exciting. Tuesday night we took the kids to McAlister's for dinner and then went to see the gingerbread houses at the Ballantyne Hotel. We make gingerbread houses every year, so I love to see the "real" ones at the hotel. Someday I hope the kids & I can enter the amateur competition. We still need a few years of practice, though. At the time, I thought that would be the highlight of my week. Wednesday afternoon I had a teenage homeschooler over to help with the kids so that I could get some things done around here! At 5:45 we loaded everyone into the car to take her home. Dan drove up as we were leaving & we all said hi and bye to him. As I turned out of our neighborhood, I noticed that one of the lights shining on the brick at the front was ON FIRE! I turned around and went back home to tell Dan. He called the fire department and then went to put out the fire! He took a shovel and stamped it out with that. It was out by the time the fire department arrived, but they still hosed down the area & generally took over the scene. We are sooooo proud of our Daddy Hero!