Taking out 2014...

Last day of the year.
Last day for me to use my personal time at work so I was off.
Muhahahaha.

A few months back I was fortunate enough to win a contest from Girl Gone Mom.  She was giving away a family four pack of passes to the Adventure Aquarium here in South Jersey.  

Today we decided to use those passes and headed to Camden NJ where the aquarium is located.  It's on the Delaware River, that separates New Jersey from Pennsylvania.  Camden is right across the river from Philadelphia.  Here is the skyline...plus some two awesomely good looking kids!

Do not let the hoodies fool you.
It was freakin cold out.
If you look closely at the 8yo you can clearly see he is freezing.  Don't listen to your mother when she tells you to put your coat on.  Listen to your 16yo brother who thinks a Nike hoodie will keep him warm.  Sigh.
Being that close to the water dropped the temp by about 15 degrees.  The wind was so bad my eyes were watering.

So like any good parent, I told them I would feed them to the sharks if they didn't listen!
Proof is in the pudding, people!

I mean business.
Look at those faces, scared of me now aren't they.

Yes! I know!

Next up we let the younger one touch some sharks.  Figured if I couldn't feed him to the sharks, I would let him play with them.

We were also lucky to catch the tail end of the aquariums diving show for the holidays.
I do believe that is Santa & an Elf.  Guess this is what he does to relax after Christmas Eve!

We even saw a small aligator try to take out a turtle but he lost sight of him, so he popped up out of the water & gave us the evil eye!

Of course, you can experience being in the sea if you wish.
Our fish decided to give it a go:

All in all it was a great family day & I am glad that is how we took 2014 out...as a family.

How was your NYE?

Christmas Recap 2014

First I would like to start with a small disclosure...or confession, which ever you prefer.
Whatever photos you see here were taken with my somewhat older smartphone.  They are not good quality what so ever.  I have great photos on my digital camera.  Love this camera.  The problem? I have a card reader but lost the cable to it and still have not gotten around to getting another cable.  It is not your typical USB cable either or I'd be set with the gazillion ones we have around Casa de Buchman.

The morning started quiet enough.
All of us asleep except the 16yo, who woke up at 7am, crept into the kitchen & started to open and shut the cabinets.  Open and shut, open and slam, same thing.  Bobster told him, go wake up your brother.

That's when the party got started.
We all came downstairs & started to open the gifts from youngest to oldest.
Cheeks was surprised with his "haul", he said he hadn't been the best behaved so he didn't think he would get anything.  When he saw his stuff he was like "I was wrong!".  He got all the minecraft toys he could handle, legos and of course, snow boots.

  Last year in Jersey it snowed if you looked out the window.  He really needed new boots so I got them.  This year we will have nothing.  Murphy's Law.

Christafus when next.  He got some small things then then big surprise.  Bobster and I got a terrific deal on a PS4 from Target.  Thanks to the cartwheel apps, some earned gift cards, an old credit and my red card we saved more than we ever imagined.  Hence the only reason he got.  He set up the system and was good to go.

He had to go to his mom's for a bit but not before we headed over to my in-laws for breakfast.  My brother in law ended up making breakfast, don't tell him but he can really cook.

We did gift exchanged and watched the youngest nephew ride his first fourwheeler at 17 months old.

Back to our house where my family came over for gifts and dinner.

I managed to get a picture of Cheeks with his cousin, B.  Two cutie patooties if I ever saw a pair.

B turned 9 yesterday.  I can not believe how big they both are.

I made dinner for my family.  It was really good.  The Nana brought the pasta salad.  She said it was for Bobster, her son in law, but I managed to sneak some before he ate it all.  All people.  You should have seen the size bowl it was served in.  Good Lawd!

I had to work the day after so Bobster was home with the boys.
He let Cheeks just play Legos all day.
I saw this when I arrived home.

I'm not going to sugar coat...the table still looks like that.
I seem to like my house best at night.  When it's dark & you can't see the mess.

All in all I think this year Christmas was the best.
I got to have dinner with my family, breakfast with the in-laws, all my kids in the morning & at night (minus a certain oldest child who lives in Fl...bummer).  It was a great day spent with both sides of our family and together.
That's what counts.

How was your holiday?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Bobster, Meghan, Chris & Cheeks

Gin, Gin, Gingerbread House!

Trying to keep the blog going...another entry...can. you. stand. it!

Monday night, as is our tradition, we did our family Gingerbread house.
It was just Cheeks and myself.  The other members are just party poopers.

As you can see Cheeks jumped right in.

I will let you know, I buy a pre-assembled house.
Why?
Trying to get the roof & sides to stay upright & together is a b*tch.  Yes, I said it.

The kit I bought provides the white icing, which I get the pleasure of putting on the house, making windows, doors.  Since I am so handy, the icing shot out of the open end of the bag and ended up on my table.

We finally got down to business & started decorating away.  That's Cheeks fav part...decorate, eat a few pieces of candy, decorate, break a tooth...you know how it goes. He didn't really break a tooth but the candy that comes with kit is really hard.

Here is the end result:

How cute is this!

I also broke out Amy's Chocolate Bunny Graham crackers to add a little whimsy to the house.

I really like the way turned out.
Most of all, I loved creating it with my Cheekers.  This is our own tradition that we started and I hope it lasts forever.  I fully intend to keep doing it with my grandchildren one day.

Tell me, what do you do with your family or friends this time of year.

Update, update, update

Hola my peeps.
As you can see I have not been that great at keeping up with the bloggeroo.  I was doing well with my Sunday Confessions but I didn't really see any feedback so I figured not really anyone was into it.
Then again, they are not overly juicy.

Cheeks has been taking karate since last March.  He has missed a few belt tests due to not enough classes, being on vaca etc.
Well this past Saturday he got to take his test.

He was so focused and determined.

Even Mr. Tony singled him out in the start of the class to have him show the other kids how to do some kick.

Proud mommy moment!!!

He passed his test.

Woo!

Here he is with all the kids and instructors.

Karate is great for him.
He even takes leadership, which they get to use weapons in.  Of course, those are his favorite classes.

Taking karate is really helping him focus in all aspects of his life.  He is doing much better this year in third grade.  He has an aide but she steps back..a lot.  He doesn't like it but he needs that little bit of guidance.  The ADHD is getting better.  Some children will out grow it.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Tell me, what activities do your kids do?