Merry Christmas

For Christmas we were in Florida for the first time.  We went to church and then spent the evening at home.  Mom and Mya slept by the Christmas tree and we had a fun morning of opening and putting together presents.  The boys are sleeping and Derek and Mya are on the couch watching How It's Made...their favorite show.  Tonight the kids are getting hot dogs and eating the Ginger Bread House at their request.  After they go to bed, Derek is going to grill Steaks for us and along with Potatos and Sparkling Grape Juice we'll cheer on the Packers.  What a fun day!  Oh and it's 85 out:)  Merry Chirstmas!

Christmas Eve after church we had subs

Then the kiddos gave each other presents. 

 and of course, White Christmas.  They liked to dance along:)

Levi sat on my lap and snuggled. 

 Sleeping under the Christmas tree.  Mya fell asleep in minutes, Toby on the other hand got moved to his bed.

 Mya slept through all the presents being brought in.  In the morning her comments as to all the presents and the table being set with Christmas plates and cups were adorable.

 Mya helped me make breakfast, Jesus's birthday cake.  Blowing out the candles

Reading the Christmas story

 almost time for presents!

 Mya with her gifts, a bike, Sleeping Beauty dress, tea set, fishing pole and magnetic dress up dolls.

Toby got a tool bench and tools, a fishing puzzel, talking Toby train and Action Bible.

Levi got an activity table, a "stage" with mirror that plays songs and a Veggie Tales table.

 Tea anyone?

 Mr. Fix it...it's hard to see but he has a little tool belt on.

 Levi pushed this around the floor all morning.

 Practicing on her bike.  She was convinced that she could ride it.  With a little bit of practice she'll get it!

Leaky pipes

Thursday morning, while cleaing Mya's bedroom, I noticed a wet spot on her carpet by the door.  After inquiring all peoples of the house as to who spilled something and coming up with nothing I grabbed a towel and tried soaking up the water.  Over the next 2 1/2 hours I watched her whole carpet become wet and realized it was spreading to the boy's room also.  I called Derek and said, "I think we have a problem!"  He came home and turned the water off.   Mya's carpet was ripped up and her room cleared out completely.  About a 1/3 of the boys room carpet came up and all of their stuff was moved to the other side of their room.  We had to get a guy with big fans and dehumidifiers to come out to dry everything out. 

 Friday afternoon a professional leak finder came and found the leak in the pipe.  In Florida houses are built on slabs and the plumbing is under the slabs.  He had to jackhammer up part of the floor to find the leake.  The first time wasn't quite big enough...

the second time the whole leak was revealed as well as this small lake.  It was so nice of him to say that it was one of the biggest leaks he has seen all year.  At least if you are going to have a leak go all out right?:) 

The pretty red and green one is the bad pipe.  There is suppose to be 6 inches between the concrete and the pipe.  This pipe was halfway burried in the concrete and the concrete basically ate it away.

 Usually the leak find will put a clamp on the pipe unltill you can get a plumber out.  He didn't have a clamp big enough.  Thankfully we know people and my Uncle Phil called up the plumber he works with.

 He came around 4 p.m. and after determining that the hot water pipe could not be saved, re-piped the hot water pipe through the attic into the laundry room (with 2 nice hole cut into the wall) and by about 7:30 p.m. we had water again!

 It was only a little over 24 hours we didn't have water but it was my morning to take a shower and by the time the water came back on a shower felt VERY nice.

Tomorrow morning the insurance guy and a contractor are coming back to talk about filling back in the whole and fixing the carpet and baseboards.  Until then all of Mya's stuff is in the office and sleepover in dad and mom's room (say a prayer for sound sleepers as they will ALL be in our room till everything gets fixed!).  The office and our room makes me slightly feel like a hoarder.

 We are very thankful, though, that I was home when it happened as it could have been much worse and that God provides for what we need!  And hey it keeps life exciting right?!?!

Christmas Happenings

We decorated for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving. Toby started singing Happy birthday and then tried blowing them out...

Levi just like chewing on them.

 This is Toby Mader ornament.  He will walk over to it and say, "Toby Mader"

 Mya had fun hanging ornaments with Derek

but was quite devestated when an ornament broke. 

 hmmm what's this?

 My sweet boys

 Some other Christmas decorations.

 Derek wanted to put a star on our VERY tall palm tree.  He made it and attached the lights with zip ties.  He was chewing on one and next thing we new Toby had one and was chewing on it. 

 Next Derek climbed the VERY tall Palm tree with his tree stand,

Hoisted up the star,

 and lit it in the night sky.

 St. Nick's came to our house.

 All these busy days have worn our little Santa Clause out!

Random Days

Levi is all over the place.  He loves to explore new places and to pull the drawers in the kitchen open.  He hasn't figured out how to pull up on them yet....the day is coming soon.

Before Thanksgiving Mya had a little program at school where they sang a few songs and then had a Thanksgiving Feast.  It was a fun morning although Mya did not feel good as the morning went on and by the time we got home she had a fever of over 103.  She still was one cute Turkey though!

Toby also did not feel good and both ended up with ear infections.  He fell asleep on Derek which NEVER happens!!

 Asll the boys playing video games:)

Not sure why this is upside down but one night I cut up a yellow pepper for supper and Mya took all but 2 pieces.

 Mya has been helping me feed Levi in the morning.  She does such a good job and helps me out!

 Toby loves to where these sunglasses and carry around random items.

We played candyland one night with REAL candy pieces, the game lasted way too long for them as they just wanted to eat the candy.

 Levi loves to pull himself up on thing that are in his reach.

 Just fun pictures of all of them