30: done with nablopomo

I am so relieved to be done with NaBloPoMo!! It was fun while it lasted but I'm glad to be moving on to something else. Details to come tomorrow....

29: lights are up!

Jacob put our Christmas lights up today. We didn't do a ton since we'll be out of town for a week during the holiday season. And I think we'll pick up some reindeer at the after Christmas sale to use next year!

28: christmas lights

We picked up Christmas lights at Target today and Jacob is planning to put them up tomorrow. Pictures to follow. :)

27: disney world

We're watching the Disney World planning DVD tonight. We leave two weeks from tomorrow!! I'm getting excited!! :)

26: happy thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!! We all woke up nice and early this morning and Jacob took Christopher and Nicholas to McDonald's to pick up breakfast. It's our family tradition to have McDonald's for breakfast while we watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

the Albaeck kids ready for the parade

Lexie really likes McDonald's hashbrowns!

Smile for the camera, Ben!

Look! A balloon!!

After the parade it was time to get the turkey ready. This was our first time doing a whole turkey without my mother there to assist (i.e. clean and stuff the turkey). I actually cleaned and prepped the turkey and only cried a little! :) We made our turkey in the Charbroil Infrared Turkey Fryer this year and it was amazing!!

Ready to cook!

The turkey is half-way done!! And smells really good!!

Ready to eat! Nice and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside!

While Grandma was in town she bought pilgrim masks for the kids to decorate. They colored them while we were finishing up dinner.

Pilgrim Nick

Ben didn't quite get it.

And Lexie used hers as a fan!

And FINALLY dinner was ready. Christopher insists on wearing a shirt and tie (and pants) whenever we have company over for dinner. And then he needed a picture (for Grandma) of himself dressed up.

Christopher

Continuing the "olive finger" tradition.

Lexie thought it was pretty funny.

Caramel toffee cheesecake for dessert.

Grandma and Grandpa sent us a Thanksgiving package with "Pin the Hat on the Turkey" which we play every Thanksgiving. We're a real Army family now- this year we used Jacob's gunner's googles (with the dust cover) as a blindfold.

I'm going to win!!

This is silly, Daddy!!

Where's the turkey?

RAWR!!!!

While those turkeys were playing the Thanksgiving game, Nick and Colin were busy playing Call of Duty! Christopher and Jacob got in on the video game fun and Ben and Lexie headed to bed. All in all, it was a great Thanksgiving! :)

Colin and Nick

Goodnight Pilgrims!

25: thanksgiving day prep

I'm busy making Aunt Karen's stuffing.... so more to come later. Just needed to post something.

24: nick's school picture

We finally got Nick's school pictures back today. I am so impressed with them- he actually smiled!! Now to just get him to do that for me!!

23: one way

Nick has been reading the signs as we're driving around post and we had this conversation in the car today.

Me: Nick, can you read that sign?

Nick: Which one?

Me: The black one with the white arrow. (One Way)

Nick: Oh, I'm allergic to that one.

22: lexie

Just a quick picture of Lexie. :)

21: christopher's thanksgiving program

The first grade classes in Christopher's school put on a Thanksgiving program earlier this week. I think we all knew ALL of the songs since Christopher had been signing them for the past couple of months.

Waiting patiently for the program to start.

Cheese!!

Look at all the pilgrims.

What are you thankful for?

The romance of the century: Hannah and Nick

The sweetest pilgrim of all!

And yet another picture of Lexie because she's the princess (or just a ham).

20: babysitting

Tonight we're babysitting for some friends of ours. It's weird having a baby (she's 3 months) in the house again! Our kids all had fun playing with her and can't wait for her to come back soon.

19: military kids vs civilian kids

1. A civilian child usually dances around or talks during the National Anthem. A military child stands quietly with his hand over his heart.

2. A civilian child sees race. A military child sees diversity.

3. A civilian child has a best friend in his hometown. A military child has a best friend on almost every continent.

4. A civilian child sees only the plane flying over. A military child not only can identify the type of plane flying but knows someone who works on them.

5. A civilian child smells something nasty and yells "ewwwww..... what's that smell?" A military child smells something nasty and yells "M.O.P.P. 4! M.O.P.P. 4!"

6. A civilian child sees a person in uniform. A military child can tell you what branch he's in and what his rank is.

7. A civilian child thinks home is where the heart is. A military child knows home is where the military sends you.

8. A civilian child lives for tomorrow and what it might bring. A military child lives for today because tomorrow Daddy might get called away again.

9. A civilian child talks on the phone for fun. A military child lives for the 15 minute phone calls once a week.

10. A civilian child can read and write in English. A military child can read and write in acronym.

11. A civilian child says "good-bye". A military child says "see you later".

12. A civilian child gets to see things other kids would love to see. A military child gets to see things world leaders would love to see.

13. A civilian child will probably go to the same school his entire life. A military child will probably change schools every two years.

14. A civilian child might rarely leave his hometown for anything other than vacation. A military child will rarely see his "hometown" for anything other than vacation.

15. And finally... a civilian child supports our soldiers. A military child is a soldier.

The next time you say a prayer for our troops, please say a prayer for their families, especially their children back home that are trying to be strong.

18: crazy fire

Tonight we tried Crazy Fire Mongolian Grill for dinner. We'd heard good things about it from people that Jacob works with and figured the kids would enjoy picking out what they wanted and watching it cook.

Jacob took Christopher up and was amazed that he picked tomato, green pepper, onion, and egg, along with his chicken and noodles. I took Nicholas up when I made mine and he wanted chicken, steak, noodles, cabbage, onion, more onion, carrots, egg and bamboo!! I'm glad we have such adventurous eaters!! They shared their plates with Ben and Lexie who loved everything.

We also ordered spicy tuna rolls and as soon as they made it to the table, Lexie was chanting "sushi, sushi". We were nice and shared with her; she loved them and polished off 2 and a half! Nick's favorite thing of the night was the sliced ham (actually ginger) that came with the sushi- he ate all of it with some wasabi on the side!

Lexie and her sushi

17: nick's school picture

Nick got his proof back for his school picture today but unfortunately they were out of CDs (which is what we ordered) so we should be getting it soon. It's a really cute picture and I'll post it when it comes in!

16: christopher's school picture

We got Christopher's school pictures back and I figured that I'd post them so that everyone could see! I'm hoping to get Nick's back tomorrow.

Christopher, 6

15: ava

I haven't put up any recent pictures of the puppy (who is getting pretty big!). She's six months old and FULL of energy! She's used to being around the kids now and USUALLY doesn't knock Lexie over- at least intentionally.

Next month she's headed to doggy boot camp for three weeks while we're out of town and we're looking forward to her knowing more than "sit"! :)

Ava

14: it's late

It's late and I don't really have anything of substance to say..... so, more to come tomorrow. :)

13: nick and the computer

Jacob: Nick, go put my computer on the couch.

Nick: Ok.

Nick walks off. Fifteen minutes later Jacob is looking for the computer.

Jacob: Nick, where'd you put my computer.

Nick: I don't know.

Jacob: (Getting annoyed) You need to find it or remember where you put it.

Nick: I don't know where it is. I don't know where I put it.

Jacob walks into the bathroom and finds his laptop in the sink.

Jacob: Why did you put my computer in the sink?

Nick: I didn't. Maybe you did.

Jacob: I wouldn't put it in there.

Nick: Yes you did. You put it in there.

Jacob: I didn't put it in there.

Nick: Well maybe you're just a bad liar.

12: the christmas tree

Yesterday we set up our Christmas tree and put up our decorations (except the lights outside). I know it's on the early side for Christmas decor, but since Jacob will be deployed next Christmas, we wanted to make sure to thoroughly enjoy the holiday season this year!

Merry Christmas from the Albaeck kids!

Daddy was making silly faces.

At this point they were getting tired of taking pictures.

Look at those big eyes!

Lexie: I'm in charge and you'll do what I say!

Lexie, the red-nosed girl :)

Christopher wanted a picture by himself before we decorated the tree.

And then Nick wanted one.

And Lexie posed for about 20.

After we posed for pictures, it was time to start decorating the Christmas tree. We unwrapped all of the ornaments and the kids had fun talking about theirs- they each get an ornament from us and Grandma and Grandpa every year and then we get family ones on our vacations.

Lexie playing with her ornament from 2008.

And hanging it on the tree.

Christopher loved his new alligator ornament from Myrtle Beach this year.

Ben was more interested in playing with the ornaments than actually hanging them.

The Albaeck boys!

Once you add the girl in, chaos ensues!

The adult drink of choice while decorating the tree. It complimented the Frank Sinatra Christmas music nicely!

Jacob puts the star on the tree every year- and this year we didn't even need a ladder!

The finished tree! :)