Getting worse as the days go by!

Since the children have been hogging the Wii, Dale told them he was setting time aside for just Mommy and Daddy to have their turn! Dale and I tried a little of each game. Here we are, so focused on boxing each other, that we're totally unaware that Brady is taking pictures! He even video taped us in action!

Not sure how it happened, but I won by knock out! See Dale going down?
After an hour of Wii time, my arms were a little sore. Kassie told me that was called "Wii arm". Well, as the days go by my condition is worsening! Not only do I have Wii arm, but also Wii waste, Wii stomach and Wii leg! Now if we could get all these holiday treats and sweets out of the house, I may actually lose a pound or two!

First time purchase for the Eyler family

We have never owned any of the popular video game systems -- Nintendo, X-box, game cube, game boy, play station, etc. This Christmas that would all change. We are friends with a few different families that have a Wii, and have had the opportunity to play and experience the fun first hand. This game system is different from the others. It gets you up on your feet, and actually gives you a work out, mentally and physically! Having Santa bring this was also the easy way out. Instead of shopping for individual "big gifts", Santa only had to purchase one!
Dale was the first to give it a try Christmas morning, after all, he's the one that set it up!

Dale was out of breath before his first three rounds of boxing came to an end!

Later in the day when Nana and Pappy came over, the kids couldn't wait to show Pappy and let him try his hand at bowling. Pappy drives a school van. Wait until he tells "his kids" that he went Wii bowling Christmas day!

One of my gifts from Dale was the Wii Fit! I've only done it once so far, and love it! With my continued use of the treadmill, and now the Wii Fit, I may actually loose a few pounds! Well, that is if I can stay out of the leftover Christmas sweets! I've been encouraging the kids to eat them so that I won't!

Anyway, the Wii is tons of fun and good for a few laughs! Dale and I are still working out the kinks on how the children get their time on the Wii. At this point they have to earn their time by having their chore done, room half way decent and based on good behavior. They still have their own day of the week for use on the computer, except when homework needs done. Kassie gets the computer on Monday, Brady Tuesday, Ashton Wednesday, etc. We knew this wouldn't work for the Wii, although it does work out nicely for the computer. BTW, we also give each child their own day of the week for whose turn it is to say prayers that day. Kassie Monday, Brady Tuesday, etc. Kaden is the only one who thinks every day is his day for prayer and is often yelling, "It's MY DAY!!" even when it isn't. So Angie, how do you work out who gets to use the Wii without chaos and bickering? I'm open for any and all suggestions! We purchased the Wii for the family's enjoyment, not to be a source of contention! OK, I'll admit, selfishly it was also purchased so I would be able to have the Wii Fit for myself!

A few Christmas pics

We didn't get started opening gifts until after 8:30 am. The children first looked at the gifts Santa didn't have wrapped, we then ate breakfast before unwrapping the other presents.Kassie is thrilled any time she receives books, even if they are used!
Brady has been lifting weights at home and sometimes at school with friends. This Whey protein is suppose to help build muscle and is perfect for after a good workout. He already had a container of the vanilla, so Santa thought he might like to try the chocolate.

Santa was tickled to find a game for Ashton's Nintendo DS at Ollie's for a discounted price!That Santa is such a thrifty shopper! This same basketball was TWENTY dollars MORE at Dick's Sporting Good's store. So glad Santa didn't buy it there!

These nutcrackers were purchased during last year's after Christmas sales and have been waiting patiently to become part of Bryson's collection!

Santa also uses the on-line coupons from AC Moore! During the holidays items could be purchased for half price! LOVE IT!

Oh look! A yard sale bargain that looks brand new! Kaden loves anything on wheels! (The Geotrax was ordered online -- free shipping!)

Dale loves ranch seasoning. We'll see if it tastes good on peanuts!

I was all excited when I found Dale's favorite TV show on DVD! Had to get it for him!

I'm not sure what Kaden enjoyed more, opening presents or cleaning up the trash as the rest of us opened ours!

More Christmas traditions

Christmas Eve is always spent at Aunt Bonnie's house. This year was no different. As I went to take this picture of our snacks for the night, my batteries died! Good thing I found out Christmas Eve and not Christmas morning. I had plenty of time to get home and charge them for the next day. Bonnie's youngest daughter, Jennifer and her family were also with us for the evening. You would have never known that I fed my family supper before coming, by the way they devoured Aunt Bonnie's chicken sausage meatballs and little smokies! After filling our plates with goodies we watched a Christmas movie. This year it was The Nativity. We had to leave before it was over -- too many goofy kids too wound up in anticipation of Santa's arrival. I'm sure Aunt Bonnie and Nan Nan were glad to see us go! LOL!!

Christmas tradition

We love Maple Donuts! No other donut even comes close to these delicious pastries! Since the Maple donut shops are all in York, and we rarely get to York, it's a real treat to have a bakers dozen or two in the house. Several years ago we started an unhealthy Eyler family Christmas tradition of having Maple Donuts for the holidays. I'm sure each one is loaded with fat and calories and very little, if any, nutrition. But who cares? It's Christmas! Dale, Bryson and I went to York two days before Christmas do to some last minute shopping. Our first stop was the Maple Donut store next to their factory. Love that place! We bought plenty of donuts to last us until Christmas. (Shelley, look in the background of this picture of Ashton eating her peanut butter filled donut. Notice anything?)

I picked out our favorites: peanut butter cream, white cream, Bavarian and apple.

As much as I love Maple Donuts, I'll be glad when they're gone. It's one treat I absolutely cannot resist.

Four Generations...

of babysitters!

Sister Debi Hoffman (far left) used to babysit me. When she had children, I babysat for her. Next to me is Debi's youngest daughter, Dawn-Renae. After I had children, Dawn and her two sisters babysat for me. Dawn-Renae now has a child of her own. We just had to get a picture of my daughter "babysitting" her son! Here we are, four generations of babysitters!

The Hoffman's had a get together at their house Sunday night for all of us to meet their first grandchild. It was so good to see the Hoffman girls again, and of course to meet baby Monte! He is so adorable, as you can see from the pictures! Dawn, you're going to have to move back East so Monte can one day babysit my grandchildren! LOL!

He shoots, he SCORES!!

For years Avery has asked to play basketball. The time finally came, and he LOVES it! Following are a few videos of yesterday's games. Avery is number 4.

I was not Avery's only fan at the games yesterday. I don't know who was sitting behind me, but I kept hearing them say, "Where's Avery?" "Give the ball to Avery!" "Go Avery!" "Pass the ball to Avery, he'll make the basket!"

After his very first game a few weeks ago, his coach chose him as one of the four best players to receive a special basketball patch for on his uniform. The more Avery plays, the better he gets. I'm so happy he has found something he's good at and that he loves to do!

One more Christmas party video

Did you know Santa Clause loves Bluegrass music? With only six days until Christmas, he chose to come to the Hanover Ward Christmas party just to add a little Bluegrass to his holiday. However, he was so busy performing his Santa duties, that he missed both songs! I told Mrs. Clause that I would post them on my blog. Here's the other one that I couldn't get to post last night. ENJOY!

More on the Christmas party

Oh what a hassle it is putting videos on my blog! I can't get the second one to download, so I'll try them one at a time. This song was actually the second one Dale and Bonnie played. It was a last minute decision to ask Brother Hodson to join in. I'm so glad they did!

Kaden meets Santa

Tonight was our annual ward Christmas party. Toward the end of the evening Santa always appears. I wish there would have been better lighting, but a dark video is better than none!

Hey Angie, how 'bout that Santa?

A day of shopping

This past Saturday, my sister-in-law Bonnie and I, started out early for a day of shopping. We did this one Saturday earlier in the fall and decided to do it on a regular basis, maybe once every couple of months. Our first stop both times has been Miller's Country Market. As we were checking out, our friends the Heaths were walking in the door! Lucy and I are both looking for a whole wheat bread recipe that tastes great, and that our families will eat! My purchases this time included dough enhancer and wheat gluten in hopes of helping to get that perfect loaf of bread.

I also splurged on Christmas sprinkles and colored sugar for my Christmas cookies.


I had coupons for AC Moore, so that was our next stop. After leaving this store I was able to cross two more people off my Christmas list!
Lunch was next on our agenda. We had decided on Friendly's, although I forgot to take my camera into the mall, so I have no pictures! Lunch was good, although I could have used another scoop of ice cream on my sundae!

Oh, look! An idea of something Dale could make!

A certain someone on my list loves nutcrackers, but the ones at this store were way beyond my budget!

Ahh, a place where my dollar will go further... the flea market in Thomasville! It's were I found the perfect gift! Can't wait for Christmas morning!

We should have started our day at the Morningstar flea market. We were running out of time and couldn't stay as long as we would have liked. We still had at least one more stop to squeeze in.

With seven lunches to pack each week day, I'm always looking for a bargain to put in their sack. This was the place to find it!

We missed going to Hanover Food outlet this time. There are usually good deals there as well, but we were out of time. We'll be sure to hit that place the next time.

I had an enjoyable day, good food, good bargains, great company and money left over!

Kenzie's Choral Concert

Last week Kenzie had her first choral concert. We wanted Nana and Pappy to see what they were missing, so I recorded two of the songs. Kenzie was very much aware that I was taking pictures and recording. A few times the camera shakes because I'm laughing at her looking at me!

Kenzie didn't want me to put this second video on the blog because she was paying more attention to me than to her music director! I still think it's cute, and we all love the song!

The story of the mouse continues

Although Kaden is out of diapers, I still carry along a diaper bag to church for him in case he would have an accident, and to carry items to entertain him during Sacrament. During the week the diaper bags stays out in the van. This past Sunday while Kaden was being fussy, I started rooting through the diaper bag to see what I might find to keep him quiet. I reached in and pulled out this granola bar.

My first thought was a mouse. Then I tried to think of other explanations, there wasn't any!
Look close at the teeth marks where it nibbled away at the paper.

Later I discovered chewed bits of paper at the bottom of the diaper bag. Oh, and yes, those little black things are mouse turds! Remember the mouse that fell from my van while I was parked at Aldi? Now I'm wondering if the mouse really came from the field next to Aldi or if I some how brought it from home. I might have been in Aldi thirty minutes. Is that enough time for a mouse to get in my van, find it's way into the diaper bag, chew through the paper, eat some granola bar and then have a bowel movement? I often leave the diaper bag unzipped. Guess I won't be doing that again!

AHHHHH!!!

This morning Dale called and asked if I wanted to eat lunch with him today. We made plans to meet at Perkins in Hanover at 12:00. I was planning on staying home all day, but since I was going into Hanover, I decided to get some groceries while I was there. I finished up a few chores at the house, got Kaden dressed and headed to Wal-Mart. That was all the shopping we had time for before meeting up with Dale. After lunch I wanted to stop at Aldi. There are several groceries that are cheaper there, and worth the extra stop. Aldi was very busy. The front row in the parking lot was full so I decided to park along the side of the building. This part of the parking lot is next to a field with some overgrown weeds. After picking up the items I needed, we headed back to the van. I opened up the side door to put Kaden in his seat and something fell from the van door. When I looked down to see what fell, it scurried away! "Ahhhh! A mouse!" It wasn't a rat, but it wasn't a TINY mouse either! When I eventually got up the nerve to get in the van, I looked over at the field. That's when I saw a large brown hawk lurking by the weeds. I then knew what the mouse was trying to hide from, I just wish it wouldn't have chosen my van in which to hide! I had the heebie jeebies all the way home. What if there was more than one mouse? What if one got into the van? What if it ran over my feet while I was driving? It's hard to believe that during my early days of teaching, I actually had a pet RAT in my classroom! What was I thinking? Well, needless to say, I will not be parking next to that field again!