40 days of Christmas: Week 1 HOPE

We have started our Christmas celebration. In an attempt to teach the children about Christmas we have started to do a special activity everyday of Advent and Epiphany ( Yes I can do the math it is 38 days not 40 this year, but that is what happens when you combine lunar and solar calendar) So here goes......


1 Sunday November 29: We decorated and lit the first candle in the advent wreath.

2 Monday November 30: We planted Narcissus bulbs. They should bloom before the end of the Christmas season.

3 Tuesday December 1: Practice Christmas carol with scouts for caroling

4 Wednesday December 2: Sent Christmas Cards. We are still missing address for many so if you want a card please make sure we have your correct address.

5 Thursday December 3: We read Christmas books.

6 Friday December 4: We went and saw the river glow. First Baptist had a carolers and live nativity.

7 Saturday December 5: We went to see Lumiarias at SJC

Thanksgiving 09

Let me start with the batteries went out in my camera so I have no good pictures just a few very blurry ones. :(

We had Thanksgiving over at Jim and Susie's. It was great they have a kitchen large enough for more than one person to cook and room for everyone to eat together.

Christi was in charge of the cooking with Susie and Cathy helping. It was so much fun and went off pretty well. Just a few tweaks for next time.

The kids had fun playing all over the house. I think the girls enjoyed being able to set up small toys like littlest pet shop in the living room where Ahonora couldn't get to them.

Ahonora crawled and explore all over the family room. In fact she got so tired she couldn't even pick up her head, but she didn't want to go to sleep either. She woke right when Susie yelled for everyone to come to eat and she didn't need to be told twice.

Dreigan showed off his mad Wii skills yo. Jim got the wii for us last Christmas and we thought this was a great time to show him exactly what he got us.

Dinner was timed just right for Nick and Steve right at halftime of the Cowboy's game.

The kids ate the most food in this order Dreigan, Ahonora, Fionna, Naya. Yes you saw that right Ahonora ate nearly as much as the adults. Naya even snuck her a small piece of turkey, which she seemed to do all right with.

Dreigan of course left early to go eat with his Dad thanks Dex for sharing.

Overall we had tons of fun with our modern family. Missed all of you who could not be here with us, and ate our little hearts out because of course with Susie, Christi, and Cathy cooking there was way more food than we could eat in one meal.

A last piece of business
We would like to remind everyone that this year we trying to not make this year's Christmas about getting but giving and Jesus, so please keep the number of gifts down. If each relative gets the kids one present and Nick and Christi get them two they will receive roughly ten diffrent presents each and Dreigan very easily receives twice that much. I know it is difficult and we all want the kids to have a great Christmas.
A Christmas wish list:
We are asking for everyone to try to keep the presents small, books, DVDs, and Wii games are welcome but please call first and ask if we have that title already as we have good size libraries of boks and DvDs. Games for the Wii are an excellent choice as our selection is limited.
Here is a short list of request titles:
DVD's
Up
Pixar short films
G-force
Snow White
Tinkerbell and the lost treasure
Star wars Episode 1
Star Wars Episode 2 (we have both on tape but not DVD)
Devina Code
Angels and Demons
Start Trek
If you go off list please watch rating. We seldom have time to watch movies without the children so anything over a PG 13 rating while appreciated is often not watched much.

Wii Games
resort
Fit plus
I spy
Jump Start Pet Rescue
Clone Wars lightsaber duels
Where's Waldo
The Princesses and the frog
Cloudy with a chance of meatballs
Medieval Games
Dora saves the snow princess
Ballet studio
Hasbro Family Game night
Lego Rock Band

we could also use two more remotes, and most accessories.

If you go off list please watch the rating. E and Ec are okay for the girls, E10 for Dreigan. T games must be screened and will not play without adult permission. M games are just not allowed.
Ahonora wear size 3-6mo in two piece set and 6mo in one piece
being the forth she is not really wanting for things, books are always welcomed

Naya wears size 5 clothes but can wear size 6 if it is smallish.
She love littlest pet shop.

Fionna wears a 6 to 6x but is still very slim. Be forewarned she is very picky and will not wear clothes she does not like. I strongly suggest you just get her gift cards to JCPenney or Justice (her favorite) and take her shopping. She loves it.
She loves doing her hair and make-up and jewelry as well.

Dreigan wear a 12.
He still loves Star Wars, legos and video games. He is also into his bike. Last fall he tried BMX racing a enjoyed and wants to continue but is in need of the equipment, helmet, pads, and eventually if he is good a bmx bike. The ones he has now work fine. Also unabridged books on tape are good as he can follow along in the book and get credit at school for reading them without so much stress.
As always books are welcomed
We have also out grown our tent and are short sleeping bags. Christi and Dreigan love weird camping accessories.

The grown-up "kids" gift exchange goes like this:
Ben N - Terry
Lara- Nick
Christi- Lara
Nick- Ben S
Terry - Christi
Ben S - Ben N

This and That

As usual we have been running around being very busy. So here are a few high lights

Ahonora has learned to crawl and wave. She also is very close to cutting the two top front teeth. She is also pulling-up on anything and everything she can and if someone is willing to hold her hands she runs, not walks, but runs all over.

She has also discovered two great new games drop-it and dump-it. Ah cause and effect.

Naya has turned four years old. We celebrated twice once at home with just all of us. Then the following Saturday at McDonald's. Grandpa Jim, Aunt Susie, Cathy, Steve, T.J., Tami, Austin, Aubrey, plus our gang were all there. Naya also got her cast off just in time for her birthday. Her leg is still stiff but she is doing well, she is only not suppose to jar by running, jumping, sliding, ect. Yes I asked the Doc if he knew she was four. We got a great report from her teacher she is doing well. They are surprised by all that she has to say. In fact one of the quotes on her paintings is " This picture is seriously creepy, someone is abducting my dog!" She is currently recovering from a three day asthma attack.

Fionna went and helped the scouts clean-up the Bloomfield cemetery and then placed flags on the veterans graves in observance of Veterans Day. She also went with the scouts and made paper lanterns at Gateway park. She is doing well in learning her part for the Christmas play on December 13. She has found her appetite just in time for the holidays. She received an excellent report card and has earned her Book-it pizza.

Dreigan is very busy getting ready for all his performances which are on December 11,12, and 13. His school performance is the 18th. He got his mighty miler card. He also went with the scouts to make lanterns. He started tutoring at Sylvan.


Christi and Nick stays busy with work, scouts, kids, and so on. They also celebrated thier 9th anniversary on the 18th.

Donna is getting ready for her long weekend in ABQ. She is trying to get the house ready for Advent and Christmas.

And hit the ground running

Ahonora has mastered crawling and is now pulling up on furniture. If you hold her she tries to run, forget walking. She has also started calling for the missing person, we think. She enjoyed her first Halloween she went dressed as a jock-o-lantern, she learned she loves Dum dums.

Naya has her cast off! She is dancing and is not supose to jumping in running. The only problem is she turned four on the eighth. She went as a Zebra this Halloween. She also has the part of a Shepard in our church's Christmas play on December 13th.

Fionna went as a cheetah this Halloween. She also made her Read-it pizza this week. She helped the girl scout troop make two dozen angels for the hospital. Fionna has a part in the Christmas play as one of the grandchildren.

Dreigan has returned to school and is doing okay.For those of you who don't know on the 11th and 12 of December he will be dancing in Mann's Dance Academy's Nutcracker. On the 13 on this weekend he will be playing the part of the Prophet Isiah,. He is also singing a solo. Go Drei go! He is learning to play the recorder for his class's Christmas performance. He seems to be loving it.

Christi is trying to catch-up from the craziness of October.

Nick is singing on the 13th at our Church's cantata. He also would like to hold a funeral for his free time.

Donna is better. She is out of bed more than in bed.

It never rains but it pours and it is pouring tears from heaven

Christi got over the flu quickly, which is good. It would have made all that needed to be done very difficult.
Friday was Bloomfield's homecoming parade, which of course Dreigan and Fionna were in with all the other scouts. Donna received a call on Friday form her sister. It seem for the last few weeks since having surgery Donna's mom had been on life support and at her request they were taking Mayre off life support on Sunday. Despite Nick and Christi's urging Donna decided to stay in Bloomfield but called her mother.

On Sunday Christi, Donna, Dreigan, Fionna, and Naya went Halloween costume hunting. It was very frustrating most the stores had their stock very picked over.

Mayre E. McClanahan, 83, of Las Cruces, died Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. She was born April 1, 1926 in Henderson County, ILL to Robert and Beth Whiteman Glenn. Mayre had been a retired Registered Nurse working at the old Memorial General Hospital in Las Cruces and helped them move to the now Memorial Medical Center. She also worked for many years of faithful service with the San Juan Regional Hospital in Farmington, NM. She was proud of being a nurse and had a passion for working in the O.B. She was also a member of 1st Presbyterian Church and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Mayre is survived by her loving husband of 62 years Donald K. McClanahan of Las Cruces; sons James and wife Jennifer of San Antonio, TX, Steven and wife Linda of Columbus, Ohio, Michael of Las Cruces, David of Aztec, NM and Glenn and wife Sandy of Biggsville, ILL; daughters Donna Holcombe of Bloomfield, NM and Debra Selisky and husband Thomas of Los Lunas, NM. Also surviving her are sisters Mildred Anderson and husband Dale of Stronghurst, ILL and Elizabeth Speer and husband Gordon of Sterling, ILL, and by 22 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

A visitation was held from 5 to 7 PM on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 at Getz Funeral Home. Funeral Services to celebrate her life was at 10:00 AM on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Norm Story officiating. Burial followed at 1:30 PM also on Thursday at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. To Which Donna, Christi, Becca, Naya, and Ahonroa atteded all.

It is truly my belief that my Grammy had a hand in all that followed. You see Dreigan choked a kid on Thursday the 18th, the kid nearly passed out. We of course made a call to the doctors, but could not get him in to be seen until Monday. It was there that Dreigan informed Dr Simon that he wanted to kill the kid, his detailed plan to kill himself, and that this was being brought on by voices and people no one else can see or hear. Needless to say Christi was pulled out of work. The first time she had gone to work since the previous Tuesday. She started her bereavement leave and left to go to the ER to take care of Dreigan. Which was made more difficult because we were down to one van, the white van's brakes went out. Thanks Cathy and Steve for helping with that. Where it was decided that Dreigan needed to be place in a pediatric mental health unit. In fact he had to there so quickly that Dreigan and Christi were air lifted to ABQ. The reason I feel my Grammy helped is as we all know who love Dreigan, he has been spiralling to this for a while, and now out of the blue the doctors decided to listen and Drei decided to tell the whole truth.

So if you are confused here is a quick time line of events this week.

Monday-Christi and Dreigan airlifted to ABQ. Dreigan admitted to the hospital. Christi crashed at Adam and Lynn's. Also Christi's Grandma/Donna's mom died.

Tuesday-Becca picks up Christi drives back to Bloomfield, pick up Donna, Naya, and Ahonora, drive back to ABQ. Visited D, he wigged out.

Wednesday- Becca, Christi, Donna, Naya, and Ahonora drove to Las Cruces.

Thursday- The Funeral in Las Cruces and Burial at Fort Bliss. Where we nearly ran out of gas. Becca's car has a 13 gallon tank we put in 12.98 gals.

Friday- Donna, Becca, Christi, Naya, and Ahonora drove back to ABQ from Las Cruces. Nick, Fionna, Terry drove from Bloomfield to ABQ. Donna came down with the flu.

Saturday-Nick, Christi, Terry, Fionna, Naya, and Ahonora go to the zoo with the scouts. Afterward go visit D and learn D will be staying another 6-10 days. So back to Bloomfield everyone goes, except D.

Sunday-recovering

Nick and Christi return to work on Monday. Christi is out of leave and we can not afford to take unpaid FMLA leave. Nick has a few days left and is saving them for when it is time to pick up Drei.

If I haven't told you your are on the list or you don't know and you want to call Dreigan or visit him let me know first so that I can add you.

catching our breath

We are taking a quick pause. To better exemplify this and to elevate confusion I shall do a chronological time line.

Saturday Oct. 3rd Nick, Christi, and Donna had a long committee meeting 9-3 for scouts. Thanks Cathy, Steve, Terry for all your help getting the kids to their respective ballet classes.

Sunday Oct 4 we had Fionna's 7th birthday party. It was help at Big Bounce. Yes we like the irony as well of how Naya broke her leg and we still take the kids to bounce. It was fantastic despite the cake snafu. The cake we ordered didn't come in so we had to improvise what do you think?

Monday Oct 5 we had a very long WIC appointment which was suppose to be short. Fionna also start a cheer leading clinic for the week. Ahonora cut her first tooth.

Tuesday Oct 6 Scouts! Nick and Fionna went to regular scouts. Christi went to the neighborhood meeting for girl scouts. Dreigan stayed home he had a complete melt down. Yes, Fionna went to cheerleading.

Wednesday Oct 7 Christi worked late, Fionna had cheer leading, Dreigan had play therapy, Nick had choir. Let just say we had tons of fun coordinating all this.

Thursday Oct 8Fionna still had Cheer leading and Dreigan had the first dance practice for the Nutcracker. Yes you read that right Dreigan is dancing a lead role in the Nutcracker this year. His show is December 12.

Friday Oct 9 Fionna cheered at the Bloomfield High School home game. At half when we left it was 47-0 Bloomfield.

Saturday Oct 10 Christi went to an all day trianing for cub scouts. Plus the kids still had dance.

Sunday Oct 11 finally rest and Christi started to get sick.

Monday Oct 12 Dreigan refused to go to school and we were informed by the school they could not make him go to school he would just be a disruption if there. Christi also went to a meeting to tally popcorn. Way to go Dreigan! He was the second highest seller in the pack and the other kid had a parent do it all for them by taking it to work. Ahonora cut her second tooth.

Tuesday Oct 13 Scouts! Took Drei to the audiologist. He is still missing high frequencies. Christi did skip scouts, by the time they got back she felt so bad it was they wrote.

Wednesday Oct 14 Christi stay home form work with body aches, head ache, cough, fever. Yes the doctor confirmed it she has the flu. Do to the long wait at urgent care Nick missed choir.

PARTY!!!!

Oh it is the start of the holidays for us. If you don't know why please scroll down and look at all our birth dates or just keep watching and you will soon see.

Ahonora- had her six month well child check she is up to 25 in and 13lbs 4 oz. She is putting along on her own growth curve, which for having turners is good. She spent last Wednesday and Thursday with Cathy, I hope she feels more bonded to her now.

Naya check out her new wheels for school. !!!! Well at least when she is outside. Naya went back to school on Wednesday and is super happy she is back to our old Naya, happy, singing, and lecturing. She also went to the orthopedist on Wednesday they were very happy with the way her leg is healing. She crawls everywhere and pulls herself up on the future. We have even caught her taking a few step. No I am not talking about Ahonora! I didn't realize we would be going through all the walking stages again, only is we don't want Naya walking yet.

Fionna we have book Fionna's party it will be at the big bounce in Farmington on the 4 at 4pm. She is super excited. For her it has been party season she has been invited to three birthday parties already. She was totally devastated when she had to miss one this weekend do to dance and is having a very hard time understanding we can not invite all of Bloomfield to hers.

Dreigan well his good streak is over he is currently on a three day suspension for various offenses. As a result he is grounded no friends, no scouts, no dance(sort of). He has to go to work with Nick. In good news we did let him audition for the Nutcracker on Saturday, and he got a part doing one of the boys in beginning party and somewhere else yet to be announced. He also did a fantastic job at the popcorn booth last Saturday.


Christi had a different birthday.Week ago Friday we had dinner at Cathy and Steve's. Then last weekend Christi and Nick went to ABQ and had a great time with Adam. Lynn and Becca. We stayed out until 3 am in clubs on Central Saturday night. Sunday we went to ABQ up town and the state fair. It was fun just spending time the two of us and getting to sleep late. Monday shopping at the scout stores and coming home. Wednesday Christi's actual birthday was pretty unremarkable dinner at Outback.

Nick took time off here, there and everywhere to take care of his family.

Donna is spending the weekend have some respite in ABQ after two days in preschool.

Life in the ER

All I can say is Oh My God AM I Glad This Week is OVER!

Ahonora saw the geneticist this week who was very happy with how she is developing. She does have to have another genetic test to rule the need for surgery. She is also being sent to gastrointestinal doc due to all her fussiness and spitting-up.

Naya spent Sunday the 6 at immediate care due to a severe asthma attack it took three hours of aggressive medication to get it under control. We think it was brought on from a mild respiratory infection she caught her first week in school. On Saturday she started ballet again, she is the only child in her class so she received an individual lesson. Later that day we went to a fun day for the Bloomfield Boys and Girls Club where she was bouncing in the bounce house, she had her leg landed on by a bigger child which fractured her leg. She now gets to spend this week at home resting until we can is the orthopedic doctor to get a cast on it.

Fionna also started ballet and is so excited. On Saturday the 5th she was at a friends house spending the night. While she was there she was jumping on the bed when she slip and smacked her teeth. On Tuesday we took her to the dentist, no fractures, and boy is she lucky her teeth are loose and ready to fall out, it saved her adult teeth.

Dreigan had a good week behaviorally. On Wednesday he was popping a wheelie on his bike when he fell landing on his hand. His hand quickly bruised ans swelled so we quickly took him to the intimidate care center. Where they said he bruised it real good and jammed it but if it continues to hurt to bring him back and they will x-ray it again to make sure it isn't fractures. As of tonight it is still very swollen, we will keep you posted. Dreigan on Saturday started his first ballet class he was very excited and did very well for his first time. Becca he does need you to come up and teach him the positions and other basic moves like spotting.

Christi has new kids in her class and is enjoying them they are so little. She is also very tired of doctor offices.

Nick is grateful to go back to the peace of work.

Donna says she would like a full night sleep.

The cats well BB had to go to the vet because he got something in his eye.Last Drei is selling popcorn again if you would like some please let us know.

The Start of School

This week marked the start of school. We went to Albuquerque over last weekend and completed school shopping. Then on Tuesday Dreigan and Fionna Started school. So......

Ahonora has made a friend at church.
and is on the brink of being mobile.

Naya has to wait until the first to start school. In the mean time she discovered that the veggie basket has, cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, ect. Now she plays veggietales with the fresh veggies.
She also enjoyed some individual time with Christi and Nick who took her to the natural history museum.
Fionna started 1st grade this week and loves it. She also got to ride a horse down in Los Lunas when we went to Danielle's birthday party.

Dreigan started school as well. He started the 4th grade at Naaba Ani. We made two days before he said he didn't want to got school. Oh well there is always next year. He did not get to go the ABQ instead he went camping with Dex and had a blast.

Christi is sick of cleaning, organizing, and laminating. Her classroom has to be ready by now.

Nick well.......

Donna is enjoying her last few days with Naya before she goes to school. She also has declared us all sick because we celebrated the United States government declared her disabled.

The most wonderful time of the year

Many signs that summer is coming to an end has come to our house.

1 VBS- Dreigan, Fionna, Naya, Ahonora, and Donna spent last week at vacation bible school. The video is fun to watch if them singing the songs they learned.

2 Connie Mack- Dreigan has gone to games with Mel this week

3 San Juan County Fair- While we haven't made as of yet we are planning to go on Thursday does any one want to join us?

4 Scouts- regular scout meeting have resumed

5 Tax Free weekend- Last weekend was tax free weekend for buying school supplies, unfortunately since all the adults and Ahonora was sick we did not participate.