No, we haven't fallen off the face of the Earth....

I can't hardly remember what has happened since the last time I updated..... The boys were busy with with program practice for the Sunday School Christmas program. The kids did a great job putting on a musical. Since they had to be there for all the services, I got to watch it 3 times. I pretty much knew the songs myself : )

We lost our dear Pongy-boy on the 12th. We brought him home at just 5 1/2 weeks old. He was so tiny!! Pongy was a good dog to us. He hated having his paws touched, had chronic ear infections, and wasn't particularly fond of strangers. In his good days, he LOVED to run and made a great running companion. However, his passion was to go with Travis for bike rides. He's always loved food....even most vegetables. He was a vigilant protector of his family and home, and would bark if he heard someone walking a block away. We sure will miss him.

We left for ND on Thursday, the 20th, to be with our families for Christmas. We stayed at a hotel on Thursday since the drive is about 11 hours, and then drove the rest of the way on Friday. The boys had a great time swimming. Min realized that there are great benefits to be the 3rd child. We let him eat chicken nuggets and french fries for supper (something Henry would have NEVER gotten to do at 14 months...and likely not Charles either). And, then he managed to raid the bag of Cheeto's and tried to horde as many as he could. As you can see, it is doubtful that he could have held on to too many more. We got to my parents on Friday afternoon and were so glad to be done travelling (Trav's parents live in the same town). Charles had been asking my dad for weeks if they could build a birdhouse (my dad does a lot of woodworking). This is a picture of them in my dad's workshop finishing the bird house. Charles is helping my dad drill the screws to hold on the roof. It is a very nice birdhouse that is shaped like a barn. Charles has been wanting a barn in our yard for the past few months. He decided to paint it blue with a white roof.
Christmas Eve was spent at my parents. Our whole family (my sister, brothers and all their family) was together. This is a picture of all the cousins. Only my great nephew, Noah, is missing. He's 3.
In order, Min 1 yr, Jacey 17, Tianna 4, Trista 2, Lane 11, Henry 6, Clay 19, Charles 4. This was the only picture I had where Min wasn't screaming...he's not very pleased, but at least you can see more than his open mouth. It was a crazy night, especially when it was time to open the presents. I don't know that I've ever seen paper fly so fast but what can I expect when you have 5 kids 6 and under.
Trista and Min were having a lot of fun playing with a bag of scarves. Only a 1 and 2 year old can find such great fun in scarves. They are only a year apart in age.

My brother, Lance, and Henry. Henry got a guitar for Christmas and was serenading Lance with a very long, ad lib song. Lance laughed and said it was longer than the 'Flight of the Bumblebees.'
Charles is playing back-up to Henry.

On Christmas morning, we went to Travis' mom and dad's for Christmas there. This is a picture of the boys with their cousins. Georgia 9, and Ella 7. Min and Charles were not at all liking to have their picture taken.
The rest of the week was fairly quiet and the boys got some much needed rest. They were all sick while we were there, and with the excitement of Christmas they didn't get enough sleep. We left for home on Thursday, stopped again for the night, and got back to Rochester on Friday afternoon. We were all glad to be home. We spent today just doing things around the house. Min found these glasses and actually WANTS to wear them. He has brought them to us many times to help put them on.
Tonight, Charles started yelling, "Mom! Dad!! Come quick! Min's in big trouble!" We couldn't imagine what must be going on as we ran into the family room. There was our dear Min, smiling at us with his face and hands covered in soot. He had found the fireplace tools.
He's so proud of himself that he's clapping.

Lots of pictures!!

Life has been a little crazy since getting back from ND. It took a few days just to get settled back into a routine, and then to prepare for Christmas. It seems to take a little longer with the boys since they are always so helpful and Min is turning into such a busy boy that you can't get much done before he needs to be rescued. He's always liked to sit at the piano and 'play.' But, not he's
learned that actually crawling onto the piano is so much better. Now, he would climb up to the very top if I let him. He zooms up the stairs with no trouble, but still isn't much interested in coming down. Thank goodness!! We have just one step into our family room and he stands at the top of that and yells 'bow' (down) until we come to get him. Interesting, since he knows how to get down off the couch.
We did get the Christmas tree up and decorated....FINALLY!! We had it up and I went to string the lights (which worked perfectly BEFORE I put them on the tree), strung them and then had to take them down and restring them with new lights. UGH!! Then the boys helped me decorate as you can see above. If you look carefully, you can see that most of the ornaments are toward the middle of the tree. I gave the boys directions as to whether an ornament could go toward the bottom (meaning it was safe for Min to take off the tree), or at the top. So far we've done okay with no broken ornaments.
Min found some glitter in the box. Thankfully, the cap stayed on until I could rescue it.

This is the newest stunt of our little mountain goat. I had left a box of wet wipes next to the toy box and he used it to climb on top of the box and stand up to look out the window. Imagine my surprise when I turned around and saw him standing up there!!
Henry had his first tae kwon do tournament on Saturday. It was here in town at a local school. Henry did great!! There were three competitions--board-breaking, form, and sparring. The competitors were grouped according to belt color and general age.

Henry got a silver medal in form and board-breaking, and a bronze medal in sparring. He looks pretty serious but he was very proud.

Charles and Min with some much needed play time in the school lobby.
This picture is for Gramma Marsha so that she can see how well her grandson is protected. This picture doesn't show the mouth guard, shin protectors, or 'nut cup' that he's wearing. Henry was pretty proud of that protector, apparently, since we heard him tell 3 other students (girls) from his TKD class that he had one.
Henry with his 3 medals.

We went to the TKD school Christmas party afterwards which was a lot of fun. Great food, music, games, and goody bags for the kids meant everyone had a lot of fun. Min entertained a few with his dancing.