Gingerbread House

Today Maddie and Zack were invited over to a friends house to build gingerbread houses.  They had a lot of fun!

Out of Town Guests

Back when we lived in Roanoke Rapids we had some friends that we were really close to.  They had a daughter, Arrie about 3 months after Maddie and Zack were born.  We went out to eat together every Sunday.  We were always together on the weekends and a LOT during the week.  Once we moved to Mooresville they had another daughter and moved to Tarboro.  We have tried to remain close, but due to distance and life with children we haven't seen them in 3 years.  This weekend they came to visit us.  The kids had a BLAST together.  Maddie and Arrie were inseparable and Avery and Zack played really well together too.  I have missed them so much.  We are trying to recruit them to move this way.  They already have their house on the market.  So prayers that someone will buy their house!!

Acrobatic Fun

Found Dash, Touchdown, and Shimmer performing some amazing skills on Friday morning.

Grinch Fun

Thursday was "dress up like a Grinch character" at school.  Zack wanted to be a young Grinch and Maddie wanted to be Little Cindy-Lou Who. So this is what I came up with:

Zootastic Fun

On Tuesday we surprised the kids and took them to Zootastic.  It is a local place that is like a huge petting zoo, but during Christmas they have a TON of lights.  Once you are done with the lights, you can go see Santa, then feed some animals, do some s'mores and also get your pic made with a giraffe.  The kids LOVED it and had a blast!

Roast Grinch

We found Dash this morning with Shimmer and Touchdown.  Who is Touchdown?  He is the boy Carolina elf we got at the UNC vs. VA game which was the same time we got Shimmer.  We have been missing him, but Dash helped find him last night.  Anyway, after watching 1/2 of the Grinch last night, we found the elves torturing poor Grinch.  I guess they don't know the ending of that movie and how he becomes nice at the end!

Movie time

Zack has really been wanting to watch The Grinch, BUT only when Dash is in front of the tv to watch.  Well, it looks like Dash heard Zack.  He and Shimmer even popped popcorn and they are ready for movie night!  Looks like after school we will be watching the movie.

Elf Fun

We Found Dash coloring with Shimmer this morning.  Zack is convinced that Shimmer has real magic like Dash does, however mommy and Maddie think that Dash makes Shimmer come to life like the rest of the toys he plays with at night. Either way, we found them coloring this morning.  They are excellent at staying in the lines.

Our chaotic Life

This week we have all been under the weather.  Of course that doesn't mean we were all home sick in bed.  Nope!  Our church musical is this weekend, with one show completed last night.  We have one today and two tomorrow.  Poor Michael didn't even have a voice to sing on Wednesday, but we have been downing loads of medicine, zinc, vitamin c, you name it, we have tried it.  The first performance went great!  Michael sounded awesome and in my two songs I was able to have a voice to squeak by,  

Not only have I been dealing with everyone's colds, but I have also had a TON of business orders.  I had 4 dresses due this week and of course they were all brand new dresses I have never attempted.  I got them all completed and I think they turned out great.  We also had our normal run mom ragged schedule with dance and we started basketball this week.  

Just another week in the life of a Hectic Nowell!!

What's up next week? 5 dresses, monogrammed vest, monogrammed pillow, dance for Maddie (special class where they dress up like princesses), church (kids have to bring baby gifts for baby Jesus, which are donated to our pregnancy support center), basketball, kids play, my class play, my class party, teacher party, secret sister gifts due all week, parent and kids gifts due, and last but not least we have a Christmas surprise for the kids. We also are continuing to do Christmas books every day and an advent activity.  I'm looking forward to the 19th!!!!!

Twister Fun

Found Dash hanging with the boys this morning.  They were playing a round of Twister.  Looks like Dash is much more flexible.  I think he's going to win!

At the Drive-In

.Dash was spotted hanging with Shimmer again this morning.  They were parked in Barbie's car and watching one of our Christmas trees.  It looks almost like instead of a drive-in movie they went to a drive-in Christmas tree.

Tooth Fairy vs. Elf

This morning we found Dash tied up with dental floss along with a note from the Tooth Fairy.  She let Zack know that Dash thought she was a tooth thief and wouldn't let her leave, so she tied him up.  Before all the commotion, I was able to get a pic of the Tooth Fairy's visit.

Zack's 1st Lost Tooth

When Zack got off the bus today he had a tooth that was barely hanging on.  He messed with it for a few hours, but it was still holding on when we left for church.  He went to Mrs. Kim Sellers and asked if she would pull it for him.  Literally a second later, he had his 1st tooth out. He is so excited.  In fact all night he ran to anyone at church that would listen and show his smile!

Just Friends?

It appears that Dash has met our girl Carolina Elf, Shimmer, that we got back in October.  I think he is quite smitten with her.  Looks like he took her out for syrup "shakes".  They look happy!  Let's hope he doesn't break her heart when he has to leave to go back to the North Pole.

Thought that counts

This morning we discovered Dash on the kitchen counter with a note.  The note says "I packed your lunch.  I hope you like it! Love, Dash". Let's just say, I'm glad it is pizza day and we will be buying our lunches today.  However, we thank Dash for being so sweet though!

Story Time

Dash made some new friends this morning by reading his favorite book, Elf on the Shelf

Sick-o

Well, colds have hit this house hard!  We have two coughing, sneezing, stuffy children; and it looks like poor Dash has caught the same cold.  I will be buying lots of Lysol today!