Birthdays!
Aidan turned 4. I can hardy believe it! He's so big now. Here he is showing me he's four in the morning as we're heading out the door.

This was after dinner. We had cupcakes with spider-man rings on them.

Here's Isla with her very first cupcake. I took the frosting off of it but she never knew she was missing anything.

Grandma Linda sent a gift card and this is what Aidan picked out. He was very excited about getting to pick something out at the store. Isla liked it too.

Aidan kept shooing Isla away from his new toy. She finally got a couple minutes to play with it when Aidan went to go take his bath.

This was yesterday. We had Diego and Gabby over to play and then took them downtown to the cafe to play at the indoor playground. They had so much fun together.

Super cool cupcakes were had by all.

Including Isla. Again with out any frosting.

Maybe Aidan enjoyed his a little too much.

Here's some pictures at the cafe. Isla was taking most of Papa's shake.

This was as close as I got to everyone holding still for a picture. I'm not sure where Gabby disappeared to. She was in it just a second before.

After the cafe, they didn't want to go home yet so we came back and put in a movie. This happened very quickly. Gabby is knocked out. Aidan is about knocked out and Cecelia is out. Isla was napping too. It was awesome!

Isla also is celebrating her very first birthday! We didn't do anything big though. She got a couple of little presents and a cupcake of course. Here she is with her new my little pony baby. She loves it! She keeps hitting the chest and making it sing. I'm currently wondering if she's ever going to fall asleep for her nap or just keep playing that song...

Mwuhhhhh! (That's supposed to be an evil laugh)
So I definitely need to find a box or big button or something that has an evil laugh. Sort of like that big red easy button that says little sayings only when I push this button an evil laugh comes out. If anyone finds one, get it. I'll pay you back!
Today, one of my classes was being unruly and not responding to threats so my class teacher said we would keep students after class because it's the class right before lunch. My classroom teacher started the list. I added two names. One for language and the other for trying to debate with me for putting his friend's name down. We had a little conversation about respect and I pulled out my mom look. It was a beautiful moment. Then I was explaining something to a couple of girls and I got to watch them have an 'a-ha!' moment. Awesome! Seriously, I love this! I definitely think that people who have children have a leg up becoming a teacher. I have one student that I make nervous just looking at him. He feels guilty even when he hasn't done anything. hehehehehehe

Alas, the last leg begins...
Today, I was a teacher. Officially.
I started my student teaching today! I spent the whole day in the classroom. I had five classes, all of which had homework assigned. I helped students, answered questions, yelled at a couple of students. I even explained the downfalls of using the f-bomb while I was in the class. It was beautiful! All while covering pre-calc, algebra, and geometry. I didn't even have anyone looking over my shoulder because my classroom teacher had a death in the family so she wasn't there. I had a sub as backup but other than that, it was all me. I loved it! Here's for eleven more weeks of fun!

Christmas
Aidan had a good day at Yaya and Popsi's. He's been pointing out that castle every time he sees it!

Cecelia got a pretty pink bathrobe and slippers. She's been talking about these too. Now she's just like mommy.

Here's my latest quilt project. Although I haven't gotten much done on it, here's the top finished and I chalked out the quilting pattern I'm going to try. I've gotten started but I've got some seam-ripping to do already. Damn-it. Merry Christmas mom and dad. You can have it as soon as I've finished it.

I caught Conner being silly with the camera.

Conner and Isla being super cute together! He kept hugging her.

The ladies all dressed up for Christmas mass.

Here's the three of them together. They're so cute!

Christmas morning, Uncle Chuck is by far the winner! He's hugging a box. Aidan is still sleeping with this thing by his bed and loves it so much.

All the Ballentine kids together and mostly smiling. They set up the chairs and got all in a line by themselves. I just picked up the camera.

Aidan wore himself out one day. This was around 6pm one night. He napped the rest of the evening on the couch and then went to bed.

John getting some snuggle time in.

We hit the children's museum again. Here's the kids hanging out with Yoda!

Cecelia hanging out at Barbie's desk!

And Barbie's chair. She says she wants one of these for her room. Shocking.

I caught Debbie and Shelby coming down the slide.

Cecelia tried out the rock climbing wall. I'm so proud of her!


Aidan wanted to ride on the carousel. Cecelia and Shelby had already rode so John and daddy escorted Aidan. Look at John's face. I think he's more excited than Aidan.

Aidan feeling the love after we got back home.

This was the snow tonight. It was so pretty coming down. Plus there's already a ton on the ground. I love it!

A good boy moment. Aidan and daddy playing Mario Brothers on the tv. It was pretty cute.

How to fix a window...
Seems simple enough but I hadn't found the time until last week.
Start with Aidan.
Add a toy and let him get too close to a window.

Get all the broken glass out and then use your mad chisel skills to get the old crap out.

Put the new glass in and add some glazing points in and voila! A new window!!

Rejects for Christmas...
Here's some pictures that didn't make the cut.










I really love this last one. But I don't think Mark would let me use it for the Christmas card.

Ding Dong, Finals Are DONE!!!!
In my head that's sung to the tune of ding dong, the witch is dead... It's funnier. I can not even begin to tell you about all the crap that has happened in the last month. Let's put it this way, I have not quilted in almost three months and my house has not been properly cleaned in almost two. I haven't gone Really grocery shopping in 3 or 4 weeks and the house has had a permanent 'tornado just came through' look that makes my skin crawl for-EVER. That's how busy this semester has been. But it's over!!! And I'm expecting pretty good grades. I even managed to get a 95% on my history of mathematics final. That's right, I got an A in a history class!!! Where's my damn jr high teacher now!?! That's the only grade that's being reported so far. So here's the highlights that I can remember right now.
*I passed the Praxis 2. This is a content specific exam to get your teaching license. I realize that no one else was concerned about me passing but I was. If I had failed it, I did not have enough time to take it again before student teaching started and you have to have a passing grade to student teach. So, lots of pressure and I was very worried about it but I passed with flying colors and checked that off the list!
*I'm missing pictures. One of my lovely children got ahold of the camera. I'm not sure but I'm guessing Aidan. Somehow, the memory card disappeared out of it with all of Halloween and most of November on it. I'm sure someday we'll find it, somewhere weird, long after memory cards have changed and it's useless.
*I turned 31! And did absolutely nothing!!! Seriously! We celibrated on a Sunday and Mark made me food, I watched a movie, took a nap. It was glorious! And I paid for it the next day when I had to make up the lost time. But it was worth it!
*Isla has 6 teeth now and is too scared to walk. I'm waiting for the day she forgets what she's doing and just let's go. She's growing like a weed and is already into 12-18 month clothing. That's nothing too surprising with our children. I need to measure her though because she just went through a growth spirt where she was sleeping 14 or 15 hours at night and taking 3 hour naps and any time she was awake, she was eating! Her clothes were a little big and now they look just right.
*Cecelia had a little holiday concert at her school. It was cute and funny and AWFUL! I wish I felt bad saying it but we had to sit through all the grades and there was the classic 4th grade boy who didn't realize everyone could see what he was doing who made the best faces. The chair in front of me was empty until a guy showed up late and then didn't take his hat off. So I moved down a couple of seats to video Cecelia singing only to have a woman with hugh hair in front of me start leaning over into the isle and get in the video about half the time blocking Cecelia. Plus, NO ONE was in tune. Only 20 more years of these horrible concerts!
*Aidan has also been growing. I can always tell because he gets really clumbsy. It's hard to judge based on food intake with him because he always eats. But a couple of weeks ago, he started running into stuff and somehow fell in his socks in the bathroom and hit his face on the toilet seat. I was in the living room so I'm not entirely sure how this happened but he did do a reinactment that was pretty entertaining where he tried to show me how both his feet went backward while he was facing the toilet and then he smacked his face right in the middle of the lid. You can see the shiner in the Turkey day pictures. I'm still not sure this could happen like he said but he was in there by himself so I'll have to take his word on it.
*Things I did manage to get done: laundry (sort of, that's a never ending battle), most of my christmas shopping, I got the glass to fix the broken windows. There's two now instead of one. However I haven't found the time to put the glass in the window frames. The frames and the glass are both in the garage. It's a lot colder with just storm windows on so I'm planning on fixing them today or tomorrow. I've managed to make the fudge for the kids' teachers' christmas presents and keep the dogs and children fed. Although maybe not as healthily as I would have liked. Every once in a while I even remembered to hug a kid or two;)
Today, I will be hanging out with Aidan who graciously waited until after my finals to start projectile vomiting last night and make me a liar about the laundry. I will be cleaning my house. Deep, deep cleaning my house. Putting plastic on the bedroom windows, which normally happens in October. And the tonight, I'm going to sit down and quilt. It will be glorious!
That all being said, here are some pictures!
Turkey Day! (with 30+ people)


This is Olivia and I think this is my favorite picture of her! She's so cute!

This is almost everyone sitting down. Notice Chuck in the background standing on a chair. He's mocking me because I had to stand on a chair to get everyone in the shot.

I actually got everyone to look for a second.

Mom, Dad and Aunt Lee

Randy is one of the adoptions. He's been around for several years now. I really like him.

Mark got caught with a sleeping baby. Isn't she sweet!

Chuck and his daughter although I really only see her mom's side in her. I'm not sure his genes even got invited to that party.

John and Aidan as only they can be. Notice the shiner...

Olivia playing on the floor with Isla. She gives me such good smiles! It's because I'm her favorite!

This was just a cute moment where all three where clean and happy and on our way out the door to Turkey dinner.

Look how long Cecelia's legs are getting!!!

This was a couple days later and Allison and the girls came over to play.

Okay, I have to upload all of my December pictures still and please don't think you've been forgotten. I have not gotten the Christmas photo done yet. I actually tried twice already but neither try ended with a single good shot. Third time's the charm, right?

Costumes and all.
This was about two weeks ago. What you don't see is the fifteen books that were all over the bed. Still what a site to see when heading off to bed. They are so sweet!

Isla at nap. Notice owl's head is barely showing because she was hugging owl under her. So so sweet!

Here's everybody in their costumes. Cecelia was so proud of those teeth and Aidan wasn't letting go of the swords for any reason. Gabby was just happy to be hanging out and getting candy.

Because it was so cold, Isla hung back with Yaya and handed out candy. But she was still looking pretty cute! Plus, she glowed in the dark!

A little insanity goes a long way...
This weekend, we squeezed in a birthday party, a trip to the pumpkin patch, some crazy time playing at home, carving pumpkins, some Christmas shopping, a movie, a trip to Sam's club, a little homework and a four page paper on magic squares. No one was beaten and there was even some fun along the way. I'd say it was a success. Here's what I managed to catch on film...

Cecelia's first time bowling. She scored a 100. Not bad all Ballentine!

This was Isla's favorite part. Aidan and Daddy went to see Astroboy at the theater so Isla crashed the party and took over the tissue paper. It was pretty funny.

Party favor lolly pops... crazy children... Nice pick Carrie!

The Pumpkin Patch. Not the best picture but I just thought Isla's face here was so funny! Everyone is looking into the sun though.

Isla is so happy in her little car!

That Aidan, he's hysterical!

There was horseback riding. (Actually pony riding but don't tell Aidan)


Funny Pictures.

Jumping. Lots of jumping.


Aidan bonded with a rooster.

And of course there were several pumpkins that made it home with us.

There some more pictures that were pretty cute. I'll see if I can get them on here later. I don't have any pictures of the carved pumpkins yet. That's on the video camera. I'll take some though. Now, I'm off to drink some more coffee because I'm obviously not sleeping while getting all this stuff done! And I just had my teeth cleaned this morning!