Merry Christmas from the Fulton’s!
‘Twas weeks before Christmas, its busy around here
Wrapping, baking, and advent-Its fun, have no fear!
Kids were running and screaming with excitement and joy
The holidays are a favorite for our girl and boy.
What a year, oh my
We feel like eating some pie
But we wont, no no-once again
We are on diets trying to lose 20 pounds, but we’d be happy with 10.
Summer and Fall have been filled with lots of health issues
ups and downs and the use of many tissues
We’ve been very proactive and taken control
Santa would be proud of our efforts; we will not be receiving coal.
Our health has put things in perspective and given us insight
We are focused and proud and trying to do what it right.
It’s been a big year for change with much more to come
Sit back and hear the details, I know you want some…
Brian has a new job in the Chemical Sciences School
It took some getting used to at first, but he loves it, it’s cool
The hours are great-no more working late at night
He’s home by 5 with time to do things as a family,
Maybe even flying a kite.
His fitness goals have been a big thing this year
He’s losing weight and gaining muscle, you should
see him in the mirror
He runs all week long but his biking is what he likes
In June he rode more than 100 miles, we were all there to support him, even the two little tykes.
Katie still works at St. Matts just on Tuesdays
She loves what she is doing and helps in so many ways.
Next year will be different, a big change for all
Katie will teach Mara preschool at home, it will be a ball!
It’ll be 3 days a week and there will be a few friends for Mara too
She’ll finally use her degree, do what she loves,
there will be lots to do
She’ll be busy with all the other things in her life:
The Moms Group, Church, ZTA, and being a good wife!
Our family vacation was to the Wisconsin Dells, we had a blast
We went w/Brian’s family- we wanted it to last.
In February, Brian & Katie went to Spain, to their dear friend’s home
They ate and drank wine, saw tons of sites, and liked to roam.
Alaric is a little man, so smart, and loves his new preschool
He’s into Superheroes, Transformers…and Star Wars is cool.
He can write all his letters and count to 100-that’s high
This summer we’ll work on shoelaces and learning to tie.
Alaric is deep into environmental concerns and
reminds us to Go Green
He turns off water and lights and cleans up litter if seen.
He talks non-stop and thinks he knows it all
His daddy was his coach this summer when he played T-Ball.
Amara has changed the most this year, for sure
Her laugh can make you feel better in an instant, it’s the cure.
She loves all things Elmo, Disney, and dolls
She dances and prances and still takes a few falls
She loves to be mommy’s helper and cook and eat
She’s ambitious and brave but still shy when you first meet
She’s learning new things like counting to 10 and learning her ABC’s
But drawing and coloring are her favorite and
she prefers to do those on her knees.
What a year! It went fast yet so slow
We learn the art of patience and going with the flow
We know there is nothing better than kissing your kids,
your spouses and even your dogs,
If you want daily updates on our lives, check out our blogs!
And we say to you as we lay down to rest
“Merry Christmas to all, We wish you the best!”
Brian, Katie, Alaric, & Amara Fulton
http://fultonfamilynews.blogspot.comhttp://run4it-illinois.blogspot.comBrian’s cell & e-mail: 217-714-5866
bfulton@illinois.eduKatie’s cell & e-mail: 217-840-8937
katiefulton@hotmail.com 
Alaric and his best friend, Reagan!
What a fun day! The kids and the parents had a blast in the pool together
Mara loved it
I can't explain this....he was entertaining three moms out of the pool with weird animal noises, a few hits to his head, and expressions like this! Gotta love him, right?
What a happy Birthday boy!!!
Boys everywhere!
Even older ones! What a great way to forget about the cold outside!
Speaking of twins...if I ever get the chance to dress my kids in coordinating outfits I do and since they both love their overalls, I just had to!
PJ days are my favorite and the kids were still in PJs at 12:30 today and I loved it! Mara ( and sadly Alaric) both walked around much of the morning taking turns in my high heels!
The Advent Calendar gave us all an opportunity to do a craft this morning. We painted suncatchers!
The kids were so focused and loved their final products!
Brian and I helped too!
Lots of family fun!
Each one was put in a box, tied with a bow and an ornament, and attached with a tag ( this year we HAD to use our Halloween family picture)
So the fudge wouldn't melt in our warm house, every tray and cookie sheet in the house is now covered with boxes and tins and stored in the carport so the fudge will stay cold and remain in perfect form!
By the end of the week, we will be fudge free again!!!
Look at the blessed couple- could they be sweeter?
She doesn't look happy here but she really was so excited to be a sheep...she even Baaed at us!
The kids listened to the story of Jesus' birth while we waited for the show to start...at McKinley, it's not a fancy pagaent...just the basics. We also let the kids where whatever kind of costumes they can find and feel comfortable in ( last year Al wore his camoflague bathrobe as a shephard). You'll notice a cheeta and a dinosaur
Look at the herd of sheep waiting patiently!
Even Jack participated...he was a turtle! I'm sure there were turtles nearby in Bethlehem, right?
Dan and Jack along with Sara and her baby Danny sat with all the other animals during the show. These are our two newest McKinley kids. Sara and Dan are the same age and both were McKinley kids themselves- they've known each other for more than 35 years and their boys will grow up together too ( Danny was a sheep too, I think)
they did great. V and Al stood watch over Jesus and Amara sat...until the end when she realized V and Al had their arms around each other and she too wanted hugs. It was perfect!
Then the children's choir performed...Joseph and kings and mary and angels...and Junior High kids!
After communion, the kids went around and collected socks for the local Homeless Shelter and mittens and gloves for a low-income day care in town. It was the first year Mara was big enough to participate and she loved putting them on and under the tree.
Look at the cousins
And Bubba ( who looks old enough to be in Junior High himself)
The Bechtels
The Fultons
After church, Alaric went to thank the organist for being his Choir teacher. And YoHei said, "do you want to play?" AHHHHHHHHHHHHH....Alaric sat up on the bench of the most amazing organ I've ever seen outside of a Catholic Cathedral and played. He did what YoHei asked and even changed key using the side bars.
He was thrilled!
Papa caught up with Al was so excited to hear him play the organ!
We all headed out for lunch, with Jennifer's parents too who came to see V and Brian and Jack had some bonding time!
As did V and Mara
and Uncle with his girls!
What a day! What a weekend!Amazing!
While we listened to Christmas music, ate popcorn, and sipped on hot cocoa, we planned out how to do the tree!
What usually happens is the kids are actively involved for all of about 2-5 minutes and then Brian and I do the rest while they play but they both stayed totally engaged for the whole time and that was a LONG time! Alaric was given some tough jobs and had to help string the lights with daddy!
Mara couldn't get enough of the ornaments- she loved putting them on the lower branches.
We have hundreds of ornaments...when Brian and I moved in together, my mom collected all my ornaments- every one I had made in school or received and gave them to me for my tree at home. Those were added to the many Chris gave to Brian and our own collection was started. Now, we give our kids one ornament a year signifying the past year and someday we will pass them on to our kids too.
We dig and sort and hang!
Finally the tree skirt. Ours is just a pretty average skirt however Alaric's first Christmas I decided to trace his hand print and date it on the back of the skirt. We've done it every year since. The kids love comparing their handprints to now.
If you stay up on the blog, you know that I am having Brian do his own advent calendar It's going well and he loves it...as do the kids! Today's read... 
and while I wanted it to be a campout for just Brian and I after the kids went to bed, Alaric asked what it said and Brian told him so we was super excited about the campout...so, before bedtime, we gathered pillows and blankets and laid down by the tree for a short campout while we admired our work and read books. It was great!
