Happy 2012!!!

Hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!!!

Happy Birthday to........

..... someone who makes me laugh every time I talk to her. She is also up there on the list of friends I have known FOREVER (well, 24 years to be exact). That is my friend, Debi (who moved back to Ohio so I don't get to see her very often). Now I don't usually do a big post for all of my friend's birthdays...just every now and then or maybe if it's a big one. BUT....back in October I posted this Happy Birthday post for Beth. Well, I immediately got a phone call from Debi....saying that SHE wanted her own post on her birthday too. And she has reminded me no less than 10 times since.

So Debi....this is your Happy Birthday post and here is your gift of laughter: bulletin board duck, visiting Aunt Mert in the nursing home, "Oh $hit...he's home", me sitting in the rocking chair at CC firing off questions to you, your sister telling me how cute my "granddaughter" is, "BITCH", homemade painted clothes for Shan and Jen, me trying to make you "remember" people from the past, and of course we can never forget........"EWWWWW" (Jeremy).

Happy Birthday, Debi! Love ya!!

Way Back When-esday!!!

Just a cute pick of the kids at Christmas Eve church service. December 2009. L to R: Hannah, Taylor (holding baby Addi), Drew and Holley!

Way Back When-esday!!!

We took our annual Christmas trip to Krispy Kreme. They have the cutest holiday donuts. And of course they are to die for yummy!!!! I decided it would be kind of cool to let Addi wear the same exact outfit that she wore last year. I can't believe it still fits her. She is a little less chubby and maybe a tad taller but other than that....she hasn't changed much.

December 2010

December 2011

Over the river, and through the woods.....

......to get a Christmas Tree we go. Keith finally won out and persuaded me to get a real tree. It's not that I was against the idea of a real tree....I just liked the convenience of my pre-lit artificial tree. But since half of the lights went out on it last year (a week before Christmas when it was fully decorated) it was time for a new tree so I decided to give it a try.




A rare peaceful sibling moment!

See it didn't last long. Addi said ..."pick this one" and....





Drew said, "No, pick this one". "Or this one!!".
Making sure it passes the smell test!
We finally found the perfect tree! TIMBER!!!
Gotta haul it to the car!
And off we go!

This made me giggle.....

Way Back When-esday!

Since we just took our annual trip to ride the Pink Pig...I thought I would post this pic of the kids from December 2007. They all look so little and cute! Not sure what is wrong with Holley (scared, maybe?) but I can just about bet that Drew is pouting because he is not riding in the front seat! Fun Times!

Happy Birthday, Shanny!!!

Happy Birthday, today!!! I can't believe you are turning 24...wow!!! Love you lots, girl! Hope you have a great day!!!!

25 Days of Christmas Clothing!

You all know about my obsession with dressing Addi. I just can't get enough of her clothes cuteness. Well, I am a member of a clothing message board and my clothes obsession doesn't even come close to matching some of those ladies!

They have started a challenge to take a picture of your child every day and post all of their Christmas attire! We don't have enough actual Christmas clothes to last the whole time but if you add in winter: snowflakes, snowmen, penguins, etc.......we are totally in!

I have posted a little slide show at the top of my blog which I will "try" to update as much as possible to add her newest outfits! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

The Pink Pig

We took our annual trip to Lenox to ride the Pink Pig! It is kind of cheesy, but still cute too! Addi LOVED it. It was nice to go early because there was virtually no line to wait in. We have gone before when we waited an hour to ride. Yeah...I know!
See her little face in the mirror??? So cute!
I LOVE to plan fun Christmas outings!! We stay busy pretty much the whole month of December! Fun Times!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope your Thanksgiving was as wonderful as ours! Shannon hosted at her house and did a marvelous job! I think that will be the plan from now on.... to go to her house ;). (And I didn't get sick....yay!)

Way Back When-esday!

This was how I spent Thanksgiving 2010......SICK!!! I also have a history of being sick on previous Thanksgivings. I was given a very stern warning (by Jackie) that if I got sick this year....I was in deep trouble. Let's hope I can make it through without any little bugs visiting me!

Way Back When-esday!!!

Edible Pilgrim Hats! Assembly Required!

It just boggles my mind that it is time to think about these again! Wow! Keith asked me what I was going to make for our church Thanksgiving dinner. Really??? Yeah. It is this Sunday! I always make a big double batch of these and the kids LOVE them (I think a few adults do too). The tray is always empty.

So without further ado....here is the (non) recipe for these. There really isn't a recipe...just a little bit of assembly!

Pilgrim Hat Marshmallow Treats
Ingredients:
Large Marshmallows (1 for each hat)
Fudge Stripe Cookies
Meltable Chocolate
Yellow Frosting

Directions:Place striped cookies about 1 inch apart on waxed paper and set aside.In a microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup, melt chocolate chips at 3 second intervals until soft and runny. Using a wooden skewer, insert into one marshmallow and dip into melted chocolate to cover top and sides of marshmallow and a little around the bottom to act as glue when placed on the cookie. Using a toothpick on the top of the marshmallow, wriggle over the cookie until chocolate-covered marshmallow is sitting on top of the cookie. Use same toothpick to smooth chocolate over area if a hole shows when toothpick is removed. Place cookies in the refrigerator until the chocolate is hardened, usually about one hour.Using yellow frosting, pipe buckles onto the hats.

Little Ballerina!

Addi's dream became a reality on Friday! LOL! She went to her first dance class. Since the girl could talk, she has been telling me that she wants to be a ballerina and go to dance class. She was so funny! Normally, she is quite the "spirited" child but her personality transformed the minute she crossed the threshold into "dance class". She got quiet and subdued and sooo serious. She wasn't the least bit shy and did exactly what the teacher told her to do. She was the cutest thing ever. She keeps asking me when she can go back
This was the look she had on her face the entire time. I really need to have a chat with the dance teacher so I can figure out how to do this at home!! Wonder if it would work on Drew too (who is not "spirited" at all)???

Reading Paws

When I was at the library with Addi for her weekly story time...I noticed a sign up sheet for Reading Paws. This is a program where kids sign up to come to the library and read to a therapy dog. This is beneficial to the dog (helps to socialize them) and the kids (improves reading skills). As soon as I saw this, I knew that Drew would LOVE this. I signed him up for a Saturday a few weeks away.

When we arrived, we got the pleasure of meeting Lucy. She was so cute! Drew had picked out a book so he started reading to her. As soon as he did, Lucy promptly yawned, laid her head down and was fast asleep. It was so funny! The handler kept trying to wake her up but she wasn't having it......

....until she was offered a marshmallow. She came to life immediately. Funny!

It's a nice day............

....for a white wedding!!! And boy, was it ever!!! OMG! The most perfect fall day ever! The venue was beautiful beyond words (as was the bride). Just an all around perfect day! Here are the bride and groom right after the ceremony!

Most of my pics are going to be biased because my girls were both in the wedding (well, all of my girls, really)!!! Below l to r: Kristen (Jessica's sis), Jessica, Shannon, Taylor, Hannah, Holley, Bailey, Addi

Jessica chose to have both her mom and dad walk her down the aisle.

The little girls walking down!

The following are pics from the reception!

Congratulations, Michael & Jessica!!!