Christmas 2009

Ready for church. Louisa refused to smile when I held up the camera. stinker.

We let them open two presents before we left...

for each: new hats and mittens plus...

Snuggies!

Here they are on Christmas morning.

Check out Louisa's reaction.

Good lawd, she was excited.

A gift from Santa to Avery: silver Converse. Nice.

That's it. Not sure what happened or why I put down the camera.

Exhaustion, probably. I don't know how Santa does it.

the waiting is the hardest part

Snow (But No Snow Day)

Can't believe it. We put some effort into getting a snow day (come to think of it, that spoon is probably still under Avery's pillow). We just didn't get as much snow as predicted. They say it has something to do with the giant lake just to the east. ???

Anyway, we've discovered that people up here are Weather Warriors. Big time. The kids on our street were wearing SHORTS to school every day until about two weeks ago. Crazy. Maybe we just need time for our blood to thicken. Or maybe all this cold eventually dulls your (common) senses. We'll see.

There was just enough snow for some good playing though. Snowman, snowball fights and some sidewalk sledding. The girls can't get enough.

Hoping for Snow? Nooooooo!

So our neck of the woods is due for some snow this week. Some MAJOR snow. I, for one, am not looking forward to it. Avery, on the other hand, is super excited. Her school actually has rules in their student handbook regarding snow igloos. Yeah. Igloos. Crying here.

Avery's St Louis cousins caught the national forecast on tv and called with some surefire tips on how to bring about a snow day. Here goes...

1. Wear your pajamas inside-out

2. Do a dance around a fork and an orange

3. Put an ice cube in the toilet

4. And sleep with a spoon under your pillow

Peyton, Paige and Talbot -- we'll let you know if it worked. Thanks, I think.

And snow or no snow, we're sending warm birthday wishes to my sister Tracee. Enjoy your day!! Happy 29!

deck the halls

Girl Tree

Yes, a Girl Tree. I couldn't stop myself.

Once I got it going, I was like a crazy person.

(I don't know why this is underlined. Can't fix it. Won't continue to try.)

Charlie thought he deserved a Man Tree (um...no),

so we let him put the star on the top and he let it go.

I really need to get a hobby (besides moving).

Thanksgiving 2009

Cousin Karl (how sweet is that hand-holding?)

Future Back-up Prom Dates

Meeting of the Minds

Blondie Talbot

Sweet Clare

Pilgrim's Pride

The choco-burglar is on the move

Just in case you couldn't tell, these are pilgrim's hats. Made with chocolate, of course. I wish I could remember where I saw the idea for these, but basically you dunk a marshmallow in melted chocolate and put it on top of an upsidedown choco-striped cookie. Refrigerate and then add an icing buckle to make it look really authentic. Avery informed me that pilgrims' hats never really had buckles. They read about that and other Thanksgiving facts in school. Geesh. Can't wait to see what they learn about Christmas...

Feel Good Moment of the Day

Feel Good Moment of the Day

Now THIS is "Thankful" in action. Too good not to share.

A little turkey

Wordless Wednesday

Three For Thursday

Happy Veterans' Day

Thanks, Grandpa! Thanks to all U.S. Veterans!

Halloween 2009