The Dog Buffet

There's a new addition in our family... little Molly, a puppy that the cousins just received for Christmas. We wanted to send her a little gift so we went to Petco to pick out some toys and treats. And at the treat bar, Claire thought she saw something yummy...

Who knows how many of these "cookies" she ate while we weren't looking...

Funny thing is that when the cousins received Molly's gift, they thought the cookies were for them! We had quite a laugh thinking about them scarfing down a batch of Petco's finest! The ones we sent did look just like Oreos... and I guess if they're okay for dogs to eat, they won't kill humans right?
woof woof! enjoy!

Just in case...

I ran out of time and I don't know if we're going to get in for a professional portrait of the kids for Christmas, and it's a shame really because the girls have the cutest little matching red jumper with little scottie dogs on it, and we went out in search of a matching red sweater for Ryan because he is so bummed that he never gets to match with anyone. And we had such battles about Katie wearing the *gasp* RED jumper I need to have a portrait made to seal the memories of those battles that will one day be so silly to look back on. I mean really, we had to tie a little pink ribbon onto that jumper to get Katie to wear it! But just in case we don't get around to the photo studio... I took my own photos:

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!!

Our Christmas began much earlier than I ever thought a day could even start! Ryan came bursting into our room at 5:30 announcing Christmas had come. We held him off for a while, and then we were downstairs half yawning - half squealing with delight. While the kids checked to see if Candy Cane had truly returned to the North Pole, and peeked outside to be sure the reindeer had eaten their snack of celery with peanut butter, which thank goodness they did, Claire climbed onto the table to help herself to the few remaining crumbs on Santa's cookie plate! She wasn't sure what was going on, but it involved cookies so she was happy to go along with it.

She spotted her gift right away... a little bouncy pony sitting in the middle of the room and she hopped right on it. This is where she stayed for most of the morning, and ever since. She loves jumping around on this thing!

Ryan got exactly what he wanted from Santa -a guitar. He was jamming on it a little, and is excited to take lessons, but the gifts from Mommy and Daddy were really awesome, things he didn't even realize he wanted! A Redskins football uniform and a Didj handheld game system that he can't seem to keep his hands off of... I think we've lost him for good! Another favorite gift was the Leap Frog Learning Globe from Grandma and Grandpa. We had such a great time with this all day! And now I know where Kazakhstan, Tonga, and the Federated States of Micronesia are, 3 places I had never even heard of before Christmas.

Rockin' Ryan!

The population of Greece is 11,262,000... I think we've got a "The human head weighs 8 pounds" kind of kid on our hands here! Was this sweatshirt not exciting enough for ya?

Katie also got exactly what she was hoping for...which I was a bit worried about since she just yesterday decided there was a specific Webkinz pet in mind, and it had to be the polar bear! Good thing Santa brought the right one! She was interested to see if he could fit a real piano down the chimney or if he would just bring a keyboard instead... he took the easy route and just brought a keyboard! She is so funny on Christmas, Ryan always is overcome with excitement and joy when he sees his gifts and Katie is just like, "yeah, of course he brought me that, I told him the other day at the mall what to get me, what else would he have brought?" It is a super cool keyboard, the keys light up so you know just what notes to play for 100 songs. We've all had so much fun with it all day.

Katie with "Icy" the polar bear, our newest Webkin friend.

Mommy and Daddy pulled through for Katie too with gifts she loves including a beautiful sparkly pink gown which she immediately put on and will wear with pride on every "Pink Day" (a day on which everyone in the family MUST wear something pink), a jewelry box, and the coolest little wooden doll with little bits of fabric and ribbon to design into beautiful clothes. She loves this toy and has announced a new career as a dress designer.

Ryan and Katie were most excited to open the gifts they had bought for each other, with their own allowance money. A lot of thought went into choosing just the perfect gift, and they really know each other well and the gifts were perfect. Ryan bought a little beauty parlor for pets with nail polish, blow dryer, perfume and brushes and a little pet carrier. She's already making a list of which pets need to be styled and who has the first appointment. Katie picked out the game Battleship for Ryan, because there is a similar game on the Webkinz site that he enjoys playing and she was absolutely right, he does love this game and they had to play a quick round before moving on to opening the next gift.

What in the heck am I supposed to do with this thing??
Claire got a set of nail polish in her stocking... she loves to have her toenails polished and will show everyone her fancy feet. You only have to dip the brush once to cover all 10 tiny toes, and now the only problem is that she won't keep any socks or shoes on!

Deck the Halls

Getting ready for Christmas around here is fun, little kids are so endearing around the holidays. And when they're not endearing, you can threaten to report to Santa, which usually gets them right back to being endearing.
In addition to our tree, the kids have a little tree with lots of old ornaments from when I was a little girl like little plastic figurines of Disney characters. They're very well loved, which is a nicer way of saying that they're falling apart and missing some eyes and other body parts. But the kids love decorating and redecorating their little tree.



One of my favorite little traditions is decorating Daddy as a Christmas tree. It is so hilarious, and the kids love it! Just one of those really silly fun family moments.

Here's our gingerbread house... another fun thing we like to do every year. This year it was really challenging to keep Claire away from the candy. Even now, weeks after it's been assembled, she will drag the kitchen chair over to the counter and help herself to the candy buffet. Many pieces are missing, none of the gingerbread people have any eyes left!



Whose little chubby fingers are those trying to steal an ornament off that tree?? It couldn't be Claire's could it??

These kids aren't so bad afterall!!

Sometimes they leave their blankets out just for me to find and bury myself in!!

Now that I'm in the "Silver Whiskers Club" I need more downtime and napping in this chair is just perfect!

Happy Birthday Roxy!!

6044 minutes until Christmas!!

Yes, that is how excited we are around here for the big day! We went downtown yesterday to see the national tree. Walking over to it I suddenly remembered last year when we were downtown and as we approached the tree, Claire the easy going baby suddenly freaked out and didn't want to even look at the tree. This year was much better, she really enjoyed it. We watched the trains that are set up around a little village that is built around the tree, we found the Virginia tree, we had some hot cocoa and listened to a choir, and warmed up by the huge bonfire. Santa was there too in a little log cabin workshop, but the line to see him was pretty insane, and we had already tortured Claire with meeting Santa so we didn't want to do that to her again!

The Big Man

We finally went to see Santa! With much anticipation and excitement Ryan and Katie waited in line thinking of what to say, how to say it, and how not to act greedy about it. Ryan went first, and he ran over to embrace Santa and sat with him for a little while quietly chatting.

In previous Christmases they've just asked Santa to surprise them with a gift he knows they will like. Maybe he's been failing at that, because this year they have specific requests.

Ryan wants a guitar and apparently Santa told him that he had a few guitars to give out. Hmmm, I hope Ryan is one of the lucky ones who gets one! Katie was next in line, and when she sat with Santa she faced away from him talking and I don't even think he could hear her. But she also has a short list this year, just 2 things: a new Webkinz pet and a piano... you know, whatever he can squeeze down the chimney!

Then it was Claire's turn, and things took an ugly turn. If she was flipping out yesterday at the doctor putting a measuring tape around her head (and believe me that was quite an ordeal), then asking her to sit on this huge red furry monster was just asking too much! She didn't even want to look at him! I could barely stop her from climbing over my shoulder to get further away from him! And speaking of the big man, this is our little elf who reports back to Santa at the North Pole each night... his name is Candy Cane and the kids seek him out each morning to find where he has hidden for the day. They're constantly reminding each other to behave, threatening to tattle to the elf... every now and then I'll overhear one of them whispering to him. Very handy to have an elf, every family should have one. I think he might just have to pop in for a visit in July just to put everyone on guard and sharpen some manners around here!

Peek-A-Boo!!!

I see you!!

Dancing Queen

Today was Katie's winter recital, and after much hussle and bustle and craziness this morning, we made it to the show. This year Katie wanted to do a tap dance for the recital, but after seeing the costume for that particular dance, she reconsidered and settled for a ballet number even though ballet is much too boring for her taste. She is all about the outfit, so no matter what she had to do she was going to get that Snow Queen dress... such the diva that she is! In the back row, aaaak!!! I could barely see her behind the tall girls in front of her! She might think ballet is boring, but every arabesque was right on the mark and lovely and graceful as ever I've seen. She's ready to trade her ballet slippers for some soccer cleats, but I hope she hangs in there for a couple more recitals. She does love getting out on that stage and performing! The "Kingdom of the Sweets" was the theme of the show and Miss Lori had little candy shaped pillows for all the dancers after the grand finale dance, "I Want Candy"...how perfect! From her seat, Claire recognized and couldn't take her eyes off Katie the entire time. She's definitely ready to start dancing and join in the next recital!

It's been our tradition to eat out at Katie's favorite restaurant after her shows, and we met a couple other dancers at Olive Garden with their families too.

The pressure of performing was exhausting!

Really mom?? Another picture??

All I Want for Christmas is My 2 Front Teeth!!

That's Ryan's theme song this year!! The Tooth Fairy is going broke with all the missing teeth lately!!

Birthday Time

I love my birthday, it's always a great day for me. I always reflect on the year, take stock of things, and think about the year ahead and set personal goals for myself etc. Kind of like my own personal "New Year." And all the attention and love from my family and friends is so sweet and makes my day a very happy one. And cake doesn't hurt either... every year Tim makes a delicious birthday cake of my choosing from this cake cookbook we have. This year it was a Hawaiian dream cake with pineapple, lemon, coconut, mmmm we all dreamed of Hawaii as we celebrated. The best was when Katie asked me if anyone has ever sang to me in opera. I said no and she proceeded to sing Happy Birthday to me in her most cutest, giggliest opera voice.

So this year is the year I've decided I'm going to get back in shape... hopefully a different shape than I am now... so my gift was an eliptical trainer that I've been wanting for a long time. Since I have no time to go to the gym. And if I did go to the gym I'd have to stay in the nursery playing with Claire the whole time. So now we have this great eliptical machine and I'm proud to say that I've used it every single day (since Saturday). The kids love it and are so enthusiastic and supportive of my working out. Last night I was about halfway done with my workout when I looked over and saw Ryan spying on my from around the corner in his room. So I let him try it out for fun...

So the loft has gone through many changes... playroom, nursery, computer room, and now a home gym. Yes, it was was briefly Claire's nursery until she decided she liked our room better. Last night as the 3 of us (Tim, Claire, and I) crawled into bed and sat there watching Jay Leno I sat there wondering, what's wrong with this picture...

18 months and counting...

Wow- Happy half birthday to my little girl! I can't believe she's already 18 months old! How the time does fly- I'm noticing it more with her than with the other kids. I don't know if the time is moving faster or if my memory is failing me, or my brain is just filled with too much other junk but I'm having a hard time remembering her babyhood, even though it is happening right now!

She is still my little adorable mute baby girl... although she does do a great "ho ho ho" Santa impression, and often walks around as if she's sprung a leak... "ssssss, ssssss, ssssssssss"

Here are some of her most favorite antics:

Baby Launch... prepare for take-off! A favorite game, which sends Ryan and Katie into fits of jealous "MY TURN, Do me next!!" As if Tim's back could fling 50 pounds that high in the air!

"Smelling" the flowers -which is actually blowing the flowers... apparently she is mixed up on how to use her nose. Although she learned from a very young age how to blow her nose. I've never seen a baby under 10 months be able to successfully blow any snot out of their nose... her biggest claim to fame thus far!

Reading books is still a favorite way to spend time... sometimes a whole hour will pass and she'll still be sitting there flipping through books. Ryan likes to try to read stories to her, but she is more of a silent reader.

Wow does this kid have some pearly whites- all 4 of them! She brushes her teeth endlessly- always walking around with a toothbrush. I'd say either brushing her teeth or painting are her favorite things to do. Although one day when she brushes her teeth with her paintbrush we'll be in trouble.

And THIS is what I get when she knows I'm about to snap a picture...

she'll look up from whatever she's doing and give me the old "CHEESE" face... does she really think THAT is a smile?

And We're 0 for 3 in the Mashed Potato Department

She kept going back for more and more, with such optimism that the next bite would surely be something delicious!
I'm just baffled that none of our kids like mashed potatoes! One of my favorite foods! How could they do that to me? How can I make a pot pie without a layer of mashed potatoes in there? What's a thanksgiving dinner without a little volcano shaped pile of potatoes, gravy oozing over the sides?

Thanksgiving Fun

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving... in Virginia Beach with our families. Tim's sister was up from Atlanta with her family and even my Grama was visiting. We squeezed a lot of fun into the weekend~ a hockey game, ice skating, a movie, dining out at our old favorite places (Guadalajara and Athens Pizza if you're ever in the area!) The guys went golfing, I did some shopping of course, and even had a night out with an old high school friend I recently reconnected with on Facebook! Not to mention a delicious dinner for 17 at the Founders Inn. Nothing beats a home cooked Thanksgiving dinner, but this place was a close second, especially since no one had to cook or clean! The kids loved spending lots of time with their cousins- especially splashing in the hot tub at Pop Pop and Nana's house! The beautiful Founders Inn

They had the cutest little kid buffet line with chicken nuggets, tater tots, and mac and cheese! It was perfect for our little non-eater.

"Cheers" from the kids' table! Beware of wine glass wielding babies! She much prefered to drink water out of this "upscale" sippy cup.

Pop Pop and Nana and all their grandkids. We always love looking at the gingerbread house!

Ryan's first time out golfing! He even got to drive the golf cart. They stopped to have lunch at the clubhouse and Ryan lost a tooth! A monumental day he won't soon forget!

We had a Thanksgiving party with some friends and made these cute little turkey cupcakes! And I wish I'd taken a better picture of Katie in her paper bag Indian vest... she wore that thing out!

Claire lost interest in the hockey game pretty early on... maybe before it even started... she kept climbing back and forth onto anyone's lap who would take her, and getting stuck in the seat.