Abby's growing up

Oh my little pumpkin is fast turning into a toddler. She doesn't want any help eating, she wants to play with the big kids, she sits and looks at books and points to animals on the pages, she imitates sounds- her favorite right now is "down". She climbs up on the couch just so she can say it and climb down. This past year sure has flown. I know I've said that a hundred times, but it's true.

Hats

My friend Betsy stopped in today and gave the kids a bunch of hand-me-down play hats. The hat that Rachel is wearing was Betsy's from the 1970's! Rachel absolutely loves it, it matches her Cinderella dress splendidly. There was also a viking hat, a hard hat, a bike helmet, and I might be forgetting one, but the bike helmet was by far the boys favorite. Maybe because daddy just got a bike... I'm not sure.


"Buddy? Is that you in there?"


Tommy pretty much took over the bike helmet. He even had to have his snack with it on.


"Hey! Where's MY hat?"


You can even do crafts wearing a helmet.

Thomas

Yep, it's lipstick. This is what Tommy did while I was having a nice chat with Laurie today in the kitchen. You can't turn your back for a MINUTE!

Christmas Day Pictures

Could this girl look any more like her father?!


My poor poor sister-in-law had morning sickness so bad she couldn't even eat with us. I felt so bad for her.


Adam got a little car wash that actually uses water! He'll love that in the summertime.


The twins enjoying their presents.


I think Tommy was looking at the cat.


I wish I could eat there every day.

Merry Christmas to you , too, Tommy.

Christmas Eve Day

We had the BEST day today! We didn't go anywhere, we let the kids open their presents this morning because we will be heading to my parents tomorrow morning. The boys got a toy vacuum cleaner, which we forgot to buy batteries for, but they didn't care. Thomas had a fit anytime someone else tried to play with it. I hope he gets over his tantrums soon, they really wear me out. Casey and I will probably play a game now, he smoked me at Quiddler last night. Maybe tonight will be my night. But I doubt it.

Favorite Pic of the Day

I can finally take a picture in the bathroom that's NOT blurry! Not that you need to do that often, but sometimes that moment does occur.

New Camera

Well Casey surprised me this morning with a new camera. I have moved from 3.2 megapixels to 6! This camera works much faster than my old one- I am definitely enjoying that. I must confess after seeing Amanda's new camera I poo-pooed this one, but I think this one will suit my needs just fine. It is always hard for me to adjust to new technology, but look at Abby's big brown eyes in this picture! I love it!


I am so very happy when I can see the chunks of food in her hair. I think the camera does a fine job. :)

Christmas- Part I

We celebrated Christmas with Laurie, Dean and Jacob today. Even Dean's dad, grandma and grandpa came and we all had lunch together. Grandma is hilarious, that's all I have to say. She was in love with the Pizza Hut pizza, I've never seen anything like it. And she loves the kids, which is always a relief when you take the brood out. I'm always worried about what people are going to say about them being noisy but everyone had a great time, and I can't wait to go on a date with my husband to TGI Friday's- because we have gift certificates!!! Thanks again Laurie and Dean!

She's Back!

I got to spend a couple glorious hours with my Jenny-poo this morning. Her and Josh arrived safely Tuesday afternoon. This morning we met in Bay City and enjoyed Big Apple Bagels, a little thrifting, and Wal-Mart. You could go to the dump with Jenny and it would be fun. I always love having her back in town, even if it is for a short time.

School Program

Rachel had her Christmas program today at school. Each grade (K-5) sang 2 or 3 songs each. We were serenaded with songs from every genre: from Santa to Jesus in the manger (I was happy about that being public school and all) to a couple peppy Jewish tunes. The kids were beaming, the parents were beaming. My crappy camera didn't get any good pics, this is about it. Rachel is in the back row, her blond hair rather stands out. :)

Snow and Christmas Cookies

I think we got 7 or 8 inches of snow last night/ this morning. We did make it to church, but it was slow going. We are fortunate enough to have great neighbors all around us. Lou lets us use her snow blower, so Casey does her driveway, Judy's, and ours in no time flat!


Since the Christmas program was cancelled tonight, I thought it would be fun to make cookies. Look at the teamwork here! I think they ate their weight in cookie dough tonight.


It took Rachel longer to decorate her special "R" shaped cookie than it did for me to do a whole plate full of cookies. She's such a perfectionist.


Tommy had a good time with the sprinkles.


Abby LOVES cookies. It doesn't matter what kind. She reaches up to the counter and points all the time hoping to get something.

The Wedding

I don't recollect the ceremony, but there was dancing afterwards. Adam was the groom first, then Tommy. Rachel had one of Casey's ties knotted real good for the boys to wear.

She is so sober. Abby really is having a good time here.


Meals with Abby are just painful right now. She's at the stage where she wants to feed herself, but not much food gets into her mouth, it's all in her lap or in her hair.


One of the things I love about Casey is that he can fall asleep on the floor with the children still crawling over him. Of course he's not sleeping here, but he was just minutes after the pic was taken.

Lookin' Good!

I am proud to be the first to display a belly pic of my beautiful sis-in-law Laurie! I think she's 16 or 17 wks (which is it Laurie?) along, and looking so cute in her maternity clothes! Oh I can't wait until May!

There are so many times she acts so old that I relish the moments like these.


Now if only he could figure out how to put his shirt on we'd be all set.


Tommy is working on his callouses.


Abby was cute today in one of Rachel's old dresses. I'm so glad I got to use them again!

Here are the boys demonstrating their "Supa Powas" (that's how Tommy says it).


Oh Laurie! I made your favorite cookies! (Don't worry, I saved you a couple in the freezer)
Debbie G. made these a couple years back for the Christmas musicale. I was in love. I submitted the recipe to a Taste of Home cookie contest in hopes of winning the $500 grand prize. But alas, I heard nothing.

Our Anniversary Date

We went to Bay City to eat at a Chinese restaurant for lunch. Casey had never been there before, he loved the food! After that we went to the candy store. We bought some chocolate covered peanuts and a couple other things. We ate it all.


We had a ball in the Antique mall. Casey bought this mug that says "Dad", and I bought a funnel, so I don't slop applesauce all over.


Cool chair. Yeah, I'm a dork.


It's a little chilly out, but my camera takes better pics outdoors.


It's hard to center a photo when smooching.


We dined at Applebee's for supper. You know it's a special event if we have appetizers!


We ALWAYS end up at Barnes and Noble!

Hot Date

Well tomorrow is our anniversary- 8 fun-filled pregnant years. OK, only half that time was prego time. We are very excited to be going out on the town tomorrow to shop, eat Chinese, probably shop some more, and then end up in a hotel in town. I'll spare you the details. But there is a hot tub! My mom is coming to stay with the kids. I wasn't going to ask Maude to come down because Sarah could pop at any minute, and I don't want her to miss that! Oh December is such an exciting month!!!

It's done!

My little bitty quilt is finally done! We stayed home from church tonight because I didn't want to be out in the dark in freezing rain- I must be getting old. So I finished this tonight, I even gave my best effort at mitered corners which they talk about in the quilting books. Joy M. will be so impressed, she said she would come to my house and help me if I needed her too. I love our church fam.


I thought this was cute of Adam and Rachel. They were helping me this afternoon put together the fake tree. It's up, but no decorations yet. I was uninspired to do that. Maybe Casey will do that while I'm at work tomorrow...