One little, two little, three little Indians.

All tucked into their Tee-Pee's for the night. Piper finally has her very own Pee-Pee as she calls it...so we celebrated with a slumber party. Now I need to stop blogging and get out of the room so they can fall asleep.

Calling All Chi-Os

Just a little PSA to any of the Chi-O sisters that may read this blog and havent seen any of the emails going around about Marilyn please check out this link:

Cardinal & Straw

That's a Wrap!

So we have wrapped up Christmas (pun intended). I have taken a few days to blog it because I have been relaxing, enjoying time with the kids, watching new movies and playing with new toys, theirs and mine. We had a very action packed couple of days all taking place at our house! It was busy and chaotic, but I would do it all again. My parents were down as well as my brother and sister-in-law and their boys. The kids had a blast. The Dog cousins had a blast. And we ate non-stop!


Sadly I took far to little pictures. Like maybe 10 in all. I realized I didn't even get any pictures of my little boy opening gifts and just one of the girls :(. And not a single one of all the cousins together. O' well.

So it began Christmas Eve:
A dinner of appetizers. Zucchini rolls, Terryaki chicken wings, Toquitos, Smoked Salmon, Bakes Brie, Garlic Dip, Cheese & Crackers.



Then Candlelight service at church. The kids all dolled up and therefor thinking it was time to perform for the whole church in our seats (a tad embarrassing.)

Then home for Dessert and Family and Friends. This year in a last minute attempt to cut back from baking I stuck a candle in a cookie for Jesus instead of making a birthday cake. (sorry, again no picture) Ty got to eat that cookie and he went around telling his cousins he was eating Jesus's cookie. Emery then said "Jesus can eat the cookie" I asked how and she said. "He can eat it in our throat because he lives in our heart." We all got a good laugh out of that. How cute.





So this is the living room before Santa arrived (around 11 pm once the kids finally settled down)







And here it is after he arrived (mind you there are a couple of families items under the tree)









Christmas morning started slightly before 7 am. Too early!!


Ponies for Piper along with Dora, Dora & Dora stuff!!


Treats and Toys for Mav from his cousin Tosh who wore him out! He slept for a solid day after he left. A nice Cougar collar from Santa.

All things girly for Em...including some "cool shoes" as she calls them. (Vans)
No pic of Ty...(trying not to cry here) Stacey if you have any please send them my way.
But he was blessed with his Patriots Uniform, Pirate stuff, legos, dinosaur hatching creatures (thanks mike ;), etc.


And this little man was so pleased with everything he got. He sat in this spot for close to 2 hours not moving...just playing.
His big brother (not pictures ;( also had fun opening up lots of stuff for drumming and snowboarding.

And an after picture. Oh man. A mini panic attack for mommy. Unfortunately I am serious...but that's a whole other post.


And Kael after all the action!


So many highlights of Christmas! I loved having my brother and his family here, we laughed alot!! It's been forever since I have spend Christmas with him. And the kids love their cousins!

Well off to play with some of my toys that I am excited about. Photog geek stuff!

He Lost a Tooth...Then We almost Lost Him.

The apple that started it all. He took a bite and his tiny little loose tooth stayed in the apple. He was startled at first, then Mommy hyped up all the excitement about him loosing his first tooth. He ran upstairs with the tooth to show his daddy. He then came downstairs with such a sad look on his face. And then I noticed his green face...
He was about to faint or puke or something. He laid on my lap in the bathroom for a few minutes then headed to the couch with a cold rag for literally 45 minutes.
I think he is going to be like his Uncle Mark who passes out at the sight of blood.

A not so good year for Santa

I love my husband!!! Just had to share that right as I was starting to type this blog in an attempt to avoid the massive cleaning that needs to be done before family arrives, he called and said he hired someone to come in and scrub down the house for us tomorrow! Yeah!!!!

Anyway, on to regular posting, as I was getting the santa pictures out to display today I came across the year 2005! I just had to share! Hilarious! The girls at the Daisy Bucket took them!

The Christmas Stick

Truely one of my most favorite parts of Christmas are the photo cards!

And my turn for the Questionnaire.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually paper. Special paper for each child.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real! Except for my Christmas Stick.
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually around the second week of December so it doesn't get to crispy. Plus...i have this little thing...i cant put Christmas decorations up til December.
4. When do you take the tree down? Usually around the 1st.
5. Do you like eggnog? Gross
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably all the Dolls. But the best by far was my engagement ring. (still a kid at heart at 25) Oh wait!, I also found out I was pregnant with Emery on the next Christmas eve.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? yes, a little people's one and a very cool metal one Mike got me.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My Father-in-law...Mike's in charge of that one
9. Easiest person to buy for? My Mother-in-law...she loves it all...and everything makes her tear up :)
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail...I look forward to it all year. My list is huge though, so I have to save my pennies!
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? hmm...I can't think of any.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? All the Santa Claus Movies with Tim Allen...and Irving Berlin's White Christmas.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Mid December
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Peppermint Chip Blizzard Baby!
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear & Red. (Mike thinks it's boring)
17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night!!!!
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home. Love seeing our kid's face when they come down our stairs.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Of Course.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Kids open one for the Birthday Party for Jesus on Christmas Eve. I like to save all mine til morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People who think Christmas is only about Santa & Gifts. Hello folks, Christmas has been around for years for a reason. It's not just what you want to make it. It's all about Jesus! (of course I say that will a little guilt since im pretty sure our entire living room will be entirely full of gifts for all the kids this year.)
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? hmm...nothing really...I like being surprised.
24. Favorite ornament theme or color? My tree is all bright primary colors! I also love the little hand print of emery when she was a baby. Maverick almost ate it this year :(
25. Favorite for Christmas dinner? We do Turkey.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

So Excited about this New Blog!!!!!!

My Man's!

The Voice Through All the Noise.

Joe Cool & The Super Shepherd

So I haven't posted the pictures from Ty's Christmas program at church yet. I thought I would post them along with his little program he had at his school yesterday.

Ty was Joseph at the church pageant. (strategically chosen as Joseph because they knew he wouldn't speak if he had lines. Joseph didn't have lines. ) I called him Joe Cool, because that is how he acted up on stage.

Here he is being Joe Cool with his girl Mary.

This is a picture of the older kids program, but I had to share it because Pastor Dave dressed as a sheep. Hilarious!

And here are the pictures of his pre-school party yesterday.

Ty was a shepherd...he has been wanting to be a Shepherd since last Christmas program. Solely for the big staph alone!
And a cute story about the little girl next to Ty. She told her mommy last week that she liked Ty the best because his hair is yellow like Barbies...how cute!

A special little Angel

(Blog Hijack-posted by Mike)

At Christmas time we hear all about angels we have heard on high, well here is a story about a living angel in the truest meaning of the word. I am sitting here amazed at so many things. Her bravery, would I have done the same? She is 7 years old and dove between her mother and a gunman to spare her mom's life. Her will to live is inspiring, she takes 6 shots, several to the head, and is now in stable condition? WOW, Praise the Lord!

Link to Story

Out of all the garbage I read every day about the mistreatment of children, I am filled with joy after reading about a little hero, or angel, named Alexis Goggins. While I am thrilled she is still alive, I am also sad because she is going to need a lot of surgery to repair the damage done to her tiny body and will also live life blind in one eye.

This Christmas I want to make a difference in someone's life, pay back the gifts God has given me, so I am sending my small token and hope it will add up with many others to make an impact on this child's life, because I know she has already impacted mine!

If you would like to donate, checks should be made out to the Alexis Goggins Hero Fund and sent to Campbell Elementary School in care of the Alexis Goggins Hero Fund, 2301 E Alexandrine St, Detroit, MI 48207.

For information, call (313) 494-2052.

Gem

I was going through snapshots from this past year and came across this little gem.

Time Out!

I have pictures of the other kids around this age in time out, so I thought it only fair to show some of Piper. And for the record, she may be so cute and sweet...but she punched her brother...so she deserved this.

Calling all Painters!!

Or Primer's for that matter. This Saturday afternoon I plan on tackling the task of putting a nice coat of Kilz on the lovely wood paneling & cement walls that is my office space. If anyone one wants to join me I'll treat you to lunch first. (well Defining Details will ;).

Fun New Blog for the Locals...

The Petal Pusher, and home of my cute new office (once I get off my butt and start painting!) has a new blog!

THE PETAL PUSHER!

Little Readers

I'm working on surprises for a few important people in my kiddo's life. I had to share these images here. I know there are a lot of book lovers, and teachers that read my blog who may appreciate these.

Trimming the Tree

And this one from this morning. A Snow Day for schools. It was too cute not to post.

Gingermen.

Food Network Watch out! A new show staring the one and only masters of the pre-made Gingerbread house.

And the little elfs who helped out.

And what's an event without a shot of the details.

Searching for Reindeer

1 hour drive...5 minutes in the cold wind...2 of Santa's reindeer...3 bags of flavored caramel corn...one wreath...4 hot cocoas and 2 coffees...1 hour drive back home. Good times!