The smiles that come from hanging out as a family

What bowling fun we had today.

Pizza and soda, heavy balls, funny looking shoes and lots of laughs.

Step 1

Step 2Step 3 Step 4
Step 5
Cheer, smile uncontrollably, and give Dad 5.
The best pictures of the other 3 that I could get.

We had a great time.

It was 60 degrees today ....

It was so beautiful outside today. It was clear and gorgeous so we decided to take advantage of it. We went to the zoo, took the kids to the park with the dogs and road our bikes. Nurel and the boys road their bike all the way to the park and J joined them on the way back.

It was a great day.

Happy Birthday!

My Zane turns 11 today.

I remember 11 years ago how we spent the whole month in and out of the hospital trying to have Zane. I was sent home on morphine and bed rest to try and carry him longer. They changed his due date many times and couldn't really decide. So come the 27th of December I decided it was time and convinced the doctors that I was done. He was born weighting 8 lbs. 10 oz. So can you imagine if he had hung around a while longer growing. He might have been a 10 pounder.

He has been a joy since he was born. He has always been happy, active, and busy. He keeps me on my toes. He is a carbon copy of Adam, but with my OCD for for planning. He is bright and does very well in school, makes friends everywhere (especially with the girls), takes care of Lilly, and always wants to know what the plan is.

We have recently found his love for football and our love of watching him play. We hope he keeps that up and gives us lots of games in the future to cheer at.

Unfortunately it is only a fall sport.

We went to breakfast today at IHOP and off to a Japenese Hibatchi restraunt for Dinner. Yummy. It is his favorite. I will share more pictures as the day goes on of him. It is amazing to me that my little snuggler is 11.

Happy Birthday Zane!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our Family to Yours!!Here are the kids waiting to go downstairs. They were so excited but we got to sleep until 6:30. I figured that was pretty good.
Going through stockings.Boston checking out the new bikes and looking very tired.

Lilly and her gift from Santa. The only things she wanted for Christmas was this horse.

Mary and Jack opening their gifts from Aunt Rel and Aunt J. Mary looks so cute in those hats.

Zane checking out his gifts from his aunts also. Boston in the background with his cool coat.

Lilly hardly left her horse all morning.

Just because she is so cute.

Boston opening his BIG present.

When did the kids start getting so old that they were excited for things like this?

Zane trying to figure out why we had given him a little tiny card for in a huge box and why it was so cool. Finally he has a cell phone and before his 7 year old sister.

We focused on some emergency preparedness stuff this Christmas. We all have bikes now and the rest of the kids without sleeping bags got them. The girls have already slept in theirs.

Izzy was not sure about that horse.

The horse using Mary's gymnastics mat and beam. Very talented horse.

We are so grateful for this holiday season and for all the joy this year has brought us. We feel very blessed to spend it with so many of our family and friends.

She is getting so big!

And we love her.

My Christmas Cooking Elf with an Attitude

She is so cute. You can see part of her other friend that always has to help also.

Zane

Zane had his first chior concert of the season this last week. He was so excited. Although he stood 2 feet away from the girl that was next to him. As much as he likes girls they still have cooties. They found out the will be singing the National Anthem at a game for our professional baseball team as well. He has decided that besides following a career in football he wants to go into theater. I tell you, it is hard to keep up with this one. Great Job Zane!

Eat All the Christmas Cookies You Want...

RULES OF THE COOKIES

1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.

2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.

3. If a friend comes over while you're making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you MUST sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calories free, rule #1 is yours also. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone and, being the friend that you are, that makes your cookie calorie free.

4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.

5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.

6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have three and green ones have five - one calorie for each letter. Make more red ones!

7. Cookies eaten while watching "Miracle on 34Th Street" have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.

8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage.
9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate have no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to CLING!

10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories. It's a rule!

Doggies

We so love our doggies. We couldn't live without them. Izzy sure seems to fit right in and be very comfortable in our family.

Another ...Seriously

How does this happen. I went shopping and out to lunch like this today. Is my life that crazy?

Seriously

My son is a traitor. He wants a Mac computer. Who's son is he?

Today

It is snowing outside and is gorgeous. All the Christmas decorations really stand out against the new fallen snow and the crispness. They are predicting 6-12 inches of snow at my house and 2-3 inches in town. I love winter, but I can't risk a snow day tomorrow. I still have too much Christmas shopping to finish.

I got my Christmas present today. Adam gave me a new kitchen table. I picked one that is counter high and pops against our black appliances and granite counters. It is gorgeous and it seats 8. Plus I got 3 bar stools. One of which I am sitting on now. So now we have enough seating for all the many visitors we have. 8+3+6 = 17. That is how many visitors I can actually seat at tables in my house. I sure could have used that a few months ago. At least I will be easily able to fit the 11 that are going to be here for Christmas.

I dragged Lilly around today in her leopard Halloween costume, denim skirt, and black boots. She insisted on the costume so I tried to make it look like it was an outfit. As many of you know, Lilly is very very strong willed. There isn't much arguing with her because she can wait you out. So something I just don't argue. That being her clothes today. So if you ever see her and she is dressed in jeans, with blue short (and flowers on the butt), black knit shirt, purple shirt on top of that, and her shawl from Nana, know that it wasn't worth my energy. I just went around today thinking at least her hair is done. I just try to pull myself together so that all know I am capable of putting it together. I couldn't imagine like without her.

Izzy went in to be fixed today. She is home now and very groggy, but we sure missed her.

Lillism

Lilly asked Adam the other day to put the Big Green Meanie on the TV.

Any guesses?

Friendship