Happy New Year!!

Well, we managed to make it through all the Christmas festivities illness free...but it couldn't last forever, right? So, here's how our New Year's went. Andrew came down with a stomach bug on Tuesday of New Year's week. No big deal, we can handle it! But it lasted for 5 days, which overlapped with New Year's Eve and put a bit of a damper on our plans. To compromise, because Megan was devastated about not going to her cousins' house, we put the little ones to bed and then Megan and I hopped across the highway for a couple of hours to play games and hang out. Well, wouldn't you know, the friendly people in our neighborhood started the fireworks and blasted Hailey and Molly right out of bed! So while Megan and I were having a little fun at the cousins, Tim was having a party of his own at home with the little girls!

As you can see, Hailey is thrilled with this idea.... Poor little guy...he slept the night away!!

After attempting to lull the little girls to sleep with some "Little Bear", we decided to just go for it!

We popped popcorn, turned on some music, and had a little dance party! Video to come...
Hey, as far as I'm concerned, anything beats spending New Year's at the hospital with RSV, covered in snot and a tube of oxygen blowing in your face :-)!

Here's to 2010!!!

New Year's Dance Party

Christmas Fun!

I know, I know, Christmas was nearly a month ago and I'm just now posting! I really did try earlier, but I can't get Photobucket to create a slideshow for me. Actually, I can't get the new version of Adobe Flash player to download...go figure! I have computer issues! Anyway, we had a fantastic Christmas. The kids were all healthy, they totally got into opening their presents, and we spent precious time with family! I think from here on out, our Christmases will just get better :-) From 3-D movies at the IMAX, to dance parties at the Muellers, to crafting gifts for my family! I'm actually looking forward to next year (did I really just say that???)

Here's a small glimpse of our Christmas morning fun!

"Santa Came!"

"Santa"

"Bah Humbug..."
"Merry Christmas" What did Santa bring?

"Choo Choo Train"

Leap Frog typing pad Easy Bake Oven Soccer ball and net!
Ahh, a Christmas nap :-) Megan trying out her new fishing pole from Gampa. Trying out mom's new foot spa! Overall, this was a great Christmas! No one was sick, no gifts arrived late, and we enjoyed the tastiest taquitoes thanks to gampa, by dad! Till next year....

The "Real" Gingerbread House

My first experience with a real gingerbread house! I'm sure for Megan, it's beautiful and wonderful and all that it should be. I, on the other hand, was up to my elbows in gingerbread house icing, sticky from head to foot, and feeling nothing but frustration because the house wasn't "perfect"! I know, I know, it's about the experience and the joy the little ones feel over a house covered in candy. So, I pushed through, finished the project after 2 hours squeezing icing through a 1/4 in. hole, and now it sits beautifully on the china hutch for all to see. Yes, even the 2 year olds have been admiring it from the vantage point of a chair pushed up the edge...I'm sure they've even snagged a piece of candy or two! But that's the fun of it, right???

Christmas Parade

Megan walked in the Christmas parade this past weekend with her Campfire group. It so fun to be a part of this community event again...I haven't done that since I was a kid in 4-H and we rode our horses down the main street of Enumclaw :-) We all had a great time, however, it was bit chilly!

Good thing for family connections...we had front row seating! Thanks Jon!

Enthralled Parade Faces!

Warming up the festivites, snuggling with Grammy!

Mom, why does Auntie Brandi keep taking my candy canes? (Cause mommy told her to, hee hee)

The gingerbread kids...Megan and Isabella!
Cutest girl in a gingerbread house ever!!
I had a great time working on this costume for Megan and she was so excited to wear it. Hopefully it will last for a number of years. After all, there is a bit Nana on there...we used her beads to decorate!

Gingerbread House

Well, it's not your traditional gingerbread house, but it makes for a great costume! Megan will be walking in the Christmas parade with her Campfire group, and they are to wear costumes. The only way she would agree to a costume involving cardboard was to be a gingerbread house. Thankfully, we got the idea from our friends Leandra and Isabella, and I finally had a place to start! She is very excited to wear it and we can't wait for the parade! And to top it off, Isabella is going to be a gingerbread girl and they will hopefully walk together...how cute will that be???

Starting point...

side...

back...other side... front!

I'm thinking of adding this to my front porch decor! We'll see :-)

First Tooth

We've entered a new era, began a new journey; we are now traveling the path of lost teeth! Megan finally lost her first tooth, thanks the librarian, and is likely to lose the next one soon! Better start saving that change :-)

I welcome any clever toothfairy ideas out there...Mine are pretty low in supply!