Loot

Riley's new air hoc was a highlight throughout the day.....you know, until it broke.

Note the new cinderella bling. There is also a purse that she is quite pleased with.

Daddy spent alot of his day getting tiny remote control helicopters out of trees.

and there is more princess stuff. alot more. i would add one of her in her bridal gown, but they make dave cry.......

Somehow i did not take a photo of shane and i standing next to each other while texting each other with his new phone. We're geeks, we know, we embrace it.

Christmas Morning

What's around the corner? (shane is working my new cam-corder!! Woo-Hoo!! Thanks Dave!!! KISSES!)
From that angle the place doesn't look like a tornado went through the house, but let me tell you - it did!!!

Riley is very pleased that Santa honored his little request for Transformers!

(First present, still doesn't appear a tornado hit us. good photo choices there Lara!!)

A baking frenzy

Here she is helping me make a cheesecake.
Making monkey bread. Riley hates to get his hands dirty, so this was pretty huge!!

Decorating cookies for Santa.

The final product. Santa loved them!!

Santa Stop.

Right at our corner they put a santa stop where santa comes by on the firetruck for the final check if the kids have been good.WHERE IS SANTA?????? What if he doesn't come?

I think there are very few children in the world that felt it necessary to bribe santa with cookies, not once....but twice. Yeah - my little girl fits the bill there.Bye Santa!!!!! Thanks for stopping.

The Gingerbread House

Tons of fun to make.
Loads of fun to decorate.


Fabulous to admire our work of art.

Not very tasty at all.

Finally

I don't know when my computer went on the fritz or when i ran out of time, but here come some updates....

We'll start with the firestation. First we drove around and looked at all the lights. They were so excited it brought a little tear to my eye. Then off to the firestation.

They have a great time there every year we go.

cutie-pie

another thing

don't shanes legs look like a mile long? holy cow! and his feet look huge--but they really are. :)

before, during and after

Well, this was even before we decided where the front of the tree was. The big hole goes in the back, against the wall. got it! Some of my friends with young children may be upset by this, but i did move the ornaments. after i said to adyson about, oh - SEVEN HUNDRED times, 'honey, you have to stand up"--there were 25 ornaments in that little 12 inch area. they are young enough. they won't know. sure do wish now i had them in some of their cute christmas jammies.

and finally the tree topper.

A huge, fat tree. put up in a different location so now it is visible from all sides. i had to tripple up the ornaments, and still left two sides rather empty. it looks good from the front.

pictures that did not make the cut

i know i am behind schedule, but i am not stressing about it, so you shouldn't get all tense when you read this. yesterday i tried to take a photo for our christmas card. yes, it is over one week into december, i realize, but it is finally done. my kids were in sucha goofy mood yesterday. here are some photos that did not make the cut.

That sure is sweet, but no - riley looks a bit left out

why is there a hanger in the middle of the floor? why is riley trying to lay down, or do a summersault, what IS he doing? Shane is commenting to adyson on the fact that i made him get a ton of wood to fill the fireplace and we couldn't even see it.

on a totally different note - i really do need to invest in some better stockings. WAIT A MINUTE!!! i bought the kits last year to make them. now where are they?

adyson! don't kick over the tree, it'll never stand straight again. Riley, please stop smilling. shane, why is there a big stain on your jeans? (but darn if shane doesn't look good!!!)

That's a very lady-like way to sit adyson. oops, missing a kid. Shane!! Where are you!!!

The parade

Two children happy with balloons.

two children, unhappy, without balloons.

and the three of us because i really only wear my christmas sweater one day a year. that was it. it really is a little loud for my taste. don't know what made me make that purchase.

the woman that took the picture was like, 'your little boy was making a funny face." yes, thank you, that's his smile.

for my mom

of course my darling little girl helped me unwrap ALL seven pounds of candies!!! she is quite thrilled with the outcome. i chose my largest bowl, and in the long run....am not at all happy with the candle in there, but i think it would be frowned upon if i went to pick up another bag of starlight mints. shame you can't see the bottom of the bowl, because there are candies in there as well. very cute. very sticky. Also, it's so heavy it can't go on the shelf above the TV with all the others.

that little girl, how bout that 'cheese' shot? and yes, of course that's a christmas dress.

Happy Thanksgiving

it started with the breakfast. the kids were a bit aprehensive about eating santa. who would have thought?

daddys little sous chef. that's our second turkey. yes, we had two - and enough turkey to feed an army. long story.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmm. dinner. first year i pulled out the good china since riley was born.

turkey makes you tired. out like a light she was. even before.........

this fabulous pie!! (and this was not even the highlight of the dessert table. again, we all must have thought we were cooking for an army. )

A very fabulous thanksgiving day with my wonderful family.

thanksgiving craft

They love their new snowglobes!

i, however, know i am going to be cleaning glitter up for months.

walking in the park

i have this same picture of her when she had just started to walk. she could barely see over the board.

who lives in a pineapple under the sea

they LOVE spong bob.

I love fall

She is soooo my little helper.

here is riley helping. yes, i know there is no rake. he just stands there and looks cute.

aaahhhhhh.......my little girl loves fall too!!!!!

KICKBALL?????

Yes, that is cinderella playing kickball. shoes and all. that's my girl!!!!!