Happy Day Emily!

I don't know why I insist on making cakes for my children every year - like it's a big treat or something? They look (and probably taste) better from the store but alas I do. Here is this years creation...it's supposed to be the diamond castle. It was good enough for the 4 yr. old set, thank goodness they were wowed by the sprinkles!

We took the girls and the neighbor girls to the bowling alley for a game and some pizza. Emily and Harriet (also 4) gave up on the game after about 5 frames and did each others hair and make-up. The older sisters were happy to bowl for them.

I wish we had done a better job of capturing the look when she opened this gift - big hit Grandma and Grandpa! Thanks.

Christmas!

Highlights

We had a wonderful Christmas and have much to be thankful for. Happy Birthday today to our Nephew (Cousin) Nicholas!

We wish you a merry Christmas!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Jingle Bells!

Emily had her Christmas pageant at school yesterday and as expected any time you fill a room with 2-4 yr. olds it was predictibly cute! Daddy took off work to attend which made it extra special and she spent much of the time waving to us. She is done with school now until the 6th but Olivia has to go right up to the 24th! Only 6 more days till the big day and of course only 8 until Emily turns 4...can you believe it?

Party #2

Ok, 3 parties in 3 days...we are officially done! It was a fun weekend and I think the kids had a good time last night (hard to tell with teens, they grunt a lot!) They mostly hung out in the basement...Olivia loved playing wii with the high school boys (hmmm). Emily made fast friends with the pretty girls who were happy to play ponies and tea party with her!.

Fun but tiring so Emily and I are planning a rockin day in our jamies on the couch. We will find out on Wednesday if the house has been sold and if/when we will have to move.

Party #1

Wow, the party was so fun and we had a great time! About 30 people showed and it was a great mix of old, new, Navy, neighbors and kids. I didn't get any shots of the girls all dressed up because as soon as their friends showed they all disappeared to the basement and didn't re-surface until the party was over. You can see a shot of Emily below (after she had changed herself mid-way through the party for some reason) nearly passed out on the stairs! We said good-bye to our last guest at 11:30 and when I turned around there she was, face down - all partied out. .

Our friends were very generous in congratulating David on his promotion and lets just say the scotch should last us a while.

On to preps for party #2.

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Ta Da!

Maybe it's the calm before the storm but considering my schedule for the next few days (company for dinner Friday, taking Olivia to a birthday party and back Friday night, hosting a party Saturday night, going to church, teaching Sunday School, taking Olivia to a Girl Scout party, and hosting another party Sunday night) everything is going according to plan. (Ha...I just cursed the gods didn't I? No one to blame but me)

The tree is up and the house is decorated (if only my poinsettias will last 2 more days) They start to die the moment I bring them home! Emily and I ran all our last minute errands today - here was how we started.

Me: Time to get dressed Emily.

Em: (yelling from the top of the stairs) I already got dressed!

Me: Ok, come down and let's get going then.

Em: Promise you won't make me change?

Me: Hmmm, no promises. Let me see.

Em: (still yelling from out of sight) It's warm and it's all pink so it matches!

Me: Great, let's see...

She got me on a technicality...it is warm and it is all pink :)

1st Snow!

We had our first snow last night...it started right at 4:00 as we walked out the door to get our tree. It didn't last too long but it made for a very festive tree picking and hay ride with Santa. In my usual form we had to stop at 2 places and eventually ended up going back to the first place to the first tree I saw. My hub is most patient at this time of year! The payoff is a beautiful tree - or it will be later today once it's decorated.

Also in her usual form, Emily had to dress herself for the big outing. She cracks us up!

Congrats Captain!

The photos are awful but the day was good! David officially pinned on 06 yesterday in a nice ceremony at his work. The girls loved spending the morning at Dad's work (especially the doughnuts bought for them) and were really proud of him!

We are having a "wetting down" (A Naval tradition of throwing a party in honor of your promotion) on December 13th to celebrate with many of our friends in the area. Time to get the tree up and start cooking...again! Bring on the pay raise :)

I'm Baaaaaack!

Miss me? I know, I know...it's been a long time right? Well my only excuse is that for the week before Thanksgiving I shopped and cleaned in preparation and the week of Thanksgiving I shopped and cooked in preparation and then on Thanksgiving I cooked and cleaned the aftermath and was left with no energy to blog! That and with 7 kids in the house I was lucky to get 5 minutes of computer time to check the news! We were so lucky to have my whole family join us this year (13 in all) and we had a great time! The kids have so much fun together and I think we even had enough food for the teens and tweens !

Below are some pictures of the week with the gang, including a few from our trip to the Museum of American History and our walk around the White House. Hope your Thanksgiving Day was as full of good food and fun as ours was...now on to that Christmas business!

Thanksgiving in DC