Goodbye, Susan Boyle. Hello, Gap Kids :)

The other day Celene was with Grandma and the cousins and so Shelby and I had a morning together.  I decided to get out the camera and see if I could get some 18 month photos where she wasn't making a goofy face. 

How old are you Shelby?

Winter Storm

It's funny, as I watch my girls experience new things it so often stirs up memories for me.  Things that I haven't thought about much come back to the surface.  After a snowstorm the other day I remembered how special weekend snow days were in our family. It meant Dad playing with us outside, Mom making hot chocolate for us, taking long walks.  I realized that snow days hold lots of fun memories for me and I enjoy passing some of those memories on to the girls.

Fun things to do on a snowy day...

Making cookies..

Outside games..

Long, warm baths..

Relaxing with Daddy...

Playing "rough"..

Learning to play the Memory game..

Merry Christmas from our family to you!!

Fun Family

OK...so I know some of you have been waiting for these pictures, but I wanted to enjoy Jeff's surprise post for a few days :)

Sunday night was our second annual White Christmas dress up night! It's so fun to be a part of a family that never gets too old to be a little silly. 

Aunt Alice and Uncle Chip host this event and they went all out to create an authentic setting.

This year starring....

Katie as Betty from the Mandy scene

 

Katie's boyfriend Chris as the wounded Danny Kaye (we definitely gave Chris points for joining our craziness :)

 

 

Of course Danny Kaye had to lay on a cot when he was wounded.  Uncle Chip as "the cot"...  Last year he was a brick wall, so we were taking guesses as to whether he would come as the jeep or a ceiling fan next year :)

Aunt Alice as Betty from the cardboard dancing figures scene

Uncle Chris as the supposedly injured Danny Kaye- please note the yellow socks, we're told that they are a very hard to find item.

Aunt Deborah as Freckle Faced Haynes the Dog Face Boy

Dusty even came in proper attire for a White Christmas party

 

My folks as the quartet of cardboard dancing figures

Pine tree! Coming into Pine tree! Conductor Jeff

Edna the seamstress

 

Most wonderful wife in the world :)

I figured that since I don't actually have a blog that I would have to use Aliza's. She keeps you all informed about our family and how wonderful our 2 little girls are and all the other good stuff. I thought it was time she had a post that was dedicated to her The Most Wonderful Wife In The World. And please no arguing with me, I know I am right :):)

• She takes incredibly good care of me, herself, our 2 girls, our house.


• She cooks me wonderful meals


• I always have clean clothes


• She keeps me informed of the weeks agenda


• There are always clean dishes


• The house is clean and comfortable


• She is amazing with our money


• She always makes time for me and the girls


• She keeps herself looking beautiful all the time ( seriously all the time, even first thing in the morning, I don't know how she does it, well yes I do, it is True Beauty )


• She host great parties


• She has made our house look great, I will work on her for the picture tour ;)


• She is working with the young girls at church, and they love her


• She supports me in whatever I do


• She runs the B&B


• She lets me know when the car is going clunk and bang :)


• The girls are always dressed nice


• She takes time to teach the girls even if it takes 4 or 5 times as long


• She comes into work in the evening with me


• Did I mention she Gorgeous (someone recently told her she looks like a movie star)

There are so many more things that I love about Aliza and that she is wonderful at, but this is a work day and I need to keep working.

Remember no arguing, I Know I have the Most Amazing Wife In The World.

Jeff The luckiest husband in the world !!!

It's been almost a year since we saw our new house for the first time.  So last night Jeff and I were doing a bit of reminiscing.  We had taken pictures the second time we went through.  We looked at them over and over during the two months that we waited for an answer from the bank.

This is the way this portion of the living room looked when we went through the first time.

Now a year later it's one of my favorite spots in the house.  We knew that we wanted a built in couch in this nook and so Jeff had gotten some estimates because he doesn't get along very well with wood.  After the price quotes he decided maybe it was time to make peace with wood and do it himself.  I'm quite proud of him, it turned out very well and cost 1/12 if the price quoted!

This picture is taken at a little different angle but it stills give you an idea of how the living room has changed.

Tradition!

We were talking with Jeff's grandparents on Thanksgiving day and found out that candy making has been happening in this family for 70 + years!  I don't think it was always done at Christmas and I know the recipes are different.  But still a long standing tradition none the less.

 

I had quite an eager little helper as I started making the mints last night.  It was fun to watch her thoroughly enjoy the process. Shelby started out with a piece too but she opted to eat hers in about 3 seconds flat and then there was nothing left to play with :)

This was just my pre-candy making, we'll get together for the mega candy making event next week.   That's when everything will get dipped in chocolate and packaged in boxes.