PEACE
LOVE
AND
CANDY

Aunt Shann definately knows what Megan likes...candy and glitter!

Megan and Ayva almost had a sleep over last night.

About three weeks ago Megan and Ayva wanted to have a sleep over. But since Megan had a Nutty Nutcracker show to do I told her she would have to wait until winter break. So last night was the night. Ayva came over to play around 11 a.m. and they played until 1:30 when she went home for lunch. Then after lunch Megan went over (across the street) to play at Ayva's while Mike, Paige and I ran to Target. When we returned I went over to fetch them and they were all excited. They even made a list of things to bring into the bonus room, flash lights, pillows, stuffed animals. After dinner they played for a while and watched Disney channel. Then it was time for bed. All was well until I tucked them in and Ayva (with teary eyes) said I want my mom and dad. I called them on the phone and she talked to her mom. She wanted to go home, so Miss. Kristie walked over and fetched her. I told her she could come back in the morning to play and that is what she did. At least she figured out that she wanted to go home at 9:15 p.m.instead of 3:15 a.m!

December Bike Ride...and we didn't freeze!

The past few days our weather has been like a roller coaster. From twenty degrees back up to sixty seven degrees, we have had snow flurries and thunderstorms. It just keeps going from one extreme to the next.

This afternoon when I came out of work it was in the mid sixties...very warm for late December in Ohio. So we had Mike haul our bikes up from the basement and we rode around the development before it got dark. It was a little windy but it was a warm wind, it felt more like late April then late December.
Paige LOVES her new bike, she's like an old pro on it. We had Megan ride Paige's old bike so she can practice with the hand brakes. We still need to get her new bike adjusted for her so she can reach the breaks. She did fine on Paige's old bike and we practiced stopping. I would holler "break check" and we would all stop. We also stopped at the stop signs but the "break checks" were so she could get used to stopping without having a visual cue.
At one point Megan needed help changing the gears so I asked Paige to hop on her old bike and show Megan how to do it. Paige said sure, then she hopped on the little blue bike and said "wow, this thing seems so small". It's funny how it was fine before Santa brought the big new bike, but now it's too small. Oh, well I'm thrilled that she loves her new bike, she's not always one to accept change, so this is a good thing.

My post for Saturday, 12-27-08

Friday night we were invited down to Mr. X and Miss. Sherry's for turkey tacos and fresh salsa. We brought along the chocolate fondue and dippers and the chocolate cranberry tart, they were both big hits. Our kids were too busy playing with all the other kids so they never had dessert. When we got home they asked if they could have some ice cream and that is how Paige lost her most recent loose tooth (on the lower left side). The first thing Megan said was "you need to take a picture for your blog". So here it is :)

Last night we went caroling with Sammy The Singing Elf and all his friends.

The best way to spread Christmas cheer...is to sing loud for all to hear!

Mike made a big pitcher of "ocean view" drinks and that really put Sammy in the mood to sing. Our first stop was Nick and Lisa's and Sam convinced Nick to sit on his lap by saying "if I have to wear the costume then you have to sit on my lap". It works every time, it's an old elf line.
Then we stopped by Tony and Teresa's and Tony was a good sport too.

Abigail was in her p.j's but she still came out in the cold so we could serenade her.

Then it was off to see Miss. Kristie, she's always fun and she played along too. But the cutest lap sitter was our little 2 year old neighbor boy Jake, he snuggled right up to Sam while we belted out "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".

Then we stopped by Miss. Linda's house and she had her daughter, son in law and their boys over, so Nick was the lap sitter for their house.

Our last stop of the night was at Mike and Jenn's. They had a whole house full of people and they were snapping pictures like crazy.

After caroling we headed back to Sam and Cyndie's for snacks. I got this cute shot of Sam wearing Paige's hat on the naughty side of course!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!
Scenes from Christmas Morning 2008!

Megan and Paige peeking over the banister waiting for Mike to get the video camera ready to roll.


Santa brought the girls really nice mountain bikes plus they each had a goody bog hanging on the handle bars.


Yo yo it's Snow Goggle Dude! Hey Shann and Steve thanks for the cool goggles!


Getting some hugs in front of the Christmas tree! While wearing my new scarf from Jenny. Thanks Jen, I love it...so soft and the colors are fantastic!


Happy Christmas morning smiles!


Rowdy is all about getting his Christmas stocking, he knows he's been good and he wants his treats!


We got Mike a back massager, and we all really like it a lot...we took turns getting our backs massaged. Maybe I should have gotten Mike a little ticket dispenser to go with it and a timer so no one ends up hogging it.


I must have been on the nice list...Santa-Mike got me the Nintendo ds that I wanted...now I don't have to share with the kids.

My post for Wed., 12-24-08

Camping Under The Christmas Tree....

Last night the girls started what may become a new tradition. They camped out near the Christmas tree. Megan had wanted to do it since we put the tree up. I put the feather bed mattress on the floor and then I put an old quilt on top of that. They had a quilt and blankets and were as snug as bugs in a rug. Rebel couldn't resist joining them. Rowdy stayed in the bean bag but both the dogs came upstairs when we went up to bed.

While they were sleeping their elves, Oliver and Jasper were making mischief.

Oliver and Jasper brought Paige and Megan Christmas ornaments and they were trying to hang them on the tree.

Jasper got Megan a dancing mouse and Oliver got Paige a horse that looks like Calliope.

What sweet clever little elves!

My post for Tuesday, 12-23-08

Visiting with Santa!

Last night we invited Linda over for pizza and salad and after dinner we drove up to see the lights at Allum Creek and stopped in for a visit with Santa.

Elfs + Frosting + Sprinkles = Elf Mischief!


Jasper was in the frosting and Oliver was in the sprinkles.

Together they made the girls some treats.
I was nice and let the girls have a cookie before breakfast, heck why not?

My post for Sunday, 12-21-08

Letters to Santa!

The girls wrote their letters to Santa this morning then after lunch I took them up to the post office so they could put them in "Santa's magic mailbox". They go directly to the North Pole and you don't even have to put postage stamps on them. Then in a few days Santa writes back.
Oh and don't let the sunshine in the background fool ya, it was a brisk 10 degrees F. outside and the wind was strong and fierce. Tell Jack Frost we've had enough!
After mailing the letters we went to the grocery store to stock up on baking supplies and we rented "Santa Clause 3" to watch while we were baking. We made banana bread, chocolate truffles and chocolate - peanut butter swirled chipped cookies.

Click on the letters to see them up close!

My post for Saturday, 12-20-08

Paige spent the night at Brittany's house Friday and I picked her up on my way home from work today. She had gifts from Brittany for her and Megan. Megan got "Glitter Lava" and it was a big hit.

This is the safari scene after the girls were done decorating it.

These are Megan's nails after she was done decorating them with "glitter lava", luckily it peels right off.

Megan's "Lava Story".... a few years ago Paige and Megan were riding in the car and they were playing "rock, paper, scissors" when I heard Megan yelling "LAVA!!". Paige said "what's lava?" and Megan replies "lava beats everything".

My post for Friday, December 19, 2008

Today was the last day of school before the 2 week winter break. Mike surprised them by going to their holiday parties with me. He helped Paige make this cute wreath ornament.

Megan's class made snowmen ornaments. Jasper came with us so Megan was thrilled to have her elf at the party.

Mike and Megan made these rice crispie chocolate swirled holiday sprinkled treats on-a-stick to share with the class. Megan's teacher was very impressed!

My post for Thursday, 12-18-08

Paige had fun in ballet tonight. They made up their own dance to share with us and Miss. Kathleen's class. It was fun to watch them make up the dance and see their ideas come to life with the music.
Here Paige is with her teacher Miss. Samara. Miss. Samara loved the scarf that Paige gave her for Christmas.

My post for Wednesday, 12-17-08

I finally remembered to take pictures of the girls flowers that they received after the "Nutty Nutcracker" on Sunday. We got them the peppermint daises and Harry and his family got them some roses.

Paige's flowers above and Megan's below.

My post for Tuesday, 12-16-08

Tuesday Dance Class Parties!

The girls had "parties" - played dance games in their classes today. They will have the next two weeks off. I don't know about them but I am ready for a break!

They gave their dance teachers their gifts (a scarf and some lotion). Miss Rachel loved her scarf and wore it while dancing the entire night. Her shirt was so cute it said "if I were a reindeer I would be dancer!" one of her students had given it to her.

Here's Paige tapping to "Run Run Rudolph"

Megan and her jazz teacher Miss. Erin. Megan loves jazz it's her favorite dance class. Megan had Miss. Erin for a teacher when she was 3, 4 and 5 so Megan is thrilled to have her for a teacher again.

Miss. Krissy is sweet too, Megan has her for ballet & tap this year. Her friend Lilly is in her class too so that makes it extra fun.