Last night our ol friend Tom stopped by and had dinner with us, it's been well over a year since we all got together. He was a bit surprised at how tall the girls have grown. He also gave me a very nice compliment. He said he was telling this lady he knows that works at the local diner that I was raising really sweet girls, and that they are friendly and charming and they always mind. Tom says "I think it's because she was a nanny for so long, she just knows how to raise kids right". Well gee Tom I'm glad you think so...cause my plan was always to raise confidant, compassionate kids that just happen to be smart and beautiful too. I'm a pretty lucky mom!

Rosy cheek smiles from Ohio!

Megan had her friend Meghan over today and they tromped around in the snow with Paige and played on Jake's swing set for an hour then came in for hot cocoa.

Looks like we may end up having a white New Years instead of a white Christmas. It started snowing big tissue paper flakes just before dark tonight.

I had to go out and grill the ribs in the snow. They turned out perfect. I had baked them for two and a half hours at 225 on the broiler pan covered in foil. The trick is low and slow (plus add some water the bottom of the broiler pan and cover them tight with heavy foil). I brushed them with some Montgomery Inn sauce and they were finger licking good.

My post for Saturday, 12/26/09

Here's a cousin shot from Christmas at Aunt Terry's.

My post for Friday, December 25th, 2009

Merry Christmas from our house to yours. Wishing you a joyous Christmas and a New Year filled with peace.

Love and hugs, Brandi, Michael, Paige, Megan, Rowdy and Rebel

My post for Thursday, December 24, 2009


Paige and Megan hanging up their stockings and saying good bye to their elves. But not to worry Oliver and Jasper promise to return again next Thanksgiving and they are going to bring their dogs along next year too!

My post for Wednesday, 12-23-09



I had to work a quick/busy 4 hour shift at Anderson's today. Then spent 2 hours running errands for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner prep and picking up my new old glasses. I got new lenses in my old frames so I can decide if I like/need no line bifocals.
Needless to say I was too busy to snap pictures when I got home. But I do have these cute shots from Tuesday when we stopped by Deb and Bud's to take Joe out. Don't you just love their Christmas tree it looks like it could be in a magazine. They keep it in their sun porch and you can see it through their family room doors. Joe looks so handsome in his new winter coat too.

My post for Tuesday, 12-22-09



The girls and I had lots of errands to run on today. The first was mailing their letters to Santa. They should be receiving a card from him in the next day or two.

My post for Monday, December 21, 2009


The girls came over and played with Jake today. That was nice because while Evan was napping I was able to work on our Christmas cards. Megan enjoyed playing with Jake's soda fountain play dough machine.

My post for Sunday, 12-20-09
Monthly Mugshots with the snowman hat!

I'm glad I snapped these pictures this morning because when I got home tonight most of it was gone. I love the thick coating on the bushes it looks like frosting. Driving to work along the river road it looked like a Christmas card.

When I took the dogs out at 10 last night it was just starting to snow, the mulch around the street trees was barely covered. I was a little surprised when I heard the snowplows go by this morning when I was getting up at 5:45 a.m. I woke the kids and made them look out the window they were surprised too...but then they went right back to bed. I had to be to work at 7:45. It was a long day cashiering. People were either very nice or very rude...it was a day of extremes!


Rowdy was not thrilled with the snow at all! He did not want to come off the porch, but he was on his leash so he didn't have much choice.

Rebel on the other hand has to put his nose down in the snow and run around like a jack rabbit. Here he is making yellow snow!

My post for Friday, 12-18-09

I snapped this picture during Megan's class party today. Since it was the last day of school before their 2 week winter break I let her take Jasper to class with the promise that she would not take him out to recess. Jasper had fun visiting with all of the other elves.

My post for Thursday, 12-17-09


Megan's ballet class was dancing to the "ice skating" song from the Peanuts. It was adorable!

My post for Wed. 12-16-09

Wordless Wednesday

My post for Tuesday, 12-15-09


Last night was the girls last tap class before the winter break. They won't go back to dance class until next year in January. I let Megan wear Paige's "sleigh keeper" costume that she (Paige) wore in the "Nutty Nutcracker" 2 years ago. It's just a tiny bit big on her so she will be able to wear it again next year if she wants. Might as well get our money's worth out of it, instead of letting it sit in the costume box. Plus it was a good excuse to take some fun pictures.

My post for Monday, 12-14-09

Jake and Evan our neighbor boys.

My post for Sunday, 12-13-09

Surprise Picture!



Sometimes when I go to upload pictures onto the computer I find a "surprise picture" like this. Paige must have been messing around with my camera last week and took a self portrait of her and the pup.

My post for Saturday, 12-12-09



While I took Paige and her friends to the dance party last night Megan and Jasper had their own party. Megan ate pizza with her dad then they had "Snow Ball" cotton candy while they watched the new "Phineas and Ferb Christmas Special" on the Disney channel.

My post for Friday, 12-11-09


I snapped this picture of Paige before we went to the "Eagles night out dance party" at her school. We picked up her friend Brooke on the way there. I had volunteered to chaperone so I was able to get the girls in for free. Sydney met then their after her basketball game and then shed came home with us and spent the night. They all had a fun time, dancing, eating ice cream sundaes and talking and laughing.

Yesterday Megan brought home this colorful Natasha Wescoat inspired painting. I love how colorful and fun it is. To learn more about the artist that inspired this work go here: http://www.natashawescoat.com

Yesterday was Bud's birthday!

Deb was in Chicago for work. So on our way to tap dance classes we stopped by to take Bud a card and cupcakes that we made for him. I also got him a 6 pack of Winter Celebration Ale, because you need to celebrate your birthday!

Don't you just love this family portrait of Bud, Joe Boxer and Deb? They had then taken a few months ago by the same photographer that did their wedding pictures. This is a wrapped canvas and it looks very much like a painting. I LOVE IT! I especially love how it is taken from Joe's perspective.

She's super, super, she's super duper!


Super Girl!

He' 3 today...so here are three cute pictures of Jake to celebrate! I watched Evan for a few hours today while Jake went to breakfast with his mom and dad then to Chuck E. Cheese to play.

Paige and Megan in their festive frocks!

I took some cute pictures of the girls before we headed out the door to Paige's clarinet concert at Expresso Yourself Cafe tonight.

My post for Saturday, 12-05-09

Jake turns 3 on Monday!

He had his birthday party earlier today so after dinner the girls and I went over to take him a gift. We got him a set of building blocks, they don't take batteries only imagination! We also got him 3 Hot Wheel cars to go with them.

Megan jumping for joy!

She was jumping up and I was trying to take her picture with her feet off the ground...this was the last and best shot.