Hayley is Stylin'

Shortly before Christmas Hayley mentioned that she wasn't seeing as clearly as she used to. So we did what any good parents would do, we took her to the eye doctor and sure enough - she needs glasses. She only needs a very slight correction but it makes her see better.

At first she thought she'd be getting contacts. Then I had to burst her bubble. There is NO WAY she is responsible enough for contacts. I told her maybe in another year or two she may be ready but she's definitely not ready now.

So her back-up plan was to find a pair of pink glasses. Although there were many pairs of pink glasses we just couldn't find the "right" pair. So then I found a purple pair. She put them on and we both said, these are "it". So here's the result! (The frames are Adi*das in a medium purple color on the arms and tops of the while the bottom of the lenses are rimless.)

So What Have We Been Up To, You Ask?

I'm so glad you asked. Let me tell you! (Sorry it's so long!)

Let's start with Christmas. On Sunday the 23rd, my sister, Shar, from SF came to town. We pretty much played games all day on Sunday & Monday (Christmas Eve). On Sunday afternoon, my sister, Kelly & her 3 kids came over to exchange gifts and have cider and Christmas goodies with us.

Kelly's kids - Taylor, Brianna, & Alec / My sister, Shar

My dad arrived on Monday. We went to 5:30 church. I really enjoy Christmas Eve service. It's fun singing all the Christmas songs. After church, we drove around and looked at Christmas lights (a family tradition). When we finally starving, we came home and cooked pizza from P*p* M*rphy's. YUM!

Christmas morning festivities began at 8 am. I'm sure the kids were up/awake much earlier! But I, on the other hand, enjoy and need my sleep! :) The kids were thrilled with their presents - mainly the PS*2 and Gu*itar H*r* that they received from us! We basically played that all day! I cooked a big meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, green bean casserole, stuffing, pistachio salad, strawberry pretzel salad, cranberries, olives, pickles, buns, and of course, dessert - Milk Chocolate Cheesecake, for my dad & sister. Usually I also have my other two sisters, Kelly (and boyfriend & 3 kids) & Jodi (and boyfriend), to feed but they made other plans this year. Hopefully I'll have them back next year! It just didn't feel the same! We ended the night with a movie, I N*ow Pron*ounce Y*ou Ch*uck & La*rry, which we found out 10 minutes into the movie that it is NOT a kids' movie so the kids were sent off to watch something else! YIKES!!!

My Two Best Presents - My Kids

The Guitar Hero was a BIG hit!

My sister, Shar & Tanner

Hayley & I

Tanner & I

(Yes, I won!)

Dean & I

(I'm objecting to Dean winning! I was positive I did!)

Dean reacting to his win over me!

(Acting like a dork!)

Me imitating the dork!

The day after Christmas was depressing. I had to work. The last four years I have not worked but instead attended college full-time. I got used to having 4 to 5 weeks of vacation this time of year! That is the ONLY thing I miss about college! And of course, the summers off, too! I know, poor me! It's rough to be a grown-up! :) I'm definitely taking all of Christmas week off for upcoming Christmases!

Dean's sister, Jodi, her husband and their two kids (including the new baby, Campbell, who was born 3 days before Thanksgiving) were in town. We were invited over to Dean's mom's for pizza and visiting. Campbell is SO cute! I really enjoyed holding him.

This past Sunday, we took the kids sledding and snowboarding at St. Anne's Hill. I was SO cold! But the weather didn't seem to bother the kids. I bundled up as much as I could and we stopped by the gas station and I got the biggest hot chocolate I could buy but I was still frozen and miserable! Seriously, I have issues! (I sleep in flannel pjs with 10 blankets on my side of the bed - NO JOKE!)

Tanner on his new snowboard

Hayley taking her turn on Tan's snowboard

Now onto New Year's! This is the first time in a LONG time that we've actually had New Year's Eve plans. I guess last year we did get invited to Dean's sister, Leah, who lives in town (we were living in a hotel at the time). However, we were back at the hotel and in bed by 10:30 so I don't think that really counts! :)

This year, my department at work decided to get together. The party started about 7:30 at my co-worker's house at the lake. We had lots of munchies, drinks, and games! LOTS of FUN! We got home about 2 am and went straight to bed. However, my sleeping problems decided to rear it's ugly head. Although I was in bed at 2 am (way past my normal bedtime) and had been up since 6:30 am the day before (I had to work), I just couldn't fall asleep. I had drank caffeine-free pop all night at the party. I finally fell asleep about 4:30 am! Only to wake up at 7:30 am and could not fall back to sleep. I finally rolled out of bed at 9:45 because I figured I was not going to fall asleep. It was a VERY long day yesterday! Three hours of sleep is NOT enough! Last night I went to bed at 9:00, fell asleep about 9:30 and didn't awake until 6:00 am but then fell back to sleep off & on again until my alarm went off at 7:00 am! It felt GREAT to get a good night's sleep but I'm still tired today. It's crazy, people! Really! Who can't fall asleep after being awake for 20 hours?!?! Who can't fall back to sleep after ONLY 3 hours of sleep!

Isabel & Hayley playing a game of Twister

Dean & I

Collin & Jen

(They hosted the party)

Nick & Amy

Happy New Year!

HAPPY

NEW

YEAR

Hoping 2008 is a healthy & happy year for you and your loved ones!

Merry Christmas!

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Happy Holidays

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1443522980

Elf yourself!

Holiday Tour of Homes

Heidi Jo is hosting a Holiday Tour of Homes Extravaganza.

I'd like to share my holiday decor with you.

My Nativity Set

Hayley's Nativity Set

My Miniature Christmas Teapot Sets & Candles

(I collect miniature teapot sets of all kinds.)

My Table Centerpiece

My Purple Poinsettia with Glitter

My Picture Perfect Christmas Tree

(Decorated in purple, silver, and irridescent.)

The "Charlie Brown" Christmas Tree

(Decorated with ornaments from Dean's & my childhood, ornaments I have bought the kids, and ornaments the kids have made.)

The Mouse Countdown Calendar

(This is from my childhood.)

The New "Cool" Stockings

(When we get our fireplace mantel finished, these will hang there.)

(Hayley-pink, Dean-green, Tanner-blue, Me-Purple)

Santa's Milk & Cookies

Christmas Baking is Done!

Christmas baking is finally done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I finished up on Saturday with Rosettes. Now, if I could only find friends and family to share my Christmas goodies with.........

Friday evening was Dean's work Christmas party. It involved a good meal, many door prizes to the employees, and karoake. Dean received his bonus and won the table centerpiece (which I will be regifting) and a $50 gift certificate to M*enards. [You may not believe in regifting but if it's something I don't like or need and it was not given to me by a special person, I feel I should be able to give it to someone who will enjoy it.]

Saturday I spent four hours shopping for Christmas gifts. I only have two left to buy, plus a few more stocking stuffers. While shopping, I found purple poinsettias - with glitter!! How COOL!!! My favorite color is purple. I bought two - one for my office and one for home to match my purple sofas, purple decor, and purple decorated Christmas tree! [They came in purple, pink, blue, peach, ivory and red.] I spent three hours wrapping gifts, which I LOVE to do! And got most of the laundry done. Then I spent the evening making Rosettes.

Sunday the kids had to acolyte at church and then I finished up the laundry and caught up on my TV watching on the DVR. The CEO at Dean's work had a manager's Christmas party at his house Sunday evening. There was lots of food and drinks and people - about 30 to 40! It was a full house! Afterwards we all played a few games of Catch Phrase.

So what did you do this weekend? Got all your shopping & gift wrapping done?

Snowed In = Baking Marathon

Saturday at noon the kids and I started our Baking Marathon being it was snowing like crazy outside! We made Candy Cane Snowballs, Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints, Butter Pecan Fudge, Cookie Dough Truffles, & decorated the Sugar Cookies we made last weekend! We finally finished at 8 pm! We were exhausted! Next weekend we'll finish up with Rosettes and then we should be done!

(No, I didn't make these!)

What did you do while you were snowed in?

Thanksgiving Festivities

It seems that when you're approaching a 4-day weekend it looks like a really long time to have off and you'll get a lot accomplished. But when you get to Monday, you ask yourself, where the heck did those four days go!!

WEDNESDAY - I worked until 4:00. Then I had to make two salads for Thanksgiving dinner. My sister, Jodi, came to town to stay overnight. We ran over to Dean's parents to see Dean's brother, his wife and their four kids that had come to town for the holiday.

THURSDAY - Dean, my sister, Dean's parents, and Dean's brother & his wife & daughter participated in the Turkey Day 5k run / 2 mile walk. Dean & his parents walked while everyone else ran. This is the third year that our family has participated in this event. However, it was the 8th annual Turkey Day event. If I could be guaranteed that it will be at least 50 degrees that day, then I would also sign up to walk but I don't see that happening. Therefore, I become the DB - designated babysitter. This year, I watched my own two kids plus Matt who is 7, Charlie who is 4, Nolan who will be 3 in January, and Joe who just turned 2. Wow - I think I was a little out of practice!

We had Thanksgiving dinner at Dean's sisters here in town. We hung out there the entire day. There was lots of food, conversation, and games. We had a Guitar Hero contest where the kids paired up everyone to compete against each other! It was lots of fun! (Btw, I beat Dean the first round.)

(Dean's brother, Dave, & his wife, Becky)

(Dean & I)

(Dean & Tanner)

(Tanner & I)

(Dean & Hayley)

FRIDAY - I'm generally a crazy shopper (but not an insane crazy shopper) who is generally out shopping by 6:30. But not this year! I just didn't see anything in the ads that I just had to have yet I felt like I needed to go out because I love to shop!! So I decided to sleep in yet get up in time to make it before the deals ended at 11 am. My dad called me at 9 am just as I was getting ready to leave the house and asked which store I was in. I told him I was still at home; I hadn't left yet. He said, what? Are you sick!? :) I was home by noon. (I may have found better deals in SF but I just don't want to travel that far so I'll just have to be satisfied with W.)

Then we met the relatives at the movie theatre to watch The Be*e Movie. It is a really cute movie. I suggest you see it! The kids and adults all enjoyed it! Then we spent the day at Dean's parents, had pizza for supper and went to the Holiday Lighted Parade.

The cousins wanted to have a girls sleepover and a boys sleepover. I got the boys! Which actually ended up being only one boy coming because the other one was too naughty and the other was kinda young (4).

SATURDAY - Hayley and I went shopping for 2 1/2 hours. I did not plan on this. She was looking for a Christmas tree for her room. She's been wanting one for a couple years now and I told her that would be a great item to spend some of her birthday money on as this is something she will keep for many years. Then we dug out all the Christmas decor and started decorating.

SUNDAY - I started my Christmas baking! I rolled out Sugar Cookies which we'll decorate tomorrow. We made Peanut Butter Mice, Pretzel Rods dipped in homemade caramel and candy coating, Caramels, and Million Dollar Fudge. Plus I got 7 loads of laundry done!

MONDAY - We're all starting to come down with colds that the out-of-town guests seemed to have brought and shared with us! :(

Hope your Thanksgiving was great!

WOW! Can you believe Christmas is only a month away???

Happy Turkey Day!

Hope you all have a GREAT and THANKFUL Thanksgiving!