The Great Rip and Tear of 08

This Christmas was really special. Of course because it was Keira's first Christmas, but also because it was the first year that Liam really knew what was going on. He was so excited to see if Santa ate his cookies and milk, that he didn't even notice the presents at first. Hope everyone had a great holiday and has a smashing good new year's eve and day.

Our little fat tree - 2008

Even though Liam opened all of Keira's gifts for her, she was still tuckered out from the thrill of it all!

Family photo for 2008. It is amazing to me that we got this shot after only 3 takes.

Take 2 was much more representative of what I thought we would get. Our pretty little girl in her first dress.

One of Liam's new favorite toys. The amount of stuff that this kid got (along with his sister who knows nothing of what went on) is unfathomable. Let's just say, I'll be joining in the neighborhood yard sale this year to clear out some of the old stuff, and I already took a box to goodwill.

His pride and joy.

Our pride and joy.

For You Uncle Bobby

Sorry about your team.

We didn't think the Birds had a chance and are now in a state of delirium!

E - L - E - S EAGLES!!

3 months - A little late

Our little princess is really growing fast. Be prepared to be won over with her smile!

Rob and Sara were kind enough to drive over to Mammau's house on Kyle's birthday and meet Keira. Now that they have a big old house, they need to fill it with some munchkins of their own. We'll be up to visit soon!

Piggy Toes!

Not This Year

We took the kiddies to meet up with the big man at my Pappau's legion last weekend. I really didn't think Liam would be afraid of him because he talks about him all of the time and sat on his lap last year without incident. Not this year. He stood in line with Kyle laughing and having a good time, but as soon as his number was up, he decided he couldn't go through with it. We tried showing him it was fine by letting Santa hold Keira. No dice. I tried to just pick him up and force him onto the lap of the elderly stranger and he clung tighter to me than he has in a long time. So, we settled for sitting beside Santa. After he picked out his present, he must have felt a little better, because he wanted to show it to Santa. Still no picture posing, just a little convo with the toy maker to be sure he was covered on the gift front.

The Chef and the Fussy Baby

Supermodels

A few samplings from the Christmas card photo shoot. Let's just say I don't think anyone will ever pay my kids to have their picture taken.

"The Double Eye Closer"

I would post a picture of me making this face when I was little, but the resemblance might really freak you out.What just happened? And are we done?

Christmas Tree Rules

I got the idea for this post from AndreAnna who got the idea from SciFiDad. Obviously no one completely agrees with anyone else on this subject and that is what makes trees so great. Not one is exactly like another.

Tavia's Christmas Tree Rules

1. Only white lights for my tree. I'm not opposed to colored lights, we use them outside, and my childhood tree always had them so they make me a bit nostalgic, but I prefer white lights inside.

2. Popcorn garland must be used each year and should be newly strung each year. I've decorated without it once before and the tree looked naked. This is one of my favorite things to do to get myself into the Christmas season, string popcorn and watch movies.

3. Ornaments should consist of balls and the store bought variety but also childhood school project ornaments. I also love to get a new ornament from wherever we go on vacation each year and to celebrate life events. Reminiscing about my amazing life while decorating is the main reason I even deal with the hassle of the tree annually. I like my tree to tell a story.

4. Even though we have a toddler, an infant and two cats, all ornaments will be spread evenly around the tree. No "breakable ornaments at the top, unbreakable ornaments at the bottom" rule. My son learned early not to touch the tree. Then again, he is a boy and is not instantly drawn to all things glittery and shiny like most girls. We'll see how Keira does.

5. The tree should be real. I love the smell, I love the roundness (fake trees are so skinny), and I love taking the kids to pick one out. These things outweigh the mess, the cost, and the un"green"ness, for now.

6. The color scheme will be red, green, silver, gold and white, and the topper will always be a star. No exceptions.

Our 2007 Tree

Our 2007 Liam. So cute!

What are your Christmas Tree rules?

Thankful

I'm thankful for Internet shopping.

I'm thankful for sleeping for 6 hours straight.

I'm thankful for my honkin' big van.

I'm thankful for Eli Stone even though he's been cancelled. I'll heart him through the last few episodes.

I'm thankful for the cradle swing.

I'm thankful for turkey and stuffing and yams and corn and pumpkin pie and . . . .

I'm thankful that exercise will eventually reverse their effects.

I'm thankful for my true friends.

I'm thankful for the love and help I receive from my family.

But most of all I'm thankful for this~

And this ~

And this.

2 months

Here are a few pics of the kiddies just because they're so darn cute.

We got to go the Eagles history making game in Cincinnati this past weekend. First tie since 2002. So anticlimactic!! Thanks to Frances, we had great seats in the 9th row. It was cool to be so close, but also more difficult to follow the plays. Oh yeah, and in case everyone hasn't noticed yet, the cold weather is offically here.

Pocono Weekend

Last weekend we went up to the Poconos with my mom and sister. It was Keira's first vacation, although she only got to leave the villa once. Liam had a blast. They just built a new indoor water park and we got to test it out. Liam loved the tube slides. He wasn't technically tall enough to ride, but they let us since there was barely anyone there.

We drove to Boulder Field instead of hiking so that the kids could go too. It was cool to see snow on the rocks. Kyle insisted on carrying Liam on his shoulders and I had to look the other way so I didn't have a "mom stroke."

On our last day there, we took Liam for a walk to the Split Rock. We saw some turkeys and Kyle and Liam saw deer on the golf course. It is so great to get him outside and exploring.

Keira posing on her vacation.

Liam loves his little sister.

Memories

Do you ever have a random memory of one of your friends suddenly pop into your head and it makes you smile to yourself and reaffirms why you became friends with them in the first place? Yesterday, I did. I didn't just smile, I laughed a bit. I wonder why old memories just creep up like that, but I'm so glad that they do.

Back when we were all still working at the Pub, they had a Mother's Day Brunch. There was a fishbowl to put your name in to "win" a free Mary Kay party. Of course everyone who put their name in the bowl won a party. That's how they do business. Even so, Nicole put her name in because she thought it would be a fun way for us to get together and eat and drink, our favorite fat girl things to do.

At the party the lady gave us each a palate of makeup and was explaining to us how to pick our colors and how to apply. We were each engrossed in our task, trying to make ourselves easy and breezy, when I happened to look up at Nicole. (I'm laughing again now just thinking about it.) She had baby blue shadow up to her eyebrows, big circles of blush covering her cheeks, and was putting on some random pink lipstick. Terri and I just looked at each other and lost it. Seeing Nicole, who had no intention of buying any cosmetics, as a circus clown when she never wore any makeup at all was great enough, but to top it all off, the saleslady made her an example and said, "Everyone look at Nicole, see how she is experimenting with colors, she looks great, don't be afraid to try new things." Nicole is hilarious, but I guess the joke was on us since most of us doled out at less 50 bones for moisturizers and hand creams.

What are some of your best friend memories??

Dress Up

Sorry I am a little late posting pics from Halloween. We were on vacation (coming soon!) in the Poconos. Keeping with the theme of his costume from last year, occupational and free, Liam dressed up as a chef. They were giving the costumes out earlier this year at Best Buy when Kyle went in to buy some unnecessary electronic gadget. Trick-or-Treating went really well this year. About half way through Liam told Kyle to stay at the end of the driveway because he could "do it myself, Dad."

Kiss the Cook!

Aunt Jamie bought Keira a chili pepper outfit to coordinate with her big brother. She was a pretty darn cute little bundle.

Posing at school with a couple classmates. He's always surrounded by the ladies.