Christmas Decorating

The carcass of the Thanksgiving turkey has barely been picked over, but we've already moved on to our next holiday. Truth be told, I actually started Christmas decorating last weekend, but didn't want to share until T-Day got its proper respects.

We started with our outside lights. Once again, the Worm was a huge help getting the lights straightened out and put on the bushes. We do a mix of white lights (my preference) and colored lights (kids' preferences), plus our lighted reindeer. Michael calls it "goat" and repeatedly tries to pet it.


The Worm, the Pear and the Goat.


Some of our lights. The picture from the street was too dark.

Next, came the Christmas train/village. This is Mike's project and I just love how he gets into it. The kids love watching the train go by.

Have I ever mentioned how much Michael loves his Teddy Bear Blanket? He sleeps with it, naps with it and drags it everywhere. It truly is his security blanket. Well, Taylor - in true big sister fashion - likes to grab it and run. Here's how the scene unfolded yesterday:

Is there any more joy than that found when teasing a sibling?

Blanket recovered. Kicks to the back administered for punishment. I had to intervene shortly after.

Ahhhh, that's better. (Elmo sticks around a lot these days, too.)

Alright, back to decorating.

The tree and inside decorations spanned over a few days. I HATE incomplete projects, so it just drove me nuts until it was done. Taylor and Michael had fun decorating the tree and I suppressed my inner neat-freak because they were having such a good time. Taylor liked to group ornaments together because Hello Kitty needed a doggy and a Christmas tree and a bell...Michael prefered the round glass ornaments because they sailed the most like balls when he threw them. We survived.

I love this picture! Guess Michael thinks he's No. 1.

He looks like he knows what he's doing.

The Worm creating a grouping.

Mike, mesmerized by the tree's awesome beauty.

All of us. Taylor and I even look alike when we're squinting.

Kiddos and I.

No partridge; just a Pear and Tree.

Michael loves all of the musical/animated Christmas things we've accumulated over the years. He'd line them up and take turns pushing each button.

Michael telling me he will be 2 on his birthday (in just two weeks!!).

Taylor annoyed with my picture taking. Had to share how long her legs look though. She's getting so tall.

Off to pick up the girl from school.

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Happy Thanksgiving!

How was your Thanksgiving?

We had a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving this year. Somehow, over the last 36 years, I've avoided hosting Thanksgiving dinner - until this year.

I don't really do meat. I'll sometimes eat chicken if it's disguised under a bunch of stuff or really processed turkey breast. Meat on the bone - ew, NO! My mom, who has always known my quirks, offered to make the turkey; Pops brought the pumpkin pie and cakies for the kids and I took care of the rest.

Taylor helped me get the table ready.

Pops carving the bird.

All of us. Sorry for cutting you out a little, Mom!

There's Mother!

My sweetie girl.

My cutie boy.

I love to play games and I'm so excited that Taylor is getting old enough to play, too. Mike's not a big board game kind of guy, so I took advantage of our crowd to get a game of Yahtzee going. Taylor played for the first time and got a Yahtzee on her very first turn! She beat us all that game and the next.

Just call me Yahtzee Queen!

Us.

Father, all giddy after rolling a Yahtzee.

Now, time for random pics:

Taylor, after ballet practice, enjoying a turkey cupcake made by my work buddy, Iris.

The kiddos after Taylor's Thanksgiving class party. Her teacher made them all Indian shirts.

The Pear insisted on this getup to drop off "Tay-Tay" at school.

Must get some sleep now.

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Champ the Lab - My Other Love

A blog I follow, Kelly's Korner, is doing a Show Us Your Pets series this week and I just had to show off my first baby, Champ.

An oldie but goodie:

We got Champ from my mother-in-law as a wedding present seven years ago. Anyone who has a lab knows just how sweet these dogs are. He loves people, loves walks, loves "scratchies", but most of all, LOVES FOOD! I'm convinced the dog would eat himself to death if given free reign. His favorite pasttime is licking out the grease drip pan under the grill. Eww! Despite this minor shortcoming (and his ridiculous shedding), we love our Champy dearly.

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Party and Pics

Not a whole lot going on this past weekend. The Hurricane had their first scrimmage Saturday and looked pretty darn good against Princeton (the Division I state runner-up). Afterwards, Mike headed to Pittsburgh for the Penguins and Steelers games, and the kids and I hung out.



Taylor had a party (yes, another party!) Saturday for a classmate. I think I mentioned before, her class is almost all boys, but she is great at blending in with whoever is around. She was the only girl from her class that went to the party, but she didn't care and had a blast anyway. The party was held at one of those inflatable bounce centers - such a good idea. No cleanup, kids stay entertained and probably cheaper than the shindig I arranged for birthday numero 5.





All ready for the party.





Taylor and her buddy, Braden.

Michael looking a little unsure on the inflatable (but he ended up loving it). The boy in the background is one of Taylor's best friends. They've been going to the same sitter since Taylor was 14 months and Noah was 3 months old.

The kids and I watched the Buckeyes clinch yet another Big Ten title, then played in the basement when a little accident occurred. Michael was trying to help me clean the basement and ran full-force into my face. His big ol' noggin smashed into my eye and sent me into tears for a good two minutes. I have a nice black eye now!

Alrighty, off to do some freelance work. One last cute picture from last week. Michael was so worn out one night that he fell asleep right on Daddy's chest. So cute.

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Post O'Plenty

Several times over the last week I've thought to myself, "Oh, I should put that on the blog." Good intentions fell to the wayside and now I'm cramming this post full of a bunch of stuff that doesn't really go together. Be confused and enjoy. :)



Taylor had her fall class party and program this past week. The theme for both was "Noah's Ark." Since costumes were not provided and dressing up was optional, we went the cheap route and opted for "Zebra." I ordered a tail and ears headband online ($8), paired them with her zebra-print skirt and Wah-lah, instant adorable zebra.



I didn't get any pictures on stage, because they turned out way too dark. She did a great job though. She was sandwiched between two of the squirrelliest boys in her class, but still rocked it!



My cute little zebra, off to perform.

Posing with Grandma T. after the program. My mom is awesome. She never missed my activities growing up and she is always there for my kids now. She has six grandkids and you wouldn't believe how much she runs around for them! I'm sure they'll appreciate it one day as much as I do now. We love you!

The Zebra Worm and the Pear.

During Show and Tell at her school party. She LOVES her teacher, Mrs. Washburn.

Her entire class. Kudos to her teachers, because I can imagine that a room full of 4/5 year olds is like a zoo some days.

Okay, on to my next thought...

Have you ever received one of those photo-shopped emails of the man holding the gigantic cat? Check out my dad with his 22-pound cat, Kitty. This cat is HUGE in every way - his length, his width, his head, his eyes. He's a gorgeous cat and just adores my dad. I carried him (the cat, not my dad) down the stairs and I swear it was like carrying Michael! The following picture is not altered, haha.

No, my dad is not whincing under the weight of Kitty, he just rarely smiles for photos. Don't let if fool you though, he's about the nicest person you could ever meet. He's definitely my buddy.

Off to tangent No. 3...

Michael has been way overdue for a hair cut. I tried to trim it up a few weeks ago and that resulted in a semi-bowl cut. Ugh. Not the look I was going for. We busted out the clippers Friday night. I cut Mike's hair first (which I knew would be a bad idea for Michael to watch, but Mike insisted) and then the Pear cried through his cutting. He looks so cute though and so much older!

Sorry for the bowl cut, little guy.

Before he got too ticked.

The after:

I could just eat him up! What a smile. :)

I've been planning a post on how well the kids are getting along, but I haven't put it together yet. Maybe later this week.

Until next time,

Mommy Kel