11 Days to go...

Wow... where did this year go? Time has flown by! I can't believe Christmas is in 11 days! Kelley and Tegan come home on the 24th! I can hardly wait to see them both! Beckie and I have been busy decorating the barbie "condo". The condo is really a large shelf Dave built for Bridget back in her college days when the room she lived in was so small she couldn't even fit a dresser. Dave built this piece of furniture with shelves for books, computer, clothes, etc. with a desk top that suspended from it as well. Well, its been sitting in our basement. I wondered one day what to do with it and Debo, the genius that she is, says..."Turn it into a Barbie Condo"! So we decided to do just that. Here are some shots before we did some wall papering!! This is the shelf unit turned on its side. Beckie and I were a little disappointed that Barbie wouldn't be able to stand in the top section or the bottom ones. That's when Dave gave us a look like we were both NUTS and flipped the dang thing on its side... Now Barbie has 24 foot ceilings!!

Here Barbie enjoys her new kitchen... oh but wait till we are done Barbie!
Barbie enjoys pink....
So we used lots and lots of pink!

One of our favorite rooms is the stage room...which will be complete with a microphone stand for "belting out her favorite songs" with Elphaba and Glenda watching on!
The kitchen with a few items...
The bathroom with a view to die for...
Won't Sarah and Molly be surprised? I know Barbie will be freaking out!!

Oh, the wonderment...

The tree.

The boy.
The wonderment... is that a word?, in Cayden's eyes!
The joy.

The Terror... lookout tree, here he comes!

You Capture-Lines!

This week's challenge... LINES! Here are mine:

String lines suspending bulbs...

Coat tree lines and shadows...

Fabric lines on pillow...

Lines etched in wood to create Santa...

Visit Beth to see more LINES here!

Number 16 - St Edward Eagles Hockey

Dan was the child who would beg to play hockey. We said NO. We pushed baseball. When Dan was in 6th grade we gave in and let him play hockey. We signed him up at the rec, on a rec league. It was a "B" team. Dan was happy. We learned to love the game too. Dan was big and tall... and wasn't afraid to "check" anybody into the boards. He took hits well too!! He played left wing and sometimes center. When it came time for high school, Dan's obvious choice was St Ed's because they had the best hockey team and he so wanted to play for them. I remember sitting at try outs, with other parents, hearing about how their sons had been playing hockey since they were 4 ... and I admit, I was thinking how could Dan ever make the team? How would we console him if he didn't make this team. I would look at him on the ice and think... he is big... maybe that's to his advantage. Well, it was. Dan made that JV team his freshman year and he was Captain of the JV team his sophmore year. When number 16 made the Varsity team junior year, we were thrilled! Dan played for the St Edward Eagles for all 4 years. Proudly owns a State Champ ring, along with wonderful memories!

While I sat in the stands, I met one of the coaches' wife. Bridget T. had 4 little girls, girls who knew the game of hockey, girls who loved to come and cheer on the eagles. They knew players names and numbers. They knew stats on players. They amazed me. Bridget amazed me since she would often be coming from work, with 4 girls in tow, every game to watch and support her husband, coach T and his team. We became good friends. What can I say? I am drawn to kids... who doesn't know that? Soon the girls were getting to know Danny better. They had little crushes, I think, on this blue eyed, blonde high school boy. I once showed them a picture of Danny when he was 2 in a little red dress his sisters had put on him... and boy did that make an impression on them. They called him Danny Girl from that day forward.

Well Dan is 24 years old now. We haven't seen the T Girls in about 4 years. Last night they came for dinner. It was just like old times... just bigger girls. Allie is in the 10th grade, Annie in the 7th, Audra in 4th, and Abby in 2nd!! Dan is still Danny Girl to them. It was so fun to see them all again! Dan enjoyed some table hockey with Abby and Audra... I think Audra let Danny win!!! Sarah watched Uncle Dan, and gave him some advice!

Audra still supporting her favorite hockey team!

Abby getting a ride upstairs on Danny...Sarah close behind!

Sarah and Abby... talking about how to sneak up on Dan!
Annie and Allie playing some pool! Molly climbing on the chair!

And all this fun because of a new wall mural at Winterhurst Rink, home ice of the St Edward Eagles. Bridget called me a couple of weeks ago to say they were looking at a picture Coach T. brought home when the girls screamed.... "Hey, That's Danny Girl!!" Sure enough, my very own #16 is front and center on the wall at the rink! I would recognize that skating technique anywhere... that and the one yellow lace!! Here is a scan of the picture Bridget gave me yesterday... I can't wait to see it myself in person. Thanks to the T's for the fun memories! Thanks to my Danny for making me one of those hockey Moms who yelled....

Hit Somebody!!

Adios... Lemuho

Wow... time has really gone by fast this last week. We had about 5 days of beautiful sunny weather then some cloudy days, then a whole day of RAIN! We made the best of a rainy day and went to the movies. Everybody's Fine is a sad, sad movie. Save it for video! I am looking forward to getting home to see my gems! I have missed their little faces! The pool here is not the same without them splashing away in it!

Kelley and Tegan will be home the 24th and I have so much to do for Kelley bridal shower!! So exciting! A year ago Tegan proposed to Kelley here at home! Read about it here!

Kelley has the countdown going to the wedding date in June! This is their only time home before the wedding so the shower will be early. My friends are so great and are eager to meet Kelley and "shower" her with their love! Tegan... we will be asking you some questions so we can ask Kelley the same ones and see how close your answers will be... talk amongst yourselves now!!!

Stolen Photos!

I admit it. I stole it. I better never see this again....

Ha... trying to pull a Michael Jackson move, but, Cyle just couldn't do it! Look how tight his grip is on his precious son! Nice try... don't do it again!! Dagmara... sorry, I am such a bad girl stealing, borrowing, your pictures!!

And enjoying a few stolen days in Florida!

Cocktails with the Murts... good times!

Good Times!

We had a really fun time on Thanksgiving this year!! Aunt Lynn brought materials for us to make Christmas wreaths...



Plenty of food was shared...


Toys were shared...


Many smiles...


Lots of Hugs...


Learned some new games...


and some new moves...

SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We had a fabulous time at WICKED! We were in the second row... Sarah in the aisle seat! She was so excited for the show to start!! Just watching her little face light up with excitement made me cry!! We had so much fun!! She dressed like a little Elphaba!
I love her so much!! Can you tell? She is such a gift in my life.

I am thankful for all the gifts in my life....

Dave

Rebecca Jean

Bridget Diana

Daniel John

Tegan James

I am thankful for the gifts they have given me...

Sarah Rose

Molly Carolyn

Townsend Cayden

Donny

Cyle

Kelley

Dagmara

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2 Days to go...

Sarah DANCING THROUGH LIFE!

Sarah can hardly wait! She is LOATHING everything!! She hopes Monday is ONE SHORT DAY and she plans on dreaming of DEFYING GRAVITY just like ELPHABA until she gets to Tuesday, our theater night! Sarah could take the stage on Tuesday night and help sing every song. I just may have a little theater fanatic on my hands...
But she sure isn't WICKED!

Can I eat more cookie dough??

The scene in my kitchen this morning was Sarah, Molly and I making chocolate chip cookies while Cayden was napping upstairs. The girls were given spoonfuls of cookie dough to roll into balls. They were having a hard time with this task.

Not because it was sticky. No.

It was because they could not resist rolling it into balls then taking a big bite right out of it!!! Half eaten cookie balls were then dropped onto the cookie sheet.

"That's ok?, right Meme?" Sarah asked. " We are the only ones going to get to eat these right?"

They cleaned up nicely... eating most of their mess!

And Cayden was ready with kisses, to thank his cousins for the yummy cookies!
Sarah looking very studious in Meme's reading glasses. I tell her over and over that this is not good for her eyes so...
We find an old pair and take out the lens and look out~~ She starts acting like a nut and tell us a funny story about how her hamster eats so much that his cheeks just explode out like this...
She laughed so hard she started to cry! What a fun day it was... As they were leaving tonight, Molly said...

"Have a nice day, Meme"

** It reminded me of a cartoon Gertie had on her fridge that always made me smile. It was one of grandchildren leaving their grandma's house and they say~

Thanks for enjoying us, Grandma!!