Zamboni Time!

Now this was a real hoot! We took the entire family unit skating at the "local" hockey rink...none of the kids had been on skates before but they did really well! They had fun and by the end of the session they were making it around the rink on their own...

Future Hockey Player???

Working off some of the Christmas calories!

Family trip to Jump Planet...

Christmas '08

I know...I'm a little late posting these...okay really late!

We had a FABULOUS Christmas...we ate lots of food, stayed up late, ate some more, slept in, ate some more, played in the SNOW and enjoyed time with family and friends.

Year-round Camping

It's official...Ashley is a Monkey!

She recently discovered how to climb out of her crib...the first couple times she fell and hurt herself and we thought that would deter her from trying in the future. But, much to our chagrin, she has continued to get out and now is at the point where she can do so at will without hurting herself.

Laura wanted to purchase a "tent" that goes over the crib so that she wouldn't be able to do that but I was not so sure...they are so expensive and I just kept thinking we could teach her not to get out unless we were there.

This pattern of self-extraction from the crib continued and Laura finally went to purchase the "tent!" $70.00 later, we are enjoying peace of mind as our little camper gets to sleep in her "tent" twice a day now! I keep telling her how lucky she is that she gets to go camping everyday of the year!

Ashley before the "door" closes...

Life seems pretty good until...

the "door" is zipped up!

"Wait a second...I can't open this!"

"I'm getting mad now!"

"This isn't funny!"

"If I get out of here..."

I hate to admit this but....this may be the best $70.00 I've ever spent!

Thanksgiving

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone...hard to believe! We have had a wonderful year and we have much to be grateful for.

Lilly's Special Day!

Lilly enjoyed a birthday party with some friends from church and school this year. I can't believe it has come and gone already...especially since she has been talking about this blessed day for the past 2 months...

Lilly knew exactly what kind of party she wanted to have...this included the theme, guest list, colors, food, decorations and even the frosting on the cupcakes!

Oh how we love Lilly...she always makes us laugh!

We even had a visit from the "Birthday Fairy!"

Halloween Part Deux...

This is a beauty...

We have a favorite Chinese Food restaurant near our home that we have frequented for over 10 years now. A couple of years ago we decided it would be fun to go and eat there as an extended family before heading out trick-or-treating in the Towne Center. While we were there the owner of the restaurant wanted to take our family picture which seemed kind of strange but we obliged.

Fast forward a few months...I'm in the restaurant picking up some food to go and while waiting at the front counter I glanced at the wall behind the cash register and noticed two pictures posted on the wall all by themselves. Upon closer inspection I realized that these are the pictures they took of us when we were in there for Halloween!

This in and of itself may not seem strange but when you consider that there are no other pictures displayed in the entire restaurant it makes me wonder why these were posted??? I could understand if there was a "wall of fame or shame" for that matter to add the pictures to but there is NOTHING like that in the restaurant! Too funny...

So now our tradition is born...every year we head down to China Garden to partake of some fabulous food and the picture below is the '08 version. As our meal was winding down I felt a little remiss though as it appeared that they would not be taking our picture but lo and behold just as we are packing up the owner emerges from the kitchen with his camera in tow shuffling us back to the table so he can take our picture!

BTW...The General Tso's Chicken, Orange Beef and Pork Lo-Mein (Hold the veggies) :>) are heavenly.



We love this house! Every year they decorate for the holidays and the kids love to drive by and pick out their favorite decoration. If you like this...you should see Christmas!

Bad Hair day!

According to Lilly...Halle looks very "pooky" here!

Who is this masked man?