What has been going on lately?

PING

PONG



Happy Birthday, Husband

Christmas is over and a path is cleared through the rubble to make room for the birthday celebration.  We had a small celebration for Rob's birthday complete with a random selection of Monkey party supplies, chili and cornbread, and topped off with Tunnel of Fudge cake with peach (thanks Grandpa) ice cream. 

I absolutely love this progression of pictures of Emma.  The girl loves to celebrate birthdays and is always ready to help blow out the candles.

And then we celebrate!  Good job, Dad!!

I will list 8 things about Rob since 38 is a lot and I have some dinner to make and you have things to do as well, and maybe this will just be a teaser so you will want to know more about him.

*When Rob plays the drums, I get chills, always have.  Love the drums!

*Do only pirates have gold teeth?  Nope!

*He earned patches for bowling as a kid!

*He is a doctor.  Juris Doctorate but still, we could call him Dr. --Archer thought this was cool.

*Rob does not have a Facebook account.  I think that is a great choice.  Big. Waste. of time!

*He is a lover of life and wants to see all that there is to see.

*He carries a badge.  Not a bowling one either!

*He is the balance to my fire.  He is the calm to my storm.

We are grateful for a good man in our lives.  Rob is an excellent husband, father, and example.  We have our times of struggle but when all settles, there is nobody I would rather be on this journey with.

Christmas Day

We can count so many blessings especailly on Christmas

Siblings: for without which, matching jammies would not exist.

Capes: Foiled again!  when Mom won't let you wear it to church, and he tried!

Games: without which Christmas break would be too looong and boooring.

Magic mirror: to make sure you are always Daddy's princess.

Chinese Yo-Yos: for Emma to "poke you eye out"

Really, so many blessings but the richest and most beautiful is the blessing of family.  We are so grateful for the love and support that our family gives to us. 

Christmas Eve

T'was the night day before Christmas and all through the house,
The Gardners were stirring, and trying to leave the house.

The stockings were hung, not by the chimney but who cares!
We posed for a picture right next to the stairs.

With Dad in his white shirt and me with some feathers,
We headed out into the cool Vegas weather.

We dashed to the Gardners for a feast we must eat,
And then to the Petcoff's for more meet and greet.

The holiday was festive, and crazy, and quick,
We knew we must hurry home to prepare for St. Nick.

In the blue chariot we raced with seat heaters,
We must get our jammies and not be coal eaters.

We had a great night, each snug in our bed,
Dreaming sweet dreams of the blessing of family in our heads.

Christmas family photo

Better one?

 Better Two?

Christmas around here

Our neighborhood does a traveling Christmas extravaganza each year at it seems to go further and further over the top each year.  This year the decorations were more sparkly, the food was yummy, and the entertainment.....well, just look......

Living Table

Juggler, inside the house!

Caricature artist too!

Cookie decorating.

Santa!!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Dan

Don't we look like him?



Observances at The Cheese

When you are left-handed, you shoot skee ball with your right.

Proper form--even at Chuck E. Cheese.

Still fun, even if your feet don't reach the pedals.

Celebrate all your shots, even the misses.

Tickets

Are

Hard

To rip off

And Santa is still scary.

First band concert

We attended our very first band concert as parents in December.  It was impressive.  I am thankful that we have not had to suffer through the squeaks and squelches of wind or brass instruments.  I am actually thankful to have another percussionist in the family.  Archer focused on the xylophone bells for this concert, the next concert may include some time spent on the snare!

Want one?

I have made a few of these lately.  Want one?

Best tree EVER

We are not day-after-Thanksgiving Christmas decorators around here.  We also are not day-after-Christmas undecorators.  This year was the earliest we have ever decorated.  Archer and I went on an errand and as we drove past a tree lot, I heard angels sing and saw a glow on a tree.  We made a u-turn and checked into the tree--SOLD!  Dreams dashed.  We looked for another that might fill her shoes.  We found a short little number that once put on blocks could just be the one.  All I can say is BEST. TREE. EVER!!

The abundance of flock kept the tree soft until I drug it out in January!