AGAIN...

Not my car this time, but Tadj's new one. Sometime between 8:30p and 8:30 this morning some punk kids tried to steal Tadj's car right out of the driveway!! Luckily his new Dodge has a key with a chip in it that prevents the car from starting without it. They did enough damage to the ignition and steering column though, that it had to be towed in to the shop. UGH! Neighborhood vandalism... STRIKE 2! One more time and we're out.

I'm Dreaming of a ...

WHITE CHRISTMAS?... CHECK! (Now I regret the dreaming)

Snow Day...

It started snowing VERY early this morning and still hasn't stopped. We're getting 2 inches an hour. We had plans for Pump-IT-Up this morning, but had to cancel :(

Here's what it looks like outside.

Here's what we're doing inside... PLAY-DOH!!

Here's what I'll be doing at naptime.

COOKIE CRAZY!!!

I went to a Cookie Exchange last night that Sofia and I baked 10 DOZEN cookies for. Surprise package cookies...yum. Basically, it's a choc.chip cookie dough minues the choco. chips. Instead, you wrap the dough around an Andes chocolate mint, bake, and drizzel melted Andes Mints on top. Sofia was my official candy un-wrapper-er.

Here she is working diligently to get them all (200 of them) unwrapped before bedtime.

Here were her chocolate hands when she was done.

Cookies cooling on the counter.

The finished product. Lot's of hard work, but so delicious.

Jingle Bells

Sofia's preschool had a special "Jingle Suprise" today. We came to pick the kids up 15 minutes early so they could do their Christmas songs and dances. There was 1 kid who was really misbehaving and he ruined my shot for most of the videos I got. I've uploaded one good one, and 2 other not so good ones. Enjoy.

Here's the little start posing with her bell and then running to greet us after the show.

Ok. I got one other good video... but it's sideways and I can't turn it. Sorry.

This one would have been good if not for you-know-who, but kind of funny I guess.

Sunday dress

The kids wanted their pictures taken after getting dressed for church yesterday. They were so cute that I just couldn't say no.

Here's Sofia. She can never just smile, she always has some sort of look on her face that expresss her entire mood.

Grayson is just wild as ever... and now he has the hair to match.

Scarlett looking just like an angel sent from heaven.

...not quite as angelic here.

40 sq. feet and 2 1/2 hours...

...at least I think that's about the size of my bathroom. I know people with closets bigger than that. Yes, 2 1/2 hours to CLEAN MY BATHROOM!! How can such a small area become soooo gross? I scrubbed the tub and shower for nearly an hour alone. Whoever invented shower doors should be shot. I never thought I'd long for the shower curtain again, but at least I could throw that moldy thing out and buy a new one at the dollar store. The doors are pretty, but so not worth it. Toilet, mirrors, sink, cabinets, floor, finally all done. It's days like these that although I often wish with all my might for a big house with ample rooms and toilets for my growing family, that I'm grateful for a few minutes that my house is so small.

...onto the kitchen...again.

You better watch out, you better not cry...

I took the kids to see Santa the weekend after Thanksgiving, expecting a pretty good line for a Saturday afternoon. I loaded the 2 little ones in the double stroller and set them up with crackers and suckers to keep them happy until it was their turn. My careful planning was unnecessary. As we were walking towards Santa's storefront, we could clearly see from about 25 yards away that no one was there. The workers/elves saw us coming and were so thrilled that they were welcoming us before we were even 10 yards from the set-up... "Are you coming to see Santa?" they yelled. Of course we were and they were so excited. My brother, who encountered this similar scenario a few days prior to ours described these elves best... as if they'd never seen people before. They were THAT excited. I guess in a slowed economy, nobody is shopping Eastland Mall to even see Santa. They were so nice to us, we even bought the $10 picture. It was worth it though. The kids sat on Santa's lap and chatted away for a good 10 minutes and they each got a Christmas stocking, full-size candy cane, and bubbles. FUN!

Oh Grayson...

...you drive me crazy jumping on the couch (or any other surface for that matter), spinning circles, turning light switches on and off, and really just being a wild boy... but man are you cute. So snuggly, if only for a few seconds and I just can't get enough of your kisses and "I love you's".

The past few weeks Grayson has been entertaining us with his verbal skills. He's learning Christmas carols:

-Santa Claus is Coming to town: "you better watch out, you better watch out, you better watch out, you better watch out...to town!"
-Jingle Bells: "jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells...the way, HEY!"

He's also surprised me with a new word this week, but it took a while to figure out what it was. He sat down to breakfast and said "my oatmeal... bubbly, bubbly hot"...ok Grayson. Later, in reference to a Ghost Train on Geo-tracks he says "it's bubbly, bubbly scary"...alrighty. Have you guessed the new word yet? PROBABLY!!! ...Probably hot, probably scary. I've since learned that I say that a lot.

LOVE YOU LITTLE MAN!!

Twilight The Movie!

I went to see Twilight last night with my Mom, Grandma, Afton, Cathy Bowen, and her mom... my night with the "old ladies". We actually ALL felt old sitting in the theater full of 15 year olds. We weren't the only adults there, but it felt like it once the movie started. The girls were so fun though.... lots of oooooo's and awwwwww's throughout the movie. Edward walks on screen.... "ooooooooooo", Edward says "I feel a need to protect you"....."awwwwwww" from the girls. Lots of fun. I had 2 favorite scenes, both involving the Cullen family. #1: Bella meets the Cullens at their home and they're using their kitchen for the first time to make her dinner.... Italian food..."her name's BELLA" (loved Emmett). #2: The Cullens playing baseball. I loved it in the book, but onscreen it was so much better, and really funny. The movie's cinematography was BEAUTIFUL. I want to vacation there just to see it first hand. Breathtaking. All in all, the book was better (of course) but I really, really liked the movie too.

Me with the gals at the theater.
Outside the theater with the poster.

Fun With Leaves

So I took these pictures almost 2 weeks ago. Imagine the same backyard which is now frosted over and too cold to play in. The day we took the pictures, it was a nice 70 degrees. Tricia helped the kids rake the leaf pile while I was at work. They played for a couple of hours even after I came home and only came in because it was getting dark. FUN FUN FUN!!

OK. Scarlett was not really all that interested in the leaves, but the big kids enjoyed throwing them at her so she got covered anyway.

Help

Thank you Stacie for posting this on your blog.

I have not been at all happy with the government "bailing out" the banks and my initial opinion was :"I can't believe they would bail out the auto industry too". My concern is that it's setting a precedent of ALL large companies who've gotten themselves in trouble. A little more research and my views have softened. Please click on the link below and see for yourselves. The effects of a failing auto industry are far reaching and devastating for ALL AMERICANS. For my family in friends out of state, write to your representatives please. We know our Michigan reps. are in support of this, but we need outside help. You can go to this website http://www.gmfactsandfiction.com , watch the video (4minutes) and click on "I'm a concerned American." Only a couple of minutes and you can send a (already drafted) letter to your representatives.

Scarlett's One Year Old Photos!!

What a cutie pie!!  Scarlett did so well for her one year old pictures.  I wish it was this easy everytime.  Not a bad one in the bunch!!

Happy Birthday little one...

Scarlett turned 1 on Saturday. Boy how time flies. I can't believe our baby girl is getting so big. It seems like just yesterday she was a little pink ball in my arms (sniff, sniff). Now she still lights up our world with smiles that make you melt and giggles you can't help but giggle yourself at. She loves to climb, though she's not walking yet and stands up very well. She enjoys her toys, bathtime and her big sister the best. We think she'll love Grayson more when he stops trying to wrestle with her so much. She says "yeah" and "hi" and a bunch of other words we can't quite make out and can sing (scream really) her heart out when she's really happy. Happy Birthday little one. We love you!!

While I'm at it, another one... TWILIGHT!

This one is probably spot on. I would have guessed her for myself too. Just wondering... is anyone else not able to make it to the movie on Saturday? I'm still planning to go Friday the 21st if anyone else is interested. Let me know!! 2 more weeks!!



Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

Celeb mom

Rock hard abs ? PUH-LEASE!! Stylemakeer? NO WAY!! The rest might have been close. I don't think the quiz was TOO accurate, but fun. Thanks hil.

You're Gwen Stefani

One rockin' mama, you're a true original -- a wildly creative, supremely expressive style-maker. In no particular order, you enjoy motherhood, music, fashion and -- judging from your rock-hard mid-section -- endless abdominal crunches. Completely comfortable in the glare of the spotlight, you're equally at home with your private thoughts, that handsome and talented hubbie, and some awesomely inspiring kids.

Take the quiz at: http://family.go.com/community/quizzes/which-celebrity-mom-are-you-qz/

Princess-Buttercup-Pirate! No Tricks Please.

We went out for candy around our neighborhood on Friday. Grayson was SUPER excited for Halloween this year and loved to truly YELL "Trick or Treat" at every house. Our little Scarlett was a cute buttercup (Deja vue from Sofia), Sofia the princess, and Grayson a handsome pirate. We had Afton, Grandma Gay, and Grandpa George come over for the fun too.

Here are my cuties getting ready to go out.
Aren't they cute?

Grayson loved having a moustache and called it his "muhnash" all night. He was quite upset when we washed it off.

Walking up and down the stree. Our block didn't have much action, but when we walked a street away, there were many more lights on.

More Halloween!! Ballet and Preschool parties

Sofia also had parties at Ballet and Preschool. We also had the Roseville Ward Trunk-or -Treat but we didn't get pictures.

Sofia and her pals outside preschool after the party.

Princess Sofia and the Evil Witch (not really evil, even though she tried) Zoe.

The girls with Miss Anne at ballet. How many girls are from our Ward? Can you count? Ok, a few didn't make it in this picture.

The ballerina's trick or treated around the room, but had to perform a pose or position to get their candy.

Zoo Boo

Halloween at the Detroit Zoo. We went with our Friends Angie and Joe and their boys and extended family. You follow a trail around the zoo and pick up candy at about 13 stops. It was kind of fun to see the different decorations and pumpkin displays. With our zoo pass it was $6 a person and NO, we did not get $24 worth of candy, but had fun anyway.


Here is Belle with the dragon brothers.
Pirate Grayson REFUSED to cover his costume with a coat, despite the frigid and windy weather.

Simpsons pumpkins. Kind of cool.

Climbing the hippo outside the zoo. It got dark quickly after this.

Ready to trick or treat!