The Big Dance Recital

For those of you without Facebook...

Here's the little video from the dance recital last week... Don't you just love how "original" (aka not following the leader closely like Mackenzie and Grace) can be? She's definitely got flair!

Fun Pics and Pages

Hey everyone!

How are things on your side of the world? It always seems like when I have a day off (such as today), I remember why I work. I love my children but the oldest one is just so energetic and with Meg and I down with colds (Dad too)... it's hard to keep up with her exuberance. Sigh! I know I am losing parent points right now, but she's up in front of the TV watching "The Fresh Beats Band" so that I can do a few things online and put the new license plates on my car.

Yes, the last step to leaving Michigan behind... sniff! My new plates came in and are ready to put on my car. They're at least cool for me - Breast cancer ribbon on them. I personalized them with MSU as well... but they aren't my beloved MSU plate from Michigan. I might just have to frame that one. :)

Here's the weekly updated pictures of the kids for my family:


After canceling the last week of school last year due to the 20+" snowstorm, Annde's class had their holiday party on Friday. They got to make individual gingerbread houses. (I love the use of milk cartons and graham crackers! Annde is still munching the stale candy off of her's. Annde and Meg were goofing around... I just love those smiles!!
Here's Meg in the Bumpo... She's not quite sure she likes it yet. I adore her shoes - they were Annde's before her and now they fit her perfectly. If you think she looks annoyed here...

... just wait until after her sister makes her a "Princess hat" that ways down her head! Don't worry! Meg figured out all she has to do is lean to the side and it falls off, much to Annde's annoyance. It was fun to watch the action over and over: Annde put it on, Meg knock it off...
Here is a few pages I did this weekend - I actually have scrapped 2 weekends in a row! After I took down Christmas, I got a few pages done:

This page was about Annde and her morning question of Steve: "Is she here yet?" The pictures were taken on the day after my due date when Annde was trying to talk Baby Sissy into coming out. (Not effective - it took her another 10 days to be forced out.)
Here's a page I did about our last "Mommy-Annde" day before Baby Meghan came. I love how pretty this page came out.

This page is about Annde telling Meg she's going to grow big like her in a few years. I bet Meghan might end up bigger than Annde...
This page is about how Meg can get any pair of socks off her feet, usually in minutes. We call her sockdini as one of her nicknames... The 4 pictures were taken over a period of 10 minutes. (Sorry about the picture - my camera is acting up).

This page is about how Annde has wrecked all 6 pairs of school jeans this year. I am not 100% sure how she does it but she blows out both knees at the same time. I was probably the same way... Got to go buy some patches! This is a cool page I scraplifted (I saw it about a year ago and was saving it...) about Meghan watching her first MSU Basketball game. We watched it with my parents over Xmas - they are both alumni of MSU too - and Meg was dressed up for the occasion. I love the picture under the word STATE... She looked so cute!!
Well, out of artwork... I am off to work on my car while the older is distracted and the younger is asleep! Peace out, folks!

Has it been 8 weeks already?

I can't believe how big she's gotten! Tomorrow, we have the dr appointment (and shots! yuck!!) but she's growing so fast. Up to wearing 6 mo clothing and holding her head up well. She's firmly on her way to rolling. We love her big grins too - just tell me all this slobbering doesn't have to do with teeth!

Saturday, she went to her first scrapbook day and half the people didn't even realize there was a baby - she only cried (one cry a piece) twice... to let me know she was done chewing on her hand and wanted the real thing...

Happy 2 months, Meghan... You've made our lives a more wonderful place!

PS: Did 5 layouts at the crop... you can see one here or check back later tonight to see the rest!

"Historical/Hysterical" Christmas Blizzard

So, we were told when we moved here that we wouldn't get any snow or very little.

Today, there is already 8-10" on the ground and up to 24" expected. Crazy!! This leads everyone in the area to do the following:
1. Fill up their gas tanks - the line at the station last night was 2 hours long.
2. Buy up all the food around - Steve and I walked across the street last night to buy more butter for the cookies Grandma and Annde were making and there was literally no more milk, eggs, cheese, bread, etc... in the store. The lines were ENORMOUS...
3. Not leave the house. Apparently, everyone stays home because of the few crazy drivers - or maybe more than a few - who don't know how to drive who try to drive 80 mph in this weather.

Funny!!

So, we're hanging out, contemplating making more cookies, craft projects, or playing in the snow... oh wait! No boots - since it doesn't snow here - so that might be kinda difficult.

To my siblings who are coming next week - you might want to bring coats, hats, boots, gloves, etc... because it definitely looks like a white Christmas will be here!

Christmas Quiz

I have been reading various blogs this week and saw this quiz that looked fun. So I figured I would blog it too. I found it on Melissa's Blog.


1. What 5 items are on your Christmas wish list this year?
* New IPOD - mine didn't survive the move from Michigan
* New Pants - mine don't stay up since I lost the weight with Meg's pregnancy/delivery.
* New Work Shirts - Most of my clothes are at least 5 years old. Some new ones would be nice...
* A gift certificate to one or two of my favorite online shopping sites for scrapbook supplies since there isn't a store close by... or a 6 month subscription to the kits at Coordinates Collections.
* Garth Brooks "The Entertainer" box set.

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
Ohhh... this was hard. Every year, I get handmade ornaments from my Mom and Aunts and sister. These are so awesome because they bring back so many memories. I can't pick just one of them.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
I really need to get my butt in gear with the homemade ornament exchange...

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
Hmmm... to be honest, I can't remember most of them... I do remember the Atari game system but since Jon and Jeff hogged it, that wouldn't be it. I would have to say the year my Mom gave me a homemade cabbage patch doll. They were popular back then and my Mom made one for my sister and I that looked just like us. I might not have appreciated it enough back then, but I sure do now because I know how much effort she put into them. I wonder if I could talk her into bringing it with her at Christmas so I can pass it on to Annde?

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
* Littlest Pet Shop
* My Little Pony
* American Girl doll that looks like her (this is the only thing she asked Santa for... it's a great thing that we can afford to buy her one!)

6. What is your favorite holiday food?
Appetizers... seriously. We usually make appetizers on Xmas eve. I love every one of them: wontons, pigs in a blanket, brie, guac & blue corn chips, sausage, bbq meatballs, etc...

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
This year, not much. I had grand aspirations... but well, Meghan came and we moved and started a new job, etc... I haven't even been scrapbooking lately! I guess it would be the birth announcements/thank you notes.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
I don't have one. I am not really into them. Maybe, "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Rudolf"?

9. Favorite holiday song?
"Silent Night" for sentimental reasons - preferably in German. (See my post from last December)
"Belleau Wood" by Garth Brooks

10. Favorite holiday pastime?
Hands down - Hanging out with family and friends. Seriously... even if there were no gifts, no fancy meals, etc... I would want to spend it with family and friends!

If you decide to do this also, post a comment so I can read your answers!

Ho Ho Ho!! Here's Santa!

This is the Santa picture I was talking about... Don't you just love Meghan's squanchy face? She loves to make that when she's waking up and stretching. I love the fact that he picked her up and she still didn't uncurl her legs.

Good thing about taking Annde to Santa twice - Mom can actually HEAR what she's telling him so we make sure it's there on Christmas morning... Phew!! When I asked her last week, she told me that it was a secret between her and Santa so she couldn't tell me! HA! Mom will always find out!!

Well, off to wait upstairs... the furnace is broken AGAIN and it's too cold to sit down here for very long.

Meghan's 1 month and Christmas DC style

On Saturday, we went down to the White House. Annde hasn't been there before and it was a great opportunity to go see it as well as the National Christmas tree. Here's a pic of Steve and Annde in front of "Obama's House" (which is what Annde calls it). The exciting part: after some research, it looks like we're going to take Annde's Daisy Scout troop there in March to earn a badge. We'll get to take the tour and see the inside. I've never been inside before so I am excited too!

Then, we went across the street to the Christmas village to see the National Tree. It was somewhat underwhelming. It's big but not as impressive in the daylight.

To get a sense of the size, here's Steve in front with Annde. It is REALLY tall. We're going to take all the siblings and nieces and nephews down there to see it on the 23rd. That's going to be fun too! (Don't you just love Annde's poses?)


Around the tree are these little mini-trees: one from each state, one from DC, and one from each of the 6 territories. Here's Annde and I with Meghan (Can you see her? That's cause she's tucked into the baby backpack inside my jacket and her head is covered with the pink blanket!) in front of the Michigan tree. It was decorated with ornaments by a elementary school in Howell, I believe. There was also a Santa house. Inside you could get a FREE 5x7 of your kids on Santa's lap. I kid you not - we waited like 5 minutes and he looked real. I'll post the picture tomorrow but how often can you get a free pic with Santa with no waiting?!?! It wasn't the best picture - Annde had her jacket on and was standing in front of him but hey! It was the best one we've done this year... Here's part of the inside of the house... I love the categories. Annde says she's been "Nice all the time"... Yeah right!


Quick pic of Meg - she slept the whole time... but I figured she deserves some press too!

On that subject, Meghan is official 1 month old this week. Here's a pic of her with Annde.
Isn't she getting big? This outfit is 3-6 mos, I kid you not. She's over 10 lbs and growing like a weed. She's still consuming vast quantities of food - 3 to 4 oz ever 2-3 hrs - and stretching alot. Annde is still excited about her so that's great. I can't wait for her first Xmas!! :)

Well, off to bed. The kid still gets up every 2 hours and we both are working tomorrow, as well as Annde having dance class and a playdate. Geez!!! And, I still have to clean the house for my family coming. See ya later!