Happy Birthday, Sarah!

I hope 35 is your best year yet!

inferno!

I was pulling pics off the camera and realized that Kris' birthday was still on there. Grace was in charge of picture-taking for the cake portion of the evening. I have to say, if this is what 36 looks like, I'm thinking we may need to think about moving future parties outdoors!

against my better judgement...

Well, I did it! I conquered two of the new Transformers that Sam received for Christmas. I don't care what the levels say on the packages, those things are HARD to transform! My big mistake? I let Sam witness as I achieved my goal. I can no longer claim that I don't know how to do it and to go ask Daddy...

Crap.

Mr. Helper...

Sam, amidst a sea of Lincoln Logs: "Mom, can you help me build this house? I can't do it!"

Me: "Sam, you haven't even tried. Try first. I think you can do it."

Sam: "Come on, Mom! Can you help me with this? I help you with things all the time. So why don't you just come over and help me with this..."

Pretty persuasive fellow...

Christmas in MI -- 2

Before making the LONG trek home from MI over the Christmas season, we decided it would be a good idea to go further North, first! After all the holiday fun at Mom & Dad's, we drove up to Kris' grandma's house for even more holiday fun. We spent 2-1/2 days of cooking, eating, visiting, giving gifts, opening gifts, playing in the snow and, again, we threw in a birthday celebration for good measure. The pics...

Grandma Donna opening her birthday present!

Grandma Edna's not so sure about Grace... :)

a pic with Grandma Edna

a kiss from Daddy

Grace posing in her new apron!

Kris trying to piss Chloe off...it doesn't take much :)

Awesome gift from the Buckleys! While I'm not so excited about all the weaponry involved,

I do love that this kid will send these soldiers on missions for 1-2 hours at a time!

working on the feast

Sherri and Donna

Grandma Donna with her grandkids and great-grandkids

Grandma Sharon & Papa Mike with the grandkids

game time!

And the boy-who-never-sleeps passed out in the car on the way home

say a little prayer...hmm, pretty sure I've used this title a few times before...

Please pray for our friends, Erin and Greg, and their baby girl Savanna. Savanna is being a stinker and thinking she's ready for her big debut even though her big debut is not scheduled until the end of May. Erin is at home, now, and stuck on her couch for the duration. She could use the prayers for her health and Savanna's health and also that she doesn't go crazy with boredom! Going over to teach her how to knit in a couple of days...Savanna should be nice and toasty warm when she does arrive...she'll have a plethora of hats waiting for her!

Christmas in MI -- 1

Okay, okay...enough with the ignoring of the blog...

And now, the much anticipated (or almost forgotten!) holiday recap (part 1):

First stop on the holiday tour was my parents' house where we kicked off the holiday celebration with a family dinner at Smalley's, a favorite local establishment. (Yes, we took our kids to the bar.) Then, on to two full days of presents, more eating and lots of cuddling, smooches, playing, chatting, holiday cheer and even a first birthday party thrown in for good measure.

The pics:

Crazy present opening with four kids under 5!

Graham loved the paper :)

Uncle Bill keeping the kids entertained

not-so-sneaky Grace

"How YOU doin'?"

Caleb & "Gigi" checking out the deer

Grace & Wendy

"the sweater"

Mom made this with her own two hands...about 30-35 years ago.

It has lived in her knitting basket ever since!

Every few years someone decides to shake the dust off and try it on :)

getting ready for Graham's 1st bday party!

Sam eating his cake much later than everyone else to allow his stomach to settle...

it just isn't the holidays with a little vomit, right?

movie time...the only hour the kids were quiet the whole time they were together

Playing with the castle at Grandma Pat & Papa Tommy's

A pic with the great-grandparents

Grandma & Papa with 4 of the 6 grand"babies"

Happy Birthday, Kris!!

Since I made it all the way to Kris' birthday without posting the bulk of the holiday photos, I figured I'd grab one from that bunch to include in this post. He'll probably argue that this counts as a "joint" post just as he will argue that his birthday gets overlooked or combined with Christmas because of its close proximity to the birthday of the Son of the Big Guy. Don't know that we'll ever break him of it, but do hope he enjoys the yummy cake we will share in a little while. So happy to have had him around for 36 years. :) Happy Birthday, Hon!

Cousins

Well, 2010 has started out as a busy year! Which has left the Christmas photos waiting to be posted. I am going to make an effort to get caught up this week, but, for now, I thought I'd just post a few shots of four of the six cousins spending a little time together at Grandma & Papa's house. Can't wait to have the Las Vegas cousins join in this summer for some more bonding time.

We're back!

Okay, we've been back since Friday night, but yesterday was spent doing laundry, reorganizing the kids' rooms to make room for new presents and driving down to Richmond to pick up the dog. On today's agenda: more laundry, more organizing, church and maybe take down a Christmas tree or two. Highly doubting I'll get to the Christmas decorations, though. Transferring photos from the grand holiday Michigan tour now. Will hopefully get some uploaded to share in the next couple of days. Happy New Year everyone!