"Where you gonna put a tree that big, Griswold?"

Hahaha.........*sigh*.

*Note to self: When sending your husband to the store for milk a mere two days after Christmas, don't be alarmed at what he might bring home WITH that milk.

Like one BIG a@! Christmas tree. Yes.....that big.

We re-arranged our family room in a million different ways to try and fit this monstrosity in there. We got it. BARELY. I found the whole thing so hilarious that I fell on the floor and laughed and laughed. Paul didn't. He had just moved the couch, the TV and the recliner about four times each and he was getting just a little peeved. HAHAHA!! I still find it hilarious.

This was this morning. He just stopped and stared at it. Long enough for me to grab the camera.

Olivia was entranced also and surprisingly, she hasn't tried to touch or take anything off the tree. Of course, it hasn't been up 24hrs. yet, so give her time is my guess.

Look at how little they look standing next to it. Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree! I put out all my other "stuff" the day before. If this kind of stuff bores you-sorry. I actually love to see other people's houses and what they do for Christmas. The Santa that you see on my table has been with us since me and Paul's first Christmas. He's a staple. :)

Does this Christmas tree make my house look fat? ;) AAHHH!!! My favorite thing this year! My mother-in-law let me have this old record player that actually plays records and Cd's. I went to the DI and found all sorts of Christmas records that WORK! I've got Bing and Frank and Johnny and we have spent lots of time dancing around to the classics. This is where Olivia lays it down like Johnny Brown! I love how classic and old they sound with the popping and cracking.

The reason for the season. It took me forever to find a nativity that I really liked. I love this and so does Olivia-unfortunately. Day 1 and she broke the angel's hand off. Now she just points to all of it and says, "No!,No!" Oops...

Five little stockings hanging in a row.....

Christmas must reads!

Now back to getting ready for Bubba's birthday celebration! Pictures to come....

Bring on the HOLIDAYS!!

We are ready for the Holidays! Paul spent a whole Saturday and a couple evenings lighting up the ENTIRE roof. (I swear I married Clark Griswold.) The tree and everything else is coming out Sunday and I'm so excited! We bought a 9ft x 5.5" tree last year right after Christmas for a steal of a deal. (Let's hope it fits somewhere) Easton's birthday is Monday and I can hardly wait for him to see his gifts. Star Wars bonanza!! :)
I'm so excited for Thanksgiving.....but mostly because Thanksgiving is Black Friday Eve. hahaha! I've held off decorating, but the music came out awhile ago and if you want to see just about the cutest thing ever, then check out this video of Olivia doing the happy dance to Bing Crosby. (She learns it from me. I can't help but dance and sing when I hear Mr. Crosby myself! ;) Olivia dances the minute she hears music. She can be in a full tilt temper tantrum and when she hears music......she gets jiggy with it. She is the funniest little girl-ever.

Stay tuned for this years editorial on just how white trash me and Aubrie get at the sales. :) It's so ridiculously funny. I'm jumping over carts and she is throwing elbows and half the time I end up with stuff that I'm laughing and saying, "Why did I buy this?" aahhh......such fun. :) Also, Allie's show opens on December 3. She has worked her little tail off but she does a great job as Gladys Herdman. Go get your tickets people-you won't regret it. :)

The love of a Woobie.

*sigh* Have I talked about the woobie on here?

No?

When Olivia was born she refused to take the pacifier. I bought every brand of binky that is on the market to only find that she gagged on every single one. Allie and Easton LOVED their diggles. (Allie came up with that name at 9 mos.) I couldn't figure out why she didn't want one. I believed babies that took a pacifier were more content and generally quieter and judging by my own experience, I was right! I mean, Allie slept 12 hours a night at 3 mos old and Easton was about 5 months old when he did. Olivia? One year before I was getting a full nights sleep, people. :/

Enter: "The Woobie"

Just when I thought Olivia may have conquered the White gene for addictions and vices at an early age, she turned into Linus on me. Literally. All of a sudden she was dragging this pink blanket everywhere. She couldn't have a bottle without holding the woobie at the same time. She won't go to sleep without the woobie wrapped through her arm and up by her face. When we went to San Francisco, I threatened my mother with her life to not lose the woobie, because she won't accept another blanket. It's that one-only. When we get in the car, the woobie has to be tucked into the car seat with her. When she falls and hurts herself? Who does she run for? The woobie. And THEN me. Sometimes she can't find her blanket right away and it is the saddest thing you have ever seen. Panic. Stricken.

I can't even wash it. It doesn't leave her side long enough! It was once a pretty pastel pink and now it's a dingy gray. It's gross. And I'm pretty sure it has a weird smell. And I'm pretty sure that she likes the smell. Ew.

But honestly, I find it pretty endearing. I mean, there really is nothing cuter than when she pads around in her bunny footed pajamas holding a sippy cup under one arm and dragging the woobie behind her. It's cute. My child literally has a security blanket. Hmmm....I bet some would say it's because I didn't breastfeed her. To them I would say:"I bet your boobs are saggy." (That's what you call a tit for tat. HAHAHA!) Anyway...(slight digression there). ps-It's my blog and I can say tit if I want too. ha!

And don't even think that I am planning on taking it away from her. I'm not. I won't! And here is where Olivia is fortunate to be the caboose of our family. I'm in no hurry whatsoever to help her grow up. NONE. Take your time sweet baby girl. If life feels better to you with a pink/dirty gray woobie....well, then so be it! I'm sure your Kindergarten teacher, college roommates and husband will understand. ;)

Homemade Carmel Apples

We kind of rock at making carmel apples.

Have you ever made them to find that the carmel just all runs off?

Me too! But this time I enlisted the help of my chemist husband to help me figure out how to make the carmel stick. The kids helped......(and ate their weight in carmels) and they worked! Perfect carmel apples. mmmm.....Happy Halloween!

Getting started

Caught Paul eating the carmels.

Perfection!


No carmel puddles here. :)

Are you going to San Francisco?

Well.....I am. And I will make sure to wear flowers in my hair. (Please tell me you know this song). We are still planning out what we will be doing while we are there. Most of it we agree on but I want to go here:

And he wants to go here:

I'm thinking since he sat through Phantom of the Opera last fall that I'm NFL Raiders/49ers bound! haha...

Closing night of Annie

Well.......we just got home from the closing night of Annie. Whew! That was sad. I thought I was prepared for the level of sadness, but....... not. at. all. Imagine 13 girls crying, hugging, promising friendships of forever and exchanging numbers and email addresses.

*It was hard*

I don't know what words could ever describe this experience. None of the actors get paid-not even the adults. They work countless hours and give up so much of their family and free time and some might say, "For what?" I think a year or two I wouldn't have understood it either-but now I do. What they create is a little bit of magic. I love the theatre(to watch, not act) and I love disappearing into another world for a few hours and watching those perform their art. Amazing.

Tonight, Phoebe, the girl who played Annie gave all the orphans heart lockets that were inscribed with "Best Friends" on the front. Yeah. That pretty much got the tears rolling-and they wouldn't stop.

I was there opening night, most of the "middle" nights and for closing night and it really did get better every time.

Now we gear up and get rested for what is ahead. I don't know that the Christmas Pageant will be able to compare to Annie-I'm not sure anything ever will, but I do know this:

Wether it be opening, middle or closing night.....if she is performing, I will be there. :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas?

Looks like we might be re-scheduling a few things.....and we will gladly do it, because we just found out that Allie landed an awesome part in......
Do you remember this movie/book? Well, Allie will be playing the part of Gladys Herdman. She has to be nasty and mean and loud and crude. This oughta be fun....;)

I'm so proud of her, and happy to be her biggest fan.