The Winter Dance Recital

Holland's Winter Dance Recital was a couple of weeks ago. However, due to a prior flower girl engagement, she had to miss the recital. Her dance instructor, whom we all love, had the girls have a dress rehearsal the class before we left town. That way I could videotape it. Ms. Stacey is the best!

And I'm working on getting the video on the blog.

(Don't worry, it's short.)

The Toy Purge of 2007

It is time for the Great Toy Purge of 2007, and I have to say it rivaled the Toy Purge of 2006. And 99% of the purge came from the game room closet. You'll recall how that closet used to look. I know several of you would have not been able to sleep knowing that they had closet like that in their home. I assure you, I have slept like a baby, unfazed by the chaos and danger that was behind that door. But we knew that there was no way it would be able to absorb all the new Christmas and birthday gifts, so a purge was necessary. So basically, we tied a rope around my ankle so if I didn't come back out after a couple of weeks, Mac and/or the Fire Department would be able to pull my lifeless body out. But I made it out alive, with 6 LARGE bags of toys to be donated and 4 large bags that went straight to the street for garbage pickup. So sleep well, our closet has been restored, and we are really quite proud.

Please hold your applause until the end of the post.

Yeah, we still have some VHS tapes.......I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Not only is it neat, it is organized.



Feel free to oooohhhh and aaaahhhhh.




Yes, that's the karaoke, hidden in the corner. Shhhh......

Oh, The Merriment!

Well, I hope everyone's Christmas was merry and bright. Ours certainly was. I know you are looking for meaningful Christmas morning pictures with lots of hugs, tears of joy, and all kinds of merriment. Sorry to disappoint you, but I did not take a single picture Christmas Day. I believe that could be some sort of blogger violation. However, we did take some video of the event, getting the kids out of bed, their initial reaction to Santa's presents, etc. Then Mac and I spent the next 3 hours putting presents together. Our den looked like the assembly line at the Mattel Toy Factory. Apparently, Santa decided not to put anything together the night before. Mac said he is going to file a complaint with the North Pole. Then after all that, we had to set up the electronics portion of Christmas. That's a lot of manual labor and detailed reading so early in the morning.
However, since I know some of you need actual pictures (BB), instead of my vivid descriptions, which might hurt my feelings just a bit, except for the fact that when I look at other blogs, I'm all about the photos, too. So I took a picture of the kids (about 20 minutes ago)with their favorite present from Santa.

Grey and his Wii. Now the big draw to the Wii is that the kid has to actually get up off their duff and actually interact with the games. Bowling requires the player to actually simulate the bowling motion with their body and so on with all the games. Now when I heard this, I had my "seriously doubt that" eyebrow raised. Exercise via a video game? Come on, now. However, Grey came down after playing, with his cheeks all red and sweating like he ran the 100 yard dash. And the day after Christmas, Mac was complaining of upper back and shoulder soreness, and Grey was complaing about his back. Turns out they had been playing the Boxing game. So, there may be some validity to the whole Wii/exercise thing. We shall see.

Holland and her Glitter Suite Dollhouse. That's Cinderella asleep on the kitchen floor. Ballerina Barbie is resting, fully clothed, in the bathtub. Hanna Montana, lucky girl, got the bed on the 2nd floor and corvette Barbie got the chaise lounge on the 3rd floor under the disco ball and with the view of the palm tree. This house and the Leapster tied for favorite presents from Santa.

Happy Birthday, Holland! It's Great to Be 5!

As of 8:07 AM, this morning, Holland officially turned 5. Happy Birthday, sweet Holly-Bear! We love you so much!

(too bad she can't read this yet)

"Gimme 5"

Opening the loot

Getting her birthday spanking.........

and one to grow on....

The Ghost of Christmas Card Photos Past

Christmas 1999

Birmingham, Al (Grey- 8 weeks old)

Christmas 2000

Joplin, Mo

Christmas 2001
Joplin, Mo

Christmas 2002

Joplin, Mo

Christmas 2003

Joplin, Mo

Christmas 2004

Houston, Tx
(No more snow pictures.)

Christmas 2005
Houston, Tx

Christmas 2006

Houston, Tx

Happy Anniversary, Baby...Got You On My Mind

It's our 10 year anniversary today. It doesn't seem like such a big milestone when you figure we are counting on making it to our 75th anniversary or longer. There truly aren't words to express how incredibly blessed I feel to be married to this man. December 1997 (Honeymoon)

January 1997, San Antonio

December 20, 2007
(I was indulging in a caramel, m&m, chocolate chip dipped piece of heaven pretzel when Grey took this picture so a toothy smile was just not possible. You can see the evidence in my hand.)

More Wedding Photos.....

I call this picture, "Limo Drivers Gone Wild".

And we were worried about what the children might do.

I can't figure out which one is the bad influence.

The Norwood Wedding

Well, the Norwood wedding has come and gone. We really had a lot of fun. I got to see people I hadn't seen in a long time. In fact, several people kept mistaking one of the other bridesmaids for me and the photographer who has known me since birth didn't realize who I was until about 2 1/2 hours into the picture-taking. Maybe I need to get home more.

Anyway, Hank and Christie are happily married, and I can stop worrying about being able to breathe in my dress, because ladies and gentlemen, it fit just fine. Thank you Dasani water, the eliptical machine, and Body Pump. You three help make it possible!

The Davis 4

Holland's dress was so pretty, but by the end of the reception Mac was having to rip off the rest of the gauzy overlay because she tore a huge chunk of it. I guess it won't be making it to the consignment store after all.



Christie, Hank, Chris, Suzy

(Ahhhh, remember how you tried to match your outfits in the first year of marriage?)


Ran, Me, Holland

Grey came prepared for the wait.

Pop, Me, Banny. I sure hope I look as good as them when I'm in my eighties.

Why?

Why do people at the YMCA turn the TVs to the Food Network when I'm on the eliptical machine? Really, why?

Holland's Party, Part 2

This party couldn't have been any more perfect for Holland if Cinderella had walked through the door and slipped on a pink robe. Here are some more pictures, in no particular order because I'm just not that organized today. The Glamour Table, perfect for pizza and cake.

A Costume, a stage with a runway and music, will she ever leave?

Blowing kisses to her adoring fans, aka Mom and Dad.

Ooh-La-La

Yes, that's her #1 guy in the background, Daddy. He videotaped the party.... let's just say there is lots of commentary.

Holland's Party, Part 1

As most of you know, and if you didn't, this is your heads up, Holland's birthday is December 23rd. Trying to have a party around that time is almost impossible. So this year we had her party this past Friday, December 7th. We had her 6 favorite friends whose moms also happen to be 6 of my favorite friends. (nice when that works out) She had her party at Glitz and Glam Salon. They arrived and put on pink salon robes and had their hair done (complete with glitter and hairpieces), their nails done and their makeup done all while sipping Sprite from fancy glasses. Then they got to put on Sassy Baby costumes and danced and did a runway show to Hannah Montana music. Then they ate pizza and cake and opened presents. It was so much fun! Next week, we're ditching the little girls and having a Moms' salon party.....

Our "before" picture, only I didn't get a makeover. sigh.

Let the pampering begin. (Deanna, Holland, & Mia)

Holland gets her glitter makeup.

She is soooo lovin' this!

The Glamour Girls:

(Back row) Faith, Holland, Deanna

(Front row) Amy, Mia, Kendall, Avery