Peek A Boo!!!

Good morning Christopher!

This morning Presley caught Christopher Pop-In-Kins hiding above the bathroom mirror.  The girls brushed  their teeth extra good today. I am sure Santa will be proud.  Piper even reminded Christopher what she wants for Christmas.  She really wants that big girl bed and a pillow pet!  A unicorn pillow pet!!!!

Just Making Sure Santa Got It...

This afternoon, I was in the kitchen making Piper some soup and I hear her talking in the foyer.  She's just standing in the foyer facing the dining room.  She's looking up towards the chandelier and she's talking.  I am thinking to myself, "What is she doing???"  I move a little closer and hear her better and realize that she's telling Christopher (our little Elf), "I want a bed and a pillow pet."  She catches me watching her and flashes me her sweet dimples.

Oh I melted! 

Where's Christopher Pop-In-Kins???

There he is!

He's high above the dining table!

The girls didn't even spot him when they were eating their breakfast right beneath him.

I think he's waiting for Piper's nap time before moving back to the mantle.

I wonder where he'll be hanging out tomorrow morning?

Meet Our Newest Little Friend!

This is Christopher Pop-In-Kins

He is one of Santa's elves that came all of the way from The North Pole to come stay and play with us during the Christmas Holidays!

We are so excited to have him in our home!

He was suppose to arrive right after Thanksgiving but he arrived a little late to us. But that's okay, I am sure he'll be here sooner next year.  Christopher comes with a book of his story too!

Our dear little elf hangs out on the mantle most of the day near his favorite Christmas tree.  It's just his size!  When the girls go down for bed at night, he finds a nice hiding spot!  It's usually a high place so no one can touch him!  If he's touched, he'll loose his magic!  And we don't want that to happen!  And Everyday until Christmas Eve, the girls wake up and run around the house until they find our silly Christopher.

Our Christopher has special instructions that mommy has given him too!  He keeps in touch with Santa and lets him know when the girls have been naughty and nice.  He'll also pop in on us through out the year to make sure we are still being nice.  And if we are being naughty, he'll report that to Santa. 

Hmmmm....where will Christopher Pop-In-Kins hide tonight????

Dear Old Santa

This weekend, we were all feeling pretty crummy.  Allergies hit us all like a ton of bricks. Lil' Piper had a fever off and on all weekend.  Yucky Yucky.  I usually don't take the kids out when they don't feel well, especially with fever, but I had to make an exception on Saturday.  Not only were they not feeling 100%, neither was I.  I so didn't want to cook.  And It goes against everything I say, but we went to Gatti-Town for some pizza and Santa.  We just planned on on eating and staying to ourselves away from any other kids. 

Here's how Piper and Santa's meeting went:

At first, she clung to my leg and wouldn't let go.

Then she went and hid behind John.  The 1st meeting, this is about as close as she was gonna get.  We kept telling her that if she didn't tell Santa about wanting a bed and a pillow pet, she wasn't gonna get anything!

Then John tried standing with her with Santa....

That didn't work either.

But it did make for a great pic for John's desk!

After lots of pizza and Toy Story 3 and a whole bunch bribery.

Yep I said bribery!  This included a balloon, an icee, and desert.

After all of this and a hand on the small of her back to keep her from running off, she finally spoke to Santa. YAY!!!!!!!

She really does want a bed and pillow pet!!!!

So bad!

John said if his hand wasn't on the small of her back, she would have ran off in a second!

Finally a picture!!!!

But Presley and Santa looked like dear old friends. 

I am happy Piper spoke with Santa this year.

Maybe she will get her big girl bed and pillow pet!

Oh, Piper's big complaint about Santa on this night was that he's hairy!

Santa, Presley, aaaaand Piper...

When Presley was three, she use to say that Santa wasn't allowed in our house. Only Rudolph and Frosty could come in.  She'd allow Santa to drive the sleigh and land it....but that's as far as he got!  She didn't even leave any cookies for Santa that year.  She did however leave Frosty a beer out on the back patio and Rudolph a carrot. 

The next year, she said that it was okay if Santa came to our house.  She was still a bit uneasy about it, but she allowed it.  After he came and went she decided that Ms. Clause needed to bring her some cookies the next year. 

When she was 5, Ms. Clause didn't have a proper kitchen to bake any of her yummy treats.  It's sad, I know.... And luckily Presley forgot her request from the year before and didn't ask why Ms. Clause failed her.  Oh by this year, she totally accepted Santa.  She was excited for his arrival!!!  When she was 5, her theory on asking for gifts from mommy and daddy was this: If Santa brings her gifts (everything on her list), mommy and daddy don't have to spend their money on anything!  Big savings for parents!!!  

Isn't that sweet???

Now she is 6 and still loves and believes in Santa.  I was afraid this would be ruined for her when she started school. But so far so good.  I want her to believe for as long as she can!

Piper on the other hand is not so loving towards Santa.  She's 3, so she is at the same place that Presley was when she was 3. She wrinkles her brow at the drop of his name.  She says Santa isn't allowed to bring her presents.  Only her best friend Dora is.  And she is going to put the covers over her head so Santa can't give her a kiss on her cheek. When she sees a Santa in a store, she clings to my leg and cuts off the circulation.  And she hurts his feelings by telling him dear old Santa that she doesn't like him. Just this morning she told me that he's mean.  I don't know where she got that from.  If she sees a Santa and Ms. Clause together, she'll sit in Ms. Clause's lap and scowl at Santa from afar. 

I mentioned his name....

~ So I don't know how this year is going to play out yet. 

~ Is Santa stopping by for Presley while Dora stops in for Piper?

~ Is Santa coming for both girls and Piper is just

going to have to accept it?

~ Will Frosty get another beer out on the back patio???? You know he can't come in.  He might just melt.

~ Will Rudolph get his organic carrot?
~ Will Ms. Clause send some goodies this year???

~ Will Santa get any cookies this year?  I hope so.  He really loves cookies.  I can't believe his will power either!  Just to take one bite of a cookie is just absolutely astonishing to me!  I just wished I had an ounce of that will power!  If Santa does get cookies...I hope he gets chocolate milk with it too!  YUM!!!

However it plays out...I'll keep you posted!

Happy Holidays!!!

Fine Then!!!

...is Piper's attitude to Santa. 

She really doesn't want to have anything to do with him.  If she has to go visit him and sit on his lap and tell him what she wants, she'd rather not ask him for anything and go and make what she wants on her own!

Yes!!!! You heard me correctly!  She wants to make her own gifts rather than have to ask Santa for them!

Here's our conversation:
Mommy (talking to the girls in the back seat as I drive): I need to take you guys to see Santa so you can tell him what you want for Christmas.

Presley:  Yay!

Piper (keep in mind she's scowling at me and talking very pouty):  I don't wanna see Santa!  My Best Friend DORA is bringing my presents!

Mommy:  Piper, I hate to break it to you, but Dora isn't coming. Santa is and if you want your bed and unicorn pillow pet, you HAVE to see him and tell him!

Piper (arms crossed): Fine then! I'll make my own bed and pillow pet!

Piper (changes her tune to very very sweet): Mommy can I borrow your sewing machine???

Mommy: No baby, I love the fact that you want to make your own bed and pillow pet, but you can't use my sewing machine.  it would take you years to make your own bed!

Piper (turning to Presley and asking even sweeter):  Presley can I borrow your sewing machine???

HOW CUTE IS THAT!!!!!  I love this conversation for so many reasons!  I love the fact that my girls have learned at such an easy age that they can make what they want and not necessarily have to go by it in a store!  I have always wanted to teach them this in some way and I see I have!!!!

I pat myself on the back. ;)

Happy Birthday To My Angel!

My Sweet and Silly Birthday Girl!

I cannot believe how much I love you!  I fell in love with you before you were even born!  I never thought it was possible to love someone so much!  Just thinking of you and watching you grow into such a beautiful little girl...going from a baby, to a toddler, to a preschooler, and now a kindergartner...well it brings tears to my eyes!  I adore you so incredibly much!  You make my heart sing!  You amaze me!

Happy 6th Birthday Sweetie!

Today, you took a trip to the doctors office for your well visit and here are your 6 year old stats:

Height: 44 1/4 inches tall      50%

Weight: 40 pounds      25%

BMI 14.36      25%

A Special Visit!

What a great treat!

We got to visit with Jordan & Meagan!!!! It was so great to see Jordan.  The last time we saw him is when he left our house after his high school graduation almost 8 years ago.  Now he's a man about to get out of the Navy and move to Hollywood!  It's insane and makes me feel so old!  The girls adored him. Piper says he's too tall.  Poor Piper, John and I are the tallest people she really ever gets to see.  So to her Jordan is a giant. It was a great visit!

We grilled burgers, the girls ate their standard 1/2 a burger, I ate mine, John ate his, Meagan ate her veggies burgers, and Jordan ate his standard four burgers with no veggies.  Nothing has changed.  Glad to see!  After the burgers, we headed to Cherry on Top for ice cream and then to the new local coffee shop for some coffee.  

Those two where way to deep into thought!

Then to end the night, John, Meagan, and Jordan drank and played the Wii for hours!!!!

I love visits like these and look forward to many many more!!!

Hint hint Jordan and Meagan!

Limo Ride Here I Come!

Presley had a cookie fundraiser at the beginning of the school year and since she sold 15 items she got to participate in a special lunch!  She got to ride in a Hummer Limo with lights and music inside! There were laser lights, rope lights, and Kids Bop was blairing in the background!  Right up a bunch of six year olds alley!  I tell you what, her 1st kinder limo ride puts my 1st 7th grade limo ride to shame!  I'll have to find pics of that very soon!   

Someone is super excited!!!!

Waiting patiently!!!

Everyone was so excited about the limo ride....everyone except Piper!

She was totally bummed she could partake in all of the fun!

One day Piper, you too shall bombard all of your family with catalogs and catalogs of fundraiser stuff and get your limo ride!

Veterns Day

Veterns day was celebrated today at Presley's school.  Here's a few of the guests of honor.  After this picture was taken, there were several more veterns that showed up.  The gym filled up with all of the students and they had the honor of meeting all the veterns.  Each vetern stood and introduced themselves and told who's special guest they were.  After each vetern spoke, you couldn't help but to get a bit teared up and feel proud to know a few!  And feel incredibly thankful to all each and everyone of them for mine and my children's freedoms.  

The girls with their special vetern.  Presley was so proud to show off her daddy!

Piper and I got to sit back and enjoy watching the ceremony.

After the special ceremony, the school had a special little reception for our vets in the library with yummy donuts, orange juice, and coffee (not so yummy though).

***

After leaving the school,

we decided to go home, hop on our bikes, and have a veterns day picnic at the park. 

I adore this picture of John and his lil' girl.  

This one too.  Prescious moments with her daddy. Piper's a lucky girl.  

Weeeeeee!  Slide race!

Here is that most perfect "Surprised" face that Piper owns.

We were playing hide and seek and I jumped out at her.  Oh my gosh, it was so cute!

***

By the way, here are a couple more of my special veterns...

My dad!

John's dad!

Happy Veterns Day!!!

A Day in the Life of Piper...

I love having my days to spend with Juliet....it seems that I keep learning more about her every day!  She's still adjusting to her days without her Presley.  She still asks on occasion to go get her sister from school.

On this day, It was all about Piper!  She got to fill up our M&M jar with our new harvest colored M&M's.  YUM!!!!

Piper's way of doing this:

One for the jar...one for Piper's tummy

One for the jar...two for Piper's tummy

One for the jar...three for Piper's tummy

This was her favorite chore of the day!!!!

What a yummy chore it was!!!!

After filling the M&M jar, she strapped on her skates and we headed out to the front yard to have some fun.  Piper's a natural born roller skater!  She loves it!!!

And for lunch, we loaded up the wagon with a blankie, our lunch, and some bread for the ducks then headed to the park!

After lunch and scaring away the ducks, we headed to the playground.

One of Piper's favorite things in the world to do at the park is to play hide and seek.

She has the most gorgeous "surprised" looks!

She also loves slides!!!

See her "happy" face! 

I love my days with Piper!

And I look forward to tomorrow!

I love you, my sweet girl!

Perfect Day For A Fall Walk

Today was Presley's Fall Walk to the local duck pond and playground with her class.  John even got to volunteer to go with us!  Presley and her classmates LOVE it when new moms and dads are able to come up and volunteer!

It was perfect weather for our walk, our picnic, and a trip to the playground!

It was an awesome day!

Halloween

Happy Halloween from The Spooky Scarey Skeleton Sisters, The Sorceress, and The Shadow Man!!

We can't let the kids have all the fun!



Monday Eye Strain

This is Red Ribbon Week at Presley's school.

Each Kinder class got to decorate a wooden sign to place in front of the school.

Here's ours!

I worked on it from 8 this morning till 130 this afternoon.  My eyes and back and neck are strained, but well worth it!  K-1 will love being surprised with their sign in the school lawn tomorrow afternoon.  I love being a part of putting smiles on their faces! 

I did take a break for a few minutes to watch Piper nap. She is so beautiful! I watched her for about 20 minutes.  I could have stayed longer but had to get back to that sign!

Weekending

We had a fantastic weekend!

On the go by day

Chilled by night!

Friday, John had to work till after midnight so I put the girls to bed at their usual seven o'clock bedtime, did some laundry, and fell asleep on the couch watching Cake Boss.  Super relaxing start to a busy weekend.

 

We cleaned out Presley's school folder and came across a dress that a classmate made for Presley's Barbie Dolls.   So cute! 

Saturday morning we got up and headed out to meet Cindel and Stephanie at Bonkers for some fun.  It was so loud and so packed so many kids, I think I almost went a little bonkers!  Didn't help that the girls threw a fit when we had to leave!

After Bonkers the girls and I ate lunch with John, Stephanie, and Cindel.

Then headed to the mall for a gift for Stacey's birthday dinner.

Rosa's Cafe Tortilla Factory is were we met the Ragan's for Stacey's B-day dinner!  YUM!

After dinner, John headed out to go fishing with Uncle Robert over night and the girls and I headed out to the book store and then home for a nice quiet movie night.

Look at all the wonderful books we got!

Girls camped out on a pile of blankets and fell asleep watching Bugs Bunny and Garfield.

Sunday, we went wedding dress shopping with Kimberly....I can't show any pics because I am not sure what dress she liked.  Don't want to jinx anything!

It was a great weekend.

My husband even came home with a few fish he and Uncle Robert caught.