Daddy's Memories...

Hey Dad!

I was walking down your memory lane today.  You have some beautiful memories hiding somewhere in that mind of yours.  I hope that when you look at these photos, you remember and feel what it was like to be that young twenty something year old in the army with that young hot thang waiting at home for you!  I hope you can one day tell me the story behind all of your pictures! 

Look at mom!  So young and beautiful!

I can see why you fell for her.  

I wished I could have known you two as a couple back then.  

The wedding!

So much I don't know....where'd you get married?

Where'd mom buy that dress??? I love it!

Who was your best man?  I thought you had to have a shaved hair in the military.

What was going through your minds at this moment? 

Looks like you made mom's day! 

Who are all of those people in the room?

Was Grandma & Grandpa Ragan there?  What about Grandma & Grandpa Merrill? 

Any other siblings there besides Aunt Deb? 

Look at that!  Love it! 

I love this picture of mom.  Don't you? 

Look it's me!  What do you remember of me as a baby?

Was I a good baby?  Did I cry a lot?  Did you hold me a ton? 

Look...me and you! Who's taking that picture?  Is it mom taking this picture while she rubs your stinky feet?  Your lucky she did that for all of those years.  John hasn't touched my feet since we got married. :) 

Where is this picture taken at?

Overseas somewhere? 

This was written on one of the back of your pictures.

So sweet.  

 

I am really curious and wished I knew where these pictures were taken. 

OH! And look. I found a picture of you when you were like 2!  I remember taking fishing trips to the coast with you and grandpa Ragan too.  Those were some of the best of my childhood memories.  Do you remember this day? 

Vietnam...what was that like?

Who were these guys? 

What were their jobs? 

Was someone on this helicopter that you knew? 

Is this where you lived? 

Is this your helicopter?  And your pilot? 

What was the name of your puppy?

Did he or she snuggle with you every night? 

Look at how young and handsome you were!  And still are! 

Is this you?  It looks like you.  But I can't be certain. 

What was going through your mind?

How long had you been in Vietnam at this point?

Have you been up in your helicopter yet? 

Are those sand bags behind you?

Is that all you had to protect you from the enemy? 

I am so proud of you dad! 

Oh lookie!  Another way old flashback of you and grandpa! 

Look at that car! What kind is it?  Oh, how I wished I couldn't had more time with him. 

I think we are back in Vietnam. 

Pretty neat picture! 

Vietnam again, I think.  

Your words:

"Replacement of my old UH1D with the new UH1H Model!"

Were you so happy to have a new helicopter?

How was it different from  your old one?

You words:

"Going on a search and destroy mission, waiting for our air cover to take off (Cobra Gunship)."

What exactly does that mean?  Was there a possibility you could have been seriously hurt this day? 

I like to see pictures of you in your camp with things I can relate to.  Like your puppy again.

Did he or she have a name? Or did  you just call him/her "Dog"? 

Your new helicopter and door gunner.

What did you do on this helicopter?

What was your gunners name? 

Your monkey and dog....sounds so funny. I wished I had a pet monkey! 

Highway 1 outside your base camp in Phuoc Vinh.

Did you travel this road often? 

Your roommate!  Do you remember him?

He was roommate, so you must have spent much of your time with him.

I would love to meet him and hear some stories! 

Look at that.  Above, was your life then. This is your life now.

How does that make you feel?

I know I am proud to be your daughter.

Thank you dad for everything you've given me.

I love you and mom with all of my heart!

xoxoxo,

Tonya

Piper's A Happy Camper

Piper makes me wish I were a kid again!
She is so carefree and happy!
It helps that the weather has been gorgeous these last couple of weeks.

When Stacey was moving, she gave the girls a tent set.  It came with a tent, chair, flashlight, and a very loud whistle.  That came in super handy one day...and that day lead into a few more days.  I had to let Piper take advantage of the gorgeous spring like weather.

We hooked her up!  Set the tent up in the shade, gave her a little porch for her shoes, set up her chair with a lil table, and John even hooked her up with a pretend fire pit.  That girl had a blast!  She hammered in all of her tent stakes by herself.  She's ready to go on a real adventure! She invited all of her friends (stuffed animals) and Maggie Belle to "go camping" with her.  She hiked around the backyard collecting leaves and rocks, got in her imaginary car and drove into the kitchen and ordered some lunch, and even napped outside!

See how much fun Piper had!

The fabulous fire pit

Just love those sweet feet! 

I call Piper "My Hot Lil' Mama".

This picture makes me want to go snatch up My Hot Lil Mama and squeeze her tight! 

Lunch time...Piper drove to "McDonald's" to pick up some lunch!

Beep Beep!!!!

Nap Time...

She was out there from 9:00 that morning to 2:00 that afternoon.  I had to pull her in the house to go get Presley from school.  She begged me to let her stay home and Maggie Belle (her dog) and Cupcake (her stuffed leopard) would watch her.  She's one crazy Lil' Mama!

Piper Loves Camping!

We'll be scheduling a real camping trip real soon.

She's gonna freak!

xoxo,

Tonya

Sweet & Sassy here we come...

We spent our Sunday in Southlake.

The girls had a birthday party to go to today.

It's one of Presley's classmates, her parents were kind enough to invite Piper as well.

Quick pick with my sweeties! 

Sweet and Sassy sure does know how to make a girl feel like a Princess!

This closet is a lil' girl's dream come true.  

Presley looked darling in her Cinderella dress. 

Piper was loving this! 

Presley wanted white sparkling nails. 

Strike a pose girls! 

Princess Presley 

 Look at all oft hose Princesses. 

Gorgeous girls! 

After the group shot and cake,

the girls got dressed and headed outside to the limo!

Yes, I said a limo!

Presley has been in 2 limos in the last 6 months!

This was Piper's 1st.

Topic of conversation in the limo by these little princesses????

They were telling fart jokes!

The girls were treated like total princesses today

and loved every minute of it!

The girls had a wonderful day. 

Oh yes...can't not watch the dance video!

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. ;)