Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Lemonade Stand
Part of why we/Santa got Violet a dollhouse is because we wanted to help her customize it. The first custom-built furniture (as designed by Violet) is a lemonade stand.
I'm assuming/hoping that Violet's dollhouse is the only place on Earth where you can find sluttily-dressed Tinker Bell serving a refreshing lemonade to Claude Wolf and Draculaura.
I'm assuming/hoping that Violet's dollhouse is the only place on Earth where you can find sluttily-dressed Tinker Bell serving a refreshing lemonade to Claude Wolf and Draculaura.
David Does NOT Love Paris
99% of the time, I cannot get Violet to smile in a photo. Here, when it's totally inappropriate for her to be smiling...presto.
Chuck E. Cheese
The best part of today's outing is that when Violet rode the mini-carousel, she put on an insane show. She was waving her arms regally, jumping up and standing on the horse - it was so over-the-top insane, we didn't stop her. We, along with other passersby, watched in awe.
Dave trying to reenact this gem.
Dave trying to reenact this gem.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
A Day in Clear Lake
Today we met up with several of Dave's childhood (through college) friends and their children. It's still amazing to watch our kids play together -- seeing as we've known each other (myself included, because I've known all of these guys for at least 17 years) for so long.
Dave and I are so lucky to have so many friends from our childhood. I hope our children have the same fortune.
Dave and I are so lucky to have so many friends from our childhood. I hope our children have the same fortune.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
CHRISTMAS 2011: Christmas Cards
We feel really blessed by how many people thought to send us Christmas cards this year. We typically decorate the mirror...
And this year, we had to expand to the dining room...
And this year, we had to expand to the dining room...
CHRISTMAS 2011: Violet's Favorite Thing
FREE TIP: If Violet offers you something she made in her Easy Bake Oven, just say, "No."
REASON 1: She found it acceptable to take the spatula with her to the rest room.
REASON 2: She sneezes without always covering her nose.
REASON 3: While making the dough, she says, "Mom, you wanna know how big that massive poop I made was?" And she points to the balled up dough.
G. R. O. S. S.
Doesn't everyone count their cookies like this?
You have been warned. DO NOT EAT.
REASON 1: She found it acceptable to take the spatula with her to the rest room.
REASON 2: She sneezes without always covering her nose.
REASON 3: While making the dough, she says, "Mom, you wanna know how big that massive poop I made was?" And she points to the balled up dough.
G. R. O. S. S.
Doesn't everyone count their cookies like this?
You have been warned. DO NOT EAT.
Monday, December 26, 2011
CHRISTMAS 2011: Allee Christmas
We saved the best for last. Violet finally got her Easy Bake Oven.
The Easy Bake Oven is so important that EVERYONE needs to sit on it and have a serious photo taken with it. Check out their hands. These kids crack me up.
I saw this next item on my Dad's Amazon Wishlist and it was so weird, I had to buy it. Little did I know, the real gift is that my Dad would tell us why he wanted it (mostly).
So, my Dad is holding a blow gun and darts in this photo.
According to my Dad, when he was in the Air Force and he worked nights, he and his friend would kill bugs all night. In the morning the birds would fly down to eat the bugs. That's when my Dad and his friend would shoot the birds with a blow gun...but the ammo (darts) they used were too big and powerful and they would go straight through the birds without killing them.
What?
Then one morning my Dad used the blow gun to wake up one of his roommates by shooting him in the butt.
Anyway, my Dad was noncommittal about what he plans to kill with his new blow gun and darts...but I'm sure it will be awesome.
I'm too tired to properly photoshop this - PART I. My Dad's eyes are closed in the original photo.
The ladies and David (who insisted on being in the photo - per usual).
I'm too tired to properly photoshop this - PART II. I like Gerri's expression in the edited photo.
The Easy Bake Oven is so important that EVERYONE needs to sit on it and have a serious photo taken with it. Check out their hands. These kids crack me up.
I saw this next item on my Dad's Amazon Wishlist and it was so weird, I had to buy it. Little did I know, the real gift is that my Dad would tell us why he wanted it (mostly).
So, my Dad is holding a blow gun and darts in this photo.
According to my Dad, when he was in the Air Force and he worked nights, he and his friend would kill bugs all night. In the morning the birds would fly down to eat the bugs. That's when my Dad and his friend would shoot the birds with a blow gun...but the ammo (darts) they used were too big and powerful and they would go straight through the birds without killing them.
What?
Then one morning my Dad used the blow gun to wake up one of his roommates by shooting him in the butt.
Anyway, my Dad was noncommittal about what he plans to kill with his new blow gun and darts...but I'm sure it will be awesome.
I'm too tired to properly photoshop this - PART I. My Dad's eyes are closed in the original photo.
The ladies and David (who insisted on being in the photo - per usual).
I'm too tired to properly photoshop this - PART II. I like Gerri's expression in the edited photo.
CHRISTMAS 2011: Christmas with Grandmommy and Granddaddy
The weather was gross yesterday, but there was no way we weren't going to let the kids enjoy the new swing set their Grandmommy and Granddaddy bought them.
I think it's easy to tell - they love it.
I think it's easy to tell - they love it.
CHRISTMAS 2011: Christmas Morning
I love how bewildered she is in this photo below. I've got to say this...three times this Christmas, Violet received disappointment. Disappointment meaning she either got gifts she didn't like or no gifts at all. All three times, she was gracious as could be.
After we opened gifts yesterday morning she said, "You know what? I didn't get my EasyBake Oven, but I got all of this other stuff. And this other stuff is even better. It's great. Thank you."
She's four and she's awesome (and she also got the EasyBake Oven later in the day - wait for it).
This is the first gift of the day that makes me tear up. Violet loves the movie "Anastasia." She constantly asks if she can pretend that her necklaces say, "Together in Paris," like the necklace Anastasia's Grandmother gives her in the movie.
Thanks to her amazing Daddy, Violet now has her own locket that says, "Together in Paris." Complete with a family photo. It is beyond sweet.
The most amusing gift I received: An umbrella tooth pick, so I can "stab my food all the time." Nice. I also like David photobombing us here with a sneak hug on his Sister.
The most annoying gift I got (because it still makes me blubber as I think about it): Dave took my favorite pieces of art that the kids have created, he scanned them, scaled them down, printed them, decoupaged them into silver charms and used resin epoxy to seal them. They are beautiful.
I don't typically say sappy stuff like this, but I'm going to treasure them forever. They are beautiful.
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