The Big 4-0

Chad's birthday is New Year's Eve. Most people think this is a great day for a birthday. Take into account that everyone is celebrating on your birthday, it should be a great day. After 5 years of throwing parties at our house and a few other surprise parties it was time to do something different. Besides, for the Big 4-0 you have to celebrate in style.

I was delighted to whisk the birthday boy away to Chicago for the weekend. Three great days in Chicago with decent weather, delicious food, plenty of wine, a plush hotel, and time with Chad's high school friends Heath & Michele. It was a perfect birthday. Even if Chad is officially "over the hill."


Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Christmas Part 4

We spent Christmas with my mom, grandparents, and sister's family a few days after Christmas. Dinner, gift opening, and plenty of time tending to the new puppies. It was a good evening.


Campbell loves all her art supplies.


Cooper got new earbuds and the game mancala.


The kids holding the puppies.


Papa & Nanny with the kids.

Christmas Part 3

Christmas Day brought smiles all around.


Cooper got a Kindle.


Campbell got a closet for her AG doll clothes.


Campbell also got a karaoke machine.


Mom got new pans.


Dad got new running shoes.

Santa's Delivery

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;


Santa's special delivery.

Christmas Part 2

Each Christmas Eve we spend the evening with Chad's family. We eat dinner, play games, tell stories, and open gifts. By the time the activities are wrapped up, the girls are tired and ready to go home to bed. It was a great time had by all.


Cooper and Campbell in front of Oma & Opa's tree.


Campbell opening her Willie the Wildcat pillow pet.


Cooper opening her 39 Clues game cards.

Gingerbread Houses

The girls made Gingerbread Houses at school and couldn't wait to show off their works of art. Great job girls!


Cooper wanted to eat her gingerbread house the minute she got home.


Daddy went to school to help Campbell make her gingerbread house. What a great team.

Flute Solo

Cooper's flute instructor arranged a recital at a local nursing home for the students to practice their Christmas songs. This year was special, as Cooper had a solo song. She was nervous, but performed so well for her first solo. Chad's family was able to come and see the show. What a great day!


Cooper preparing for her song.


Cooper playing her solo.

Christmas Part 1

Having Four Christmases is a unique experience. We started our first with my sister and my dad. Here are a few favorites of the girls.


Campbell and her AG dog "Chocolate Chip"


Cooper and her Crayon Maker


This year I made my sister a tree skirt. Two days work and some professional embroidery. I think it turned out great!

Family Photos

Each year our family, my dad & Marie, and my sister's family get together at my sister's house to celebrate Christmas. Always a good time, spent eating, drinking, and laughing. The kids enjoy playing together, while the adults visit and catch up. We open gifts and make plans for the upcoming year. This year was the first year to have Christmas at Kelly & Pat's new house. Merry Christmas!


Baalmann Family


Lohman Family


Hance Family


Everyone celebrating Christmas!

Bailey turns 10

Happy 10th Birthday to my niece Bailey. Always great to get together and celebrate. I just wonder where the last 10 years went.


Opening gifts


This one you'll see again, maybe your Senior Year.


Make a wish

Ho Ho Ho

Santa has a helper. Meet Campbell Claus! Cracking me up.


Campbell complete with hat, scarf, and robe.

Isn't She Lovely

On rare occasion, Campbell will let me fix her hair and pick out her clothes. Today was one of those days. Isn't she lovely?

Looks like Christmas

This year we placed the Christmas tree in the upstairs front room and moved Colgin's tree down to the family room. The girls do a nice job of helping decorate the house for Christmas. I think it looks great!


Oh Christmas Tree


Here comes Santa Claus


Table decorations


Colgin's tree


Mantle pieces


Kids tree

Baking Cookies

Chad went to KC to shop this weekend, so the girls and I enjoyed some time in the kitchen baking cookies. I'm always a little ambitious when I make the list of cookies to bake. This year's list included: puppy chow, scotcheroos, fudge, chocolate chip cookies, and sugar cutout cookies. The girls helped as much as I expected. The end results were delicious.


Cutting out cookies.


Decorating candy cane cookies.


Campbell's cookies.


Cooper's cookies.

Celebrating Early

Campbell turns 5 in less than a month. To celebrate we all got dressed up, went to eat dinner at Harry's, and then went to see the Celtic Tenors sing Christmas. When Cooper turned five, we did something similar. Dinner at Harry's and the play Peter Pan. It was a great night. Tonight was the same. Turning 5 is a big deal and we wanted to make sure Campbell's big birthday was one to remember.


The birthday girl all dressed up.


Cooper and Campbell at dinner.


Mommy and her girls.


Daddy and the girls.

Trimming the Tree

We all love Christmas. The spell of pine, 24/7 Christmas Carols on the radio, cold snowy weather, baking cookies, watching Rudolph and Frosty, and enjoying time with family and friends. Tonight was the night to trim the tree.


Mom puts the lights and ribbon on.


Dad decorates the top branches.


The girls cover the rest of the tree with ornaments.

Hello Alexander

When we returned home from Thanksgiving, we were greeted by our Elf on a Shelf Alexander. It is the holiday season and Alexander works for Santa Claus. Each night he flys back to the North Pole to let Santa know if Cooper and Campbell have been naughty or nice. The girls were excited to see that Alexander had brought them each a gift. This year it was a Rubik's Cube.

Thanksgiving

I was so excited when my dad told me in August that he and Marie bought a new house. Once the final details where set we agreed that Thanksgiving would be celebrated at the new house this year.

As the day grew closer, the guest list increased. With our family, my sister's family, and 3 siblings of my dad's; it was going to be a full house. How exciting!

We had a great time. There was so much food and drink. We played cards, watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and reminisced about years gone by. The girls reviewed all the sales ads and did some Black Friday shopping. The big hit was watching The Polar Express on dad's new 3D tv and playing games on Marie's new touchscreen computer. We made sure to complete the weekend by decorating the Christmas tree, hanging lights outside on the house, and walking the neighborhood to see other decorated houses. It was a great holiday weekend.


The girls did a great job decorating Papa & Gma's Christmas tree.


The outside view of the lights that Pat & Chad put on the new house.


Dad and Marie in front of the new house.


Family Photo