Grandma & Grandpa are moving South!

We are holding GMa and GPa hostage and they will not be on their flight to Detroit tomorrow morning.

Merry Christmas! Part 3

Christmas morning.

Whoppi cushion, roller blades and cowboy/cowgirl boots. What else does a kid need?

Biltmore

Grandma and Grandpa arrived on Christmas day and we've been on the go since their arrival. Yesterday, we spent the night in Asheville and enjoyed the hotel ammenities. Today we toured the Biltmore. It's an incredible place and was decorated for Christmas like none other!

Merry Christmas! Part 2

Robert and Ioana hosted THE party of the season once again. Besides getting everyone's Christmas cards, their party is my favorite holiday tradition. Clearly, everyone had a great time. Even Santa and his pregnant elf! As usual, there was enough food and wine to feed a third world country.

Lucy thoroughly enjoyed the festivities on her first Christmas Eve Party. She especially loved the never-ending supply of food. And DaddyO was more than happy to oblige.

The crowd got rowdy while waiting for Santa's arrival, so Amanda led them all in Christmas carols.

Here Santa and his helper elf are handed the Naughty List from seasoned elf Karen.

Like the final 2 contestants on American Idol, Cameron and Hunter wait with bated breath, hoping their names are not called.


Thankfully, all the kids made it to the Nice List. Anna Kate's Wish List is read from the Big Man, himself.

Cameron is not deterred by the giant beard and red velvet.

SCORE! Jackie got a rockin' pair of clogs. Man, Santa is GOOD!

Even Little Lucy wasn't afraid of Santa. Her 4 siblings taught her to be nice to the man who delivers presents.

Parents in awe of the amount of plastic crap coming home with them tonight.

Another wonderful party. Thanks Robert & Ioana!

Merry Christmas! Part 1

Our Christmas celebration began w/ church at newhope. Followed by PRESENTS! Here the MessiPaul family opened 12 presents in under 2 minutes. They shattered last years record of 3 1/2 min! Clearly everyone was happy with their loot.

Ready, Set, OPEN!

Afterwards, we scooted next door for The party of the season at Robert and Ioana's. That post will follow when I finish downloading the 300 pics...

Nothing good can come of this...

...and it wasn't at all what I expected!

Balloon Magic

Tonight was a special dinner at Tomato Jake's b/c Mr. Balloon Man entertained the masses while we dined. He visited each table and made whatever frog princess or horse was requested of him, entirely out of balloon! Even the grown-ups were in awe of his art!

Like any good parent, we used the balloons as a bribe to get the kids to eat their dinner. If only we had Mr. Balloon Man at home...

The loot: Frog Princess, horse, heart flower (on the ground), Blue Devils hat & pitch fork, Spiderman.

Let It Snow!

I bragged to my Northern friends earlier this week that it was 72. Last night it snowed! An inch, tops. It was beautiful and the kids loved the giant flakes. The South is not nearly as equipt to handle the snow as the North so schools were let out early. My meeting in Winston-Salem was cancelled so we could all get home before the Big Storm. I was one of 3000 in Target getting supplies in case we had to hunker down for the weekend. The snow has has all melted. But we now have snow in our freezer for a snack this afternoon.

Nutcracker, part 1

Deane organized the street outing to go see the Nutcracker Ballet. We started with lunch at Maggiano's. Clearly, the kids enjoyed each other's company.

How I know I’m a Rockin’ Mom!

These are Jackie's most recent notes to me:

I still love you even though you made me cry.

Dear Santa, I know I have too many toys, but I really would like a magic wand like this. (drawing attached).

I ROCK at this Mom Thing! Only 2 more kids to bring up right!

Dee and the kids at Nutcracker. I don't know what is going on here.

Leigh's 3rd Birthday Party!

We celebrate parties so that the adults have as much fun as the kids. This means, the entire street shows up and we eat ourselves sick. We leave the entertainment to the kids. At 3, Leigh is everything Mulan. And the boys are all about superheros and pirates. So the cowboy and the pirate serenaded the Princess on her birthday.

Susie loving on Lucy.

Piano Recital

Yesterday was Jacqueline's first piano recital. She choose to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Many of our neighbors also take lessons from Miss Betty, so it was a party once again!

Lucy is our budding pianist.