Simply Stated...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We will not be sending out Christmas cards and photos this year.

Sorry to ruin the tradition but we had a few setbacks:

Jeremy was away in Canada for work...

then Travis got Scarlet Fever.

Maybe we'll send a New Year's Day card...

but seriously...don't hold your breath.

Have a wonderful holiday with your families!

A Shavin' Santa

Doesn't my Tyler make a CUTE Santa?

Fairy Tale Bowl

Top Left: Me as Red Riding Hood's Grandmother frightened by the Wolf; Top Right: The Seven Dwarfs; Bottom Left: The Witch with the poison apple, The Bean Stalk, and the Hunter who killed the Wolf (my hero, of course)

Once upon a time the second grade classes got together for the annual Fairy Tale Bowl. The teachers and students dressed up in their favorite fairy tale costumes and competed to see who knew the most about these stories. My class did a fabulous job but fell short when they could not hit the buzzer the fastest. Take a look at the pictures and then ask yourself, "What wouldn't a teacher sacrafice for the children?" Certainly, dignity is not one of them. By the way, I HATE dressing up!

My Christmas List

Okay Popes...you keep asking me what I want for Christmas so I thought I'd just let you all know so you could get your shopping done. Besides PEACE and QUIET and my HUSBAND to return, I would like the following...

1. a new terri-cloth bath robe
2. a new pair of sneakers to use on my treadmill (I am hopeful!)
3. a black pair of flip flops
4. size 5x7 decorative wrought iron picture frames
5. gifts cards are always good too (Target, Kirkland's, and JCPenney's are my favorites.)

HAPPY SHOPPING! I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever you get me. And by the way Jeremy...if you read this...I have a separate, more expensive list for you! HA! HA!

CHOO! CHOO!

Today the boys and I met my good friend Heather

at the Florida Railroad Museum.

Santa was also on the train to hand out candy canes.

We're Hanging in There

Don't worry daddy.

We miss you but we're hanging in there without you.

WE LOVE YOU DADDY!!!!

Behind the Curtain

This is what happens beind the curtain in the picture booth. The day before Thanksgiving, the boys and I took a trip to the mall to see Santa. Yes...I'm guilty...I thought about Christmas before Thanksgiving this year. What next? Valentine's Day before New Year's??? NEVER!!! Anyway, I usually don't get pictures of Santa. (It costs a lot of money to sit on a bearded man's lap who wears red, ya know.) So we got these for fun instead. What did the kids ask Santa for? Well...to break mom and dad's wallets, of course! Our rule is they can only ask Santa for one thing because Santa has lots of children to worry about. So Tyler asked Santa for an ATV T-Rex (a.k.a a battery powered riding three wheeler) and Travis asked Santa for a remote control motorcycle. It seems Travis is the more reasonable one. Tyler assumes Santa is not suffering from the financial crisis in America and can easily dish out the $300. We'll see. I asked Travis what he would do if Santa did not get him exactly what he wanted. My sharp 5 year-old replied, "That would be okay because we don't complain about what Santa gets us." My plan is to have Travis speak to Tyler before Christmas Day in case Santa doesn't get him exactly what he wants.

Mom and the Wiggles

My mom came over last night to watch the boys so I could hang out with some of my girlfriends. What's the best thing about having my mom come to visit??? She cleans...like laundry and other not-so-fun mommy chores. Thanks mom! Everybody needs a hero.
On Saturday we took the boys to see the Wiggles show at the St. Pete Times Forum. The kids enjoyed the music. It was fun to watch Tyler boogie and Travis try to keep his eyes open during the show. I still don't quite understand the fascination with a group of middle-aged men dressed in all one color singing children's songs and acting silly. Sounds kind of suspicious, don't you think?

Pope's Version of a Drive-In Movie

Hey... it's cheaper!

Rock, paper, scissors, what???

Okay, so really this blog allows me to tell the entertaining things my children say and do. They are so creative...a gift from daddy mostly! On Friday night, our family went up to the church to plan the ward Christmas party. Tyler and Travis hung out in the gym and ate pizza until it was about time to go. Then they discovered the missionaries liked to play the game ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS. Score! Little did the missionaries know they did not stand a chance against this amazing duo. You see my children use the power of knowledge to compete. Everything they've learned on t.v. and at school is strategically applied. That is why when Tyler and Travis did ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS, ...QUESTION MARK and GRAVITY...the missionaries were at a loss. Travis explained that question mark could be anything, therefore obviously securing his spot as champ. Next, Tyler said, "Nothing beats gravity," and thus joined his brother on the winning team. Sorry missionaries...you lost this one! Never underestimate the imagination of a child.

Good Help is Just Around the Corner

Today there was no school. So what did the Popes do? We called Uncle Jeff to do some fixer ups around the house. It is so nice to live close to family. My in-laws are always helpful. Just a few weeks ago I was miserably sick. My mother-in-law came up to my work and brought me some medicine so I could make it through the rest of the day. The next day, Jeff brought me a home cooked meal (black beans and yellow rice with pork roast). The rest of my team was jealous! Thank you for living down the road and coming to my aid. We love you!