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.