So this is Christmas.... 2007 Let's put stuff in the naked guy!

Great Christmas! Everything went well. We had delicious food and wonderful company. I didn't have to go to work. Oh, yeah, and we might have opened a few gifts.

Kay got a billibo, a fish tank (to share with Cam since they can't have a dog), books, dolls, leap frog toys, markers (so she can draw and sing, one of her favorite activities), a booster seat (so she can sit at the table with us instead of in the highchair), lights for her room, and a sing along stage with a mirror so she can perform.

Cam got books, games, movies, a viewmaster, a jumproap, a glow in the dark solar system (Pluto included), a nutcracker (cause he went to see the ballett with Grandma), a treasure chest to hide his pirate booty, a CD player, walkie talkies and a transformers car.

Taye got a MP3 player, a gaming chair, clothes, a new blanket, and money to spend on tech.

Jeff got PJs, tools and a GPS system (he says that is more for me cause he doesn't get lost)

Jen got PJs, a bracelet, a digital picture frame, a candle, and some kitchen gadgets.

Enjoy some pictures:



We went and saw the festival of lights. We usually don't take many pictures of the lights because it is hard to get them to come out well. We had to get this one for Kay's "Buh Fly" collection.

Here are the kids getting ready to open the gifts from Santa and Mom and Dad by the Snoopy tree. You may notice that the Snoopy tree is only decorated on the top. That is because Sister undecorated the bottom half as far up as she could reach. She also liked to put some of the ornaments back on but most of them ended up hidden in her room.

When Kay finished opening a gift she would say "Tah Dah!"

Cam and Gram take a snuggle break from opening gifts. Cam makes his red pajamas look good.

Sarah and her ponies. It's like 1983 all over again. Hey, where's the Cabbage Patch doll?

Grandpa Mike observes the chaos.

How exactly do you get this toy out of the package? Well, Grandma, you just twist that spot right there where I am pointing with my cute little finger.

Check out my hairdo my lovely and talented Aunt Sarah gave me. I even have a bow. I look good in my pink striped pajamas too.

Sarah and Courtney hug among the debris by the big tree.

Sister riding the sewing machine pedal.

At Bobby and Karen's. Kay decided she was finished once she opened this gift. She wanted to play with Mickey and didn't want to be bothered with opening anything else.

She did the same thing earlier in the day when she got her stocking. She found some butterflies and was happy with that. She carried the butterflies around and didn't care what else was in the stocking. You go girl. Be happy with what you got.


Smiley Morgan.
Bobby opening a gift.
Sister Santa.



Heather and the boys.
Andrew, Morgan and Kay.

Kay and Grandma K.

Kay fell asleep sitting in a chair after all the excitement of the day. We wrapped up the evening with some parlor tricks. Taylor grossed everyone out with his thumb trick. I grossed everyone out by turning my feet around backwards and Cam did his infamous tongue up nose trick.

My camera batteries died so we will have to see if anyone else has more pictures.

Cam makes a snow angel and enjoys his almost white Christmas. It didn't snow Christmas day but we got some of the white stuff on the 26th. Taylor and Kaylynne were napping during the short time the snow was falling. Once it stopped it melted pretty quick so Cam was the only one who got to play in it today. When the others woke up Cam said in a sad voice, "You missed the snow fun. I made a snow angel and threw snow balls. It wasn't enough to make a snow man." Then he excitedly informed them that it is supposed to snow more tomorrow so they can play again and that the snow flakes taste like cotton candy.

We did get a package from Grandparents in Illinois but as per the tradition we opened it as soon as it arrived. Joyce works for the post office so we always get cool stamps on the box and the kids think that is amazing. She almost covers the front of the box with all kinds of different stamps she has collected.

We should get a package from Grandparents in Mississippi soon. It must have been delayed by the bad weather. That is fun though because just when the kids think it is all over they will get a few more gifts to open.

Another tradition is that we let the kids open one gift on Christmas eve. Cameron got an operation game. He excitedly yelled "Wow! It's the game where you put stuff in the naked guy!"
FYI cavity Sam, AKA the naked guy, actually wears festive red and white striped boxers.


Thanks everyone for yet another happy, fabulous holiday!

We still have grape jelly

Cameron's Christmas story.

After that last post (which the kids found hilarious) we need something sweet to clear our minds. So I am posting Cameron's Christmas story from last year.

Cameron loves to watch Snoopy movies and his recent favorite is I want a dog for Christmas.
He tends to quote long sections of dialog from Snoopy movies and we often get strange looks from people who overhear him say things like:

"When we divide up the rights I get 90%, and you get 5%, and you get 5%." Lucy Van Pelt addressing her two brothers.

"When we are grown up and you and your husband want me to co-sign a bank note so you can buy a house--I won't." Rerun Van Pelt to his sister Lucy.

This is my favorite. The quote goes: "How can I be expected to live in a world where I don't have a dog, or a trust fund, or grape jelly?" Rerun contemplating the unfairness of life.

Cameron changed this one to suit his own personality and I think it is perfect. We were shopping in a busy store when Cameron asked, "Mom, do we have any grape jelly?"

"Yes, we have some at home. I can make you a sandwich if you want."

"Yes, I would like one. Mom, do I have a dog?"

"No, I'm sorry you don't have a dog."

"Oh, OK. Well, do I have a trust fund?"

"No, I am really sorry, you don't have a trust fund. But 1 out of 3 isn't bad right?"

"Yeah, the world is all right when you have grape jelly."

There was a man standing next to us who heard this conversation and really enjoyed it. He did a double take when Cameron asked about his trust fund. Then when Cam wrapped it up with the line about the grape jelly he started laughing so hard he couldn't catch his breath.

So now we have a new motto around here. Life is great, especially when you have grape jelly. Sometimes that's all you need to get through the day.

I hope you all have a wonderful, happy, healthy Christmas with your friends and family. And we hope you will always have enough grape jelly to get you through the ups and downs of life.

Bah Humbug! Some Grinch stole our Snoopy.

Right off the porch I tell ya. What's the world coming to?

It is very sad because we have had old Snoopy in the family for a long time. He always sits on our porch and spreads Christmas cheer.

We moved and are in a new house this Christmas but it is a nice neighborhood. We went ahead and put Snoopy out by the front door like we have every year our kids can remember. Now he is gone.

I did a Google search to try to find another one. No luck but I did find this blog that tells the story of another Snoopy who was treated shamefully one Christmas.
http://morning-martini.blogspot.com/2007/12/fred-cat-with-stories.html

I think a letter to the editor may be in order here as well. Maybe someone will read it and feel bad for what they have done to poor Snoopy. Taking him from his family at Christmas time is just terrible. Maybe, just maybe, they will return him home. Yeah, I won't hold my breath. The thieves probably don't read the newspaper.

Anyone know where I can get a plastic light up Snoopy Santa decoration before the kids find out ours is gone?

A little about us

We are a family living in central Oklahoma. We consist of:

Me, the Mom, Jennifer, currently 35, working at a children's hospital for children with special needs. I coordinate care for my patients by helping them to therapy, activities, school and medical care. I also make sure they eat, help them with their personal care needs and keep them company. I love my job.

My husband, Jeff, also 35, also works at the hospital. He works in the dietary department and he is one of the kid's favorite people because he drives around in a golf cart and delivers the food!

Taylor Aaron, our oldest son, 14, is in the 8th grade and is really smart. He is into computers, video games, music, drums, and books. He does volunteer work and is a great help with his brother and sister (most of the time).

Cameron Ash, our 5 year old son, is in kindergarten. He is quite charming and likes to talk. He loves music, art, school, working in the garden and reading books. He loves snoopy movies and watching and learning from the Signing Time series.

Kaylynne Electa, our baby girl, is 20 months old. She is a joy and a wonderfully sweet and pretty baby. She does not go to school or day care yet but she works very hard in physical therapy. She loves to draw and sing. She watches Signing Time and signs about 20 words.

Jeff and I have been married for 15 years and we just moved into a new old house - meaning new to us but built in the early 1950's. At the moment most of our limited free time is spent continuing to unpack and organize the house. The kids love having their very own rooms that they don't have to share with each other. We are about half way through painting the entire inside of the house. The outside is brick so luckily all we have to paint there is the trim. After the painting is done we have lots of other little projects to do to fix the place up. It really is a beautiful house though and we are very happy here.

Jeff enjoys biking, working on computers, building things, reading, art, writing short stories, movies, music, guitar, and video games.

Jennifer enjoys reading, doing crafts, writing, cooking, gardening, learning American Sign Language, and sleeping.