Happy New Year!

Thank you, Jackie and Keith for the tickets to see Evita and babysitting the monsters on New Years Eve!

We needed coffee to stay up late. It worked! We were awake until 10:00pm! (we have kids...)

What a fun way to end a great year!

My Godson

I became a godmother today. I feel amazing.
Let the bragging about my godson commence!

Happy Holidays!

I hope your holidays were as adorable as ours!

Christmas - check

The gifts are bought and wrapped, sitting by the tree. Our house is decorated and I've made 8 pounds of fudge. We have comfy Christmas clothes (and mine is 2 sizes smaller than last year). Time to watch White Christmas and attend some parties!

Genetically engineered

I saw Sable and all her classmates lined up and walking in from recess. Sable was the tallest kid in the class almost by a head... that's my girl!

Family is amazing

I saw some amazing tintype family photo's today. And really, the word "amazing" doesn't explain how these metal photo's from the 1860's sound when I place them on the glass in my scanner. This is my 3 times great grandmother, Mary Elizabeth L. M. ... stunning. Thank you for sharing Aunt Adele!

Crazy, but in a Christmas kind of way.

I'm a very smart mom.

Here is why. Cliff has been opening doors and playing with the door locks lately. It's hard to keep him contained now but he's pretty good at listening when I say no. I put on my coat and shoes to get Sable off the school bus and Cliff grabbed his coat too, he wanted to go outside. I explained I'd be right back with his sister. I then unlocked the side door to our house before rushing out the front door to meet the bus. Sable and I walked up the front steps holding hands and to her surprise, the front door was locked. I looked in the front window and saw Cliff running away very delighted with himself. I went in through the side door and we are all having a boring lunch together, inside a warm house.

*** UPDATE ***

And he is a smart kid!

So the next day, I unlock the side door, get Sable from the bus and discover we are locked out again. I walk around to the side door and he's standing in front of the door, outside. Staying one step ahead of this kid is a daily challenge to my logic skills and sanity. Next week, he'll be in his high chair when the bus comes. Checkmate kid!

Ho ho ho!

I love capturing the first time a kid sees Santa Clause. 

Family Photos

Famous Strawberry Lodge

Our Lodge (and my dad) are going to be in a movie!

Exciting News - Hollywood has taken over Strawberry Lodge. 
A new feature length film "Branded" is being filmed on site, even our famous bear will hit the big screen. The cast includes:
Jeremy London (Mallrats / Journey to the Center of the Earth)
Jason London (Dazed and Confused / Jason and the Argonauts)
Susan Duerden (Flushed Away / Lost) and
Burton Perez (Richard: The Lionheart / Shameless)

Visit the link for more movie details!
- Branded -

First Family Tree

Sable made her first family tree... I'm so proud!

Parent Teacher Conference

Sable's Parent Teacher Conference was great! All her teachers agreed that she is making wonderful progress and she is much more independent than last year. Both Sable and Cliff went to the meeting with me and were allowed to tear up the room. Sable made a small, quiet mess while Cliff cleaned up after her. Joel and I now have homework, we need to choose the program for Sable to go into for Kindergarten.

Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails has been my favorite band for 25 years. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have a favorite band. This week was the fourth time I've seen them live, and the show was brilliant. Trent Reznor humbly thanked the crowd several times. Seriously, THANK YOU TRENT! I'm a very proud fan.

Review
website

Pretty

Sable and her little brother Clifton were in their bedroom playing. Joel went in to check on them and discovered Clifton getting "decorated" by Sable with all her jewelry and accessories.

Genealogy organization

These are my family "pile" files. I'm organizing and this is what I ended up with. It's mostly notes, letters and legal documents. Left pile is my Dads family, then my moms (neatly sorted into binders!), next is my in-laws and at the right end my trusty scanner.

Oh happy day!

Happy birthday memories for me!

My car for the day.

Limo, family, friends, wine.

Catching up on photos

Playing at Chatter Creek Winery during the Blackout

Papa John made pancakes, yumm!

Our new roof and gutters are on and getting used!

Holidays are ahead!

Clifton is starting on his Christmas wish list early.

Halloween

We opted to take it easy for Halloween this year. The kids played dress up and ate candy all day. We tried to get Sable to say "Trick or Treat" but she only likes the "Treat" part.

Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkins

Sable loved "coloring" her pumpkin and Cliff kept hugging his.

Roof Time!

The roofers are here! The roofers are here!
Oh happy day! The roofers are here!

Clifton in charge

I've been a bit sleep deprived this week and this morning my kids kept to the morning schedule, dragging their unaware mother along. Sable made the (ASL) sign for breakfast on my face to get my attention and Cliff handed me the baby wipes then laid down so I could change his diaper.

Candle's

Due to a small electrical issue, tonight's dinner was by candle light. The kids were mesmerized.

Piano time

Dad's house warming party

I left my family for 48 hours to help out with my dad's housewarming party. I missed my kids and husband!

View from the back yard

Me and my dad.

The D.J. crew from Strawberry Lodge. Stan, Dustin, me and Tim.