"Dammits," Super Fluff Bunny, and Manipulation

To see a fun update on Ryan click on her blog at the right...here's a glimpse:

...And when Super Fluff Bunny is pushing her own small cart at the grocery store and saying things like "that looks discusting...I would never eat that," people listen!...

Our Colorado Christmas and a Couple of B-days

Izzy turned 6!! And I turned .... well .... 30! You might catch a glimpse of me in my 30 year old pregnant glory if you watch the slide show long enough, but I thought this shot of Izzy is great. She really is this happy and sunny just about all of the time.

We decided to get wacky wild with our Christmas plans and drove 18 hours (an extra 4 due to the Kansas blizzard) to Colorado. We met up with my sister's family (she has 3 kids all about the same ages as mine) at a condo. Indoor hot-tub, first time skiing for all the kids, tubing, tons of games, Santa's spoilings, and a two hour nerf gun war Christmas morning pretty much sums it up. We couldn't have had a better time. Enjoy the slide show :)

That Big Announcement!

IT'S A BOY!!!

So I'm a little crazy--I realized after last post that I haven't even posted that I'm pregnant yet. After a couple of miscarriages, I was a little hesitant...and then forgot. Anyway...the fact that I'm prego isn't the big news. But today we found out the gender!!!

I wish I had time to capture the moment for y'all, but we are headed on a trip today and I've got to get moving. I'll just say there were some tears of joy--not just by the emotional pregnant lady. I'm so excited for Cory to have his boy :)

Loves!

Holiday Highlights...so far

Neiman Marcus Parade in Dallas. The girls particularly liked "the real batman."
For the second year in a row Ryan has wondered why the present she asked Santa for wasn't what he pulled out of the candy cane basket.

A fabulous Thanksgiving feast--I believe our second turkey ever. The girls were a little grossed out...
until Chef Cory got a hold of it with a special on-line basting technique...
to provide the perfect company with the perfect feast!
Stay tuned for next week's announcement!!! (If I forget, give me a call Tuesday night :)

Boo!

Give all the face painting credit to Cory--the girls were lovin' it up too! (For close-ups you can check out their blogs listed on the right) Notice how Lorin can't break character for the pic.

Pride and Prejudice Doll Party

Strolling in the garden, shopping at the General Store, and having tea on the patio...
Ryan
Izzy

Lorin

My Aunt K'Lynn started a marvelous tradition many years ago--a Doll Party--designed to teach our daughters homemaking skills, etiquette, and often a glimpse of history . Months in advance we are sewing dresses and making crafts to sell at the General Store. The girls end up spending a full day as if they lived in a different time period and country. From getting hair done in the morning to learning how to cook scones for lunch to having a charming dance in the evening, our little women collapse exhausted at the end and wondering when we're going to do it again.

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY in......

NEW YORK!!!


I can hardly believe we pulled it off, but thanks to Aunt Jenny's generosity watching our kids and Cory already scheduled to be in New York for training, we got to spend our 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY in the Millenium Broadway Hotel at Time Square! Within 2 days we....

wait for it...

saw Wicked, the Statue of Liberty, and the whole city atop the Rockefeller Center, ate at a couple totally NY joints (the Nook--yummy!), walked 2 hours (and took a nap) in Central Park, took the Met Museum to its knees (and that's not easy--it's massive!!), went to church with the Manhattan 1st ward where, surprise, my cousin Kirsten and her husband were speaking in church (seriously a cooincidence) as well as some of my favorite Michigan peeps happened to be there on vaca also, saw a Mets Baseball game, and hung out a ton in Time Square.

Nothing like doing New York with your best friend! (ahhh, tender!)

Somehow Jenny survived this ragamuff team! Just one split eyebrow to glue together the morning after I got home :)