David's Birthday

For Dave's birthday we packed up the truck and the Butler's Jeep and headed to the hills. It was about 77 degrees out there, so of course we put the kids in shorts and t-shirts. We got to a good spot to pop out the BBQ and looked around... there is still snow on the ground. We had a snow ball fight in our shorts and t-shirts.

After lunch the kids wanted to get into the water. We agreed up only if one of us was standing there. The water was moving very fast. It was so cold that you could only stand in it for a few seconds and when you got out the joints in your toes ache. Sounds like fun huh?

Wet Dreams

We had some friends over to play games tonight. Ethan and Breeana (a little friend) were up until after 10pm, when Ethan had an accident in his pants. Eric took Ethan in to the bathroom and cleaned him all up, then threw him in the tub. We said goodbye to our friends. I grabbed a towel and headed in to get Ethan out of the tub, only to find Ethan asleep in the tub. After a checking to see if he was still alive, I called for Eric. Eric started squirting him with a water bottle. Ethan find woke up completely disoriented. We got him in some warm jammied and sent him to bed.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Eric told me I could pick out my own birthday present. I know some of you ladies will think I am a bit nuts, but I chose a vinyl plotter. This is my first project. I am willing to share... with any of those fellow-crafters.

From Santa

We sure had fun this year with Papa Jim and Nana, Katie, Dave and the girls and our family. Santa left Anna clothes and box to dress and store her 18" doll from Grandma. Santa spent many hours making all kinds of outfits.

Ethan got a remote controlled car. At 6:10 Christmas morning Eric and Ethan are in the pajamas, coats and hats outside in the dark. We could hear Ethan squealing with excitment. Then we heard Eric... it's my turn.

Santa's goal with Sarah is just make her stuff she could put in her mouth. He did a Great JOB!

Pooter

Katie, Jim, Nana and I are playing Scrabble. Mom asked how to spell a certain word, and then realized she didn't have all the letters and says "Pooter". Katie pipes in and leans to the side and says "Wait just a minute".

Sticky Buns

As a tradition in our home we have sticky buns for Christmas morning. This year Anna and PapaJim made them, and the big mess that went with them. It was good to see the bond grow between these two. Not to mention the bond between my stomach and the delicious sticky buns.

Christmas

This had to be one of the best Christmas ever. We enjoyed the company of friends and family and ate terrific food. We were very please to meet the love of mom's life. We further enjoyed Jim getting to know our family... in the rawest of characters.

Eric came home from work one day in December and said "I want a turducken for Christmas". I had no idea what a turducken was. He asked me to go a butcher and pick it up. I told him that he if he wanted to look like a freak at the butcher's that he should go ask for his precious turducken. He declines, so I got online and found a great website with step by step instructions and pictures. A turducken is a chicken debone and stuffed with stuffing, stuffed inside a ducke with stuffing, stuffed inside a turkey. http://www.chefpaul.com/turducken.html.

Katie was pleased to debone everything for us. It took her over 4 hours to get three carcasses. It feeds 24-30 people. And oh my, it was delicious.

So after it is all assembled, it took over 9 hours to cook. There are only four bones in the entire thing, the legs and wings of the turkey. We look over and Nana is chomping on a bone. What the heck!?!