Sophie's Christmas Play

This past Tuesday was Sophie's third grade Christmas play, "Elfis and the Sleigh Riders". She played the part of Celine the diva backup singer complete with a tiny solo. She did a fantastic job as did all the children. It was hands down the best third grade production I've ever seen at our school. Reagan's Christmas play was Thursday night, but I forgot my camera. I'm hoping to get pictures from her teacher. It was quite a show too.

The Prodigal Son Returns

Last Wednesday, my wonderful, OLDER brother came home from Montana for the first time in five years! After waiting at the top of the arrival escalator at ATL, we remembered that his flight was coming in on the T gate, and thus he wouldn't be coming up the escalator. Finally, my mom and I split to try to find him on time. I spotted his swagger from a mile away, and it was the kind of reunion you see in a movie. Oh I love this boy!

After lots of hugs and kisses and a long wait for a suitcase stuffed full of frozen Montana beef courtesy of Tony's rancher neighbor, we made our way to Stop #1...The Varsity. The Varsity has always been one of his favorite Atlanta destinations. He put away more food than I could ever imagine such a skinny man could eat: 3 chili cheese burgers, 2 onion rings, a chili dog, and a large frosted orange. Then, we headed to Krispy Kreme for hot donuts.

I took the next two days off from work and spent each night at our parents' house so that we could catch up and spend as much time together as possible. Then, Romeo and the girls joined me, and we spent the weekend resting, talking, cooking, eating, visiting with our grandparents and aunts and uncles, and just having a thoroughly WONDERFUL time.

Me and Tony


Sophie Grace sporting Uncle Tony's glasses


No trip to Atlanta is complete without a visit to the grease pit.




My mother was overjoyed to have both her children sleeping under her roof again.


The girls took no time warming back up to their nutty uncle.


The weekend was so relaxing. We watched movies, played games, took naps, ate, and talked and talked and talked.


The girls got to open an early Christmas present from Uncle Tony and a teaser gift from Mimi and Pop. Can you guess what Sophie Grace is getting for Christmas?




Tony and Aunt Anita


Maw Maw and Paw Paw


Our steak dinner-I have to say that Montana beef is definitely better!


Our first night we watched Christmas Vacation for the twentieth time, and it's still just as funny!

The Rockettes' Christmas

The day before Thanksgiving, my mom and I took the girls to see the Rockettes at the Fabulous Fox. Our friends Julia, Laurel, and Rebecca Huster joined us as well. Before the show we ate at Mary Mac's which was amazing. I can't believe I had never gone there before. I highly recommend the tomato pie. YUM! We had a magical time!

A few snap shots before we left






This is a picture from after the show. It cracks me up because of the nutty guy behind us. We didn't realize at the time that he was sneaking into our pictures, but he made it in three of them.








Yummalicious! Can't wait to go back to Mary Mac's!

Halloween 2009

We had great fun despite the dreary rain this Halloween. These are the ghouls that joined us to celebrate.


Heather came as a pregnant stay-at-home mom.


Miss Avery had already gotten out of her Ariel costume by this point.


Mimi as a hillbilly


Jana


Yvonne, Russell, and Mimi


Sophie Grace was a rather determined apple bobber.


Chris and Darth Vader, aka-Hayden


Arnie the Eagle made a brief appearance.


This is my third grade team for Family Fun Night. We were The Berenstain Bears from The Spooky Old Tree.


Reagan went as a molecular biologist and Sophie Grace as Madonna circa 1985.


Needless to say, she TOTALLY got into the whole make-up thing. Oh dear!


This is a shot of the little party that our dog Lily threw herself a few days prior to Halloween. I came home to find that she'd discovered where I put the candy. Thankfully, poison control said that 4 oz. wasn't a toxic amount of chocolate. Can you tell her favorite kind of candy bar? She was bouncing off the wall for hours!


Hayden couldn't get enough of Ms. Lily.


Sophie's first attempt at apple bobbing.


Reagan was SO excited about being able to do this. Who knew a bucket full of water and apples could bring so much joy to children!


What a cutie!


Lily was a very well behaved dog with all our company. She couldn't help but be. She would barely move in this costume.


Reagan and Helena trick-or-treating before the party.


Madonna was too cool to take the coat I insisted she wear. Thankfully, Allie had one worthy of the costume.


Avery as Ariel


Helena, Sophie Grace, Reagan, Allie, and Avery


Reagan and her best bud, Helena





We even had a surprise visit from Hef and one of his bunnies. These are our wonderful Polish neighbors, Beata and Weitold.