Th-th-that's All Folks!

Isn't it amazing what happens when two people fall in love?

Take for instance, Dad and Mom . . .

Lovely couple, aren't they?

 created these gorgeous people . . .

and those gorgeous creatures

in turn created . . .

Ain't life grand?!

But wait . . . there's more!

 Bear and Stef Stearman!

Welcome to our family Stef.

Ava hangin with Auntie Chelle.

Ava hangin with her bro, Sweet Baby James, 

Dre and Vinnie

Tank and Christel rockin the handsome boy family.

(because girls are icky . . . except for moms)

Bo and Mo with their three uber-glamourous kids.

Mama Monk and Auntie Chelle join in the fun!

(and we all remember how fun the toddler stage is)

To all the Daddy's out there,

Hide your daughters.

These boys are going to take the world by storm.

Sorry ladies, these men are off the market.

Future Babe Magnet!

Too precious for words!

(is it just me, or do I see a bit of Paul Newman in there)

Ava hangin with Grandma and Grandpa.

Girl knows how to play it!

The Kiss!

Since the invention of the kiss,

there have been five kisses rated the most passionate,

the most tender . . .

 the most pure.

This one left them all behind.

The end.

Disclaimer: Not judging anyone's kiss . . .

just wanted to incorperate more of the wedding with one of my favorite quotes

from The Princess Bride.

And because you all look FABULOUS!

Bear and Stefanie's Wedding!

"Mawidge . . .

mawidge is what bwings us togewer today . . .

Mawidge, the bwessed awwangement,

that dweam wiffim a dweam . . .

Ven wuv, twoo wuv, wiw fowwow you fowever . . ."

"So tweasure your wuv."

Narration by:

Peter Cook as The Impressive Clergyman,

The Princess Bride

Remembering Christmas Past Part Deux

We're moving out west now . . .

remembering Christmas in California.

Here is Duke with his 20 foot bone.

 Okay, maybe not 20 feet, but pretty darn big.

Ever seen a dog smile that big?

Seems Doug was a really good boy this year . . .

he got huge man toys for his garage.

That is one happy man!

We all know how weird people in California are . . .



Our Monica has embraced the weirdness.

And she does it beautifully!

Totally love those socks!

Our next stop is Las Vegas!



Mom, Sweet Baby James, Dre and Beautiful Ava in front of the Christmas tree. 

I can only guess that Sweet Baby James is saying,

"CHEESE!"

Too precious!

Trucks are a boys best friend.

I think Baby James must have some Mama Monk in him.

Ava saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus!

Underneath the mistletoe!

And then promptly forgot all about it,

when Grandma bribed presented her with a brand new toy!

Nice work Grandma!

Remembering Christmas Past

This blog has been sorely neglected, I blame it on the holidays simply because they can't defend themselves.

Let's start by posting memories of Christmas 2011, shall we? 

Todd and I got up early Friday morning and so we could do our Christmas shopping in one fell swoop. 

I don't recommend it.

Four and a half hours later, we tag teamed the Gabriel and Cali so they could buy for each other. Gabriel was clueless about what to get for his sister. So in the end, Cali got a book she's been wanting for-ev-ver because she's number 154 on the library waiting list for it.

 Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cabin Fever.

She likes to beat up boys, it's a perfect match.

 

Cali found Gabriel an awesome picture of Spiderman and his peeps.

After walking through a dozen-million-billion stores, we found it at Ross.

I was tired and grumpy and starting to not feel good again. All I wanted her to do was to try on a pair of pants, but she wanted me to walk 15 feet away from where the dressing rooms were so she could show me this perfect present she found for Gabriel.

I told her, in my most

I'm-trying-to-be-patient-and-nice-because-its-the-holidays

voice, please just try on the pants first.

She did, they were too small.

She then asked in her 

I'm-trying-to-be-good-because-Santa-is-watching-but-you're-making-it-awfully-hard-for-me-not-to-mention-you're-being-the-most-unreasonable-mom-in-the-whole-world 

voice if I would now please go see what she found.

I did.

The picture has the texture of an oil painting mounted on hard surface. 

Only $20.

Sold.

Gabriel loves it.

She said she rocks!

I agreed.

The kids were up at 4:20 a.m. Christmas Morning.

Santa was very good to them. 

They got Wii games and controllers from Santa.

 

And a weapons arsenal courtesy of Nerf.

 

 Cali got a pink guitar.

She's declared herself a songwriter.

Her first song went something like,

"Daddy is so handsome and he loves bacon."

Todd was hooked.

I truly believe Christmas gets better with each passing year.

Happy Christmas Everyone!