Christmas Gift Play Time

Today Lindley spent the day with me. She decided to open one of the toys she had received for Christmas (well, technically Doikmas since Christmas hasn't officially occurred). Anyway, it was a box of gears and levers and motors that one is supposed to put together and create a machine that, when the motor is turned on, turns all the gears and levers. Which sounds easy, except there are no directions. Which sounds creative, until you realize that the circle things have to hit just right or they just get all clogged up. And even though there is a photo on the front of the box, the colors of the parts don't exactly match up so you have to figure it out and hope for the best. Luckily, the first grader is very smart, and eventually got the whole thing put together. And when the motor turned on, it moved levers and gears!! Next time I think we'll just make do with crayons and paper ...

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Blessings today include: spending the day with Lindley; putting things together; airport run

Merry Doikmas!!

Merry Doikmas to Everyone!!  Of course, do I have any photos? Of course not! It gets too busy and loud and crazy to stop and take photos. Next year. Maybe. Anyhow, here are the highlights ...

• Menu was Merry Quichemas and a Sloppy New Year. That means we had several different quiches (from Puffy Muffin) and Sloppy Joes. Because that seemed right. We also had marshmallows for dipping and other stuff, but again, in the heat of the festivities, a lot gets lost. We also had our own personalized drinks. In other words, it makes Doikmas a lot easier if you can order out for stuff.
• Gifts - there were a lot of them. Nobody draws names, and this year you could get anybody whatever you wanted. We did make a smart move and let the little girls open theirs first so they could play while the adults opened theirs. And the other smart move was hiring Melissa to play with them during that time. We get better at Doikmas each year!

And here are the photos ...

Our Doikmas Welcome Sign by Lindley.
Obviously if your name was not on the sign, you weren't invited.

Maribeth's contribution to the meal was cheesecake -
From Junior's in NYC.
Ordered out and sent in.
Brilliant!  And delicious!!

Multiply this number of gifts by 10 and you have an idea
of how many gifts there were. A Lot!!

Our Doikmas Drinks - adults only!!

Doikmas fun!!

And the Doikmas Dinner!
Or at least the remainder ...

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Blessings today include: family time Doikmas; Melissa coming over to help; delicious dinner and dessert; terrific gifts

Photos From A Saturday

Emmatha in her new room -
Construction on the rest of the house is almost done!

Guess who's home for good!!

Whaddaya mean, I didn't get to go to the airport?!?!

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Blessings today include: Melissa, Lynnette, and Molly finishing cleaning up MB's house; Mathieu getting home; MB and family getting to sleep in their own home

American Girls

Today Lindley was invited to a birthday party - at the American Girl Store!!  Each girl was also invited to bring her own American Girl doll if she had one. And if she didn't, she could temporarily "adopt" one at the store for the party. 

Although I didn't attend, I can certainly see that American Girl throws a nice party - for everyone (including the dolls)!!

Lindley and Bitty - and their matching shirts!

Lynnette was also invited - I guess this is three generations?

Is this not the cutest thing ever??!!

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Today's blessings include: Lindley's American Girl party pictures; Everley and Emmatha time

Meet and Greets

Today are Emmatha's photos. Here she is meeting Piglet. Everley seems excited? Was Emmatha? If you were to see her face, you'd have that answer! And that answer?  NOOOOOO!! And a Mickey waffle is little consolation when meeting a giant pink pig!

Princesses are much easier to meet and greet. Especially if PawPaw is holding you!

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Thankful today for: happy photos of happy babies; quiet day at home

Everley in Disney World

Everley, Emmatha, and their mom are spending some time in Disney World with PawPaw. Everley is making some new friends. Or maybe just visiting some old friends. No matter, it looks like everyone is having a great time!!

Everley Belle and Dale - can you tell Chip and Dale apart?

Everley and Mickey - the Mouse in charge

And of course, you have to visit the Pirates League for a little decor!!

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Blessings today include: fun photos from Disney World; Lindley pickup at school

Army Men

Sometimes when your dad's in the army and you're waiting for him to come home, you kinda want to hang around with any army people you might encounter. Especially if they just happen to be at the Happiest Place on Earth!

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Thankful today for: Everley's fun at Disneyland; Emmatha time

A Really Lazy Sunday ...

You know those Sundays when you want to just take a nap? Or maybe have a bowl of Cheerios? Or maybe a pack of muffins? And then just curl up with a warm blankie and doze the afternoon away? Well, in case that isn't your Sunday, apparently it did become Everley's Sunday. Jealous?

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Blessings today include: Everley and Emmatha time; naps on Sunday afternoon