It was a VERY Merry Christmas!!

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas this year. We sure did!! Despite the loss of my Dad, we were able to celebrate and enjoy our day..although we were definitely missing him!! Before Papa Joe passed, he had told my brother where he kept money hidden for the kids birthdays and Christmas gifts (he didn't like banks and liked to keep cash on hand) so, even though my dad was gone, the kids still received a gift from him this year.
The only thing we asked to kids to do with their money was to buy something that Papa Joe would approve of. Everyone agreed to not WASTE it on silly things. As for my babies, Raidon will be getting his first fishing pole and sleeping bag and Reedley will be getting a new tent and sleeping bag. Camping and fishing were things that my Dad was very passionate about. All of the vacations that I remember as a child included the family trailer and some body of water (usually a lake). I dreamed of the day that my Dad would take my kids fishing and since that won't happen, we are making sure that Dad is present through his gift of money.
Anyway, we wish you all a Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year!!

Love,
Us

Santa Claus is coming to town!!

Well, the visit with Santa this year didn't go that great. If Raidon wasn't crying then Reedley was playing shy and scared. At one point Mark was apologizing to Santa for the drama and Santa said there are 3 kinds of parents:

1. The kind that force thier kids

2. The kind that don't

3. The ones that are in the middle and will try and

convince their kids until they are successful.

Guess which ones we are?

Merry Christmas to you and all!!

Michelle

p.s. We didn't send out Christmas cards this year....just didn't feel up to it. Sorry!!!!!!!!!

Happy 37th Birthday Honey Bunny!!

As many of you know, men can be really hard to buy for!! Their toys are expensive and if it's Mark, I don't know very much about his "toy" of choice...yes, you guessed it GUNS!! Not only do I not have a clue about them, but I feel totally out of my element when looking at them much less buying one. So, for his birthday, I told him we were going shopping for a TV for the office. This is something we have been wanting to do for a while. The TV in there was pretty small and Mark spends a lot of time in there. Now, he is going to spend even more time in there....I may not see him for days at a time (HMMMMM.. one would think I had an ulterior motive to get it! Just kidding). His TV is beautiful!!! The picture is awesome, it makes you feel like your watching the show in real time through a camera!!
Anyway, I have an AMAZINGLY great hubby and I am happy that he got a gift that I know he will enjoy!! Loves Marko!!

Your Chelle

Decorating for the holidays!!Falalalalalala!

Decorating for Christmas was a little boring this year!! With Raidon being the age that he is, we couldn't put out a whole lot. Our tree doesn't have any ornaments on it. We decided that in the interest of our sanity, we would just put up our wooden beads and some candy canes. Turns out, that was a great decision because we have already, in just under 24 hours, had to say goodbye to 5 candy canes!! At least they are candy canes and not our usual ornaments. Not that our ornaments are that AMAZING but, since Mark and I have been together, we have gotten an ornament everywhere we go. Now, every year when we decorate the tree, it brings back great memories of trips or family days!!!
For those of you wondering, the Buzz Lightyear rests atop our as our Christmas Tree topper. Our first date together was going to see the movie Toy Story II, and so it is meaningful to us!! I know, kind of silly but it is us!!!!!!!
Happy Holidays!!

Michelle and the Fam