Wii Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Every One! As I sit next to a roaring fire, sipping coffee and watching my kids watch "A Christmas Story" for the 50th time this month, I marvel at the blessings that have been sent down to us this year. The girls had an awesome Christmas ~ Kali's adjective. Santa brought the coveted Mind Flex game for both of them. The Wii Fit Plus was under the tree, too. I'm excited about that. I see Wii Yoga in my future. Kali also landed an Ipod Touch. Those of you who know how hard she worked selling raffle tickets for show choir to be the top seller (and win an Ipod touch) know she really deserved it. She sold 359 and was the 2nd top seller after someones Dad wrote a $2000 check for 2000 raffle tickets on the last day

:( Peyton is bumming that it's raining instead of snowing. She got a big girl snow board. Our new kitties had an fabulous morning and we are so happy they are part of our family. The girls planned the Noel menu - all appetizers! Buffalo Chicken Dip, Beef Dip, Bacon Wrapped Chestnuts-three of the most important food groups - pork, beef, poultry!!! I threw in some veggies for good measure. This evening it's off to Joe and Kelly's for more festivities!

Wii had a wonderful Christmas Eve

The ban on video games has officially been lifted at the Oliver house. Again, Aunt Marie and Uncle Tom to the rescue! My girls can't believe they have a Wii! It's been a long time coming! They are having so much fun, even though I beat both of them during the inaugural bowling game! Christmas Eve was full of love and laughter at the Siml/Hudock house. My uncle used his "infra-red" roaster to make the most juicy turkey ever and roasted purple potatoes in the wood burning stove. Yummy. We were all spoiled and went to sleep with visions of sugarplums and nunchuks in our heads.

Not a creature was stirring....

The new Oliver felines are anxiously waiting for Santa to arrive. The Oliver girls are full of gingerbread and sugar cookies. Merry Christmas one and all. May your every Christmas dream come true.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Well, the 1st snow of the season is just beautiful and the girls are ready to start enjoying their vacation. Kali has only one more show choir performance and we are home free! I am blessed with 2 solid weeks off!!! I can't wait to start cooking, baking cookies and wrapping presents - really. I miss all those domestic jobs when I'm teaching 30 classes a week. As you can see, Cinnamon and Sugar Daddy are doing just fine. They are so sweet and deal so well with all of Peyton's "love." Santa is privy to the their heart's desires and they are confident that they are on the nice list. Yes, even Peyton seems to think she has a spot on the nice side. No one asked me!?!?!?!

Jasmine 1993 - 2009

RIP Sweet Jazzy

We lost our beautiful cat today after 16 1/2 years. We were hoping to get to spend one more Christmas with her, but Bonehead wanted her more. I'm sure the two are celebrating a warm reunion in heaven. Kali is taking the loss well, but Peyton is devastated. She showered Jasmine with love and attention (some saw it as a well intentioned form of torture) and spent all evening in tears. Jasmine will be missed, it's definitely the end of an era.

December Dreams

Well, the tree is trimmed, the halls are decked and Peyton has a new bed time story pal. Cinnamon loves listening to her read, Peyton is a wonderful reader. She was moved to a new reading basket this week - go Miss P! She was so excited to be the 1st one in the blue basket in her classroom. We are so proud of her!

MEOW-Y Christmas

We had a happy Thanksgiving Day, Peyton was in her Native American garb (aka a paper bag) and Kali dressed up our sweet potato casserole with tons of marshmallows. The big news of the holiday weekend was the addition of our two new family members - Cinnamon and Sugar Daddy! They are sweet boys we rescued on Friday. Our dear Jasmine is not doing well, so we decided to let her live out the rest of her days with the love of two brothers! So far, everyone seems to be doing well. The new cats were fostered, so they a very loving and social. The girls adore them and they seem very happy to have a home. Bring on December, we are full of love and ready for the onslaught of show choir performances, shopping, wrapping and festivities!

Sugar Daddy and Cinnamon

Sensational 6th

Peyton got the coveted Zhu Zhu pets for her birthday from Aunt Marie and as you can see - she was elated. She can't get enough of those robo hamsters!

Friday night was a party at Build-a-Bear and everyone had fun with their special new friend! Peyton named her gray kitty Snicklefritz - of course she did. Now we are down to one last birthday party, next Sunday for both girls! Nothing like getting a birthday month!!!!

So She Thinks She Can Dance

Kali and Stepp Stewart at Stepp With Me Dance Workshop

November started off with excitement as Kali won a scholarship at Stepp Stewart's Dance Convention!!! Go Kali! After a week of birthday celebrations, Halloween parties and trick or treating I didn't have high expectations for the workshop. I guess the extra hour of sleep did her a world of good. After 6 master classes, she was picked for a scholarship. I am so proud of her. The most important thing - she had so much fun!!!! Stepp is always ready to give you a good time. The 9 hours I spent with the dancers at the workshop really did fly by - all his teachers were fabulous and entertaining.

Happy Halloween!!!!

Peyton was full of Halloween Spirit! She was every bit the mischievous Stitch she dressed as. The weather was great for her school parade - complete with the Firestone marching band! She had a blast.

Miss Kali was the quintessential "flower garden." If you can believe it, I made her costume. The costume theme at Miller South was "making the world a better place." Trust me I tried to buy her a costume, but after the 3rd costume store filled with Gothic cheerleader, naughty nurse and Hannah Montana get ups, I relented and made the costume. Now I have 10 lbs of candy to eat for my efforts!

Rockin' with The Imagination Movers

Be still my beating heart - it's Rich!!!!



Peyton's Birthday came a few days early, thanks to the Imagination Mover's Concert in Mansfield! She was over the moon! We went to her favorite restaurant "Red Lobster's" and then made the hour long trek to see the boys! We managed to keep the concert a secret until we were in the lobby of the theater! She could not contain her excitement. To make the most of an already great evening, Rich (the totally cute one and I'm dead serious) shook her hand, gave her a smile and a "Hey Girl." She fell asleep with scribble sticks in her hands and a smile on her face. No school on her actual birthday means that the party is just starting for Miss Peyton. Six looks to be a very promising year for her!