Happy New Year To All...And To All A Good Night!

I send our Happy New Year wishes to you early...for we will most likely not see the hour of 12 at our house! It is sad, but true! We do not stay up to watch the New Year come in anymore...old age(what are we now? 80?), tired parents(children have been off schedule for a week now=constant noise and bickering?!) , working too hard(Ted's racking up the hours and I always have laundry to do!), party poopers(according to Mari, every party needs one)...Yep, maybe!
So enjoy the plans you have to usher in the New Year...and enjoy another day to sleep in(ha, not at our house!) and eat yummy food and be with friends and family...Because 2008 is here and there is always something to do...for the Lord...for family...and for others!

As promised...our December song concludes.

On the twenty-fifth day of December, our relatives got from us...the finished projects wrapped and under the tree.
On the twenty-seventh day of December, our little loves enjoyed...another messy Christmas craft!
Some more winter weather and a snowy mess...
Christmas candy treats...
A...shining...homemade...tree!

empty candy dishes, coffee a-brewing, lots of present wishes, Saturday donut specials, singing Christmas carols, Daddy's gel all gone, watching Christmas specials, loads of laundered clothes, batteries not included, toys all over the floor, shining candles lit, vomit at 4 a.m., rooms full of spray, two glossy red lips, plates and plates of good food, naps forgotten, hot chocolate covered lips, sneaking candy canes, lots of relatives,
...and...sick...germs...spread...to...Mother and...Dad!

*All sung to the 12 Days of Christmas...improvise to fit all verse stylings!

How do you cope with the sadness and tears that set in when the cousins leave?

You crawl up on a chair and watch two episodes of the Apple Dumpling Gang while playing with your toys. You keep asking..."Have they left yet?" You play on the computer. You crawl back in bed after "Daddy" leaves and try to prolong the inevitable...starting a day with "nothing to do". You take a long...long shower. You drink the whole pot of coffee by yourself. You want snacks all day long. You look forward to Daddy coming home! You call a friend to come play outside with you! You go see Grandma...call Grammy...

We had so much fun with our cousins. Alisa cried the rest of the night after we said goodbye..."why do they have to live in MI?" We are thankful for the times we have and we are thankful for the times to come!
We love you...drive carefully...thank you for the fun gifts...but most of all, thanks for the gift of your time! xoxoxoxoxo

You might be a redneck if...

Brad's present this year from us was the "You Might Be A Redneck" Game...we didn't get to play it...but we had fun with a couple questions and reading the board. Well...
I showed Brad that I can be a "redneck" if needed and whipped out our duct tape to fix my boot for the girls to use outside. So...we add our own redneck quip to the game...
"You might be a redneck if you have ever...used duct tape to make snow boots for your children, formed a sled using duct tape and cardboard, zipped your snowmobile suit shut with duct tape."

Ingredients for a fun-filled day

First, start with a forecast for an all day wet snow!

Add cousins to play with...
Grampy to chat with (after his long day at work!)...
Headphones plugged into a computer to finish courses with...

A husband to hug...
A movie to watch...Eloise At Christmas! Let bake for at least two hours...resting quietly between blasts of noise and laughter...
Use crafts to make everyone happy...
Let the BOYS mix and knead till easy to handle...sprinkle with hot chocolate mix...stir again...
Then add Uncle Ted stopping home during his plowing route...and eat a supper of Papa John's Pizza...and you pretty much have the perfect recipe for a perfect day...and wonderful visit with cousins!

Our Fourth Gathering 2007: Grampy and Grammy's with Stille clan

Mari or Allison? Hmmm...can't tell!
The other side of the camera...for once...to prove that we are there!
Listening to Grampy read the Christmas story.
Are we ready for presents? Oh yeah!
Thanks, Grampy and Grammy, for the cool bathrobes! We are nice and warm and fuzzy!

Our Third Gathering 2007: Papa and Grandma's

The artist and the writer...
Tic Tac Toe with Aunt Kay.
Christmas Dinner with everyone!

Mom and her helper girl.

"What is the reason we celebrate Christmas?"
Daddy reading the Christmas story.
Cuddling with Uncle James.
Grandma "bugging" Teddy "while he is trying to draw" with his new DoodlePro.

Our Second Gathering 2007: Grampy and Grammy's

Our First Gathering 2007: at Uncle Paul and Aunt Carma's

Fun presents, yummy food, cozy house, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles!

Thank you for my presents!

And who is on Ted's nice list? ME!!!

Thank you for a Ipod, honey! (The comment that came with it..."Now you need to get to the Y and use it!") How is that for stipulations on a gift? Guess I shouldn't have "whined" about wanting something to listen to while I walk/workout!" That'll learn me!
I am the "hippest Mom" with all the new fangled techno stuff from my husband...what impresses him...? That I can actually navigate around it all...with it all!

Daddy couldn't wait till morning!

It's Baby Alive!
Daniel Boone and a real hunting gun!
Mothers in training...all set with diaper bags and everything!
Teddy and his "loot" that he can actually use without Daddy!
Dad and his "man blanket"! Just in time to keep him warm...he has caught the sick germs!

"It's Christmas E-ve!"

The traditional around the table to eat picture! Everyone smile and lean in!
Be quiet and sit down and look at the photo albums! (trying to buy some peace and quiet before opening gifts)
Singing carols with Grampy and Grammy...
Opening gifts...thanks for the neat robes!!!
Watching the kids and enjoying another cup of coffee!

We can hardly wait to see our cousins again!

Merry Michigan Cousins....we love you!