I love this time of year!!!!

Nothing beats a cold snowy day than coming inside, stripping all of the snow gear off and having some hot chocolate with marshmallows and a candy cane!
Can I just say, SO CUTE! So I may be a biast parent, but I think I have the cutest kids on the planet! They love playing outside in the snow, and so do the dogs.
Jay had to fill in the blanks for this letter to Santa at school. It reads; Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have obeyed my mom and dad and teacher. Thank you for the neat things you gave me last year. This year I would like: Dart Tag Love, Jay

I love it!! The letter is one of those things a mom hangs on to forever. Jay has been doing so good in school and at home, I think Santa just might be bringing him the Dart Tag.

And, Roxy wants a new baby doll. She told me in the car the other day that she needed one more baby, that's all. It's always "Just one more" when it comes to Roxy. She is so funny. They both have been such good kids this year, I don't think they will be disappointed.

We finally had some nice family pictures done. The last time we did them Jay was 18 months old! It was time! I thought since the kiddies are older, and the school/daycare pic's always turn out really cute it would be easy for good, professional pictures........uh, NO! Jay and Roxy both didn't want to take off their coats, it was a bit chilly but nothing like it is now. Once we got Jay to take his off he actually did really well. It was Roxy who wouldn't look at the photographer, she threw a fit almost the entire time and didn't want to sit or stand where he needed her to be. None the less we did get some great pic's! I really loved how he did some poses and also some random shots. It was worth the $$$!Here if you look close you can see a single tear on Roxy's left cheek. So tender, I couldn't say no to this one.
My big brown eyed boy! I love his eyes, and what a cute smile.
O.K. So I totally felt like we were taking engagement photos here! But it is nice to have a good picture of the two of us together, NOT at a party with a beer in our hands! Ha Ha Ha.

AAAWWW! Look at my two cuties! I was so glad Roxy started smiling at the end so we could get some really cute shots of the two together.
Here is our family in a nut shell.....well, minus the dogs. This pose we got in a HUGE print, now I just have to figure out where to put all of them. If you are at all interested in who did them it was Superior Photography, there website is: SuperiorPortrait.com They are located on the 2nd level in the Snowbird Center building. I think they did a great job given the circumstance.....I hope my little ones weren't that much of a pain. Now I know how the moms with the screaming, crying, uncooperative children at my work feel. LOL!

Turkey Day and Puppy Graduation

We had a nice and cozy Thanksgiving this year. We just stayed home and invited my dad, step-mom, and little sister over to our little house. I did all of the cooking from the brined turkey to the delicious yams to the pies (even the crust was homemade)! Dinner was so yummy and I actually really enjoyed all of the cooking and preparing. The kids really enjoyed playing tough with Grandpa. My dad really is the best Grandpa around, he even joked around with Jay when he brought out the prank fake poo! It was so funny. Roxy liked playing barbies and had a picnic after dinner with Grandpa with some crackers. I loved just staying home and having people over. I will do it again for sure.

Gunther is a Puppy Kindergarten Graduate! Class has been so fun, he really is a good dog. I have loved having him and have really enjoyed the training. I can't wait for the next class, Begining Obedience, to see what new things to teach him. I have recently taken him on a run and he did very well! We didn't go far about 1.25 miles to start, Gunther seemed to really like it. I did have to use one of the techniques learned in class on him when he got a bur stuck in his paw. I had to lay him on his side in the "Forced Down" to get the bur out. It was so easy! I couldn't believe he just layed there and didn't even flinch while I took the bur out. It is good to see the techniques they teach really do work out side of class.

O.K., So the story of the Mustache is this.......We were at Wal-Mart and Jay wanted to get something out of one of the machines at the exit. Well all I had was 2 quarters and the change machine wasn't working so the only thing we could get were these AWESOME Mustaches!! Jay wanted to wear his right away so I put the other one on too. We walk out of the store and through the parking lot sporting the "stash". When we were pulling out two girls were walking in and one kept turning and looking at me and I just stared back and smiled. I was like "yeah, I have a mustache!" So when we got home Jay was totally in character! He kept posing it was so much fun! Then he wanted to watch "Hot Rod" and wear his "stash". So Freakin Cute!!!!!

Halloween 2009

For the Halloween party Joe and I went as He-man and Teela. We won the award for most creative costume. Roxy came as my little Orco, I wanted Jay to go as Skeletor but it wasn't going to happen, so he went as Comando instead. We had so much fun at the party, lots of good food and my friends neighborhood is the best for trick-or-treating!
At schools Jay had to dress up as a character from a book and bring the book to hold during the parade. I was able to find a dog suit and had my step mom modifiy the hood to make a wolf suit so Jay could go as Max from "Where the wild Things Are" He was so cute and everybody loved his costume! We also took the kiddies to go see the movie the day after Halloween.
My Orco and Comando! If you have seen the movie "Comando" with Arnold, Jay looks just like him. Cute kiddies!
We always go to my friend Carolyn's every year before Halloween to decorate cookies and carve pumpkins. It is such a fun tradition, and every year we have more and more pumpkins, this year we had 15 to carve!
I had to take a few breaks during the pumpkin carving because my hand was cramping up from scooping out all of the pumpkin guts.

Two cute doggies resting after playing in the leaves with the kiddies. Well, Gunther played in the leaves while Merlin sat back and watched. Jay is such a big helper! Both he and Roxy helped hold the bags open while mom put the leaves in, then Jay wanted to carry the bags to there piles. What a big strong boy!!!
Here are the two cutest kids in the whole world having a great time playing in the leaves. I LOVE fall!
My little baby, not so little any more. Gunther loved playing in the leaves, he also liked chasing me and would attack the rake! What a cute puppy!
Jay jumping into the pile of leaves.

fun!

Since Joe was going out of town we decided to have a sleep over at my friend Carolyn's house. Her husband set the tent up in the living room for the kiddies. Here is Jay and Gunther sleeping together in the tent.
Originally Carolyn's little girl Eve was in the tent too but they weren't going to go to sleep with all 3 in there so Eve ended up sleeping in her room and Jay, Roxy and Gunther slept in the tent, then Merlin went in the tent also. So cute!

We got out all the fun Halloween foam crafts to do with the kids. Jay made a skeleton guitarist, and Carolyn put together his house and then Jay put all the other stuff on it.
Roxy making her skeleton art. She loved the glitter, but what girl doesn't like glitter.