{wordless wednesday}

Christmas Day Pictures

We had a wonderful Christmas! Of course, the girls were up super-early on Christmas morning. I can't say I blame them. I know I always did the same thing. Just can't wait to see if Santa came...

So excited, but still looking so sleepy. Especially Rachel.

 

I love this smile.

 

its its its Wapunzel!!! Rachel was so excited.



Somebody else was tired too....

so bummed this turned out blurry. she had guessed what this present was a week ago & just found out she was right.

So excited to open her new doll

We went to Jarrett's Mom & Dad's for brunch. Then to my Mom & Dad's for dinner. It was a great day!!!

 

Our family picture at my Mom & Dads



Christmas Eve Pictures

 

 

Merry Christmas, Friends!!!

Today is going to be a great day. Spending this wonderful holiday with my family, whom I love dearly. I can hardly wait to see the smiles & hear the laughter. What a joyous day!

We are off to Bopchi & Tata's then to my Grandma's. Then tomorrow enjoying the morning at home. Heading back to Bopchi & Tata's for brunch. Then the evening at my Mom & Dad's. A busy day, but a wonderfully happy day.

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!!!!

new & improved

remember this?

Jarrett's baby is finally back & better than ever. He bought a new grill, bumper, new headlights, & some stuff for the back-end (which I didn't take a picture of). It spent a little over a week in the body shop & here she is. In all her glory. Looks great. So nice & shiney. Jarrett was the most popular boy at ADM the first day he had her back. He said there were something like 15 guys standing around his truck asking him all about the new improvements. I personally LOVE it. It looks so nice.

What a difference a week & half in the body shop & $12,000 makes (thank God for insurance).

Boys & their toys..........

baking ain't my thang

Olivia signed me up to bring a "baked treat" for her class Christmas party. Well, I don't have a very good track record. My cakes always turn out flat. My cookies also flat & hard as a rock. Jarrett says, do you want me to make something? He's the baker in the family. I admit this. But he was very snide when he asked, and I know he was just asking to be funny. So I tried my hand at some brownies. They turned out wonderful. I know, because I had to test them. I can't send brownies for a class full of 2nd graders without testing to make sure they are descent & not poisonous.

Here they are all bagged up in little individual treat bags.

I'm hoping for a good report from my favorite 2nd grader when I see her this evening.

I won't do this next year

The presents are wrapped & under the tree. This has been the case each year. I wrap & put them under the tree as I go. The girls each have about 10 presents under the tree, as of yesterday.

This is a mistake. I don't remember ever hearing so much whining about not being able to open the presents. They are there, the girls see them. The girls pick them up. The girls cannot handle the anticipation. Next year, no gifts under the tree until Christmas Eve night.

I don't know if I will be able to hold out the entire week listening to the same question over & over & over again. "Please, can we open a present?" No you may not. Then the other one asks, because obviously I will say yes to the other. And alternate this pretty much every hour on the hour during waking hours at home. {lather rinse repeat}

Olivia says, "Please please please let me open 1 gift before Christmas. I will sleep right here on the fireplace bricks until you let me open a present." I say, "let me grab you a blanket & pillow. Don't roll over because if you fall off there you will smack your face on the hardwood floors. Goodnight." Because, I'm a mean mom like that.

And the questions the presents bring about, "Mama, pleeeeeeeeze tell me what diss one is for Sissy?" Nope, you can't keep secrets. "Maaaaa-aaaahm, tell me what this one is for Rachel? Why is it the biggest one under the tree for her?" Nope, you can't keep secrets either. And size doesn't matter, maybe it's a big box with something little in it because I'm sneaky like that.

Anywho...Merry Christmas!

Rachel's Christmas Program

Thursday night, Rachel's pre-school/daycare had a Christmas program. It was so adorable. Admittedly, I was nervous for her. She has a tendency to be shy in front of people, even family. But she did GREAT! I am so proud of her. She sang each song. Between songs, she stood very nicely & smiled. It was the cutest thing.

My little Rachel so proud of herself!

Our family!

me & my girls. One of my favorite pictures to date, even though Olivia is giving me bunny ears. That little turd does that in every picture.

 

Once they filed in.

Waiting patiently for the program to begin.

 

There were a TON of kids!

Let the singing begin.

Happy Birthday Jarrett

Jarrett, today you are 31. You are still the love of my life. Happy Birthday, dear! I hope you enjoyed your day off work. I hope you are pleased with the repairs & upgrades to your truck.

ugly sweater christmas

me & Hilary. She won for ugliest sweater.

Friday night we had Christmas with my Mom's side of the family. Last year we had an ugly sweater party. It was so much fun.

Rachel opening her Barbie doll - so excited to be opening a present. She refused to take off her dress & put on the Christmas shirt I bought for her.

me & Sarah - the bird on her headband was creeping me out all night.

Grandmother with the grandkids that were present
Kirk, Hillary, Sarah, Grandmother, me, Heath, & Tim

Nathan & Olivia

Dad - co-winner of ugliest sweater with is Major Award!

Dad & Mom

Grandma & her girls

Grandma & Grandpa with all their kiddos

Hilary & Tim

the Jar & myself

Sarah & Brad

some things that happened this week

Random breakdown of the week thus far.

I got a "love note" at work addressed to my supervisor. Isn't it so cute?

Work has, in a word, sucked for the past few months. Not a joke, it really has. But there are always silver linings, and sometimes they come in the form of a nice hand written thank you note.

not really classified, if you know me - you know where I work. the world doesn't need the address

I got my hair cut. I'm am totally going to be one of those old women who go to the beauty shop weekly to have my hair washed. It's my very favorite thing about going. So relaxing...



I told Rachel to take notes so she could do this for me when I am an old & decrepit woman. (photography by Liv)

Here is the finished product. I LOVE it. Jarrett, not so much. It's too short. It's a "Mom haircut". My thoughts, I AM A MOM so no matter how my hair is, it will in fact be a Mom haircut. Shorter is easier. Shorter looks better on me. I love it. And truth be known, the fact that Jarrett doesn't particularly care for it, may actually make me like it a little bit more. I'm evil like that.



Olivia was sent home from school Wednesday. Poor girl looked absolutely pitiful all day yesterday.

Damn the pink-eye. Rachel had it the week of Thanksgiving. Silly me, I thought the rest of us escaped getting it. How long does that crap take to show symptoms? Surely it isn't 2 weeks? Olivia probably picked it up at school or daycare.

Tonight, is going to be a fun night. We have our Rainey family Christmas party. Another ugly sweater party! I am so looking forward to it. Jarrett's sweater is quite ugly, and he is thrilled to wear it. Ok maybe that last part is false, but it is super ugly.

Tomorrow night is going to be a fun night too! Girls night in at my Aunt Debbie's house. Dinner & a movie. I love girl time. It's going to be fun.