Random

There are a ton of Christmas pictures to post of family, eating, presents, etc....but I figured everyone would be bored with our present opening. I'll get to that eventually. (They are on FB right now if you really care.) I just chose some random pictures from the Christmas week that make me smile:

Dawson back home playing his new game -Trouble vs. his bunny

Anticipation of the big day!

There have been numerous ornament accidents caused by kids, the dog or the cat, so.... all of the pretty ornaments are now broken and our tree is full of ornaments like this (even this one has broken arms). I think I just have to accept it for the next 10 years and have a tree full of pine cones on string, popsicle sticks, beads, horrible looking glittery things and half sucked on candy canes. (Mom - I need more crochet snowflakes! Those do NOT break!)

It is a good thing someone loves him. (The dog I mean.)

Painting fingers and toes is a special job, pretty much specifically only for Grandma V. Jamie is very excited when we go over to their house because it usually results in freshly painted nails.

Twister will never go out of style, no matter what decade it is.

Dawson left this for me on my nightstand one night when I got home late from work. I don't know what it is, but it was cute to have a special present for me when I got home and he was already in bed.

Tooth Fairy's First Visit

Dawson lost his first tooth last week. (Good thing, because the adult tooth was already half way in behind it!) The tooth fairy visited that night. What excitment that brings for a 5 year old!

Asleep waiting for the tooth fairy.

Presents From Dawson

This was the first year Dawson really got into giving Christmas presents. Here is what he gave to David and me. (I wish I would have taken a picture of the wrapping job he did on everything, but I forgot. It was great though!)

For Mommy: A holiday hug and two handmade ornaments.

For daddy: A car that we made two years ago, (that he found in the basement,)a boat made out of cupcake paper, and a dollar bill he earned doing chores.

They also got to pick out a gift at the store - so Dawson picked out P.J.'s for daddy, just like the ones he wears....and Jamie picked out a great new winter hat for daddy to wear in Minnesota:

Christmas #1 of the week

Here is Christmas celebration #1....we opened presents from each other, at our house, on Sunday morning. The fun is just beginning for the week!

Yes! A new bike! *because someone ran over the "gravel blaster" in our driveway =(

Oh, and here is Jamie playing on the computer earlier in the week, while she was sick. She would stay here for hours, if we would let her.

More Family Photos

As promised, here are some more pictures from the photographer that came to attempt portraits of David's family. Thanks Katie DeWinter, they are great! http://www.katiedewinter.com

Here are some of our favorites:

Merry Christmas 2009

For those of you that did not get our Christmas card this year, sorry - I either ran out of cards, or I don't have your address! So here is what you missed....

Merry Christmas 2009! From Us.

Jamisen Leigh - 4

Jamie has had an exciting year-
our once tiny baby is now four!
She is doing lots of fun new things:
Preschool, soccer, dance and more.

She is very bright, but a bit stubborn -
With a strong mind of her own.
After learning lots in school, three days a week,
She always has things to say when getting home.

Jamie loves to sing and she likes to dance
Or go outside with neighbor friends to play.
She is growing up into a really great girl
Who does something cute or funny everyday!

Dawson Neil - 5

Dawson is a big kid now...
He started kindergarten this year.
Riding on the bus each day,
Without a hint of fear.

He loves to learn and figure stuff out.
He is really very smart.
He says he likes to read and write,
But his favorite thing is art.

Soccer and baseball, ice skating and biking
Are things Dawson likes to do.
He probably thinks they are the best
Because David thinks so too.

D. J. d. j.

This has been a busy year for us -
A lot of work and school and play.
There is so much to do and a lot to remember,
We are often exhausted at the end of the day!

David just hit five years of work at Bosch
And is playing soccer in downtime for fun.
Janet is managing a sales team at IKEA
And joining kid's field trips when not on the run.

Jamaica, Mackinac Island, and Northern Michigan
Were a few places we vacationed in.
We also did a lot around town:
Tigers games, zoo trips and neighborhood walkin'

This poem is starting to lose some steam
And even lacks actual rhymes.
So it is time to say Merry Christmas to you,
And may your next year be the best of times!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:14

Cookies & Art = Our Favorite Things

We spend A LOT of time at our dining room table, mostly doing art. When it is Christmas time, it turns into a place to do cookie art, which is way more fun!

Good thing it is an old, fixed up and painted table that we really don't care about - because it is pretty much destroyed after the years of kid abuse. I'm guessing our table has approximately 2 more years of abuse left before it is ready for the garbage.

As usual, Dawson was very meticulous with his cookie decorating and Jamie was a spaz.

No surprises there.

Here is a game for you....Guess who made which cookie. (and no adults made them.) Shouldn't be too hard to guess.

This is a pretty common sight at home. The majority of time is spent doing art / crafts at the table.

I just thought Jamie looked cute here.

We had some photos taken last week with David's family. It was a little chaotic, and crazy getting everyone to be happy in one place at the same time for a photographer - but she was VERY patient and got some great shots of each family and of everyone together. (Thanks Katie DeWinter!)

Here is a preview that is blog worthy (it kind of reminds me of a J.Crew catalog shot, but I guess that is a good thing). Sadly, none of the pictures will make it into our Christmas card this year - since I'm too much of a planner and already have those done, addressed and in the mail.

I'll post more pictures at a later date, since the ones of the kids will for sure be very cute.

Party with my IKEA team

I had a Department Christmas Party tonight with my team....here they are. They are all fabulous (especially for putting up with me as a boss)! We are missing a few people, but it was a great time - and good to be with eachother outside of that blue box.

What is a party with out way too much food, drinks and a swedish dala horse?