Cutest Package!

I do most of my shopping online, and with Christmas approaching, it seems we have packages arriving frequently.  My kids know to let me get the packages on the front porch...you never know how it will be packaged and there are too many surprises this time of year.

This lil package tops the cake, however.  I do believe it's the cutest package we have ever seen.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

More Letters {Moira}

No, not to Santa.......To football players!!! I've lost track of all the players I've written letters to. After watching Aaron Rogers play in the Dallas game I wrote him a letter simply asking him, very nicely, to cut his hair!!! :) THEN I doused the envelope in perfume and glitter so he would open it!!! Aren't I brilliant!?!?!

Anyway, today I got a postcard BACK from BRETT!!!!!

On the back it says:

Dear young fan,

I want to personally thank you for showing me so much support over the years. The Pack has a great tradition because of people like you.

Thanks Again,
Brett Favre 4

It's in his handwriting too!!! I know what you're thinking, "Yeah, a million other people got that same card!!! It's just printed on there". I know it is. But it still gave me my thrill for the weekend! Unless the Packers win tomorrow, then that will add to the thrill!

What Dazzling Eyes You Have, My Dear

Letters to Santa

Molly Grace:

Dear Santa,

For Christmas I would like a pink dress, a doll with a pink dress and pink shoes, a pink pony, pink jewelry, pink shoes, a pink bike, a pink purse, a pink paintbrush, a pink crown, a pink kitten, a pink coin purse, a pink carriage AND a pink parasol.

Love,
Molly Grace

Aidan:

Dear Santa,

Can you get my sister, Teresa, a new Barbie car for Christmas so she will stop using my cars with her Barbies?

Merry Christmas,
Aidan

Hey Cousins!

Look what I found! Aileen and Joe-boy couldn't look any cuter. I can't believe you're four now, Joe. Happy belated birthday!




Here's Aileen showing off her dress that her dad brought back from Austria.






Now, if only I had a picture of Suzy in her Austrian dress. I can't seem to find it.....darn! It makes me want to pull out my Sound of Music CD.

Family Resemblance

Someone recently commented on how there aren't many pictures of Moira on our blog. Well, that would be because she's usually the one taking the pictures.  I came across these pictures recently and noticed how much she and Aidan look alike. (Yes, those are green and gold braces that Moira is sporting. She and her orthodontist think it brings the Packers good luck!).

Bobble-head Aidan

I just couldn't resist. This picture was cracking me up!!

Thanksgiving in Michigan

After a slow start, we finally made it to Michigan to spend Thanksgiving with my parents. It was our first overnight trip out of town, other than to a hospital, since Erin was born. As usual, Grandpa cooked the turkey and the girls made the fixins'. The weened was tons of fun. We watched football, relaxed,  played cards, went shopping, watched movies and went rollerskating.  One of us even went in the lake! We just can't go to Crystal Lake without someone testing the water.

Now, on to that slow start. We had planned to drop off our dog, Mocha, at a kennel that we had never used before. I knew it was right on the way out of town, but just as we were heading out the door, I realized that I had lost my little note that had the kennel's name, address and phone number on it. I couldn't find it in the yellow pages. I tried calling my friend, who had recommended the kennel, but she was out of town for Thanksgiving. I called another friend, who called a friend of hers.  To make a long story short, this friend of a friend did not know where the kennel was, but she did offer to take in our dog for the long Thanksgiving weekend!! What an offer! We made the decision to first look for the kennel, then call the friend of a friend if we couldn't find it. So, out the door we went. All nine of us, plus a large dog, hopped into the car. We immediately discovered our second little "glitch"...the car wouldn't start!!! (One of the kids had decided to help me by charging my cell phone with the car battery). At this point, Moira, who always has her camera handy, decided this trip was going to be interesting, and thought she had better document it.

Here's Mike, jumping the newer Suburban with the older Suburban. At least we can be thankful that the old Suburban has not yet sold and was readily available for a jump. By the way, anyone want to buy a '97 Suburban?




It gets better. After we jumped the car we began our search for the mysterious kennel, the only kennel in our city that is NOT in the phone book. We gave it a good effort, searching high and low, up and down the county road we suspected the kennel to be located. After about twenty minutes the kennel effort came to a screeching halt when our dog threw up in the car. (Moira decided those photos were too graphic). At this point, my new best friend of a friend, who heroically offered to take in our dog, was only a few miles away. Mike couldn't call her fast enough. We dropped Mocha off with the friendliest strangers we'd ever met, and wished them a happy Thanksgiving.

We were soon back on the road again and everything else was smooth sailing. We drove along beautiful Lake Michigan, and then over the Mackinaw Bridge, the third longest suspension bridge in the world. What a treat for Aidan! (That's the bridge, straight ahead)



Erin won the award for the all-time best traveler. Nothin' but smiles from her. We didn't even have to stop to feed her. She traveled first class.




The brown-eyed kids stuck together.

We arrived Wednesday night, just in time for the Packer win on Thanksgiving, which Erin enjoyed watching on her dad's lap. As long as he kept singing to her that is.



Later, Eileen borrowed some of Grandma's shorts so she could get a feel for Crystal Lake in November. I wouldn't call it the Polar Plunge, but maybe The Winter Wade.



Coming out...


Thawing the legs...


Then, on to rollerskating. Teresa roller skated for the first time and loved it. We had to drag her out at 10 pm.

It was a fun relaxing weekend!

Erin kissing her mom

Next time we're at Crystal Lake, these three munchkins will be swimming!

Last but not least, we are thankful for so many things....too many to mention! The top of the list this year, however, would have to be our little Erin. We are so thankful for her life, her patched VSD, her health, and all that she brings to our family. Thanks be to God for our happy little girl.

Happy Birthday Molly Grace!

We have a brand new four-year-old here. Molly Grace, our little MGD, who was named after Miller Genuine Draft (I'm kidding!), celebrated her birthday yesterday. She shares her special day with Uncle Tim. What a great guy to share a b-day with! We celebrated the day by going on a field trip to a place she has always wanted to go: Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant. OK, I'm kidding again. We had this field trip planned long ago, and it just so happened to fall on her birthday. She did have a lot of fun and got to play with some of her friends. The highlight was a science activity where the kids made the atomic structures of the first nine elements on the periodic table out of marshmallows and pretzels, which they then were able to eat. We finished the day with pizza, chocolate cake and presents. Her favorite present was the Island Princess dress. As she was opening her presents, Mike commented, "I think I've been to this birthday party before." The Island Princess dress was maybe the 20th princess dress opened with this clan. Six girls equals a lot of princess dresses around here!

Chocolate cake still on her face :)

Here's a recent picture of Molly Grace showing off her little Christmas trees that she made.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLY GRACE!! WE LOVE YOU!!