Let the Christmas Cheer Begin!!!!I

I know it's been a LONG time since I've posted anything on our blog. Everytime I take a picture, the girls ask, "Mom, are you going to post that on the blog?" Well, I thought what better time to start back into it than  with our Christmas activities. Yesterday we cut down our tree. It was 60 degrees outside, so it didn't feel very frightful out, but it was nice to take our time picking the perfect tree. Let me tell you, we got a big one---9 feet tall! We had to trim a little off the top just to get the start to fit. It's beautiful, though, and I love the way it makes the house smell!

The morning began with Christmas Tree pancakes.

Our tree. Grace was standing in a hole. I love this picture because the height differential between she and Olivia is a sore topic with her.

A tired daddy after cutting the tree down.

Olivia is Double Digits!!!

Olivia turned 10 on Friday. I can't believe my baby girl is 10!!! Dan and I are so blessed to have her in our lives. She truly is a light in our lives with her sense of humor, her kindness, and her unending love!!! Grace and Emma could hardly wait to get home from school to decorate for her birthday party here at the house. Olivia chose fondu, hashbrown potatoes, green bean, and asparagus for her special dinner. For her "cake", she wanted ice cream sundae pie made with black raspberry chip ice cream--her favorite!!! Happy 10th, Olivia!!!

The "Birthday Banner" she had to run through!

Notice the posters on the windows.

Drama as usual!

The BIG 4-0!

Dan turned the big 4-0 on the 17th. We had a little birthday party for him here at the house. The girls had a good time spoiling their daddy. I was feeling guilty that I didn't go all out for his 40th, but they did it up right at school with black balloons, a bucket of 40 blow pops that said, "40 Blows", and a 40oz in a brown paper bag!!! All his students had a great time! I think the funniest thing said on his birthday was by his own daughter, Grace. She said to him that morning, "Dad, I'm glad your age is finally catching up to your hair!" ---Oh, you just wait, Grace!!!

It's a Great Day for a Picnic!

The other day the girls didn't have school because it was teacher inservice. It was a beautiful day, so we packed a lunch and headed to one of our favorite parks for a picnic. I'm so glad we took advantage of the warm weather because two days later snow flakes were flying here in Cincinnati!!!

Halloween 2011

The Annual Pumpkin Carving

Daddy the "master carver"

"Hurry, mom, take the picture! This thing is heavy!"

Trick or Treat

The hip hop moves were out in full force-LOL!

Not Sure Where to Begin....

It has been so long since I have posted anything on our blog, and every time I would say, "Oh, I need to post that", I felt guilty because there were so many other things before that that I hadn't posted. It became easier not to post than to try and catch-up. I decided yesterday that I'm not going to try and catch up-I'm going to just start fresh. If I get real motivated, you may even see some pictures from our exciting summer. You just never know when they might pop up!! Anyway, here's to a new start!!!

Yesterday we made our annual trip to Shaw Farms for pumpkin picking and a hayride. The girls had a great time on the hay ride. Emma and Olivia were still into running around and climbing on all the fun things, getting their face painted, etc. Grace... well, she's a big 7th grader now, so she enjoyed watching. It's not cool, you know to be running around. She enjoyed her time by taking pictures of her sisters for her scrapbook. As I looked around at all the other families with their little kids running around and screaming, I thought, "Boy, it just seems like yesterday we were there. Now look at us." Time sure does fly!!!

Emma got a real kick out of helping daddy push the pumpkins around-especially because the wheelbarrow had a flat tire!!!

"A 5'1" Center from Cincinnati Ohio....."

...Oliviaaaaa Hamilton!" Olivia got her uniform for the Swish today. She was so excited!!! She wanted number 4, but when she came home, she told me this. "Mom, you know how I wanted #4? Well, apparently the lower numbers are for the little girls, and we all know I'm not a "little" girl, so I got #22." She compared herself to one of her favorite Xavier players and said, "Well, that makes sense, because she was #54, and she isn't a little girl either!" The third grade team plays their first game on Thursday. It will be exciting!!!