Nanny and Poppy Dolls

During my Christmas shopping, I discovered one of the most amazing gifts for the people who have everything. A company will take your photos and turn your loved ones into stuffed animals. IAmAStuffedAnimal.com - aka my best gift to my parents in a LONG time!



It won't be long before we start seeing photos of Little Pat and Little Linda be-bopping around town, appearing in blogs across the world! Who knows where they'll travel. They may even see more than Flat Stanley does!

Check out the loot!

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is picking out gifts for my loved ones. Its never been a secret that I'm a shopper, and I always try to find that "just right" gift for those I care about. Its just one way that I show them my love. And of course, there are usually gifts in return - here are a few highlights from 2010...

Santa brought BDR a "Police are my Favorite People" air freshener. Scent: Fresh baked doughnut. MMM. Tasty.  On the back it says you can also use it as deodorant or a bowling accessory.

Mr. Nosy the Dokson. When I first opened this I had NO IDEA what it was. I was sure that it served some sort of purpose, but even google couldn't help me. Luckily the giver informed me of its use:

Awesome solid coasters to protect our tables from the sweat of the Blvd Beer.

BDR's new Royals cap. Hopefully he can wear it in spring softball with the boys!

Banana Dan also got "Bananagrams" the game. He's not quite sure of this gift's implications!

Warm and cozy scarf and mittens! (Note, my new hair!)

Hooray a cop nutcracker to add to the collection!

OOH! What could this be???

And of course - my best Christmas gift of all --- Stella!!



Visions of Sugar Plums Dancing in my Head

I remember going to the Nutcracker as a little girl and just being absolutely in awe of the performance. I was taking ballet classes then, and loved the girly feeling it gave me. It was so festive, so Christmas, and so grown-up to go to the Ballet at Century II with my mother.

Well, last night I went again, with my girlfriends. We had a tasty dinner at El Patron and it was likely my best Mexican food experience in ages. (I generally disklike most Mexi restaurants.) We get to the Music Hall, settle in, and begin to root against the mouse king, shiver in the Snowflake forest and float off into the Land of Sweets.

Some of these dancers were just amazing. The men could leap like I've never seen. The ladies were so elegant, long and lean, great lines. I've always wanted pointe shoes of my own and a tutu so I could be just like the Sugar Plum Fairy. Maybe some day.

What a great start to the Christmas holiday and a tradition I can't wait to begin with my own daughter someday.



Pete's Perspective

Woof. Hey everybody. Its Pete here. Mom's off doing something so I wanted to share my big news.

Yep, that's right. I'm a big brother! Mom and BDR brought me what I've been begging them for! A little sister and a new friend. It just gets so lonely in the mud room by myself during they day.

Little did we all know that right after Stella joined the family, my cousin Dixie would also temporarily move in while Uncle Ryan and Fam do the big move from the Windy City.

So let me introduce you to my little sister, Stella.

This is Stella on the drive home from Puppy Mill USA, aka southwest Missouri.

Some punk had her in the bed of his pickup and sped away so fast that little Stella tumbled out of the truck and cars had to swerve to miss her on the highway. Luckily some good samaritan picked her up and took her to Faithful Friends animal rescue where Stella got a few days stay with some really nice people. But we're happy that Mom and BDR went to get her out of Missouri and into Kansas.

Little Stella was pretty excited to meet me, very upset to be introduced to my old kennel that I'm sharing with her, but relieved to be snuggled in bed on her first night in the family.

See, doesn't she look happy?!

Mom took her to the doctor and she got a clean bill of health, except for those pesky fleas she brought with her. Luckily those are all gone. Stella told me the doctor's office was no big deal. She just layed there on the counter, got loved on and ate some cookies. She did say they stuck something up her butt and some wet stuff up her nose, but the cookies and love made it all worth while. She said the scale said 12.6 when she jumped on it. I said, so what it says 59 when I'm on. Woop-de-doo.

She tells me she thinks her birth mother was a Mastiff or a Shepherd, and she can't wait til she's big enough to wrestle with me. I was nice and let her think she might even have a chance of beating me. (Yeah, right!) Its a good thing she's pretty cute and Mom and Dad seem to like her or else I'd really have to show her who's boss. If she even thinks that big belly, puppy breath and stumbling paws are going to win me over,she's got something else coming.

Dad says Christmas came early this year, and I couldn't agree more. When Stella got here, I got all sorts of new toys to play with! Its been a pretty sweet deal so far.

In case any of you want to see any other photos of our adventures so far, you can see them here.

Well, that's all for now, I see a squirrel outside I need to go chase, oh, and Stella is trying to take my bone! Better go take care of that!

Woof Love, Pete

Ten Favorite Holiday Songs

In no particular order, since there is no way I could rank them...

1. Carol of the Bells


2. Oh Holy Night

3. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas


4. All I Want for Christmas is You


5. 12 Days of Christmas (only this version by Straight No Chaser though!)


6. Emmanuel (The awesome 80s hair totally makes this video!)


7. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays


8. You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch


9. Christmastime is Here


10. Auld Lang Syne - my birthday song!!

Holiday Lights Tour

Last night, Peter and I enjoyed our first Christmas Light Tour thru Mission Hills. (I know, you're impressed. Say it with me: OOOOH~ AAAAAH!) But really Mission Hills, you disappoint me. Even though the Holiday Homes Tour was in full swing, I hardly saw any Christmas lights. Boo. Hiss.

Luckily, my awesome run and sweet Christmas music (Thanks Straight No Chaser!) made up for it! I thought I was running well, and hardly any walking (yay!), but my Garmin shows a little different story than the way it went in my mind. Oh well. Silly Garmin, my attitude totally trumps your accuracy.

I bundled up when I got home from work, leashed up Pete and took off into the 25-degree windchilled night.

My headlamp proved very useful as there were several cars on the road and they probably wouldn't have seen either Peter or me without the glaring spotlight that shone on Pete (the true star of the show, he wasn't bundled at all!).

Once I got closer to home, I finally found a really festive house. So take that Mission Hills, Fairway is king!

I heart the holidays.

Since BDR's folks were in Florida visiting his sister for "Birthgiving", we celebrated both holidays on Sunday evening, and kicked off the Christmas season by trimming the tree. No one warned us we'd be taking pictures for the family Christmas card, but luckily my hair was done. I can't say the same for BDR.

We had a delicious lasagna dinner, vino and of course - birthday cake! Then got to work on the tree. You can only sort of tell from the photos, but I LOVE his dad's house. Its gorgeous, right off the lake, a fun stream/pond in the backyard and plenty of space for us all to gather.

Chris keeps all her ornaments in their original Hallmark boxes so there was almost as much unwrapping as there is on Christmas morning! Both of those huge tubs were full of ornaments, and luckily so because "O Tannenbaum"is huge!

Seriously, BDR is 6-2 and he looks like a shrimp compared to that thing!

Its exciting to be included on the family Christmas card even though I'm not technically a part of the family. It feels like I am - at least to me! I guess they just have to deal with me being around now! :-) Here's a few of the good ones. It doesn't look like the group photos really turned out... I blame Mike and his 2 second shutter speed. Who really can stay perfectly still for that long!?

Kristen and Dusty snuggle while Bo looks on. Bo is the new member of the family, rescued this year from a lady who passed.

This is the fun that preggo sister in Florida is missing out on. Nick couldn't even put on real pants for the photos. Jeans are just so much work when you're 17!

 We also took some fun shots. BDR's weapon looks much more dangerous than mine!

Apparently BDR thinks I'm pretty heavy. He was none too thrilled when I told him I was jumping on his back. Oh, and I have "massive thighs" ... way to earn points honey. Glad you think the couch is comfy!

So, all in all, a fun night. I love the holiday season and I can't believe its already here! I know it will go quickly too! Besides a little Christmas shopping, baking, wrapping, etc. I just need to decide my plans for Christmas Eve. Historically thats been the big family evening - church, presents, dinner, cookies and as we grew up - drinks and games by the fire. BDR is working Christmas Eve so as of now, I'm solo. We'll do Christmas Day at his Dad's and I just need to figure out what I want to do for Eve. No matter what - I'm sure this will be my feelings about Christmas 2010:

Thanksgiving 2010

Today, I hosted my first Thanksgiving. I also acquired a new appreciation and gratefulness for all my mother does to host us for holidays regularly. This stuff is a lot of work!

I've been baking for about a week... cookies and pies and banana bread, even a test turkey!

The whole crew arrived from Gurnee and Wichita on Weds evening, so we ordered some pizza pies and began the celebration.

Turkey Day morning arrives and I had to finish preparing BDR's birthday breakfast. Yep, lucky guy's birthday is on Thanksgiving this year! Too bad he could only join the family for part of the fun - he had to go to work at 2:00. We had Aunt Kelly's breakfast casserole, blueberry muffins, cinnamon rolls, fruit and fresh squeezed juice! Quite a tasty start to the day if I do say so myself.

Sean was a great help in the kitchen all day!

Vrooom Vrooom! No pit stops at this birthday party!

After breakfast, SIL and I headed to the kitchen to start on our Turkey Dinner. She buttered up the bird while I made the stuffing. I learned from my Test Turkey that my oven definitely cooks slow so we gave it some extra time to roast.

And then of course, nap time began. Hey, the birthday boy gets to do whatever he wants! I am amazed though that he was able to shut his eyes amid all the ruckus!

Peter even found a place to bask and avoid the crazy for a few minutes!

I was really pleased with how all my dishes turned out, but I did warn everyone of the motto around our house:

Here's Poppy admiring the spread. Thank goodness for the bar in the basement, we wouldn't have known what to do otherwise!

This is my plate. Holy cannoli it was good! I'm so excited to enjoy some leftovers for the next few days, and thankful there still are leftovers!

Ian really loved his drumstick - so much so that it was what he was thankful for!

This is how I do things after a delightful meal!

And of course, after dinner, the Festivus Feats of Strength began. Looks like Uncle Timmy is losing this year!

While relaxing after dinner, we had to ask Peter what he was thankful for this year and he had a LOT to say!

All in all, many blessings to count - and I had 12 of them in my home this year!