Ryan and shoes

Ryan loves to try on shoes - sometimes he is walking around in daddy's size 12 hiking boots - what a workout! Today, it was his sister's sneakers and somehow, he managed to pull his arm out of his sleeve so he walked around like this for awhile - too funny to not take a few pictures!

New Year's Day - Go Buckeyes!

A nice day to have a fire, stay in and have friends over for the game. I can't even believe I didn't take pictures of the pork tenderloin and sauerkraut my friend, Mary, and her family brought over. It was awesome! I had never tried sauerkraut in all my life and finally did - it wasn't that bad - aren't I pathetic!

Santa Visit

Every year we head to Town and Country Mall to get our Santa pictures-He is the best Santa around and you bring your own camera, take your own pictures - how nice to not pay $25 for 2-31/2X5's and 8 wallets to document that you saw Santa. This year, we got our wonderful step-sister-in-law and hubby, along with their 9 month old, to join us and my mom came along too. Josh, Jenny and Abram are in Covington but it is so nice to have Jenny come up and visit us once-in-awhile and let me enjoy my nephew. We got there at just the right time, a short wait, and the kids were fine until we planted them on Santa's lap and then the photos will show you exactly what happened. I guess Santa can be a scary man for the younger population. Had to document it though!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Madeline Elizabeth

My dear friend, Mary, had her 2nd child - a beautiful baby girl who weighed in at 7lbs 2oz and is absolutely perfect. She is a true blessing as many of my friends are aware and I so enjoyed holding and meeting her.

Trick or Treat Night

This year we decided to go back to the old neighborhood for trick-or-treat because we didn't realize Morgan would have a few friends nearby this house and we knew we'd all have fun back with our friends in Beavercreek. We went to the Humphrey house and had pizza and got the kids dressed after that. So glad we went, it was so good to see all those familiar faces and I know we would've felt a bit like strangers in this neighborhood except for the surrounding ones we know. Next year, I am sure we will have met more of them but it was nice to go back. Chloe and Morgan have gone around together since they can remember so it is hard for them not to have each other. Ryan was dressed as a dog and the Humphrey dog, Roxy, was a bumble bee and she seemed to like Ryan being a dog - she was quite interested in the cute dalmatian in her house! They all looked so cute and the weather was much better than expected, although still chilly! Perfect for the firepit in the Greening driveway afterwards. The kids spent most the eve inside sorting and trading candy and we hung out with the grown-ups!

Raspberry Dolphins Soccer Party

Morgan just finished her fall soccer season and I had to put the name of their team as the title for the entry because it cracks me up that the girls came up with the name dolphins for their official color of raspberry(although I always cheered "go pink" because raspberry doesn't fly out of the mouth as easily). Kirk coached the girls and his assistant coach threw the year-end party. His wife made a beautiful cake for them and they gave them all awards and trophies. They finished up about 1/2 way down the bracket in their league but it was fun season and the girls looked forward to all of the practices and games - the parents stressed that to the guys all the time. As a treat for the girls who hairsprayed their hair pink for the tournament weekend, they got to do the coaches at the party - lucky Kirk - he didn't even like to wear the pink coaches shirt after he left the field and here he is with pink hair - good sport! Way to go Morgan and Kirk!