Monday, December 29, 2014

All I want for Christmas (a few days late)...

Is my two front teeth...

After weeks and weeks of wiggliness, the remaining front tooth - which we had dubbed the Hillbilly Tooth, as it had gone and centered itself directly in the front of her mouth - is gone!  It was helped along by the elbow of a friend in the swimming pool.  As I had a bounty on that tooth, I intend to compensate that friend generously for her assistance.  Good riddance, Hillbilly Tooth!  Welcome, Toothlessness!

I think she makes a very adorable toothless person, don't you?

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Elf on a Shelf - 2014

Our favorite elf returned this year!  

Sparkle was new and improved this year - featuring bendable arms and legs, and velcro hands
December 1 - Sparkle's back!  She brought the girls a gift (the Elf on the Shelf board game)
A special "Welcome Home" picture from Megan
December 2 - Looting the M&Ms
December 3 - What are you up to, Sparkle?...
Mustaches for the ladies?!?  Oh, Sparkle...
December 4 - Riding the dog statue
December 5 - Playing Cupcake Party with Frosty
Looks like fun!
Watching a little morning TV with Megan before returning to her shelf
December 5 - Sparkle had an after school surprise in store for the girls, arriving with a letter and Build-A-Bear bucks!
Good surprise!
Good surprise!
December 6 - Working on this year's naughty and nice list with Santa.  Uh-oh, Dad and Lacey...
December 7 - Sparkle stowed away on our trip to Grand Haven, appearing INSIDE our glass lamp
Naughty Sparkle
December 8 - Hunting reindeer with the marshmallow gun.  SPARKLE!
Her victims
December 9 - Elf Jamicure
December 10 - this one took the girls FOREVER to find
December 11 - Hello from Dad's office!
December 12 - A little midnight baking
December 13 - "Borrowing" Hannah's lollipop stash
December 14 - Sparkle made her own Christmas countdown chain
December 15 - Sticky note Christmas tree
Nice Sparkle, real nice
December 16 - crepe paper barricade outside the girls' rooms
December 17 - Hangman with the Bouncing Snowman
December 18 - Getting water from the fridge.  Help yourself, Sparkle
December 19 - Gotcha now, Elf.  Thanks, Lotso!
December 20 - Snowball fight!
Her opponent
A special card from Megan
Inside
Back (seriously cute, right?)
December 21 - Sparkle showed up in Fremont, with a little fishing trip in the sink!
December 22 - TP'ing the stairs
December 23 - Basketball with the Three Wisemen
December 24 - Sparkle's goodbye gift to us was a plate of Elf cookies for Santa.  Thanks Sparkle!
It was another great year with Sparkle.  The girls get so sad to see her go.  This year Sparkle made cookies for Santa, and left them each a holiday Beanie Boo to ease the blow.  Thankfully we had a visit from Santa and Christmas morning to look forward to!  Until next year, Sparkle!


Saturday, December 13, 2014

Grandma Dee & Aunt Nicki Visit Oliver (and his parents)

Mom & I planned a trip this December to go see Oliver.  Kim and Ryan were there too.  ;) 

This was our view as of Wednesday night.  Not too shabby.
On Thursday, he spent the day running trains up and down my legs.  All. Day. Long.  I'm still not sure how this was fun, but nevertheless, we bonded.
On Friday, we went to Christmastown (@ Busch Gardens in Williamsburg)
The Sisters Goddard
Karle Family Picture
Riding Verbolten with Ryan - a seriously awesome coaster
After Christmastown, this guy decided he wanted to snuggle up with me and Grandma in bed.  We really didn't mind.



Saturday, December 6, 2014

Grand Haven - Jingle Bell Parade

We had a great time at last year's Jingle Bell Parade, and decided to make a return trip.  As an added bonus, this year's temperature was approximately 20 degrees warmer - yes!

Parade ready!
On guard, watching for goodies
Watching the first float
High-fives for Frosty
We especially enjoyed the Jeep reindeer parade...
Santa was at the end, of course.
Santa & Mrs Claus
We followed the Mr & Mrs over to Central Park, to watch the tree-lighting.

Another great night in GH!