Let's blow out some candles!

Happiest of birthdays to this guy! There is no one quite like Ul'Nanny to these little people!

We love you and wish you a wonderful year!

Fish, blankies and mermaid tails...

Each night I really wonder how this sweet girl finds any room to sleep! If we pull some of the items out of the bed at bedtime I can hear the pitter-patter of little feet loading the bed back up. Somehow, as close as she is to the edge, she never falls out of the bed. Her favorite Tessa designed tote is loaded with beanie boos and shopkins. Why the mermaid tail that she wears swimming needs to be in there I do not know. Ask her though and she will give you a very good reason...

Interested in everything

These sweet boys are interested in everything! They are interested in things they should be interested in and things maybe they shouldn't be....

I never get the interest in the dishwasher. My Tripp was the same. He loved to climb in it, pull the dishes and cups out and listen to them bang on the floor.

Then they discovered the "Jack in the Box" and they are just fascinated with it! Tyler's chair of choice is the cart. They are both learning how to turn the crank which sings the song and then out pops the weasel!

I so enjoy just watching their little minds work!

"I don't want to..."

Life is good for little Tyler who is enjoying the ride from his brother Thomas. Thomas wheels him down the whole hall...

but what happens when Thomas lets Tyler know it is his turn for a ride. Tyler pitches a fit...

Quite frankly little guys sharing is just no fun!

Rub a Dub Dub....

Two men in a tub.... The butcher, no baker and the Troublemaker!

Teamwork

The boys are learning young the value in teamwork! They love to watch one another and see what the other is figuring out. Here they wait for the balls to start jumping...

They also understand that uniting as one you are stronger together!

To face this "Superhero" as he calls himself.

PS... my friend sent this picture to me of Tripp. She couldn't resist. His Daddy was in charge and he convinced him of the outfit that he was going to wear. Don and Tripp picked up Juliette from ballet with full cap-gun in the air at the studio with his pirate Halloween costume on, his favorite "jammie pantalonoes" (so short Ms. Adi tries to roll them up and make knickers) and the old famous horse shoes that are way too small for him.

Pow Pow there goes the gun!

Tell me you have heard of a "Shopkin..."

Well, if you haven't... let me tell you... they are all the rage right now for little girls.

This is what Juliette wanted for Christmas. She was so thrilled to receive them. 

They are carefully stored in one of three places... a jewelry box which Santa brought her...

Oh so you ask wouldn't jewelry go in that nice big box? Well Juliette was sure Santa knew just what he was doing and sent her instead a PERFECT box for her Shopkins.

I gently tried to encourage some other ideas after this huge jewelry box was traveling daily in the car to school, to Tessa and Doh's house, to visit Ms. Louise next door and to sit next to Mr. Laudas her piano teacher.

I went to kiss her goodnight this evening and she had even tucked the Shopkins and the jewelry box right into bed with her.

She added a nice label so everyone would know.... 

"For toys and More"

We found a more functional sized tin which she will sometimes use depending on the day and the quantity she is lugging around. This evening the tin filled with several Shopkins slept beside her pillow.

Her Daddy has lovingly given these things names.... "Dumb-kins" and "Junk-Kins"....

And the party always ends with a road trip! The Shopkins need to visit "Lanta" (Atlanta). The dodg collars and leashes are strapped on Caroline. Tripp is getting himself lassoed and has Tyler hanging on for his life in the Mickey chair. The other leash is for the wooden house in tow filled with the Shopkins in it. They tend to travel like a band of Gypsies. They hook everyone on, head South and see what new adventure the ride takes them on!

Bon Voyage! (and hang on poor Tyler)

And if life is not comical enough....

The dog has decided she is afraid to eat...

For the past 12 years she and Gracie eat twice a day and eat all of their food at once. Over the past two weeks, Gypsy has decided that she simply is afraid to eat. That may sound funny but it is true! So I stand out there and she looks at me...

I pour a few pieces onto the porch floor and she surely will sniff it... but then...

No Thank you...

This squirt here I believe is part of the problem. His activity and level of play, his voice and his love of his cap gun and pop gun send Gypsy straight to my closet behind my clothes.

Just be reminded she is a Boykin Spaniel and a supposed excellent hunter. Good thing she came home with us or the first hunt with the hunter would have landed her right back for sale.

So when she is hungry enough she eats! Her hunger luckily is stronger than her fear. 

So I continue to laugh and remind myself that any dog that comes along after her will be so boring. So then I laugh (sometimes out loud) because her name fits her perfectly and I do love her so!

Who likes a picnic in the rain?

Apparently we do! 

Today we told the kids that we would go on a picnic. We stopped at Goat, Sheep, Cow and bought some super fun cheeses, meats, champagne, homemade caramels and Orangina for the kiddies. They were SO excited. I suggested the Battery for something different. 

You would have thought we were on our way to NYC as excited as they were.

We all sat down, began to pop some champagne 

cut the bread, open the olives and 

then Tripp yells out, "My tooth!" 

(That damn tooth is going to be the death of us yet.)

"My tooth, it's not in my mouth?" while chomping on hard bread..

He is such a dickens!

After the "Oh no let me see!" and "Open your mouth!"

he replies, "Oops... I mean it's still 'tere"

So for today we still have all the teeth in the mouth.... 

and this little comedian will enjoy his pranks for many years

A perfect chilly day for the annual oyster roast

We had the most gorgeous day at Don's parents' house for the New Year's oyster roast. 

It was Thomas and Tyler's first overnight visit. They were actually pretty good. We were able to enjoy the party. They love outdoors and new settings so between those two things we were in luck. 

Don and his Dad

My Sister-in-Law Suzanne and her precious dog Sebastion

My nephew Will who is in the middle of telling me, "Aunt Danette, I'm not into babies much..." I told him to move his chair closer and put on a good smile...

Nice job Will...

The most gorgeous sunset in the backyard. This is a sign of a great year ahead!

Happy 2016 to each of you!

Now that the holidays are over...

I'll let you in on a little secret...

Around the time St. Nick was due to arrive, we could not find Tripp's stocking anywhere. Juliette's of course was found immediately but his had just disappeared!

Not sure if you call this a "pinterest fail" or "just plain terrible"...

I needed some quick thinking... I pulled Gracie's stocking out with a picture of her on it that my Mom had made and simply flipped it inside out. It was downright awful looking! 

Juliette's comment...

 "Mommy what happened to Tripp's stocking?" It looks like St Nicholas brought him a new one." Then she asks me to lean down and whispers in my ear, "Mommy he didn't leave him a very pretty one like mine. Do you think St. Nick likes him?"

Tripp says, "Ju-iette my stocking is bigger den yours..." 

"Mommy I love St. Nick!"

I mean I can't believe I even hung this thing inside out...

Good news is it worked!

And just today, I found his stocking! Well next year Juliette will know St. Nick likes Tripp and Tripp will still say, "I love St. Nick!"