Happy Teen Pre-Birthday Clarissa

Clarissa is turning 13 on the 26th.
She is a darling girl.
Beautiful from the inside out.
Always working hard to succeed.
And always helping me...with EVERYTHING.

For her birthday I wanted to spend a day
doing fun girl things together...

On her birthday
we are heading
to Arizona for Cecilias Birth DAY
...YEAH.

We need new toes....

...first stop Pedicures...
The whole treatment PLEASE!!!

...typical teenager...

Hot Paraffin Wax...yikes!!!

NEXT STOP...Olive Garden!

Enjoying her toes!

"Pretty Flower"

Happy Birthday Olive Garden Style

Great payback for Labor and Delivery!!!!


...worth the embarrassment for the chocolate...

We spent the remainder of the day shopping...most in Barns and Noble....books, books, journals, and more books.....

Like Mother, Like Daughter.

Happy Birthday
my sweet Clarissa!!!

---the end

...and On to New Beginnings!

Happy Holidays ♥

The top of the tree,
after 23 strands of lights
meticulously wrapped,
I gave up....

Some Holiday adventures...
Skiing is always the top of Gavin's list,

...and visits to loved ones is the greatest part of the season.

Learning how to make Grandpas special airplanes.

"He knows how because he flew them in the war!"
[quote is from jeremy]

Helping with the tree.

A sleepover in the front room.

eye i spy with my little eye...
clarissa, sam and jeremy

We took the kids to the Gateway for Monday Night...
they were filled with delight at the big Christmas tree.

Brian took the boys to
D. Grant Ltd.
to pick a tie.
Gavin was a bit shocked at the
$1700 Suits and
750$ shoes.

He got a tie.


Clarissa had a fitting at Victoria Secrets.

When Brian brought the boys in to pay....

the look of shock on their faces was the
greatest blush of the season.


Gavin said
"Just concentrate on Mom's face."

Sam said
"Start singing hymns Jeremy."


Soon enough Brian was pushing/escorting
Sam and Jeremy to the register.

Jeremy had his fists over his eyes,
Sam had his face buried in flat hands.

The ladies in the store were grinning from
ear to ear
looking at the boys embarrassment.

To Gavin I said....
"Have a look."

He replied,
"I am focusing on you mom....all I see is you."

What great boys!

And finally, Clarissa has some
unmentionables that FIT.

A task in itself for anyone
with a teenage daughter.
[If you have ever had one, you know what I mean!]

...just a taste of our Christmas preparations and pleasures.

...hoping you and yours are enjoying the holidays!

the NAUGHTY list

Oh how I have loved this years Santa Letters.

Quotes from the following have brought me great smiles, or maybe I am smirking....hehehe.

Dear Santa...

Thank you for every present you have given me in the past. I am deeply sorry if I almost made the notty list but PLEASE don't give me coal. I am TOO young.

Thx. Good Luck. Love, Clarissa


Dear Santa...

Thanks for all you do!

I am sorry if I was bad this year. If there is something I can do to make it so I don't get coal I will do it.

Thank you, Sam


Dear Santa...

Thank you for what you do. I would like new Church Clothes and a Action Figure guy. Thank you! Jeremy



Gavin verbally wished for Peace, Hope, Happiness....he didn't need to write a list because Santa reads his mind. [ummmm, okay???]


The lists were written and mailed weeks ago. The kids have been being really good, and more helpful than usual. I guess the naughty list scare is working wonders for us. Interesting though because they didn't get the idea they were on it from me. Must be some confused internal guide....they are such good kids!~!!!


So... the boys were cleaning their room last week and I praised them for a job well done.

Jeremy turned to me and told me that he was cleaning it for the Hampsters.

I said, "WHAT HAMPSTERS???????
You didn't tell Santa you wanted a Hampster."

Sam replied to me,

"Nope, we PRAYED to Jesus for them."

GREAT!!!!



Merry Christmas everyone! Hopefully a few more updates of our activities will be blogged.....seriously sad when living life prevents you from blogging it!!!


As for Christmas letters and cards????...
I am looking to sending on Valentine Greetings! [...and Gavin is hoping I will send them earlier in January as Season Greetings....I guess Valentines are NOT so cool to send his friends families....we will see.

In the meantime... love to you all and hoping that you have a wonderful season. Thanks for all your great love and support throughout the year.

We are so blessed to have
and know you all!

the process of remodeling

the yucky old...

like father, like son

life lesson #33:
Things have to get worse before they get better...
Once there was a SNOWMAN.....

Clarissa and Gavin both helped paint.
...GREAT WORKERS!

...at least someone gets to take cat naps ♥


Thought I had pictures of our room....
This will certainly do. LOVE THEM!!!

...see jeremy...he was HIDING on purpose...
"you take TOO many pictures Mom"

rock a bye babies...

the HALLWAY!

the BATHROOM!

Peace...Hope....Happy!