Dear Santa (I want a stick)

We enjoyed our annual tradition of having Breakfast with Santa Claus at Treyburn Country Club. They always do such a fabulous job and have the most authentic Santa I've ever seen. So authentic even I felt intimidated standing near him. Plus, he's like 9 feet tall!

I am flat out shocked that the kids did not run from the room when he walked in but I know Austin was a on a mission. If he was scared he was not going to show it. He had been practicing what he was going to ask Santa for and nothing would stand in his way. He jumped right up, patiently waited till he was asked and then said quickly "a DS and a video watch!". Then Santa asked him how old he was and probably rolled his eyes. 

Madeleine even got on the big man's lap! She only had one request...pencils. Really, that's it, pencils. Every time she says it I think of this HYSTERICAL song:  Listen to the song!

Rob dressed for the occasion.

Here is a video of Austin making his request. Plus an added bonus of 1) strange man in background singing and 2) Dad getting yelled at by Santa. Not something you see every day!

Holiday Moosical (yes I spelled that right)

Madeleine's music department at school put on a festive "Holiday Moosical" last week. It was a grand production for Kindergarten through 2nd grade headed by a very patient music teacher! There were elves, Christmas trees, snowmen, sugar plum fairies and the ever cute reindeers (Madeleine was a reindeer). For weeks I'd been asking her if she knows her songs and she'd say "no". I kept asking, she kept saying no. I was getting a little concerned but the minute the music began Madeleine belted out those tunes like she was on American Idol! The girl loves the stage. 

If you have never seen a Kindergarten musical and you are just DYING to know what it's like...here you go! 

Rob Re-living His Younger Days (Updated)

After I posted this blog below,  Rob sent me this love note (aka e-mail) that made me laugh till I cried:

"All wrong.
It was Pink Floyd the Wall, not "The Who?"
dork."

In November, Rob traveled down to Tampa to partake in this little concert thing called "The Wall". Apparently it's kind of a big deal. Some guy named Roger Waters was putting on this concert and Rob just HAD to go see it. Whatever. This album was originally released in 1979, top selling album of 1980 and a grand musical film in 1982.  I know all this because I had to Google it since I was SEVEN YEARS OLD! While Rob was rocking out to some band named "The Who" - who? - I was getting my groove on to "My Sharona" and doing the Y.M.C.A. with the Village People.  I digress...Rob ventured on to Tampa and had a great time (I know this due to the high volume of text pictures he sent all night). Here's a few of the pictures. I would label them but I have no idea what they are. Except for that one that says "Intermission". I know that one. :) 

If you are going to a Duke game...

this is the seat you want! Rob has been going to a few games with my dad - here are a few pictures from the home opener against Princeton in November.  And as I was watching the game (from home!!) what do I see...Rob on TV handing the ball to the ref! In the words of Napoleon Dynamite...LUCKY!

He snuck in a paparazzi shot of Cal Ripken who was also at the game. 

Great Wolf Lodge

Right before Thanksgiving we took a quick trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte to escape responsibility for a bit and enjoy the break from school.  The kids swam, played in the arcade, had ice cream, got tattoos, made tee-shirts and got to build a bear. (If you ever go, get the Paw Pass. So worth it!)

They had the most fun in the wave pool. Austin had one minor incident in which we thought he had a concussion and was blind in his left eye but we were wrong so we won't go into that story.

There is story time every night in the lobby. How fun they read the kids favorite book! They asked for a volunteer to help read. Look, she is looking right at me! Pick me! Pick me! (Spoiler...they didn't pick me)

If anyone tells you the water here is warm, they are lying. Liars. Big. Fat. Liars. 

Making their own stuffed animals. 

Austin is, hands down, the worst skee ball player I have ever met. And I've met lots. Whole lots. This picture is proof. 

Great trip. We'll be back soon!

A Thankful Thanksgiving

For the second year in a row Grandma Fisher traveled to North Carolina for Thanksgiving. And by traveled here I mean Dad showed up in Pittsburgh, kind of kidnapped her and brought her to us for a few days. Nonetheless, she was here and we were all grateful no matter what felony may have occurred.

Austin greeted her with his normal salutation...

And Emmett cozied up...

And we shared a delicious Thanksgiving feast...

Once again we went to Homestead Nursery, the home of the zillion Poinsettia's, for a photo session. It was all fine and dandy until Mr. Pouty Pants showed up. Here's one of Grandma and Brigid and I. Guess who Grandma is looking at...

Yup, Mr. Pouty Pants

At least Madeleine was happy...oh wait...

Besties

It's the little things

Clearly Austin thought something was missing from my bookshelf. Out of the blue his school photo appeared on the shelf along with the other "important" pictures. This boy makes me laugh out loud. 

"Mom, I'm ready to be a fire mans."

Second annual trip to the Bay Leaf Fire Dept open house. Weather was perfect and this year the kids were brave enough to participate in the awesome activities. They learned how to use a fire extinguisher, crawl through a smoke house and the rules for what to do when there is smoke and a door is hot. They learned quite a bit actually, I was quite impressed. 

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We got to see a "Jaws of Life" demonstration which Austin thought was the coolest ever. When they were done he said, "now it looks like a jeep!"

And a very cool fire demonstration that got a little out of hand. My video was a tad shaky at the end and I wanted to get our hot pants out of there! {Edited to add "there" instead of "their". Pet peeve and I even published it. Slap on wrist! Ouch!]

Very fun afternoon. I actually learned a lot and I know the kids did too. Now we have to plan our "evacuation plan" soon. My only question is...where were all the cute fireman that I normally see in calendars????  :) 

Team Austin

Austin's birthday festivities kicked off Saturday. We hosted a soccer party with all of his buddies (all 16 of them!).  I admit I loathe the goody bags at kids parties that are filled with candy so I made team jersey's for his friends to wear at the party instead.  

Austin requested a cake with "a dinosaur playing soccer" and what the boy wants, the boy gets. This cake was created by Val Plonski who has done several of our cakes and they are always a work of art.

What we did not know was that in the party room there were games and video machines. As well as an oh so convenient change machine. One look at this and Austin dumped his friends and stayed behind to play games. Mystery people must have kept giving him money because he never seemed to run out. He became quite good at the change machine.

To his credit, he did win 2 balls. I'm guessing it must have taken him a mere $30 in quarters.

Coach Josh did a great job of keeping the kids moving and playing. They all were smiling a lot and that is my usual measure of success.

Rob got beat on by a pack of wild animals. He's quivering in the corner!

Group pictures!

Cake time! Hmmm, which dinosaur do I eat first?

Thank you to all the kids and parents who helped us celebrate Austin's big day. It was very special and we are lucky to have such great friends! The rest of the photos are on the link to the right.