Merry Christmas!

Just feel like sharing some photos with you.

These make me smile.

Hope you smile too!

Jasper.

Is there anything cooler than a beautiful female drummer?

She rocks.

He thinks he's a real boy.  

I don't know why.

Kinnect!

Hold me?

It's kinda irresistible.

Oh that face.

Sunrise.

I got a good laugh when I found these on my camera.

The little girls obviously got a hold of it.

Creative, romantic girls?

Merriest Christmas blog friends!

Hope your holidays are fun, bright and full of smiles.

My Jasper.

Guess what?!!!

I got an early Christmas present.

It is EXACTLY what I wanted.

You must meet Jasper.

Oh, Jasper, you sweet sweet boy.

Just look at that little lovey face.

Now some of you are sighing and saying to yourselves,

"Oh Shelli.  Didn't you try this once before?

What happened to poor Pepper, she didn't last long. . . "

Well, I did love Pepper. 

But Pepper was given to us because nobody would buy her,

and though she was cute and fun, she was HYPER

and didn't train as well as I had hoped.  She also jumped all over

poor Cotton, and he wasn't too happy about it.

And she had a LOUD bark that none of us could control.

You will be happy (as I am) to know that she is in the loving household

of one of Trevor's patients, and they adore her.

Okay, onto JASPER.

I asked for Jasper.

Actually, this is what I said to my sweet darling husband.

"I know what I want for Christmas.  A sweet little Yorkie that will love ME

and will curl up right next to me when I am resting.  

Oh, but it would have to be house trained too."

And I said all this in a dreamy, wishful way, not even intending for him

to take me seriously.

I should have known better.

Trevor is a sucker for a sweet dog.

Or two.

You already know this guy.

Cotton is our wonder dog.

Everyone who knows him wants him, it is true.

The only problem I have with Cotton is this:

He plays favorites...and I am not one of them.

Trevor, yes.  Firstborn daughter, yes.

Everyone else?

Picture Cotton shrugging.

I don't know how Trev managed it, but Jasper is what I asked for.

He is sweet.  So sweet that I keep wondering

when he is going to do something mischievous.

He loves ME!  How did that happen?  I don't know!

He follows me everywhere, puts his paws up for me to hold him,

and when I walk in the room, he lifts his head and watches me!

Now I know how Trevor feels with Cotton.

It's kinda nice to be adored.  Smiley face.

He is also trained.

This is huge.

He is 5 years old actually, a year older than Cotton.

His previous owner used him for breeding, and they were done with him.

How they could not want him as a pet baffles me, but I guess that is the business of it.

We are the lucky ones now.

Love you Jasper!

Christmas cozy.

 This year we had snow BEFORE Thanksgiving!

The frosty trees are breathtaking.

I am in awe of them.

And it makes the house feel even more Christmas cozy inside!

Don't you love that word . . . cozy.

I do.  

Cozy. . .

Thought I'd give you a tiny tour.

This is my home at Christmas time.  At least some of it.

Welcome.
Trev made that bed with his own two hands.
It was his wedding gift to me 17 yrs ago.
I refuse to buy a new one.

 I love this old hutch.

I imagine it was in some farm kitchen long ago,

made lovingly by a farmer for his wife.

I don't know, I just imagine it.

 Just a chair in the entry.

Decorating the sideboard.

I always find it hard to decorate this piece in the entry.

Maybe because I think it is so pretty without anything on it.

My entry bench, an old church pew.

I love old wood, yes I do.

 Dine!

Did you spot Cotton?

He blends so well with the sofa.

I told you it was just a tiny tour.

Thanks for coming along.

Hope you are enjoying your own cozy home!

Especially if you have breathtaking frosty trees.

Daddy Daughter Dance.

Daddy Daughter Dance.

This weekend the girls got to go with their Dad

to a dance held at the highschool.

Masquerade theme, music, lights, treats, & dancing.

The girls were so excited all day, they couldn't wait!

Trev was looking forward to it too.

I got to hear all about it afterward, as they showed me their 

glow sticks, masks, and dance moves.

So fun, and probably something they will always remember!

You, Trev are a rad dad.

Aren't those girls lucky?

Jump start.

So I got a little jump on the holiday spirit this year.

I didn't want to miss it.

We put the lights on the house this weekend.

We are usually the very last ones in our neighborhood to get them up

BUT this year I told Trev. . . 

let's do it while it is still warm, and EVERYONE can help!

So, they are up!  

AMAZING!  WONDERFUL!

All the kids helped.

And he only complained a little.

Usually he complains a lot...he hates being cold up on an icy roof.

I mean . . . Santa does it every year.

I doubt HE complains.

AND so my blog reflects the Christmas Spirit

that is starting to fill my soul.

Early as it may be.

Now you can start checking back with a mug of hot cocoa in your hands.

Yes, I am still looking forward to the Thanksgiving feast.

But it's coming up pretty quick,

and with the lights up, I can enjoy doing other things.

Like... decorations and the tree!

It is definitely "the most wonderful time of the year"!

Enjoy!

Pie People.

Some people are pie people.

You know who you are.

I've told you before, I am a CAKE person.

Cake.  The word itself makes my tummy rumble.

Oh...cake...

BUT, tis the season for pie, right?

For a self-proclaimed cake person, I admit I can make a mean pie.

Trevor and Monkey A love my apple.

Mom loves my lemon meringue.

The little girls want my crustless pumpkin.

My sister enjoys my apple custard.

My strawberry rhubarb custard rocks.

I myself thoroughly enjoyed the chocolate pecan I made last Thanksgiving.

You pie people are lucky,

this is your month!

Are you already licking your lips in anticipation?
It's just a few weeks away!
What kind are you going to dive into first?
What kind of pie makes YOUR tummy rumble?

Boo! Part 1.

Boo!

Part 1.

It's that time of year again.

Time for the Annual Family Halloween Bash.

Cozy yourself up. . .

here we go!

Sent these babies in the mail. 

Thanks Martha.

Your hostess for the evening.

The lovely vampire...me.

The girls...and Ez.

Pirate, witch, Eskimo, sorceress, Spanish dancer, and airplane.

 Mikey showing Skoogs his handcuffs.

  This guy shows up on my wall every year.

We can't have a party without him.

Everyone loves him.

My oldest monkeys.

They are going to love me, but can't remember the names of their characters.

My bro Craig, his wife Carrie & their cuties.

Curious George, The Man in the Yellow hat, The mad scientist,

the sorceress & a storm trooper?  I know storm trooper is wrong. oops.

Trev's bro Jeff, his wife Kelli & their cuties.

Bumblebee, and a nervous naturalist.

My bro Mike, his wife Jenn, and their cuties.

A policeman, witch, 70's Private Eye, black cat, pirate girl, and M&M.

My parents.

Fandango!

Okay...BRILLIANT.

Our bro in law, Josh.

Do I need to explain this?

Our sis in law Kelli & Trev's mom with baby Ashlyn.

Indian.

Trev's Dad & sister Kiersten.

Gangster & Pippy Longstockings!

The host & hostess...us!

Skoogs made a pin the eye on the monster game.

Then she was in charge of it.

It was a hit!  Nice job girl!

Some of the yummy fun food.

And the winners are...

3rd place - me, the vampire!

2nd place - Carrie the mad scientist!

1st place - Mom & Dad A...they swept it again this year,

only this time with their fabulous Fandango costumes!

Don't forget to take one from the licorice rope curtain before you leave!

Party favors for the kiddos!

Thanks again all who came, 

and we missed those of you who couldn't make it this year!

I love Halloween.

AND

Scroll down so you don't miss the post after this:

"Boo!  Part 2."

Boo! Part 2.

Boo!

Part 2

 Welcome.

 "Ahhh . . . you didn't tell me you were gonna kill it!"   - Linus

 Making a masterpiece.

 She got a little out of control this year...

 Trev's work.

 Carved.

 Chatting on the porch.

 Arriving for an enjoyable Halloween evening with friends.

Halloween dinner at Jared & Wendi's.

Wicked good.

On to trick-or-treating... ha ha!

 The boys ready to scare innocent trick-or-treaters.

 The loot!

 Ah, the sorting and trading of the candy.  A tradition.

When we returned home, we found that we had been. . . 

PUMPKIN'D!

Hope your Halloween was spooky good too!