December 2014

Iowa life...McDonald's drive thru at 10pm...

 

Still getting random sweeties after 20 years.


This year, I retired from decorating. I passed the torch & am enjoying the entertainment from the couch.


Instead of Christmas carols, there is a song competition of whether or not Obama is the best or worst president ever...Ava wins with her clear loud voice!  (video)


You see, I'm still watching...so happy to have my parents this year to help us. 


Not quite done, but good enough for a picture...


She finally composes a letter to Santa...  I love it so much!



Traditional frosting of the cookies.  This one on one time is so special to me.  Dejan even joined us this year and, in true fashion, made an enormous double decker frosted cookie sandwich. 




"Aahh, how sweet of Ava to write this on my to do list for tomorrow!" (just FYI, it says 'Love you Mom'). But what the hell is up with the sad crying face with an arrow pointing to Mom!!! I can't wait to hear her explanation in the morning.   (she told me it was meant to be a funny picture to make me laugh)



December 15--Ava loses her first tooth at school!!!

The Tooth Fairy made her first appearance in our house last night. Hopefully money will satisfy my daughter, who never forgot the Binky Fairy left her a BuzzLightYear Talking Toy (what were we thinking!!??)


She said...."She used my glitter & my perfume! Next time I'm leaving her a note to pay me $2.99 for using my stuff!"
I better try a little harder next time. 



December 16--She actually pulled the second tooth out!!! I screamed! She was so excited & proud that she talked non stop for 1 hour. WHEW!!



No better way to show the love a daughter has for her mother than a pie in the face! (fundraiser at school)

 

Nothing better than throwing pie in your mamma's face!

Friends that get pie in the face together stay together! Thanks for being such a fun friend Franny!

— with Sara Johnson

 

Hooligans enjoyed throwing pie in my face a little too much.



I'm wrapping presents & loved finding her making a Santa Sleigh, complete with Rudolph.

 

 

This struck me tonight, and sort of made my heart ache. I see myself, my sisters, and for that matter, all of you. Age. Life's curse, but also life's greatest gift.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/10/03/magazine/01-brown-sisters-forty-years.html?WT.mc_id=AD-D-E-KEYWEE-SOC-FP-DEC-AUD-DEV-DSK-1201-1231&ad-keywords=AD1214KW&kwp_0=5864&kwp_1=114034&kwp_4=44536&_r=1


10 cookies from Santa....check!! I am most excited about this gift!

 

Our first Christmas at home...kind of fun, kind of quiet, but cuddling with Ava watching 'It's a Wonderful Life' seems pretty sweet right now.

We walked into church & Father Jim, who knows us through school, asked Ava to carry baby Jesus up. Her & Travis (who was kind enough to escort Ava up when she got nervous & is in her class) walked together & sort of acted like stars of the show, waving & talking to their friends in the aisle. It was a crack. Andrea Wanner

 

 

And then you have to open & put together all the toys.... Merry Christmas Friends!

My first Christmas Feast...

 

Tradition.

 

 

Remote Control Flying Plane. Winner.

 

I can now tune out the world when needed. Winner!

 

My Mom gave up Christmas for the first time in 17 years. Her reward, Ava asked someone other than me to put her to bed for the first time in 6.5 years. Give & Take. Thanks Mom. Our first Christmas in our own home ends sweet.

 

 

Second Christmas=basement dance party. Happy Birthday Baby Jesus. Rosanna Harris Seabold

 

Because every kid should be reading Captain Underpants...

 

We've moved the party outside with a firepit... Cold weather? Who cares when there's enough wine flowing.

 

 

Fierce!
Missing my sister Jennifer & James Bernard Conn
— with Mark Seabold and Rosanna Harris Seabold.

 

Happy New Year...celebrations are quite different these days, but I wouldn't change a thing. Love to all of you in 2015.

 

 

Cheers to 2015!

 

 

Random Christmas pictures that make me smile over good memories and lots of laughs...