A Merry Little Christmas

And he brought with him the Mac Daddy of all doll houses . . .
the Fisher Price Happy Family Grand Dollhouse.
(John and I nicknamed it the "Poor House" because that's where you are after you buy it.)

Good thing for Santa!

I was the first one up in the house . . . begging John to get up! (unusual)
I was so excited I couldn't sleep.

I couldn't wait to play with the Happy Family.
Check that out - stainless steel appliances!

Megan taking a peek over the balcony.

She said, "Oh my. A big, big house. A big, big house!"

She ran right over to it.

This is what ecstatic looks like.

Hugging the appliances!

I love the look of pure joy on her face.

I love Christmas with a kid!

This camera takes photos/videos underwater to 33 feet.

It will really come in handy on our next snorkel/scuba adventure.

After we opened gifts and had a heart healthy breakfast (egg casserole with sauage)

we went to my mom's house.

My dad (whose name is Mike, by the way) gave me this present.

Think he wants Fetus XX ? XY to be named after him????

I love Christmas!

Our Crazy Christmas Eve 2008

Dressed and ready for a night at Aunt Katie's . . .

Now on to the festivities . . .

This year, I drew the highest number . . . meaning I chose my ornament LAST. I got to see what ornament everyone else chose and take the best one. (i.e. the one I brought)

I've waited many Christmas Eve's for such a moment!

Here I am gloating.

And so the ornament exchange began . . .

How funny . . . two people brought the same ornament.

And it was finally my turn . . .

I chose to steal my niece's ornament.

Who let the kid play this cut throat game anyway???
I'm too competitive to play with children. Everyone knows that.

A little good natured taunting

to prepare Bri for the cruel world in which we live.

Then Megan drew a smiley face and everyone was happy.

Merry Christmas Eve.

Then we went home and left some treats for Santa and the reindeer, read some Christmas stories, and tucked Megan into her bed.

Then St. John and I had some sparkling grape juice

as we snuggled on the couch and waited for Santa Claus to visit . . .

(to be continued . . . )

Found . . .

in the bottom of the washing machine!

Thanks for all your well wishes . . .

. . . and I'm really happy I didn't have to go digging through poopy to find it. EWWWWWW.

Missing . . .

My diamond wedding band is lost. I left it on my nightstand last night when I went to sleep. This morning, Megan was playing with the engagement ring on the floor but the wedding band was nowhere to be found. We've asked her, promised her lots of candy, etc but she is not able to help us find it.

We've been tearing the house apart all morning. I'm sick inside thinking we'll never find it.

Any ideas where a two year old might stash a diamond ring??? We have insurance on the value of the ring, but it is really not replaceable in my heart. It is the ring he slipped on my finger when he promised to love me forever. How much is that worth?

Have some pull with God? Can you say a little prayer for me?

Know a psychic? Have good luck with the magic 8 ball?

From our house to yours . . .

I'm so excited for Christmas I can barely stand it.

Megan isn't too excited about Santa though . . .

Megan: I'm afraid of Santa Claus.

Mommy: But he brings lot of toys!

Megan: I have toys.

St. John was soooooo proud.

If I Only Had a Brain

How could an unborn child the size of a sesame seed be responsible for me completely losing my ever lovin' mind?

Ever heard of pregnancy amnesia???? I'm suffering from a severe case.

A few nights ago I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things. After I shopped around for a while and stopped to chat with a fellow city council member, I checked out and realized I couldn't find my keys. In a complete panic, I dumped the contents of my 38497345893 pound purse . . . no keys. Where are my keys? WHERE ARE MY KEYS? Where are my keys?????

As a last resort, I went outside to check in my car. I was doubtful because my car won't lock if the keys are inside the vehicle. Lo and behold, there was my vehicle . . . STILL RUNNING in the parking lot with the headlights on and the radio still playing. WTH? Although it was great that the car was still nice and toasty warm . . .

Attention all car thieves:

The seat warmer is still on, the CD player is full of rockin' dance tunes (and a little Elmo), and the engine is still running.

Wanna steal me?

(And John, this story is a figment of my overactive imagination, invented as fodder for my blog. You didn't think I was this seriously reckless with our vehicle, did you???? :)

Then today I went to the mall to pick up a few final items for Christmas. When I was finished I realized I had no idea where I parked. Now, I'm not talking I didn't remember what aisle I left my car. I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT END OF THE MALL I ENTERED, WHAT STORE I WAS NEAR . . . NOTHING. Good thing it was 9 degrees today . . . kept me from getting too hot as I jogged about 4 miles around the parking lot searching. I almost started crying but it was too cold to get my face wet.

But John . . . look on the bright side . . . at least I didn't leave it running this time . . .

Christmas with the Kellers

Every year, the Keller family gathers to celebrate Christmas, sing carols, and exchange gifts. Since we are so geographically dispersed, we do this before the actual holiday. This year, Laura hosted in Dayton, Ohio.

Not pictured:

The Dunkman Clan, Paul and Mercy, Tom and Tammitha, Nick, Allison, Kelly, and

"the Fetus XX ? XY"

Mom and Dad Keller

My cookies . . . they were brushed with luster dust to give them a shimmer . . . and they were super delicious.

And continuing our reign of destruction at holiday events, Megan broke a ceramic snowman into a billion pieces on the floor. Sorry Aunt Laura. I think it was John's turn to watch her :)

Flame Broiled Flop

"Burger King has launched a new men's body spray called "Flame," which it describes as "the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat." The fast food chain is marketing the product through a Web site featuring a photo of its King character reclining fireside and naked, except for an animal fur strategically placed to not offend."

This is not a joke. Read the full article here.

Is it possible that we have hit rock bottom????? Yeah, I'm not fat enough! I need a little help here. I want my man to smell like a Whopper Junior . . . ummmm . . . now that's sexy.

Seriously, Burger King has it ALL wrong.

If they are trying to turn me on with a scent, they should create one called Freshly Cleaned Toilet. They should show the King character bent over the bowl, scrubbing off his own soiling. He could even be wearing animal fur . . . I don't honestly care . . . as long as the toilet gets cleaned and I DON'T HAVE TO DO IT.

Yeah, now we're talkin . . .

Need to Know Need to Know Need to Know Need to Know

OK . . . so I know I announced the news of my preggo status a little soon by some standards. (I was able to wait about a week before saying anything . . . that's the best I could do.) I'm just seriously jumping for joy, ecstatic, over the moon excited. How am I supposed to keep that to myself???

I think I might be even more excited this time around. (if that is even possible) I've been through this once before . . . I know the explosion of joy that will fill my heart when I see my baby for the first time. I know all about the long nights we'll spend together in the rocking chair, the intoxicating smell of newborn baby breath . . . the way my heart will skip a beat the first time I see him/her smile. Before Megan, I had no concept of this devotion, no idea my heart could hold such enormous love.

Pregnancy apparently makes me sappy.

It also makes me ridiculously curious. I feel the insatiable urge to know the baby's sex. I'm actually not sure if the baby's sex has even developed yet . . . but that's neither here nor there.

What should I do?????? Consult the magic 8 ball? The Chinese Lunar calendar? Wait for the ultrasound? (impossible)

I actually found the perfect solution. This website offers DNA testing to tell you the sex of your baby as early as 7 weeks!!!!!! Yep, you prick your finger, put the blood on the card and mail it to them . . . all for only $194. A true bargain!

Then I could start shopping for cute little hats to put on her head . . .

Or cute hats to put on his head . . .

Do they make cute hats for boys? If so , where can I find them?

I am critically unprepared to dress a boy.

See why I need to know the answer to this question immediately?????????

When I asked my sister if I should do the DNA testing lab, she replied . . .

"We're in the middle of a recession and you're seriously asking me this question?"

I guess she's not in favor of the idea for some strange reason.

John just put his head in his hands and had no reply whatsoever.

Hmmmmm . . . I think that means he's leaving it up to me.

What do you think??? Should I do it???

What's Cookin' Wednesday

A Bun in My Oven ! ! !

I'm sure you already know how to make this recipe.

And in keeping with my tradition of providing mood music for your cooking pleasure . . .

Ever laugh so hard cauliflower came out of your nose?

The rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.

The Suburban Chic

2. Post the rules on your blog

3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself

4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs

5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

6. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

Six things about myself:

1. Some people say I have a "flair for the dramatic." I think I just feel things more strongly.

2. I was a police officer in the ghetto for 4 years and loved every single heart racing, adrenaline pumping moment of it. I earned the nickname "mightymouse" from the guys after I chased an armed suspect over a fence and down an alley . . . finally catching him and cuffing him . . . all before my "backup" arrived. I'm kinda tough like that.

3. Sometimes I watch my husband play with my daughter and think . . . if I was a kid, I'd want him to be my dad.

4. I'm seriously immature . . . and I laugh a lot.

5. At Thanksgiving dinner with my family, I laughed so hard cauliflower came out my nose. I'm not kidding. It hurt.

6. Some people, like Beyonce, have alter egos named Sasha Fierce. Sasha comes out when Beyonce is feeling all sexy and vixen-like. I have an alter ego too. Her name is Spendy Wendy, and she rears her ugly head every time I step into a Target.

I tag Livin' Life Patino Style, The Mulders, Life as a Mom at 21, James*Ashley*Bella , Mayhem in the Midwest, Jillene