Merry Christmas!

Olivia was thrilled to wake up and find the Princess tent she asked for all set up in the living room for her from Santa. It fits on her bed and she is so excited to sleep in it tonight!

Waiting eagerly to open the presents on Christmas morning.

We started the morning out opening the gifts for just our family (Andy, Olivia, and I), and then Dad and Patty, Elizabeth and Jared and the boys all headed over for the rest of the gifts. After opening too many gifts as usual, we had our annual Christmas breakfast before everyone cleaned up and headed out. The afternoon was spent at Andy's parents opening again too many gifts and eating way too much.

All the cousins still smiling after all the gifts are opened!

Another huge hit from Santa were Anakin and Darth Vader light sabers that light up and make noises. I'm not sure who enjoyed them more Olivia or daddy. At the moment the two of them are snuggled up on the sofa watching Star Wars the Clone Wars (her special gift from daddy). It was a wonderful day to celebrate with family. We are all grateful for the many gifts we received. Thank you all and God bless each and everyone of you. Merry Christmas!

More pictures from Andy's family Christmas to come...

The days preceeding Christmas...

Aunt Joan and Scott treated my sister's family and mine to a nice lunch and marvelous conversation at the Fantail on Sunday, December 21st. Of course it had to be the coldest day yet this winter (after all it was the first true day of winter), and the roads were treacherous. Joan and Scott still braved the environment and made the trek up to see us. We drove the two blocks as well and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of catching up and opening a few gifts. Joan has always been so good to us and continues to be so as we get older. It's nice to have her so much closer these years, although with schedules we still don't get to see enough of each other. Still it's nice to know she is so close if we ever do need her.

Olivia all dolled up to go meet Aunt Joan and Scott for lunch at Fantail in the freezing cold below zero weather.

Care Bear books! What could be greater?

Sprinkling out the reindeer food for Rudolph and his friends on Christmas Eve before we left for church.

All smiles at Grandma and Grandpa McNeil's house Christmas Eve night after a good dinner and waiting to open one gift early!

Andy, Olivia and I did the usual Christmas Eve service with my dad and Patty, and then dinner at their house. After we opened our annual one gift early (always pajamas), it was a nice relaxing evening filled with anticipation for our little 3 year old. This is the first year I think she's really gotten the concept of Santa coming and been so anxious for the next day. She was a lot of fun this year! In the past we have also tried to manage midnight mass, but with Olivia it is too late of a night.

Callie reunites with Molasses

Sadly, Andy's parents had to put Callie down today. They discovered she had cancer of the lymph nodes, and decided it was the best option for her. She will be terribly missed and was a great dog. Olivia is upset that she no longer has a dog to sleep with at her house or at Nana and Papa's house. She is happy that Molasses has a friend in "Doggy Heaven." Olivia did go over to say good bye to Callie one last time today. It's been a rough season with the dogs in our lives lately, but hopefully 2009 will bring about a change.

Callie sleeping on Olivia's bed with her at Nana and Papa's house.

Cuddling with Callie

One of my sisters and my favorites growing up was putting on the record (yes, I know I just dated myself) Mousercise. It never made it to the CD era, but has made it to itunes. Of course I had to purchase it for Olivia and I to dance to. I also had to make a copy for Elizabeth and the boys. What could be greater than exercising with your favorite Disney characters? The above picture is Olivia doing her side bends to one of the songs. Anyone out there who'd like a copy of the CD just let me know!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Saturday, December 6th Olivia and I got bundle up and drove the short distance to Santa's house (which she's quite proud of knowing her daddy built many years ago) at the Free Church Park in Sturgis. Last year we walked and it was so frigid, so we knew better this year. Olivia was excited to be the first to pet the reindeer named Holly. Every year when Santa blows into Sturgis he brings the winter weather with him, and this year was no exception, but it wouldn't feel like Christmas without it.

She waited fairly patiently for her turn to see Santa and Mrs. Claus. Once we entered she jumped up on his lap and when he asked her what she wanted she told him a candy cane. She remembered getting one from him last year. He quickly obliged her sweet request, and then she proceeded to tell him she wanted a princess tent, the movie Bolt (of course still in theatres and not available on DVD yet), and a light saber. After our cold morning we headed to Great Lakes to warm up with a hot drink and delicious soup!

Strutting her cute Santa sweater from Nana and Papa in front of the tree before we left for the Lung's annual Shop Christmas party.

On Sunday, December 7th we had the joyous pleasure to take Olivia for the first time to Chuckee Cheese for Zsolt's 3rd birthday. Unfortunately I forgot to take the camera and have no pictures of a fun, but exhausting day. It was definitely worth the trip to see both of my kids (Andy included in that) have so much fun, but not something I am up for on a regular basis. She won the gorgeous earrings she is wearing above while there, and the rest of the bling was a belated birthday gift from Zsolt.

Memories of Molasses

Most people don't know how Molasses got her name. Years ago when Andy and I were first dating we were being all sweet and telling each other that we loved one another. I told Andy that I loved him more than molasses. We both laughed at my choice of the word molasses, but it was the first thing that popped in my head. The saying "I love you more than molasses," became our little silly saying to each other. Well, as the years progressed I told Andy if we ever got a dog I wanted to name him or her Molasses. We were engaged when we went and got Molasses through a rescue. When we first met her, they were calling her Blondie (why we still have yet to figure out). We decided Blondie was not a good name for her, and I remembered my Molasses name. She was the color of it and moved like it. The name was perfect and she responded to it the first time we called her Molasses like it had been her name all her life! So our beautiful Molasses entered our life and our cute saying exited our life. After all how could we now tell each other that we loved one another more than Molasses?

My big sweety barreling down the stairs

Olivia and Molasses, best friends

Olivia's first riding lessons were on Molasses. Molasses was so content to let Olivia ride on her.

Christmas cuddles

Goodbye Molasses!

As I sit here sobbing at the computer, I have to reflect on all the happy times we had with our Molasses. Unfortunately she passed away last night as we were heading to bed. She came upstairs with us, went into her crate, made a short whimpering sound and was gone. Olivia was staying the night with Nana and Papa so she wasn't here and doesn't know yet. I didn't get much sleep last night, and I just keep thinking about how I am going to tell Olivia. I remember when I was pregnant with Olivia telling Molasses that I didn't think it was fair to the baby I was carrying because I couldn't imagine loving the baby more than her, and I truly felt that way at the time. Andy and I used to joke that if we ever separated we'd be good about letting each other have shared custody of Olivia, but we'd have to get lawyers involved over who got Molasses. At least she went quick and peacefully at home with Andy and I by her side, but we are going to miss her terribly.

Sweet puppy kisses

A Time for Family

Andy's cousin Jason was married to his beautiful bride Melody on November 1st. It was a great time to get to see family from all over the U.S. back together again. Above is Olivia dancing and being her silly self with great grandma, up from Arkansas. Below Olivia snuggles with Aunt Doris a.k.a "Aunt Diva," who drove in with her son Danny from NY.

Robert and Aunt Jen also were in attendance at the wedding. I finally got to meet Andy's Aunt Debbie and her two sons, who flew up from Texas. I'm so glad that most of the family was able to make it to the wedding in Ohio.

On November 8th, baby James turned 1! Here he sits after the tears have finally dried because they took his new toy away from him so he could eat some cake. He did end up fairly messy, but not as much as messy as most one year olds do. It's hard to believe a whole year has passed already. He's getting so big and starting to walk. He truly is such a sweet boy, but why wouldn't he be with an aunt as sweet as me?

Happy Halloween!

Olivia and Mommy

Standing like a flamingo

Trick - or - treat!

Our immediate next door neighbors go all out at Halloween every year. They even advertise their annual balloon launch in the newspaper which literally brings hundreds of kids to our neighborhood. I had at least 350 pieces of candy to pass out and we ran out after about 1 1/2 hours! Our little flamingo had a marvelous time trick or treating and helping me pass out candy. Afterwards we even went to Jimmi Jo's, her favorite ice cream store, that was giving out free ice cream for their last day of the season.

OLIVIA IS 3!

Well Olivia's 3rd birthday has come and went. We celebrated with just family on Sunday the 19th. As usual, she was spoiled and got way too many items, but is appreciative of them all. On her actual birthday Olivia celebrated with her friends at Jackie's during the day. I had a night class so she went to the pool with Andy for a bit and they went out to eat together. Mommy also arranged for a scavenger hunt for Olivia to find one more gift on her actual birthday. My little princess needed a gift just from Mommy and it just so happens that Sleeping Beauty just came out on DVD. It's hard to believe she is 3!

Olivia and daddy sporting their Ohio State attire. Go Buckeyes!

Queen for the day!

She was great at giving huge hugs to everyone after opening their gifts. Even Robert got a hug!

A tractor from my big kid (Andy) to my little Olivia. He's having as much fun with it as she is.

Fall Flowers, Pumpkins, and Horsing Around

Picking out some mums at Byler's

Which pumpkin to pick?

Our first trail ride led by Aunt Jen with Nana close by

Anyone looking for a last minute birthday gift for Olivia, she wants a real white horse like this one!