A Very Merry

Boy, am I behind! If you are like me you are WAY OVER CHRISTMAS, but in the interest of preserving memories for my family, here is a quick recap of our Christmas. We celebrated with Dann's family in Indiana over Thanksgiving and got the only real snow we have seen this season. We continued the tradition of drawing names and making the gifts. Next year will be the 20th anniversary of this tradition. It is always fun to see what everyone comes up with.

Sophie was an angel in the Thursday CLC Christmas program and sang in the choir in the Wednesday program.

We went to East TN for Christmas and had a great time despite over 20 of us getting a stomach virus! Fun times :0(. Papa and Grannie were very generous (as usual) and we are very much enjoying our Wii and Wii Fit! The kids had fun playing with Will, Jadyn, Logan and Asha and loved being spoiled by their aunts and uncles!

Groovy Gobbler

or Turkey Dressing part deux.

You may remember from last year that Macklin had to disguise

a turkey so that he would not get eaten for Thanksgiving.

We disguised him as Santa Claus last year.

This year she was given the same assignment and we had to out do last year (of course).

This is what we came up with.....

She is hoping to win a prize! (but she is not sure there is a contest :0) )

I have never baked a turkey in my life but if your turkey needs a beaded wig this holiday season, I'm your girl!

Happy Veteran's Day

Thanks to all who have served and defended our country so that we may enjoy the freedoms that we have.
Let us not ever take them for granted.

Remember

Do your part!

Go Vote!

Happpy Halloweeeen!

We joined the Gibson's for the 3rd annual Trick or Treat fest. The daddies took the kids out and Jana and I stayed at their house to pass out candy. Jeff and Dann were much more ambitious and took them to tons more houses than Jana and I ever have. The kids literally had all the candy they could carry. Dann reports that Sophie want to crawl the last half of the block! Even with all the sugar, everyone slept very well last night :0). Enjoy the photos of the skateboarder, Egyptian, cheerleader and transformers!

Well, at least it is not broken

This afternoon Macklin had an unfortunate tree house-wasp-shirt getting stuck on the ladder-falling and the ladder falling on her-hitting her head and injuring her arm incident.

She came thru the Bynums yard screaming and could not be consoled for awhile.

Now, Macklin has a tendency to lay a bit on the dramatic side of life but when it comes to injuries she is usually one tough cookie.

I really cannot recall a time that she cried that hard over being hurt. This includes the time her teeth bit thru her lip. So, needless to say, I was sure she had broken her arm.

We met Dann at the Tennessee Urgent Care (it was 6pm)to have it x-rayed. By the time she was seen she had decided that she would choose a pink cast and that Elijah could be the first person to sign it.

Well, the good news is that it is not broken, but the doctor said the muscle is bruised. She has to wear a sling for five days and then go back for an evaluation. After telling the doctor that she wanted to see the pictures of her arm (he immediately apologized and went and got them) she was a little disappointed to find that the slings only come in a drab blue. I assured her that we could dress it up some how.....this is what we came up with!

She went to bed with a sore arm but a smile on her face!

She is sure that she will have the cutest sling in school tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Grannie Annie!

Grannie Annie's Birthday from Ashley Zehr on Vimeo.

Famous

At least in my world!

Dann is involved in a local theater production of The Music Man that opens tonight.

The above photo was on the cover of the Rutherford Weekend today.

You can read the article here: http://www.dnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080924/WEEKEND01/809240314/1082/WEEKEND.

The show runs tonight thru Sunday and Oct. 2-5th. Tickets are available at www.lamplighterstheater.net.

Our "Zooper" Day

Ha, ha, ha.....sorry, I couldn't resist the pun! The kids had a 1/2 day off from school yesterday so we took advantage of the beautiful day to go to the zoo! A good time was had by all!

Trouble?

I just wrote a note to Macklin's teacher apologizing for her behavior at school today.

She got a smiley face instead of a star.

Her trouble?

She was dancing in the hallway!

Now obedience is expected at all times (though never accomplished 100% of the time) especially at school, but I'll admit that today's offense made me a little sad.

Wouldn't the world be a little better place if the rules were that we could all

take the time to dance when we were in the mood?

In the meantime we can just let Macklin do the dancing for us! (just not at school :0) )

A Really Good Photo

I received the following photo via email yesterday. My Uncle Vern took the photo the last time they were here. I don't know which is more precious.......the photo of her grubby hands fearlessly holding the frog or the words he wrote about her:

"Looking at this picture, One would assume that they are looking at the hands of some adolesent boy doing what boys do. But in reality they are the hands of my favorite tom-boy, Macklin Zehr my great-niece, and she is indeed a GREAT NIECE !"

I am very grateful for a family who are crazy about my kids and love them each just the way they are!

It's Baseball Time in Tennesseeeeeeee!!!!

At least for our family. EBZ moved up yet another league (11 and 12 year olds). They can play in the league that their age will fit come spring. Balls are pitched a little faster and everything is a little harder. His team is doing well (2 -1) and the team of boys that have played together for a while are back together after being split onto two teams last season. It is so awesome to watch them work as a true team....making double plays, picking off runners trying to steal bases and stealing plenty of bases themselves! E has had some great hits and has played right field, left field, shortstop and second base so far. It is shaping up to be a great season! As you tell by the photos, the girls make their own fun!

Happy Grandparents Day!

Grannie Annie, Papa Ben, Gramma and Granpa

We love you!

Huh?

The other day I came home and checked my caller id and this is what I found........

He did not leave a message!

Maybe he has heard about the stellar job that I do playing the evil stepmother when the girls play princesses!

I guess if Peter Pan and Tinker Bell start calling I will really get concerned!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

From your two greatest accomplishments!

We love you!

School Rules

Our school year has started off great! We have had happy mornings (for the most part) and fun times in the afternoons. Everyone is adjusting well to their new teachers and I am adjusting to my new little Pre-K students.

I'll admit I am struggling with the whole 5th grade thing. I am okay with the 2nd grade and 3 year old class placements because that is still young sounding. 5th grade just seems so OLD....my baby is growing up.......I feel like we are on the verge of something......honestly, I know we are.

They are all growing up so fast (too fast) but I am learning to smile thru the tears in my heart and cheer them on to new adventures. Motherhood is not for sissies!

Anyway, enough sap. I'll just close by saying that they brought home their TCAP scores from the end of last year. I am pretty sure I'm raising geniuses :0)!

My 2nd and 5TH GRADER!

Sweetie Sophie
Cupcake treats from one of my students

Happy Anniversary!

My parents have been married 40 years today! My dad likes to say that they got married when they were 10 :0) Truthfully, they were not much older at 18. I am blessed to come from a home with parents who love each other and their kids unconditionally. They are shaping up to be pretty awesome grandparents too! Happy Anniversary! We love you!

P.S. Happy Anniversary to my Aunt Linda and Uncle Mike too! They got married 38 (I think) years ago today! We love you too!

Hanging Around

If you happen to need some coffee and go into Espresso Joe's in Smyrna be sure to admire two watercolors in particular that adorn the walls.......

You just might know the artist!

Just Desserts!

Okay, we actually had dinner first. Macklin (with her lovely assistant Sophie) made dessert tonight. It's amazing what you can make out of some pastry shells, pudding cups and cool-whip! They used the grater to grate some chocolate to make them pretty and then topped them with raspberries. They were tasty too! I may have some Marthas (or Rachels) on my hands. Now if they could only learn to cook dinner..........

Question.......

Why, in my girls world of make believe, are they the princesses, Dann and Elijah are the princes and I get to be the STEPMOTHER? I am trying hard not to be insulted.......I guess it is better that being the evil witch passing out the poison apples!