CUPCAKES FOR DADDY

Last night we made cupcakes for Chris's birthday. I rarely make cakes anymore because we throw most of it away. Making cupcakes is great because I can take half of them to work and share.


I gave Violet a cupcake to decorate herself. It of course had to have M&Ms and sprinkles.

She ate the whole thing.

Not exactly "manly" looking cupcakes, but Violet picked out the color.

FLASHBACK FRIDAYS

Happy Birthday Chris!!

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK

These are the only good picks I got. My camera battery was dead so I had to use my phone. Violet didn't say one word the whole time.

ARCADE

Chris has been wanting to make an arcade for about three years now. He finally started working on it over Thanksgiving break. It's already painted black. All it's cost us is the wood, buttons, and wiring. The tv was free from a neighbor and the computer inside is an old computer we had. The unit will hold Arcade games. Arcade, Nintendo & Super Nintendo games. A total of about 400-500 games.
The unit will have to live in the garage because there is just no room in the house. Plus everyone in the neighborhood can enjoy it if it's in the garage.

OUR OTHER BABIES

Willow, aka Will, Willomina, MissWillow.

Ivy-aka Miss Ivy.

Usually the tongue hangs out even further. It hangs out all the time now. Ever since she had a few teeth pulled last year. I think she's trying to compete with Mr. Winkles for cuteness.

Violet going to get chew-chews. The only time Willow will follow her. Violet loves giving them treats!

SICKIES

We're all getting over a cold and very lazy right now. It seems like everyone's favorite place right now is the bean bag. I love Willows expression!

FAMILY PICTURES

Last week we had our pictures taken. I was hoping for a full shot of the three of us but there were no good ones. These aren't bad but I think I like last years better. We picked the these first three to be printed. But I did think the last three were pretty cute too.

I GOT PINNED

I feel a bit old right now. Tomorrow marks 10 years with Hallmark. Today we had a little party and I got my gold crown pin. To me it feels like I just started but I think about everything I've done outside of work and 10 years feels like a lifetime ago.

FAVORITE SPOT

We brought the bean bag up from the basement last week and it's become Violet's new favorite spot.

I WANT A BUNNY CAR

I had a very productive Thanksgiving weekend. I managed to finish all the gifts that I had planned on making. One of which is this play mat for Violet. It's made of two sheets of 2x4 1/4" masonite. I made it to go along with her christmas gift which is the big Calico Critters house. The Calico Critters web site shows all the houses and playsets set in surroundings with trees and roads and I thought that would be really cute to make. Her play mat has a lake with a creek that will have a bridge (haven't made that yet), a small pond, grass, a rock path, bushes, and two large trees. I used leftover house paint from our many projects to paint the roads, sidewalks and water. The grass and bushes are wool felt.

This is the house she is getting.
She has the bunny family and small house now and will bet getting something Calico Critters related from everybody for xmas.

Here is what the mat looks like with the small house. Super cute when you see the house and trees set on the mat.


She will be most excited about getting the car though. Without being prompted we've asked Violet what she's going to ask Santa for Christmas. Each time she replies that she wants a car for her bunnies. She explains the car she has now is to small and her bunnies don't fit and fall out. She's been shoving her bunnies in my 1970's FisherPrice school bus and gets mad when they won't all fit or fall over.



So on Christmas morning we'll have the house all set up on the mat with the furniture, car, trees, her small house and bunnies all ready to play.

RUDOLPH

First time watching Rudolph.

FLASHBACK FRIDAYS

Maxine Hall (right) Great Grandma to Violet

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa Young's house.

Violet: What you doing?


Giving cousin Lauren a hug.

Kiddie table. Violet sat at the table for a while then ended up on my lap to finish eating.

At mostly ham. I think it's the most meat she's eaten in a month.

Happy Thanksgiving.

DECORATING THE TREE

Waiting patiently.

Helping.

More helping.

Wanting to eat the candy canes.
Violet: Can I eat that.
Me: No.
Violet: Why?
Me: Because it's probably 4 years old.
Violet: Why?
Me: Because I'm cheap and don't feel like buying them every year and no one eats them.
Violet: Why?
Me: Just because.
Violet: Why?
Me: Ugh.

XMAS TREE LIGHTING

Last night we went to the Mayor's Christmas tree lighting in old downtown Lee's Summit. Her elf hat from last year still fits.

First we stopped at the coffee shop downtown and got hot chocolate and Santa cookies.



About every five minutes Violet asked where Santa was. Of course when he finally arrived, on the fire truck, and walked up the side walk she hid her face.



We decided that we weren't going to talk to Santa tonight. We'll do that another night.