Time to Catch Up a Bit

I can't believe we are coming to the end of the year!  Seeing as how I use my blog as a "family album" and have it printed every January, I need to do a little catching up and get some photos in here before I miss my chance.

So let's recap the last few weeks......

Starting with Thanksgiving at Sasha's:

I didn't take many photos this year. We were so busy cooking and chatting and enjoying one another that I didn't even think too much about it.  Hmmmmm.....   I did manage to take pics of the kids in the pool.  They associate Sasha's house with swimming and I don't care what the temperature is - they think they need to be in the pool.  I was near 80 out - 72ish in the pool.  I thought they were crazy.

Anne never went further than her legs

Jarod, on the other hand - well - he's Jarod.  

Russ was assigned the job of blowing up the huge inflatable turkey for them to take in the pool with them. I thought this was funny!

And we did manage some Face Time with Ashlea!  That was fun! 

We always enjoy our time in New Port Richey.  It's relaxing and away from our normal routine.

Thanks Sasha and Jeff for having us!

We came home early on Friday so we could get started on our Christmas Tree.  Anne helped Russ trim it and I managed to get the lights and my new AP garland on it.  Then we crashed.  Decided to finish the rest of it on Saturday.

After we saw Muppets with Marc, Sam and Chloe!

What a GREAT movie!  Growing up watching the Muppets - and having all of The Muppet Shows on DVD - Muppets are quite special to our family!  It was so much fun being able to sit next to Marc in the Theater and enjoy the movie!  The last time Muppets were in the Theater - I was pregnant with Jarod.  12 1/2 years ago.  So this was a MUST SEE and we were very excited.  And we have a new Muppet lover in the family as well - Chloe!  She did great!

After our Muppet fix - we came back home and finished decorating the tree.

These ornaments - plus my garland - really made my tree this year.  But I already wrote about that.

You can read that here.

I just LOVE my ApParent Project Stuff!

So all of that decorating, led to this final product!

 LOVE IT!!!!

Some of us helped more than others.......

And some of us just enjoy taking advantage of a new "spot".

Although she likes the couch arm too.....

I think she enjoys being a Franklin.  She has a pretty easy life around here.

So now we move on to Scouty things.... (is that a word?)

Last Monday was another Court of Honor for Jarod.  He received his First Class Rank.  Wow!  He has really moved up quickly in less than an year.  We are very proud.  He's getting closer and closer to Eagle!!!

 Photo courtesy of Anne (a little blurry - but thankful to have it!)

Mr. Haynes giving him another merit badge.  We love this man!  He is an awesome Scout Master and we are so very thankful to have him in Jarod's life.

This showed up in the mail on Friday!  VERY excited!!!  8 weeks from today and I'll be on my way to Haiti!

Also on Friday, we had our annual Christmas Cookie Decorating party.  We laid low this year and kept it to family - it was a lot of fun!

Sam and I spent the day baking on Thursday and then Friday night we all sit around a table that looks like this:

Don't you just want to dig in?

We had a new helper this year.  She is finally old enough to participate!

"I do it too, Tami!"  

She is just way too cute. 

The creativity in my family is amazing.  They always seem to take basic Christmas shapes and make them into something totally amazing - and yet not related to Christmas.

Jarod's MegaMind, Nemo and Spider Web.  I think there was a slice of pizza and an Minion from Dispicable Me in there as well.

Of course - my brother is the culprit!  Every year he challenges himself with something new.

See this concentration?

 Ya - it led to this:

A Ferrari Symbol.  Hmmmmm.  Maybe that's a hint for what he wants for Christmas!  LOL!

 Well, needless to say - a fun time was had by all!  This big mess led to all these beautiful cookies:

And MOST of them maintain the Christmas theme!  

Last, but not least, on Saturday Anne and I went to the Nutcracker Ballet at the Florida Theater!  It was part of her Christmas gift this year.  A day out with Mommy (cause the guys really don't care about Ballet - unless Anne is in it!)  

We got all dressed up:

She had to give me a Ballet pose, of course.  

And she had to take a pic of me. - The guys totally bailed on us and went to the movies!  So no pictures of us together.....

And off we went!  I was amazed to find out that she already knew so much about the story!  She kept telling me what was going to happen next.  She was totally mesmerized the ENTIRE time!  One of the girls that helps in her dance class played Clara - the lead.  Anne was so impressed by this.  It was a wonderful day and I am so thankful that we were able to make this memory together.

The Principle Dancers this year were professionals from Atlanta.  I was mesmirized by them!  Full of grace and poise!  They made everything look so easy!  I sincerely hope that Anne continues with Ballet as she gets older.  She definitely has the build for it - and she loves it so much!  This Tuesday is her Open House and Destiny Dance Center - more pics of that to come!

Until next time......