The Fighter's

These pictures don't do the fun justice - these kids are pure entertainment.  And they had a blast.  I can't tell you how many bribes it took to try and get them all to look at the camera at the same time - they were all too enamored with the lights, train and mechanical Christmas figurines to pay attention to any picture takers.  I love Christmas and watching their little eyes light up.  So much fun! And...they got to see Santa!  Jet was unimpressed, Ava brown nosed a bit, Kate excitedly went with the flow, Mattingly just stared at him - and Olivia wanted nothing to do with him:-)  Hilarious! Too interested in the "goody" bags to say cheese!   Love this one:-) Captures their current personality traits!  Kate's face is priceless to me in this one:-)   I love these two little amigos!  Olivia and Jet anxiously awaiting for the train.  They kept laughing and jumping up and down as we stood in line! We had some fights over the bell ...

Loves his grandkids so... He loves his Mattingly...and MJ obviously loves sleeping in Grampy's arms.  I think this may be one of his favorite grandpa duties.  Who can blame him!

Doug and I took off for Columbus for the weekend (thanks grandma & grandpa!!) for a couple of Doug's work parties.  Friday night we were at the North Market in downtown Columbus - such a great setting and even better company.  Saturday we slept in, went to one of our favorite restaurants for a super yum lunch (Cap City), tooled around town and then back to the hotel to get ready for the second party - so nice to take our time throughout the day, relax and just be with each other...like the old days!  We had a great time both nights - the people Doug works with are fantastic...and their better halves even better:-)  I am truly thankful for this group of people! The T-town "office".  It's growing!   T-town boys:-)     The gang on Saturday night!   Danielle taking a break:-)   Jeremy the Italian bartender.   Sean "the boss" drink mixer and his sidekick Tancredi.  Doug can't believe his eyes.   Our favorite Canad...

Winter party time at school!  Winter owls, Christmas cookies, jingle bell reindeer, snowflake coloring and a game of Jack Frost Freeze were all part of the day.   Ava has such a sweet, sweet class of kids - they had so much fun (Kate did too!).

Christmas party time!  Our second one of the season - love these nights out this time of year with my favorite guy in the whole world.  Not much gets better than yule tide cheer! Another favorite thing...10 years ago we took our very first Christmas tree picture in front of this very tree.  The tree is now leaning at an 82 degree angle...but it's still lovely in my mind mainly for the sentimental factor:-)   Some of my fun T-town girls!  Yay for Christmas!

What happens when you cross an Ava Bean with a trip to Grammy's + lack of sleep + Christmastime? Slap Happy Bean. I love the last pic...Kate's looking at her like "girl...you're so crazy!"  Olivia just got the heck out of there.