SQUAW ROCK

This was Joey's and Mark's 1st time going hiking at Squaw rock.

Both loved it!

Chris & I always have to go as far as we can go.

This little nook fit Joey jjuussstt right.

 The squaw herself.

 Grandpa and his babies.

SILLY GIRLS

GENERATIONS

We took generation pictures. 

They didn't come out as nice as Mark's family side, but that's because his family behaves better then mine does.

No one wants to take pictures in my family, but then they complain when they don't have any pictures of the family together.

It was also cold and everyone's sweaters didn't really color coordinate.

 But I don't care. I'm happy I got a family picture! And I know that years from now my mom, and Joey, will be thrilled too.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A REAL GOOD TAN

SQUIRE'S CASTLE

Dad, Chris, Mark, Joey & I went hiking at Squire's castle when we were visiting in Ohio for Thanksgiving.

It's hiking lite, by Mark's standards, but it was challenging enough for Joey.

She really did come down the side of that hill all by herself.

And we have the dirty dupies to prove it!

JOEY HILL ROLLING

SHE'S MY LITTLE ROCK & ROLL

We actually took her to the science museum next door. But we were too busy playing, we didn't really take pictures. 

Then we came over to the ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME, just to visit the gift shop and do some early Christmas shopping. (We do the exhibit practically every time we come, so we skipped it this year.)

Martina McBride - O Holy Night (Acapella))

ROLLING, ROLLING

A PARK ABOVE OTHERS

One thing you quickly learn when traveling with a child is that not all parks are created equal.

Joey is used to Miami parks. A park is a playground, maybe some sports fields.

But around Cleveland, a park is a nature preserve, always dog friendly, has hiking paths, AND a playground just to start with. 

We spent a lot of time outdoors while there.

Playing peek-a-boo in part of the tunnel in the playground at Sunny Lake Park, near Uncle Tom's house in Auroa.

Daddy enjoyed walking around the lake while we played, it's about a mile and a half around and wasn't sure if super girl was ready for that yet.

CHAGRIN FALLS

Every time we visit Grandma & Grandpa Higgins, we go to Chagrin Falls.

It will be nice to see Joey grow up, looking at the pictures of her in front of the falls through the years.

DOMINICK THE DONKEY

Z'AT YOU, SANTA CLAUS?

GENERATIONS

Well, sorry for the long break. Between the holidays and Disney and buying a new computer, I just haven't been posting.

Will catch up now.

These are pics that Mandy took in front of Mom-Mom's house in November. Some of you might recognize one of them from our Holiday card this year.

  

This IIISSS Christmas Music!

My mom, Chris & I were listening to Christmas music on the way to work the other day. This song started, and my mother turned to me with a scornful look and asked:

Mom: "I thought we were listening to Christmas music?"
Chris & I replied, immediately and in unison: "This IIISSS Christmas music!"

If you don't get the reference, you need to watch DIE HARD again.

It is a scene between John McLaine and the limo driver, Argile.

SILVER BELLS

My dad's favorite Christmas song.

Rod Stewart-Baby It's Cold Outside

TRANSIBERIAN ORCHESTRA: CHRISTMAS EVE SARAJEVO

My favorite Christmas song, ever.

And considering my Christmas music list, that is saying something.

I TOLD YOU SO

I was just told "I told you so!" by my 2 year old.
She had the exasperated I-told-you-so tone of voice and everything. 
And she was right.


My mother jokes that she should just start the day off by calling me on the phone and telling me that I was right and she was wrong, just to cover whatever happens in that day.


I wonder at what age I will have to do this too?

I'm Gettin' Nuttin' For Christmas

This song reminds me of Austin & Madison. 

Austin, doing the things that "boys will boys" do wrong, and Madison snitching on him.

BARBARA STEISAND - JINGLE BELLS - HOUSE LIGHTS

So starteth the month of Christmas music.

I always start with this song. 

My mom used to have a record player and this album. Jimmy, Chris & I would run around the couch in circles as fast as we could to this song, because it was so fast it inspired us, as kids, to do that.

That is part of what Christmas is for me, remembering and making happy memories with family.

B-A-T-H-R-O-O-M

Joey DID NOT want to use the bathroom on the plane. (Not that we blamed her.)
It was traumatic, and so she was a little anxious about bathrooms in general for a little bit after the flight.
We were about to walk into the movie theater yesterday when I said to Mark, 

Mommy: "I think we should take her to the B-A-T-H-R-O-O-M."

Joey: "I want to go to the H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P!"

LOUD MONKEYS

Helicopters and Balernias

Joey swims length of pool

AIRBOATING

A mechanical toy, his favorite dog, and his granddaughter. 

Life doesn't get any better then this for my dad.

Chris, doing his best Captain Morgan.

Why do women go to the bathroom in pairs?

Because they are trained that way from birth.

Nikki is an adrenaline junky too.

The girls loved wearing their "Minnie Mouse ears."

They also loved going fast, the wind, and seeing the animals. 

Maddie swears she saw an alligator... she's got better eyes then me!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

We had a blast at the TRACK or TREAT at Evelyn Greer Park.

Mom & Dad gave out water pouches to the kids AND Parents. 

Boy did that go over well! 

Dad remembered going with Joey last year and be so thirsty from all the candy. So he fixed it himself!

Rose (AKA Sleeping Beauty, AKA Princess Auroa) in her second pair of matching shoes for the day.

She wore the heels that came with the costume to school, and then learned the cardinal rule about breaking shoes in before wearing them. They hurt her feet and wouldn't wear them this evening, so princess flip flops were used. (She ended the night in princess house slippers, all matching of course.)
 

Yes, I carved the pumpkin. 

It is much easier then you think, they sell little kits at Target for like, $3.00. 

Joey picked out the design and helped me scrape the inside.

TEA TIME

She is such a girl!

Really, I don't know where she gets it from.

D-O-D-G-E ... HORN!

Joey was reading an ABC book in the car.
The picture for A showed a long line of ants.


Joey: "Look Mommy! A says La, La, La... lotta ants!"


Which reminds me:


When I was almost 3, I was playing in the driver's seat of my parent's Minnie Winnie. (a small motorhome, a Winnebago)


Michelle: "Look Daddy! I can read! D-O-D-G-E ... HORN!"
(Those were the letters spelled out across the horn, that I then beeped.)


Like mother, like daughter.

ANOTHER ZOO DAY.

Joey is NEVER going to get tired of the zoo.

 Doyle, Nikki & Maddie joined us a few weekends ago for a trip to the zoo.

 Another special discount weekend, by accident. As an annual pass holder, I need to stop going when everyone else is.

 I swear they had more fun with the fake animals then the real ones.

 Yeah... I don't know.

 The water play area in front of Amazon is a great way for the kids to cool off. Now they just need more shade for the adults on the sidelines.

 Maddie looks like she's being birthed, not pooped.

 What else did you expect from Mark?

 The father's couldn't be more proud.

PINK! BLUE!

Joey and I have a new game.
We call it "PINK & BLUE"


She started it.
 She was playing with one of her dress up wands. She looked at me, waved her wand and did her best to say Cinderella's Godmother's incantation "Salicadoo, la mentrica boo, la bibbity bobbidy, boo!" And then yelled out "PINK!"
I blinked and looked at her. (Since she was smooshing different scenes from different movies together, it took me a moment.)
Joey: "Mommy, you're pink!"
Mommy: "Ooohh! I got it!... BLUE!" and I ducked behind the corner so she couldn't get a clear shot at me. 
Joey: "PINK!"(giggling and smiling and just so thrilled.)
Mommy: "Uh uh! You can't see me! If you can't see me, you can't get me!


And so we spent some time running around the kitchen divide (and the rest of the house), ducking behind couches and tables, shrieking PINK and BLUE at each other and driving Mark crazy.


This has become one of our regular games to play now.


NOTE** For those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about... 

• We're you EVER a child!?!
• You need to watch Sleeping Beauty straight away.
• It is the scene when Mistress Flora & Mistress Maryweather are fighting over what color to make Rose's dress. They keep turning the dress, each other, and anything else that gets in the way, PINK or BLUE.