Christmas fun in many ways

Hello all:

We will start out this blog with the installing of our Christmas tree. Unfortunately since this video was taken we got a bum tree and it is getting pretty crispy.

We keep misting the needles and will enjoy it until Christmas. One of our favorite movies is Christmas Vacation and this was a Christmas Vacation moment.

Sorry it is sideways.





Mom decided to wear the tree skirt. Isn't she cute.




Last weekend I went to be with Melissa and the girls to
celebrate Ashley's 11th birthday.

We started the day by going back to Avila Barn to smell the
Christmas trees and I took this cute picture of Amanda & Ashley.



We then went back to the house so Ashley could open
some of her gifts a little early. We had to let her do this because
she was going crazy because all of her wrapped gifts were
waiting there for her.

She got silly gifts along with her real gifts.



Getting ready to open



What a mess



She got a little baby tree that she can plant in
spring time



Ashley is also taking a music class in school and they have
been playing the recorder. Tom & Sue gave her a little
recorder and she gave us a concert. Talent and brains.



Melissa gave her sugar coated pecans, mostly
because Melissa had bought some for herself and
she had eaten most of the bag. Hopefully she shared
with Melissa.



Since her birthday is not till the 17th she still has to wait
for the rest of the presents but here are the ones she got.

The movie WALL-E, a gift card to Claire's and a bottle of
ketchup as Ashley puts Ketchup on everything.



Sister's hanging out before dinner.




I made her homemade brownies and we
put a candle in it for her.



We also had extra dinner guests for
her birthday which included Sam, John, & Uncle





Uncle and Domino have become friends.



Poor Domino became humiliated because Melissa insisted
on dressing him up as Santa. Poor Dog.



Most of you might have heard but Amanda made the
cheer leading squad this year. She is a Paulding Patriot
Cheerleader. Isn't she cute.









Just a couple of Ho's in our HoHoHo shirts.



Melissa had a shiny Christmas tree in
her room. Isn't it cute.

Most of you don't know what a self-less
humanitarian Uncle Tom is. He gave up his bedroom
to Melissa when she moved in. So instead of using an Aerobed
or sleeping on a couch, be built himself another bedroom in
the garage. I just had to share .



View from the outside



The inside wall with his Jack collection



Sam & John check out Uncle Tom's tempurpedic mattress.

Before I left we went to Arroyo Grande to hang out at the
swinging bridge. One of the interesting things is that there are
wild chickens and roosters that hang out. Some kind person
has left dry cat food and a place for them to sleep.






Rooster house



Manda & Ashley by the stream



My girls on the swinging bridge.