One more photo of our girl

Catching up

 

I have been slacking on the blogging this month, because I have been working non-stop on my school work.  I am proud to say that I have completed my Master's degree program!!!!!! It definitely was a tad more challenging with Little Miss Chloe around to help distract me and I am a such a sucker.  I would much rather play a game of hide and seek with our baby girl over my studies, but I managed to finish all the 1 million papers and exams! 

There is one funny little Chloe-ism that I must share before I go.  The other day we were driving home from Avon and Doug was in the backseat with Chloe.  He was singing her the Elmo song (she has grown super fond of Elmo lately).  The song goes "La, la, la, la Elmo's song. I wrote the music, I sing the words."  Well, Doug sang "I wrote the music, I sing the sing the song."  Chloe quickly corrected him by saying " No Poppa, words".  We were dumbfounded! Man, we better not slip up around this little booger, especially when it comes to Elmo's song. 

   I have much, much more blogging to catch up on, but this will do for now.  :)  

Pesky Paparazzi got us again!

The photogs from Nuvo snapped a pic of Doug and I kissing at New Years and put it in the paper.

New Years Eve 2010

We got all gussied up for a New Years Eve masquerade ball in downtown Indy.  Doug bought me this Chinese dress on his first trip to China years ago.  I have been waiting for the appropriate event to wear it and what better place than a masquerade ball. My Mom and I traipsed all over, 12 different stores to be exact, looking for navy or red leggings.  We never found what we were looking for. So, we got inventive and made the ones I have on.  We bought a pair of red, lacy undies.  Mom cut them apart, and sewed them onto the bottom of the leggings.  Doug teased me all night about having my panties around my ankles:)    Doug looked pretty darn spiffy himself, rocking it out in the Fedora.  

We had sooooo much fun.  Our friend Audrey never fails on joining in the festivities!  As you can clearly see by the pics, we OWNED the dance floor, or at least in our minds we did!  I love the last pic, where I am stealing a new years kiss from my baby.  We celebrated our 14 year anniversary, that's right folks old Douggie and I have been a couple for 14 years.  I feel so lucky to be with someone like Doug.  We always have a great time together.  I cherish every minute with him.  He makes me feel like I am the only girl in the world.  Anyway, I know enough with all that mushy stuff.  

I love ya babe and thanks for showing me a night on the town.  It was epic! 

Christmas morning 2010

More of Chloe and her new kitchen!

Christmas 2010

Doug and I made this little kitchen for Chloe and she is absolutely in LOVE with it.  She woke up yesterday morning and ran in to the kitchen and said "coppee (coffee) Poppa?". She then put the kettle under the faucet and made the funniest sound effect of water running.  She spent at least an hour straight cooking for us yesterday.  We used our faucets from our old kitchen and the bowl is from Goodwill of course.  

We also made a kitchen for my nephews Carter and Griffy.  

The kids were quite the little chefs.

Mamaw and Pa made this unbelievable blanket for the boys.  They designed it themselves.

Here is a better pic of it.

Chloe giving her best dino-roar

We traded names as usual, but this year our gifts had to be either a re-gift, recycle, or from Goodwill. Doug and I (mostly Doug) crafted these walnut and oak end-tables from wood that Mom and Pop bought for us.  We think they are awesome and didn't want to give them away :)  Check out the book slots on the sides and under the top, pretty sharp eh?  We brought them into the house on a piece of plywood and stained them literally hours before the gift trade.  Talk about procrastinators.  

Mom finally got my name!  We have been doing this name trade deal for years and Mom has never picked me.  I was so excited to see what she would get me. She hooked it up with tons of kitchen stuff, all from the Goodwill.

 Here are some of the bowls Mom got me.  

And, it just wouldn't be an English Christmas without a gag gift.  Levi really had me going.  He gave me a nicely wrapped gift, which should have been a clue that I was about to get screwed over :)  He said he wanted to give me something special and just for me.  He found this wonderfully stylish outfit at where else, the Goodwill.  I was totally stoked, and had to try it on immediately.  And, to be completely honest I would rather get something like this than an outfit that I would actually wear.  We had too much fun trying it on.   Just wait till you see Pa's photo.  Although, the competition was tough, Pa defintitely took the prize for ba-ringing it.  You'll will see.  I think he liked it a little too much.  Oh, and if you must know I was breaking it down in my new duds during our Wii Micheal Jackson tournament.  I looked amazing!

Levi looking HOT, as usual ;)

Doug thought it would be a good pizza boy uniform.  We are thinking about mass producing these get-ups and pitching it to Little Ceaser's.  You may laugh now, but wait till we are raking in the dough. 

And here he is Ladies and Gentlemen!  Hold yourselves back.  The sexiest man EVER!  If the Little Ceasers deal falls through, we always have Ben-Hur (the company Pop works for).  There company colors are blue and white.  Just imagine all the iron workers showing up to the job-site in this, HA! 

Merry Christmas! It was a good one!

More to come

Just a little preview of Christmas Eve.  We have so much more to share, we are just too busy playing at the moment! 

Sweet and sugar-free

Chloe and I made these Poppy Seed cakes today.  I substituted Agave nectar for the sugar and used freshly squeezed orange juice for the topping.  I love to bake, but it always involves TONS of sugar.  I have been trying to substitute other sweeteners.  These turned out pretty darn good. 

Mommy and Chloe having a wonderful day together.

Chloe and I had an awesome day today, just hanging out, cleaning the house, and cooking. She is getting to be such a good helper.  She helps me with the dishes and sorting the laundry. She pulls the clothes out of the baskets and says "Poppa's clothes".  She is really good at holding the dust pan while I sweep the dirt into it.  We danced, laughed, and played with her baby dolls.  I have so much fun with her, she is always in a pleasant mood, and brings more joy than I could ever put into words.