Added "security"

Over Christmas break someone broke into our house and stole most of our valuable items. They took our big screen TV, our desktop computer, our Wii and all the games, our DVD/VHS player, our smaller TV, our fancy laser printer, my school issued laptop, my Scrabble game (I know, weird, right?), and almost all of our movies. All of these things can be replaced...it will be expensive, but they can be replaced eventually. What cannot be replaced is the sense of security that was taken away from me and the kids.

Sammy has always had a fear that someone would break into our house and rob us. I always told her that she didn't need to worry and that we were safe because we locked our doors. Now what can I tell her???

When we got home from our trip, Sammy was so terrified to go into our house that she was curled up in a ball under her blanket in the front seat of the car. It took Mike carrying her into the house and walking room to room with her to reassure her that it was okay. Even still, she was so scared that she didn't want to be left in a room alone. So, while I unpacked and tried to deal with what needed to be done, Mike laid on the ground in the living room with Sammy and watched two of her movies with her so that she didn't have to be alone. Then at bedtime when she was still scared, he agreed to sleep on our couch so that she would feel safer. (It helped me to feel more secure as well.)

NOTE: I love this picture of Sammy with Mike. They are so cute together!

Headbanded

While we were in West Virginia, we had to find clever ways to entertain ourselves. We played a lot of games. This one was called "Headbanded" and was pretty funny. Each player had to wear a headband with a card on it. By asking yes/no questions, each person had to try to guess what they were.

Some of the funniest questions came from Uncle Paul. At one point (while he was wearing a picture of a tomato) he asked "Do people keep me as a pet?" It was hard not to laugh at that one!

Personalized T-shirts

For Christmas this year, Uncle Pete created t-shirts for the kids. Jonathan's is a Harry Potter Puppet Pals shirt. He loves it! And Sammy's is a special creation - a shirt for "Sammy's Dog Walking Service". Rainbow colored, of course.
Probably the best compliment Pete could have received was the comment Jonathan made. He told me, "Mom, just so you know, I'm gonna wear this shirt every week!" Such a fun and creative gift!

Christmas with Grandma Miller

We had a great time visiting Grandma before Christmas. She even put up a Christmas tree for the first time in years. We stayed up late talking, went shopping at the mall, and went out to eat at Red Robin. YUM!
It was a fun visit and we hope to get back out there again soon.
NOTE: Again, thank you to Jonathan for his willingness to snap photos with me in the shot. Proof that I was actually a participant in the event for a change.

Messy fun

While we were in Virginia, I had the chance to visit my good friend, Lamar, and his kids. He made ribs on the grill (while standing in the freezing snow) and the best potato salad I have ever had! (I still need to get that recipe...)After dinner, we decorated a bunch of sugar cookies I had brought with me. His kids. Derek and Abbie are such cute kids. We really had a good time. And I don't think we ended up making too much of a mess...

Road Trip Buddies

Whenever we take a road trip, Sammy kind of takes over the front seat. Jonathan says he doesn't mind too much since it gives him the whole back seat to stretch out in. When she begins to get bored (and a little slap happy), Sammy starts pretending her feet have personalities.

She named one Fred and one Bob. They "talk" to each other and play on the dashboard. She's such a silly thing! At least she can entertain herself...

NOTE: Thanks to Jonathan for the fun pictures!