Christmas 2009 with Hemmy

My brother got here on Christmas Eve. It has been 3 years since I last saw him. To say that our visit has been wonderful, is an understatement. Seeing my baby brother interact and play with my kids is the best gift I could have asked for this year. It has been one for the books.

The kids woke up right before 7:00 on Christmas morning. We spent the next 3 hours opening gifts. We would have been done a lot sooner (especially if HP had anything to do with it) but The Dude wanted to inspect and try out each and every gift. He had opened his stocking and present from Santa and was already raring to go outside. I guess he figured the other presents could wait (HP did NOT think that was cool).

It was a great morning filled with memories I will treasure until the day I die. But as always, I will let the pictures do the talking...

Here is The Dude with his trick bike he got from Santa (and helmet he got from GG...good call GG). He was ripping around the driveway like a bat out of hell. It was hilarious!

Figuring out the knee and elbow pads. At first I thought they would be unnecessary (but held my tongue because he was so excited about them). After seeing him whiz around on the bike...they are a really good call.

As was the case last Christmas the favorite stocking stuffer was balloon rockets and a pump. The cheaper the gift, the more they like it! :)
HP checking out her stocking. We had to wake her up and you can tell she is not really herself in this picture. A rare shot taken before she got her glasses on.
The Dude inspecting the colossal stocking!

Our "treats" for Santa. Beer, Milk, candy cane, cookies, crackers and shrimp dip!

The stockings were hung...Hemmy got a tube sock stocking. Keepin' it classy!

The Dude hanging his uncles stocking with care.
One of the many staring contests that have taken place in the last 72 hours! The Dude is surprisingly competitive and has won his fair share!
The. Best. Gift. Ever.

Easter (without the killer bunny)

As I was tucking the kids in on Saturday night, I commented to HP about how exciting it was that the Easter Bunny was paying us a visit that night.  Not a good thing to say.  

She went into full on freak out mode.  

Not only did her arms have a vice grip around my neck, but her legs were wound around my waist in a similar fashion.  I felt like one of those Orangutan mom's you see on the Animal Planet with her little baby clinging to her every move.  I am pretty sure I could have done a cartwheel and HP wouldn't have moved.

So, in order to get her to calm down and go to sleep I had to "call" the Easter Bunny.  I was able to strike a deal with him, that he would skip our house and leave all the loot at Yamma and Papa's house.  Thankfully, the Easter Bunny followed through with our request.  

Here are the pics from Egg Hunt 2009....

If I had a million dollars...

Inspired here by Barb a blog friend of mine, I decided to tell you all who made the "nice" list and what you are getting from me this year!

*drum roll please*

Starchy- For Christmas this year, you will be receiving a personal butler (a wrinkly old man, don't get your hopes up that Lucy Lu is going to waltz through the front door...perv.).  They will live with you and personally iron your clothes each night.  They will triple starch and get the iron nice and hot (just they way you like it).  Enjoy.

The Dude- For you I am building a giant indoor gym.  That way, when your boundless energy comes to a boiling point, you can run around like a chicken with your head cut off.  There will be climbing ropes and old school gym scooters as well.  Enjoy.

HP- I am getting you a jewelry box, filled with the best costume jewelry money can buy.  Because I have never seen a 3 year old so into accessories in all my life.  Enjoy.

Peanut-  I am getting you a daycare husband.  This way, when you have the "bride" dress on at daycare and none of your friends will marry you, you won't have to beg me as a last resort.  I promise he will play "prince".  Enjoy.

Swanny Jr.- I am getting you a temporary tattoo with Michael Jordan's head on it.  We are going to plant that sucker right on your bicep, tough-guy style.  The chicks are gonna dig it.  Enjoy.

Shmook-  For you, I am building "stairs to nowhere".  I figure you would love to have the opportunity to climb stairs to no end.  This way you can stop getting upset with me when I put the gate on the 3rd step up (I swear he is cursing me out in baby talk). Enjoy.

Sissy-  I have decided to turn all of the daycare meals into different flavors of milkshake.  This way you never have to suffer through eating food (blech!) and can drink all of your meals with a straw.  Enjoy.

Miss. Thang-  I have decided to appoint you "Boss of Daycare" for Christmas.  That way, when you are telling everyone what to play with/eat/sleep/breathe, they will actually listen.  Enjoy.

Francis-  For you, I am getting a Platinum Mastercard with no limit.  But don't you worry, credit cards are free money, so you don't have to pay it back.  Buy yourself some furs and diamonds.  No more wine tastes on a beer budget!  Enjoy.

Jen-  I am signing you up for a service that cooks your family a healthy dinner each night.  That way when Swanny is working, you can enjoy your evenings and maybe get an hour or two of solitude (and blog surfing) every once in a while.  That, and I am nervous that pretty soon all you will be eating is omelets. ;)  Enjoy.

Swanny-  I have set up a dinner for you with Barack Obama, Michael Jordan, Superman and J.A. Konrath.  I wanted to invite Harry Potter, but he had a scheduling conflict.  Enjoy.

Joanne-  For you, I have invented a travel pod with a direct line to the UK.  That way, when you are missing home, all you have to do is hop in and say the magic word.  You may have to lend it to my parents from time to time, but I told them you were nice like that.  Enjoy.

Kane-  You are getting socks.  I wanted to get you something cool, but you are always on the cutting edge so I went practical.  At least your feet will be warm right? I promise they won't be scratchy.  Enjoy.

Mom-  Much like Joanne's gift, I have decided to give you the gift of travel.  The only difference is yours is more "Star Trek" style.  You know, the whole "beam me up Scotty" thing.  Direct line from Toon-town to O-town.  Enjoy.

Dad-  I have bought you a house in the Bahamas AND it has a dishwasher.  That way you don't have to live where it is STUPID cold, and you can enjoy all of the modern comforts a dishwasher will bring!  Enjoy.

People who did not make the "nice" list:

Rod Blagojevich, Rex Grossman, Hillary Clinton & Sarah Palin

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Grandma D and Grandpa Spencer Visit!

I have a good reason for the lack of posts.  I really do.  My parents were in town.

It renders me physically incapable of posting on my blog.  

We were just too busy having fun that I barely sat at the computer all week (except or to play poker online with my dad).

I think we jam packed a months worth of activities into 10 days.  It was a blast.

The kids were completely over the moon to see their Canadian grandparents.  HP was constantly sitting on Grandpa Spencer's lap or holding his hand, and The Dude had a constant play pal in Gramma D, who were always playing kickball, feeding the creatures or chasing each other around.  Even though they don't get to see my parents as much as we'd all like, the kids had no qualms and were completely smitten the moment they walked through the door.

Here are a few pictures from our wonderful visit...

Random Rikki...

I have been neglecting the blog.  Sorry.  

I think I over celebrated with my 100th post and got burnt out.  That, and the fact that my camera has been sitting on the microwave with a dead battery leaves my blog pretty sad looking.  And, I have been glued to the TV watching Obama for the past 3 days straight.  I think I have a politi-crush...WHAT?  He's cute.  And smart.  And the next President (thank GOD!).

Plus, things here have been uber busy.

Daycare is rocking and the kids and I have been enjoying the last few days of fall.  They are calling for snow showers this weekend.  Which leads me to this question...

Is it wrong for me to want to get my Christmas decorations out already?

Now before you judge, think about this.  

I am going to Canada on Dec. 17th.  If I do the typical American thing and get my decorations up after Thanksgiving (for my commonwealth readers it is November 27th), I will only have two-ish weeks to get in the mood.  

I love Christmas.  It is my favorite time of the year.  Which is why I think I am going to have Starchy put Christmas lights on the house this weekend (shh...don't tell him, he doesn't know yet)...and go all out and decorate the house the following weekend.

Call me crazy, but I am getting the itch.

*Rikki stands up and raises her right hand*

"My name is Rikki, and I am a Christmasaholic".

Anyone else want to bum-rush Christmas with me? :)

Halloween Party & Parade

The Crew really embraced the sprit of Halloween!  

We had a costume party complete with witch's brew and homemade monster cookies.  

We had a parade which gave all of the kids a chance to strut their stuff and show off their costumes.  

Our day was fantastic!

The force is strong in this one...

Werewolf and his sister, the Cheerleader.

HP showing her cheering skills.  
Little Monkey man (he was even snugglier than usual in this outfit!).
Poor Sissy, slept right through the festivities.  
Butterfly and Bee!
The kids on parade.
The Crew
The little ones LOVED the wagon!  

Our Party (complete with a visit from Jo-Jo the clown).

Halloween Morning 2008

Miss. Thang and The Dude had their preschool Halloween party this morning.  They were BEYOND excited.

Miss. Francis was nice enough to do The Dude's makeup for his Werewolf costume (you will see the too-scary-for-preschool mask tonight).    He got to his class and was practically running on all fours.

Miss. Thang was SO cute in her little Bears cheerleading outfit.  

Check them out....

Halloween in the Hood!

My neighbor Dave loves Halloween.  

Although we had moved in to our current house by October of last year, we were so busy that we missed the full effect of Dave's preparations.

This year, we are taking it all in.

The Dude is BESIDE himself.  He couldn't get the words out fast enough when he saw him start putting up the decorations.  

"Mom!  Look...look...over there...at Dave's...HALLOWEEN!...we need to buy my Werewolf costume...NOW!"

HP was a bit more reserved.  She took one look at the decorations before declaring (with her little snobby nose in the air)

"I don't love it"

I am sure she will change her tune come Halloween.

Aren't we lucky to have such fun neighbors?

Edited to add:  In the 7th picture down, there is a rocking chair.  On Halloween night, Dave dresses up in a Reaper-like costume and sits perfectly still.  Right as the kids ring the bell and yell "trick or treat!" Dave springs to life and scares the pants off them (he only does this to older kids).  Living across the street gives me the best vantage point to watch Dave terrify the neighborhood kids.  It is AWESOME!