Growing!

 

This picture was taken in December 2008. Mike, Lauren, Renee and Janie. Notice that Lauren is the shortest cousin.

 

This picture was taken in June of 2009. We are standing on level ground. Yes, Renee is taller than me. But, the kid better look out because Lauren is hot on her heels!

Some old favorites...

I like making birthday cakes.

 

Lauren had a Monkey birthday this year, but I didn't have any chocolate frosting, so I talked her into a different color.

 

The pink panther cake has been used for both girls. We use the strawberry cake mix and frosting. Yummy!

 

This polka-dot cake was a frost-it-while-the kids-are-already-here cake. Renee had liked some polka-dot napkins, so that was the inspiration. A couple of the girls saw me "creating" it and were pretty impressed when I managed to frost the chocolate parts after the dots were already on.

 

I'm sure I have a better shot of this one somewhere... Lauren had a "day at the beach" themed part a few years back. The sand castle idea came from Family Fun magazine and the sand is graham crackers.

I have taken a couple of Wilton classes that have improved some of my techniques. But, mostly I just love a chance to be creative!

Congrats girls!

Renee tried out for the High School Softball program. She beat out several girls, including 2 returners, to make a spot on the JV team! Results were posted last week Tuesday. She has had at least 2 hours of practice every school day since. They have been working the girls very hard. She has been working as a pitcher and that involves even more rigorous training. Her first game will be next Friday. It will be a Varsity mixed with JV playing against themselves. We are so excited to see her play again!

Go Bulldogs!

 

Lauren had been going to work-outs and try-outs for the team she played for before Christmas. The Future Rebels have invited her to join! The team is just going to be practicing until they get a few more members. Then they will start entering tournaments about every other weekend. Sometimes it's exciting just to watch some of the drills they do in practice. There is no way the girls she was with before could have done them. We are excited to see how much she is going to grow and improve over this next season!

Go Future Rebels!

 

The Future Rebels also have a 16 and Under team. They will not start games until after High School season is over, bu they are holding try-outs now. Renee is going to try out tomorrow. This will be a super competitive program geared to improving the players and getting them seen by college scouts so they can be invited to join college programs. They can't talk to the girls until they are Juniors, but they will start playing in the Showcase tournaments to get comfortable with them and compete at the highest levels. They have already had a round of try-outs and there aren't many spots left, but we are excited for Renee to show them what she can do.

Go Renee!

Sister, can you spare a scraper?!

 

The weather has now warmed up, but we were almost late one morning because we had to sit in the car and wait while the windshields defrosted! Alas, the first thing I did when I moved to Florida was leave behind my window scrapers. If I would have know that 10 years later I would need it...nah, I was glad to leave it behind.

Sally says, "Brrrrr"!

So, the dog can't really talk, but if she could... I think my poor pup would be crying for an electric blanket.

 

This is her "pool". Now it is her ice rink. The ice was actually only about a quarter of an inch thick, but her water bucket was several inches deep and frozen solid.

 

After we went for a walk I took this shot of the thermometer out by our pool. No wonder hers was frozen!

 

Fortunately, a little lovin' and a pig ear can go a long way towards making this dog forget her woes.

 

Fewer in number...

The girls didn't get as many things this year, but we heard no complaints! Lauren finally got a phone! It has been number one on her list of things she would want most in life for a couple of years now.

 

Renee really wanted high speed Internet or a laptop. We got the high speed, but then she still wanted the laptop.

 

Santa hit a good Black Friday deal on laptops...

 

They really love the laptops! This is how we see our girls most of the time now. I'm not looking forward to our next electricity bill.

 

Overall, we had a very nice Christmas. The only thing missing was seeing all of you. I have loved seeing the pictures that you all post and send along. The kids are all growing up so fast...and the grey hairs are creeping in...where does the time go?

Love to all!

Merry Christmas!

We got a new tree for this year. It is considerably skinnier, so all of my snowmen didn't quite fit. Lauren insisted they would if she decorated the back.

 

Lauren played Santa and handed out the gifts.

 

Renee was fine with having the presents brought to her.

 

She did need to pause for a little refresher nap between the stockings and the tree gifts.

 

Don't worry we all managed to stay awake for the rest of the morning...to be continued...above.