We elfed ourselves!

Click on the link below:

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/2rutord5ZJcrYHyM1vqY

This is in lieu of the Christmas cards I have not sent out yet. And yes, we finally have our tree up! What?! That is 6 whole days of enjoyment before we take it down again. perfect.

Ben and Nolan's Christmas concert

Nolan sang Jingle Bells, sorry the video of Nolan is SO shaky! Ben played Joy to the World on the handbells. Look at Ben's tie!! He got at least 4 comments on that baby...he picked it out all by himself in the grown men's section of course!

A tree for only 12 days?!

The smell of a fresh-cut evergreen is irreplaceable -- but so is being able to pull your Christmas tree out of a box, prop it up, flip on the built-in lights and have your decorating done. I still have not put our Christmas tree up. Yes, sounds easy...pull it out of the box and prop it up. Nope- still not done. Let's not even mention the Christmas cards that I have not ordered yet either. How many more days do I have??

Dallas Mavericks Game

Dirk #41 ht: 7feet! yikes...

7th row on the floor baby!!

6th grade CHRISTMAS concert

Baylie sang jingle bells at her 6th grade "holiday" concert.

2008-2009 School Pictures

Baylie 6th grade

Ben 3rd grade

Nolan Kindergarten

Family Photos?

It's that time of year again...I have been thinking of maybe getting a new family photo taken for our Christmas cards this year. Upon searching the Internet, there is a collage artist named Janey Garnet who will take photos you provide and work them into a texture-filled collage. It's a whole new take on the family photo! Yikes...can you picture Ben's face on a body with butterfly wings, a tankini, & too small of shorty shorts?

Here is Ben and Baylie holding crossbows?

These kids hands are just weird. These are kinda cool, though don't expect a collage Christmas card from us this year.

Happy Thanksgiving

Okay I took one photo and the camera went dead. Of course! We are so thankful to have such great family and friends. We shared Thanksgiving with Jeppesen's from Georgia, grandma Jeppesen visiting from Chicago, Aunt Marni & the Barnard family. Good times & good food! At midnight, Katie, Sean, Kylee, Kelly, Marni, Baylie and I drove north of Dallas to the Allen Outlet mall for the opening of Black Friday. We got to bed at 4:30am with absolutely no purchases for Baylie or I!! That was the lamest "sale" ever.

Dear Santa

Today Nolan presented me with his Christmas list to mail to the North Pole. Here is what he asked for:

1. RV
2. RV
3. IPOD
4. DS
5. Blog
6. Camera
7. RV
Who knew an RV was so cool at age 6?

Ben has a portable jacket!

This week we had to break out the jackets...it got a little chilly here in Texas. While trying to get out the door one day, Ben kept asking where his portable jacket is that he loves. Confused, I continued to tell him that all of his jackets are basically portable, when I realized the word he meant was reversible! He continues to crack me up.

Gaylord Texan Hotel

Grandma Jeppesen, Katie Jeppesen, Breydan, Kayson, Baylie, & Nolan.

Katie, Baylie, & Nolan on a sled at the Gaylord Texan Hotel

ICE! at the Gaylord Texan Hotel

Our cousins from Georgia (Katie and Sean) & grandma J from Chicago came to visit. We went to the Gaylord Hotel to an ice exhibit.
The truly spectacular 14,000-square-foot "ICE!" exhibit, featured a variety of magical holiday scenes and sculptures hand carved by 40 visiting artisans from Harbin, China.
We felt as though we were transported to the North Pole as we bundled up in warm parkas and entered this winter wonderland created with TWO MILLION pounds of ice and kept at a wintry 9 degrees.
This year, "ICE!" showcased several new additions including Old Man Winter blowing snow, dazzling colored ornaments, a winter forest with an ice skating pond, a life-size Santa's lap to sit on, a candy land full of tempting treats, and an entertaining animal band.
Returning favorites included the thrilling ice slides, 25-foot angel, icicle canopy, and breathtaking Nativity.

Where is Sean, Chris and Sean Jr you ask? Hmmmm golfing again?!

Christmas shopping already!?@#$!

I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting a little sick of retailers using the shoddy state of the economy to well, sell us stuff. Every press release I've received for the past few weeks has started out by saying things like, "You may not have much money, but here's one item that every recessionista needs," and blah, blah, blah. How about this year we consider the um, true reason for the season or whatever? This is the time to bust out those "Good for 5 hugs" coupons we made when we were kids. Not to get too cheesy here but what more could we ask for than the joys and blessings of being together with the people we love the most? My husband is the best of the best AND the perfect match for me. I'm grateful for his patience, intuition, sensitivity, keen intelligence, kindness, wicked sense of humor and yes, even his good looks, among other traits. And while I also deeply appreciate every single special gift he and my kids have ever bestowed upon me, this year (and really, every year), love is more than enough. Let's just hope the kids see it that way too!

Baylie Biffed!

Battle wounds from the cement driveway versus Baylie...the driveway won. The scooter also made it out unharmed. Her elbow and knee did not fair so well either! yikes.

Nolan's Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast

Kindergarten had a Thanksgiving Feast before the week off!

Nolan's Indian name is Little Burst Fire. He came up with that all by himself obviously.

It is FINALLY here! Twilight the movie!

Along with many other teenagers, Natalie, Bri and I are going to see the 12:01 AM movie tonight!! We can't wait. Happy Birthday Natalie...what an awesome birthday present! Baylie is 1/2 way through the 1st book and is begging to go with us. (Uh huh, sorry honey- it's a school night!)

Veterans Day

On the 11th month, on the 11th day, in the 11th hour, 90 years ago World War I was officially over. Today, Westlake Academy had military at flag ceremony to remember those who have given us our freedom and still continue to do so.
Thank you Uncle Dave and Aunt Paula for all you do and have done for our country! (Thank you also for the flight suit and cool hats!) Thank you to all the service men and women who serve our country.

The difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day...
Memorial Day honors service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.

Ben got a Birdie!

Ben was in his 2nd golf tournament this weekend. The tournament was held at GlenEagle Country Club in Plano. We decided to make it a family affair so Baylie, Nolan and I went to watch. We followed in a golf cart! (Baylie is a CRAZY driver...if this is a preview of when she is driving cars...LOOK OUT! :) On the 2nd hole Ben got a BIRDIE!! (For all you non-golfers...that is one under par...it was a par 3, he made it in 2!)

Think Pink

Think Pink Westlake!

Friday, November 7, 2008 is our first annual “pink-out” day at Westlake Academy. Many staff members and Westlake families have been affected by breast cancer and we want to recognize them and show our support for this cause! (Don't ask me why the boys have to have the weirdest faces for pictures! I guess they are just overjoyed they do not have to wear their uniforms to school.)

Baylie's day at the Senior Center

Baylie and 5 others students had the opportunity to go to the senior center and serve them lunch. They helped the "meals on wheels" organization. The school requires students 6th grade and up to serve the community in some capacity. The idea is to become a well rounded student with tolerance for others. I was quite surprised that the students were not shy at all! They chit chatted with all the seniors and learned quite a bit.

They loved talking to Milly, she is 98 and still driving! She still teaches Sunday school every week. They were quite surprised that they did not have cell phones for most of their lives. They also learned that they did not have running water when they were kids, so they had to pee in a hole in the back yard! It was an awesome wake up to reality...ipods, wiis, cell phones, computers, x-box, game boys, and all the other technical devices that kids have today were not their whole lives.