Doris Elizabeth Higgins

On Saturday my family lost its matriarch. Gram was 95 years old, and still beautiful. She was surrounded by her children, loved by many, and will be missed.

Her horoscope that day read "You have a job to do today, do it quick...Tonight you will be in your dancing shoes." Gramps was waiting, and no doubt they are dancing in each other's arms again.

I love you Gram, and I miss you.

Our Crazy Christmas Chaos

Travelling for Christmas is a challenge. Especially with two small children and a million presents. But as difficult as it occasionally seemed, it was definitely worth it! Miami was awesome and busy and exciting and exhausting and all together terrific. My entire family was there...all 23 of us!

We played in the Renfroe's new backyard.

Got some fresh air and family time.

We were able to visit with Malinda and Katie and meet Michael for the very first time!

The kids ALL looked gorgeous on Christmas Eve! What a fantastic crew they are.

(Left to Right- Parker, Shelby, Bryce, Carly, Marshall, Chloe, Payton, Hailey, Laney)

The Maupins didn't look too shabby :)

The Big Man was as handsome as ever, looking more and more like his daddy.

We woke up Christmas morning at Grammy and Grampy's house with Mom and Dad, Chris, Sarah, Carly and Laney. Santa had visited over night and left some rather fabulous goodies! He and I had chatted before the big day and arranged things so that Hailey's brand new bike would be left in Arizona but Chloe's bike would be on hand in Miami for practice riding. Little Miss Thing was overjoyed!

All of these pictures are blurry, which I don't fully understand, but I feel like they really capture the excitement of the morning!

Mr. Clean got his very own cart to cruise the house with. Why doesn't my house seem cleaner??

Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled.

Hailey is a fantastic bike rider...and Parker is a fantastic big sister follower!

I just love this picture. They look so proud and happy, and they are staring at my kids...love it!

That afternoon we all headed up to Boyton Beach, to Rick and Mef's house, for more presents, lots of food, and a sleepover. Soon after our arrival, Hailey and Jade claimed their spot in front of the tree.

Did I mention there were 23 of us??

Seriously. 23 people and 6 dogs. Good lord.

How cute is he?

This was a gift from the Renfroe's. Parker would happily spend all his time on the caterpillar, despite the fact that his feet don't touch the ground.

The girls all got matching dresses and looked so beautiful. And I love Hailey's lips in this shot. Hoochie.

This was taken the next morning after very little sleep. Don't they look happy? What you don't see is the MASSIVE tantrum that followed this joyous moment when I tried to get Hailey into jeans for our family portrait. It wasn't pretty. It all started over a wedgie and got completely out of hand from there. In all of the family pictures, you can either see the top of Hailey's head as she tries to kick and flail her way out of my arms, or her naked legs as I never actually got the jeans on her. Such a proud moment for me.

On Sunday, Grammy and Payton organized a Perrin Family Fishing Tournament. Those of you who know the Perrins, know that this is one of the things we do best! It was great- matching shirts and all!

Parker's shirt was more like a dress, but he didn't seem to mind.

Auntie Kimmie was on hand to help him reel in the big one.

Hailey fell in love with one poor shiner, and actually cried when it fell lifeless in her hands. I tried repeatedly to explain that it needed water, but she thought it really enjoyed her attention.

We were quite a crew.

Both Hailey and Parker almost passed out on the golf cart ride home.

Uncle Keith, aka Captain Fishing Rod.

And yes, of course there was swimming! Thank goodness for the heated Keys Gate pool, it was actually quite chilly while we were there.

All in all, it was busy and fun filled and fabulous. Don't worry, birthday pictures to follow! Yep, that's right, she is FOUR!

Hmmm...

With a wink of her eye and a swagger in her step, Hailey just offered me $20 if I would let her eat her cupcake before she finished her lunch. Is it poor parenting that after my initial thought that it certainly isn't good that my 3 year old is attempting bribery, I found myself wondering if she really does have $20 and where she might be hiding it?? I mean, I REALLY need a pedicure.

Recap...

Yes, I know I am a slacker. Yes, I know I haven't posted anything new since the beginning of November. So sue me. What follows will be a picture filled extravaganza with minimal narration on my part. I know you come here for the pictures and not the quick witted, always entertaining commentary anyway. Let us begin...

While Grammy's trip out west did start off a little crazy...

there was a rainbow at the end of our path.

We eventually made it to beautiful Sedona. And when I say beautiful, I don't mean "oh how pretty" beautiful, I mean "HOLY CRAP IS THAT REAL?!?" beautiful. It really is just like the postcards.

Hailey made some friends that- much to her liking- didn't even try to talk, which is good cause that meant she never had to stop.

And although it was seriously chilly, we even hiked around a little.

Hailey was a tad bummed that we didn't do the whole trail, but it started to sprinkle, and 5 miles seemed a bit beyond what we could handle.

Having Mom here was awesome, and then terrible to have her leave. But soon after our good-byes and our welcome home to daddy, we headed to Idaho for Thanksgiving. We arrived on Saturday and on Sunday we had a mega snowfall. Monday, Hailey and Jona made a tiny snowman complete with raisin eyes and mini carrot nose.

Hailey, ever searching for her next career move, tackled the role of make-up artist leaving Jona and I lookin' good.

We had a great time hanging out with the family, and I was even able to capture the elusive Gabe shot.

There was plenty of Grandma snuggles,

and an absurd amount of Wii playing (man that thing is addictive!).

Our Turkey Day feast was divine...the food was great and so was the company!

Gorging ourselves was followed with the delicate task of constructing gingerbread houses. Jona, Hailey, and Matthew made the house...really Jona made the house while Hailey decorated and Matthew ate the candy :)

While Miranda, Hayden and I made the gingerbread train. There was icing everywhere and I do believe that Hayden's tongue might still be green!

As promised, we finished the trip with a girls day out for Hailey. Little Miss Princess got her first ever professional manicure that included flowers painted on four of her nails. She didn't use her hands properly for two days because she was so worried she would mess it up, and we JUST took the polish off three weeks later!

And now Christmas is upon us. As soon as we came home from Idaho, I worked two night shifts and then Jona left for a conference in Philly. Chaos. But we finally got our tree up last week and decorated it with all of the ornaments we have collected throughout the years...

adding our Arizona 2009 chili pepper Santa last.

So that sums it up. Lots going on, lots to come. We head to M-I-A-M-I on Tuesday and I CANNOT WAIT! Santa has been informed that he will need to find us at Grammy and Grampy's house and we will ALL- and I do mean all 23 members of the Perrin clan- spend Christmas day and night at Rick's in Boyton Beach. Should be crazy...and fabulous!!

Happy Holidays everybody...I'll blog again in 2010! XOXOXO

May be a trick...sure ain't no treat

Is it wrong for me to wish that my kids had H1N1? That might seem cruel and cold hearted, but really I'm just trying to give us all a break. If you refer to my three previous blog entries you will be entertained with tales of our fun filled Halloween adventures. Consider this the prologue...

Every single family that we celebrated with has at least one sick child. By Tuesday, they were all sick. Ahh the power of the mighty germ. I think Alexa (aka Pirate Princess) was the first to go down, but I don't have her mom's e-mail address so I cannot be sure of the situation. Ella (aka Cinderella) was taken down next by the evil swine. Zoe fell prey to the same dark master. but not my kids. Hailey and Parker like to march to the beat of their own drummer. Sing their own tune. Follow the path less taken. Blah, blah, blah, blah...sometimes there is something to be said for going with the flow. Moving with the pack. Following the leader. Instead of just a fever and a headache (and yes I know it can be WAY worse than that, but Zoe had a fever, a high fever, but only a fever) my little unique individuals have a snot filled extravaganza. We went to the doctor today- they both have ear infections, they both are wheezing, they both were running low grade temps, the are BOTH now on antibiotics, breathing treatments, and if that doesn't work Hailey gets the added bonus of oral steroids. Rock on! Neither of them sound like they can breathe, you can hear the wheezing from across the room, and nebulizing a 14 month old is like some terrible form of torture...for both of us. Screw waterboarding. Oh, and did I forget to mention that Jona is in Guatemala for two weeks?! Thank the dear lord that Grammy is here to save the day. And we all know Grammy rocks the casbah. But she is totally getting the shaft being here for the sickos again. We WILL go to Sedona next week.

So yes, I may be a bad mother, but I wish my kids had the swine flu...and were sleeping through the night...and there wasn't a trail of snot down the cushions of my couch, and my shirt, and my pants, and a little on the floor.

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And because I know a blog post without pictures might as well not be a blog post, I leave you with this. Go ahead and tell me I don't deserve a drink at the end of the day...

"I didn't get any candy..."

The grand finale happened at our house. A bunch of friends came over for an early dinner and neighborhood looting. The kids had a blast and the parents enjoyed adult conversation!

Nothing like a princess picnic in the backyard. Munching on Dino Nuggets before the sugar induced coma could set in.

Mulan.

Tinkerbell...aka Emily

and her sister Cinderella...aka Ella.

Tink...aka Zoe.

Pirate Princess...aka Alexa.

Post dinner and lots of playing, we hit the streets. Parker didn't mind the pumpkin suit at all, seemed to pad his falls.

They attacked each door like a pack of rabid dogs. It was hysterical to watch the group try to figure out how to move out of the way of an opening door.

At one house the family was leaving and the kids marched on into the open garage with bags open, arms outstretched. Parker was actually the first one in, Hailey brought up the rear of the group. As she walked into the garage of a neighbor we haven't met, I asked "What do you say?" Did she respond "trick or treat"...NO. Did she say "happy halloween"...NO. My oh so polite and lovely Mulan held out her bag and said "I say, I didn't get any candy."

Parker the Pumpkin thought this whole idea was great. Wander the neighborhood with your friends following a pack of screaming girls and eating rocks along the way...mecca.

"I just don't get what all the hoopla is about. Tastes like paper to me. They all taste like paper. Boring. Where did I leave my rock?"

Mulan on the skids.

Pumpkin Carving

The fun continued with a Carving Party at the Hruschka's. It was complete chaos, and we loved it! Dee LOVES Halloween and I love that she loves it so much :) Their house was decorated with all things Halloween and she even managed to make only orange food!

After dinner, half of the parents had the joy of carving pumpkins with the little people. I am happy to report that no blood was shed.

The other half of us...some might say the smarter half...chased the little people around thus avoiding pumpkin goo.

The end result was fantabulous. I love how different each pumpkin is, how they represent each family. Which one do you think is the Maupin??