Happy New Year

We rang in the New Year with a small get-to-gether at home with Brian's family, Kevin and Nikki and my mom and George.



Brady thinks he's funny drinking apple juice out of a Gallo mug (Gallo is the beer of Guatemala)...at least I hope that's apple juice....



Brady and Cole hosted a game of the Moment of Truth...I think they found out a little bit too much about our guests!!



C'mon Cole...you can make it until midnight...



Alyssa doesn't have any problem staying up so late, the girl NEVER stops running her mouth long enough to get tired!



How cozy...good acting Brady, I know that you have NO PROBLEM staying awake either!



Finally the kids have left Archibald alone so that he can sleep a bit...



Getting the champagne ready!



Happy New Year!!!

Christmas 2008

The kids woke us up at 6:30am Christmas morning (thanks to me turning off Brady's alarm clock which was set at 4am). I guess Santa thought the kids were well behaved this year...not too sure what he was thinking...what a nice guy!












The first stop of the day was to Meme and Pampy's.

Sorry Brady you are STILL not taller than mommy...maybe by next Christmas!



The Rorabaugh's pose for a quick family picture before we exchange gifts.










Then on to Mima and George's house.







Yes George, we see your Texas t-shirt...but what about your present..I think I see an Ohio State t-shirt that has fallen out of the box.



Alyssa's new Baby Alive doll. This one drinks from a bottle, eats baby food and then goes to the potty....



Now time for a drink...



...and on the potty she goes....



Archie is in the Christmas spirit too! I love my dog..even though he is a very high maintance dog he is the most loving and easy going dog we have ever had. We love to dress him up and we THINK he doesn't mind it much either.....









Tell the truth!!!



For the $20 we spent on ONE picture with Santa, I thought I would share the "professional pose".



What's up with Cole not wanting to sit on Santa's lap? I like my picture better...



How can something so sweet, get a time out two days before Christmas? Her mother should get a time out for allowing her hair to get so crazy!



This year we once again had Christmas Eve dinner at David and Monsi's house to celebrate with our dad and Sandy.

Dad trying to read and understand an electronic ticket David, Liza and I purchased for him to go to Guatemala in January.



To our beloved family in Guatemala, We apologize in advance for the arrival of your Tio Don, we are sure he will have a great time visiting with everyone but just so you know...still silly, but a bit odd! Good luck with him! He is very excited to see everyone!


Nice kids!



Nice girls!



Naughty boys!



Katy and Alyssa help tia set the table for dinner.



Thanks David and Monsi for hosting dinner!



Then off to Mema and Pampy's house for more food-ham and scallop potatoes! Let's just TRY to get a good picture with your cute outfits on.....



Santa's knows when you've been picking at your nose...or other parts....



This is the best it is going to get...



"I know baby...just a little bit longer before Santa comes!!!"

Christmas Tradition

Mima's 3rd annual Christmas craft with the kids was clever...easy to clean up too, which is my kind of project!!

Alyssa at Educare Academy

Alyssa has enjoyed full-time pre-school at Educare Academy over the past few months. In early December, the kids performed two songs in a quick performance and then there was a party where the kids were able to get a bear from Build-a-Bear. A silent auction also took place this evening where the kids' artwork was sold at the highest bidder. The proceeds of the artwork was donated to Make A Wish Foundation.

Alyssa with her teacher Miss Natalie while getting ready for their big performance.



Santa's Reindeer



A piece of Alyssa's artwork inspired by Claude Monet.



Making a wish...



Giving her new bear's heart a kiss before it was put into the chest of the bear.





Now that Alyssa is in school she wants to do her homework ALL the time. Writing her two favorite words takes most of her homework time!



We train them early in O-H-I-O!!!!

Alyssa's 4th Birthday

We celebrated Alyssa's birthday with a small family party. We will celebrate again this summer for her 1/2 birthday with more friends. Having a birthday so close to Christmas is a little crazy!






One gift she received was a new doll, 'Baby Alive' a baby that really drinks a bottle and pees in her diaper..kind of gross but way cool to a four year. Alyssa needed a quick training session on how to feed a baby and then on changing diapers.