Finally, some pictures!



Christmas this year has been wonderful!  We spoiled our kids rotten.  I think it's allowed every 5 years or so.  And since we were in the position to spoil ours (and 5+ angel-tree kids, too), I jumped at the chance.  I figure I can buy my kids' affection every so often.  Or maybe I'm reminding them that I really do love them and thanking them for not giving up on me while Popeye's been MIA.
They loved every minute of it, too.  As did I.
I loved watching their eyes light up and get all excited when they realized they got what they had been asking for for the past 3 years!  And the best part is that Santa did NOT deliver those gifts.  He gave chocolate coal in the stockings and a rinky-dink toy.  Hee hee hee.
Anyway.  Life has been an adventure this year.  I'm looking forward to next year.
Popeye got a new camera for work.  A really nice Nikon.  It's what took a majority of the below pics.  And the upper-ups at work told him to play with it as much as he wants.  So you can be expecting a lot more pictures this coming year!  Nice.
Anyway.  Here's wishing you a happy and safe new year! 
We've got "First Night" here in our little town.  The community goes all out to celebrate the upcoming new year.  They officially open the ice skating rink for the kids, have hot cocoa, polar bear plunge in the fishing pond (Popeye said he's gonna do it) and a few other fun activities.  We'll be participating in that, drinking some hot drinks, and then some sparkling cider and watching "The A Team" later that night after the munchkins go to bed.  I'm excited to take some pics of Popeye in the pond (and I'll be sure to have the van warm and running for when he gets out).
Enjoy my collage creations below!  I just downloaded Picasa onto my computer and am loving how to play with it!

Some of our snow fun includes sledding at the park, building snowmen and breaking the icicles off the roof.  The one Popeye is breaking down almost reached the ground!  I made a makeshift hill for the kids to slide down when I couldn't get to the park with the little ones.  Thor never went down it, he just liked to push his cars down on the sled.




These are some of the gifts I received for Christmas.  Reebok Shape Ups, Pride & Prejudice piano sheet music, a jewelry box, a plethora of chick flicks (and a couple non chick ones), some bubble bath, how to play the guitar cd rom and my coveted guitar with new D'Addario strings.  I'm digging ALL of them!!!



Here are some pics of Christmas.  Popeye got a bass guitar, Grand Duchess loves her new pony, Princess Monkey Eyes is in love with her new 'Do (Thanks be to Grand Duchess for the wig.).  Optimus Prime got himself a camera and Mr. Fantastic got a Nintendo DS that he's now married to.  The pic of Thor tearing into his gift is a Thomas the train set.