December 25, 2010 Day 25

Day 25.......Merry Christmas!!

The day started with Olivia and Owen getting up at 7:50!! I was so excited it wasn't 4!  Owen told us he was going to get up after Santa left and just "wait" til morning on the couch, Oh Boy!  But he didn't.  Owen was up first the I heard Olivia's door open and she came sprinting out, leaned over the banister, then wiped her eyes like she couldn't believe them.  It was priceless.  Stockings first, then it took about 2.2 seconds for all the furry of presents to be opened.  Uncle Mark, Aunt LuLu, and baby Nolan showed up shortly after.  To cute in there matching jammies.  Gammie Fenton (which my kids call Grammie by the cornfield) will love this picture.  She LOVES when they are all dressed alike.  When I was little we ALWAYS took a Christmas picture on the steps. 

YEP, Owen is STILL in his Superman costume.  Grandpa showed up around 10.  We love having him here on Christmas morning to share breakfast and coffee with him.  Olivia played some Christmas carols on the piano.  It was absolutely picture perfect to see my Grandpa standing behind her watching her play on Grandmas piano! A memory that I will cherish forever. 

Owen playing with one of his many "favorite" gifts.  This is moon sand.  Can someone please tell Santa to never bring this stuff again? I think the dogs liked it more than Owen did, plus I will be picking up "sand" until spring.  BUT, Owen loved it and he played with it for about 45 minutes.  This year was full of Superheros for Owen.  Spiderman, Batman, Robin, Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, you name it, it was under the tree. 

So among the many wonderful gifts that Olivia got including an iPod touch that she can now officially text her friends, Grammie by the Cornfield got her a Coach Purse.  Her face was such a gift! Her and I went into the Coach store when we were shopping this season, so she really "understood" this gift.  She told me this was the "Best Christmas ever!"  All was worth it!!  Aunt Amy and Matt always come down in the evening.  This year Amy and I spent most of Christmas playing the Wii "Just Dance" and the "Micheal Jackson" dance game.  If you have a Wii, get it.  That was not only hysterical but so much fun!!

Olivia sharing her iPod touch with baby Nolan.  Baby Nolan really loved Owen's drum set.  Maybe Aunt Kelly will be getting them for his Birthday.........Aunt LuLu will be so happy.

Grammie always comes out Christmas morning to share in the festivities.  Her tradition is to bring the Breakfast Casseroles.  They were Yummy.  My mom has always loved to shop for us.  I think with 3 girls, you have to.  This year was no exception.  Her generosity is so genuine.  We love her beyond words.  All those years of dreading Christmas Traditions, to eventually love every minute of it.

Papa, taking a backseat, for as long as I can remember my dad has always sat in the "cheap seats" as we used to call it.  He would just sit back and enjoy all the unwrapping of gifts.  True to his personality.  His years of wisdom never go unnoticed.  One thing I enjoy most about the holiday's is just sitting and talking with him.  I always learn so much.  His laugh is contagious. 

So, I made it.  25 days of blogging.  Thank you to all who read this.  I have truly enjoyed sharing our Christmas traditions.  The holiday's for each of us means different things.  For my family it means being together.  Some people are stressed about being with their families at this time, but our family is not.  We would not have it any other way.  Some families HATE to spend time with their in-laws.  Again, not us.  I have been blessed with a family I would rather be with than without, and in-laws that are amazing beyond words.  I love you all, thanks for making 2010 a Christmas to remember.  I leave you with a final picture of Santa's footprints that he left at my house on Christmas Eve.  Continue to believe..........Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!!

December 24, 2010 Day 24

Day 24, Christmas Eve!!!

Grammie and Papa Rankin came over to celebrate Christmas.  We had dinner together and then exchanged gifts. Smiles for everyone.  What a great relaxing evening.   

Owen got a Superman suit (which he Loved!), a drum set, a submarine and many many other wonderful gifts.  Olivia and Owen were "playing" Christmas Carols.  Olivia has become quite a good piano player, and Owen really enjoyed playing the drums!  Olivia has to be one of the happiest girls around this Christmas.  She received so many wonderful gifts from Grammie Rankin.  But her all time favorite is that her Grammie Rankin and Grammie Fenton got her her very own lap top! She is over the moon with excitement. 

One really nice thing was that even though the kids were so excited to open gifts, and this year was for certain all about quantity, they were so excited to give the gifts that they got for Grammie.  They got her an ice cream maker for her Kitchen Aide mixer and a recipe book. 

Owen couldn't wait to see Papa open his ice cream sundae bowls, scooper, and toppings.  Olivia got him a muscle car calendar.  She said he would love it for his garage.   

Great visit with Great Grandma Fox! She is so much fun to be around.  She is always making us laugh and smile. 

So last year my Grandpa Harold recorded this book for the kids.  I love it so much because we will have his voice reading to the kids.  What an amazing gift that will give for years to come.  Thanks Grandpa!

The milk and cookies are out.  The carrots are on the porch.  "Second" letters to Santa are done.  "T'was the Night Before Christmas has been read.  Now it is time for bed!!  Good Night little Schoelles children. 

December 23 2010 Day 23

Day 23, One of my most favorite memories!

One thing that I will always hold dear to my heart is the Christmas memory that I have of my family going through Story Book Lane.  We would climb into the car and head to Tuscora Park for the wonderful drive thru display of all the favorite nursery rhyme's,  Humpty Dumpty, Old Mother Hubbard, Little Miss Muffet, Three Blind Mice, and so many more.  I enjoy doing this every year with my kids.  What still makes me laugh is years ago, the words to the nursery rhymes were not displayed.  So most of the fun was that we had no idea what the whole rhyme was.  Like, try to remember all the words to "Sing a Song of Six Pence!"  Now the words are displayed which makes it a whole lot easier.  "Tom Tom the Pipers Son" was always my dad's favorite!

December 22, 2010 Day 22

Day 22 "Wrapping" it up!!

Me and the kids finished up the last of the presents that needed wrapped.  They were the ones the kids got for their Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents. Olivia is pretty good at wrapping.  Owen was a great tape ripper!

Apparently it is a lot easier to wrap without your shirt on according to Owen!  We had just a few to finish, and the kids were a big help!

The final product!  The kids had the most fun playing "Santa" and putting the presents under the the tree. 

December 21, 2010 Day 21

Day 21, 2010 It's a Cookie Walk!!

What is a cookie walk? You get 8 of your bestest girlfriends, each one makes 8 dozen of one kind of cookie, then you meet at someones house (in this case, mine) and then you get to leave with 8 dozen DIFFERENT kinds of cookies! Taadaa....cookie baking done! Plus you get amazing social time with your girlfriends and the kids get a great play date!  Owen and Olivia both helped me get my cookies done. 

So as some added fun, we also had a cut out cookie icing table.  The kids had a great time icing and decorating stars, trees, and bells.  There were some real creative ones!

What a great time everyone had! Mommy's too!

Olivia, Kira, and Jayli icing some real sweet cookies!  I think they each had two plates full of some awesome cookies.

Sophia, Caroline, and Owen doing a wonderful job of icing.....and licking!

Mrs. Reiger, Preston, Parker, Mrs. Russman, Dane, Jayli and Olivia having a good time.  Parker I think just wanted to play with the sword.  Jayli was a good helper.  So today was filled with good cookies, good coffee, loads of laughs and amazing friends.  Days spent with your girlfriends and all the kids, is a wonderful memory worth holding onto. 

December 20, 2010 Day 20

Day 20 COLD, COLD, COLD!!

2010 Christmas in the Park.  Kids spent most of their time playing on the toys at the Park.  We saw Reindeer, a camel, goats, a live nativity scene, and Santa among many other things.  Owen loved watching the ice sculptor. 

The toys were VERY slippery.....which Owen LOVED!

Olivia and cousin Nolan riding the carousel.  What a fun time to do something in the winter that is usually reserved for the summer.

Baby Nolan trying to stay warm as we stopped for hot chocolate.

Olivia singing at Christmas in the Park.

Owen is ready to go home!!

December 19, 2010 Day 19

Day 19, Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

One last GOOD picture of our tree before all the needles fall off! A few days ago I noticed that our tree smelled kinda weird.  By weird I mean STINKY!  I looked all over the tree thinking the kids had thrown a piece of food into it and it had rotted and smelled.  I discovered that the entire trunk was moldy!  Very disappointed, and grossed out.  So like any other "normal" and "rational" person, I began the process of spraying the trunk with bleach.  I then put bleach into the tub of water that the tree was "drinking" out of.  Well, my house smells wonderful now!  Did I mention, I love the smell of bleach??  So.....please little tree can you make it til Christmas??

This is Olivia's favorite ornament.  It is a soldier from the Nutcracker.  Chris was on the Canton Ballet Board for three years.  So we had to attend the Nutcracker Ball each year to raise money.  We would always buy the kids the ornament that they had each year.   We gave this to Olivia three years ago, and she put it on the tree as the first ornament.  She hung it up, turned around to get another one, and it fell all the way down the tree and broke.  She was so upset.  On Christmas morning, the last present Olivia opened was a replacement soldier ornament with a note from Santa explaining how sorry he was that she broke hers and that he had the elves make her a new one.  It is still her favorite one!

No surprise, this is Owen's favorite.  He really thinks it is funny that Spiderman has a Santa hat on.

This is one of Chris's favorite ones.  His mom got if for him MANY years ago.  He gets plugged into a lite and skates around like he is ice skating. 

Although my all time favorite ones are the ones that the kids make, this one is a very special one.  Chris and I got it from a street vendor on our honeymoon in San Fransisco in 1998.  I love that it is the golden gate bridge with Santa flying over.  By the way, my mom still has a paper candle I gave her from Kindergarten!

December 18, 2010 Day 18

Day 18 SANTA!!

Olivia and Owen waiting in line to sit on Santa's lap.........Olivia decided she was "to old" this year.  Feeling a little sad.  She said "he knows what I want, I sent him a letter!"

Owen waiting VERY patiently to see Santa.

Finally, Owen's turn.  He asked for a toy Batman, Robin, and Superman.  Surprise, surprise!  My kids are only allowed to ask for 3 things, because he needs to have room on his sled for the other boys and girls. 

Olivia enjoying hot chocolate. 

Owen with his hot chocolate and cinnamon pretzels.  Good trip to the mall to see Santa.  We have been very fortunate that since birth my kids have enjoyed sitting on Santa's lap.  No meltdowns, or crying.  Very happy!

December 17, 2010 Day 17

Day 17,  Fun Day...........

Olivia and a few of her friends at the Holiday Party at school.  They decorated cut out cookies, had hot chocolate, and candy canes.  Great picture!

This is the "snowball" fight.  Each kid gets 5-7 large marshmallows and then....1...2...3...FIRE! They had a blast! What was even more fun was getting to hit there teacher. 

Santa and his helpers.  Pictures with your pet and Santa at Pet smart.  All proceeds going to help the Tuscarawas County Humane Society. 

December 16, 2010 Day 16

Day 16, 2010 School Fun~

Owen had his "Polar Express" party at school today, complete with Jammies, Bathrobe, and slippers.  They got to watch the movie at school, eat cookies and drink hot chocolate.  Owen had a blast.  We also gave our holiday present to his teacher today.  A basket with a pound of coffee with an assortment of cookies from a cookie company called "Savory Sweets". 

Today has been a "milestone" in Olivia's life as well.........Not sure about this one!! She got a present from a BOY today at school! Very sweet but WOW already?????  This is a picture of the wrapping paper after Olivia opened it.  He put it inside her backpack and she did not find it until after school.  Sweet, but I still do not have to like it.  Right? 

December 15, 2010 Day 15

Day 15, 2010 They grow to fast......

Here is Olivia and Owen Christmas 2006.  This was Owen's first Christmas and Olivia's first Christmas as a big sis.  I look at this and cannot believe how fast they have grown.  At first I was overwhelmed at how little Owen looked, but then I just cannot get over how little Olivia looks!!

Christmas last year.  They look so old! sniff sniff

December 14, 2010 Day 14

Day 14, What is a good friend??

Here is a picture of my dearest friends.  I have been friends with all of them since birth.  Once a month we have what we call "club" and we meet at a different house each time.  In the month of December we always meet out and exchange one simple gift with each other, because after all it is about the friendship not the gift.  This was taken right before the TRUE meaning of friendship arrived. 

My sister Lindsey got a phone call from our mom stating that Fenton Brothers Electric was on fire.  This thought is just to imaginable to even think about let alone try to rationally think about what to do next.  Not only has Fenton Brother's been a staple landmark in New Philadelphia, but it is the "family business" in which many people spend a lot of dedicated hours either working there or buying items there.  So, within 2 minutes of the phone call all 9 of us were in our cars in route to Fenton Brothers.  As we turned onto Ray Ave you could see the mass amount of firetrucks and you could smell smoke.  My heart dropped, and I was just speechless.  The drive seemed to take forever!!! 

Upon arrival, I can say that it felt like a true Christmas Miracle.  Apparently someone was burning items behind Fenton Brothers and the smoke was blowing over top of the building which to the good Samaritan that was driving by looked like it was on fire.  So thank goodness it was a false alarm. As the firefighters were climbing back into there truck, I could see the relief come over my Dad's face as well as everyone else who was there.   

So as I stood in the entry way of Fenton Brothers Electric with all 9 of my life long friends thinking now this is TRUE friendship.  We peeled out of the resturant like the SUV Mafia, and got to Fenton Brother's in 30 seconds flat, to do what??? None of us had any idea, not like we were going to fight the fire or anything.  But, knowing my friends, we more than likely would have.  So Day 14 is dedicated to my amazing girlfriends who would do ANYTHING for one another.  I thank you for your friendship and support no matter WHAT it is.  THAT IS TRUE FRIENDSHIP. 

December 13, 2010 Day 13

Day 13, A good old fashion snow day!!

No school today, kids spent most of the afternoon outside.  A little cold but they loved it!

One advantage to living on a hill......awesome sled riding!

Olivia had a blast with the $1.99 plastic sled, it seems to go the fastest. 

Big sister helping her brother! Listening to them laugh and scream as they rode down the hill was absolutely priceless!