Our sweet little elves...

4 Days and Counting!!! Hope your Christmas is Magical too!!!

Grandma's Christmas Candy

Here are Wanda & Lana trying to get the temperature just right for the Marshmallow Fudge...






















So, the Reagan ladies got together to try to recreate some of Joey's Grandma's recipes for Christmas Candy. We tried, but without much to go on. It seems that no one had actually seen Grandma make these recipes, and the 3 of us seriously struggled -



especially with the divinity recipe that Grandma could manage effortlessly all by herself. That Grandma was an extraordinary woman, and it was nice to get together to remember her- and her delicious confections... Even if we couldn't get them to come out just right. Well, if at first you don't succeed...

"A Night of Holiday Magic"

The first weekend of December was our town's Christmas Festival! We try to go every year, because it's just a fun, festive way to begin the Holiday Season! It was actually Avery's first time to go, but Reilly is an old pro. He loves the Kettle Corn and funnel cakes, and hot chocolate. This year he was most excited to try sledding down a REAL snow hill !!!

And MY! Was it COLD!!! We didn't last too awfully long out there, it really was frigid!! We did see Santa and Mrs. Claus, and then we were done. Our poor babies were beginning to turn blue, so we called it a night. of holiday magic, that is. ;)

Let it Begin!! Happy Holidays Everyone !!!!

Happy Birthday Aunt Honey- We LOVE You!!

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in East Texas with Joey's Granddad and extended family. Reilly really loves playing outside with all the little cousins!! He really looks forward to it, and it is wonderful to see all the family! The food was delicious, as usual... great job Aunt Charlotte & Katie !

Reilly had a blast shooting guns (of the b.b. variety) and a bow & arrow. And just loved playing outside in the country... so much space to run around! Children really have no feeling at all when it comes to the cold. I only lasted long enough out there to snap some pictures, and shoot an arrow or two, before I had to head back inside to warm up by the crackling fire. (Which was fun, since I hadn't shot a bow & arrow since I took Archery in college.) Joey shares Reilly's affinity for weapons, and spent almost all day outside in the cold... shooting his 9mm.

Avery spend a lot of time in the care of her older cousins, and LOVED every minute of it. They are the best babysitters EVER!!! She just loves chasing older kids around and trying to do just what they do. Aunt Charlotte found an old snowsuit for Avery to put on for some outdoor fun! She looked like a little Eskimo! So cute!

We are so blessed to have such a sweet family, we are very thankful for you all.

My 32nd Birthday

That is a mighty big flame. :/

My sweet family always gives me such wonderful birthdays, and this year was no exception. They gave me some gifts first thing that morning... Joey picked out some gray Pumas for me, since he knows how much I love my brown ones. :) Reilly got me the newest Sugarland CD, since he knows how much I loved the last one. Then, they swept me off to have my favorite breakfast. Cinna-Stack Pancakes at IHOP. To be truthful, it is my favorite food on the planet. There's nothing else I'd rather have- any time of day! Good thing my sweet family loves pancakes too, because that is a weekend must-do.

Then, Joey's parents dropped by and brought me a sweet card and a beautiful ice blue KitchenAid Mixer that I have had my eye on for ages! So excited!

Then, we wandered around the mall for awhile and Joey got me the warmest, most beautiful coat!

Then, my entire family met us at Babe's for a birthday dinner! Seriously, is there anyone who doesn't love that place??? They were so sweet and generous, with gift cards to Express and Charming Charlie. (LOVE!) And Joey surprised me with the cutest jacket that I had admired while walking through Macy's about a month before!

And he also got me the prettiest, yummiest cake. I was really looking forward to making a birthday wish, and blowing out my candles. (As I usually do.) Reilly was standing next to me, and blew out every single candle but ONE. I was a little disappointed, until I saw his face. He felt SO bad, and was sad about it. Poor baby, he just loves to help!

After that delicious dinner, we dropped the kids off to spend the night at my parents' house so Joey and I could go on a date. While we were there, I went for a ride on my Dad's new Harley... that man goes WAY too fast- but he's super cool.

Joey and I went to see Burlesque, and it was actually a pretty good movie. Cher is awesome.

It was a wonderful birthday! Thanks to my precious family- I love you all to pieces!

Avery's Birthday Tradition

We took Avery's birthday "tradition" pictures a little late, but here they are. As with the pictures we take of Reilly wearing Daddy's white shirt on his birthday each year, this is our second time to take pictures of Avery wearing my favorite dress on her birthday! It's just a really fun way to see how much they've grown each year, and we really look forward to it!

Avery was a much easier subject than Reilly- it only took about 1 minute to snap all of these!!!



And here's a couple from last year, when she was a sweet little 1 year old.

She had NO hair last year!!!! This year, her hair is so curly- and actually long enough to blow in the wind! What a difference a year makes.

Avery's Birthday Tea Party

Since Avery LOVES a tea party, we decided to make that the theme of her 2nd Birthday Party! We had pink and black everything, and of course- all sorts of teas; sweet peach/raspberry iced tea, and 4 fruity flavors of hot tea, coffee, and warm apple cider on the stove. Along with all sorts of yummy snacks. The OREO truffles were the biggest hit, I'd say.

Avery was so excited when she saw the decorations, and when all her guests began to arrive!! That girl loves a party, and was singing "Happy Burday Cake" to herself all day.

We so enjoyed our visits with sweet friends and family members, they are so generous and wonderful! Avery loved her pretty dolls, toys, clothes, and especially the Fancy Nancy books!

It was just a perfect party, and I hope that it will be one of Avery's very first memories!

2 Computer Wizards

Joey's 35th Birthday

On your birthday, and every day, you deserve everything that's wonderful... starting with Blueberry muffins for breakfast...

And, as requested, a homemade buttermilk pie, and a "dump cake" (which is sort of a cobbler, but exponentially more fattening.)

Some gifts...

Golf shirts, and anything else your heart desires

Happy Birthday, to our "confident captain".



Joey, I'm so sorry that I am semi-scatterbrained, and always seem to put candles into things that are hot, (last year... the apple pie- and now the dump cake) which causes the candle wax to melt into the whatever it might be, and then I have to try to dig it out with a spoon to salvage the whatever it might be. Thank you for laughing about such things and enjoying the "Little Moments" that my quirks bring about.
We love you and truly celebrate the day you were born... when the world became a much more understanding and forgiving place. You are THE BEST.

Happy 2nd Birthday Avery !!!!

Yes, our precious little hurricane is every bit of 2 years old! We woke her up with a special donut breakfast on her birthday, and she didn't quite know what to make of that. She hasn't really had much experience with donuts, other than say a donut hole or Krispy Kreme every now and then. So, we really didn't know which kind she would prefer. She stared at them for a while, and eventually gave one a try. The Chocolate one, of course. (She is my daughter!) Then, she sampled the fancy one with sprinkles. And what kid doesn't like sprinkles?? (Answer: Reilly. He is the only child I've ever heard of who doesn't like a sprinkle.)

We had fun playing together all day, and took her to the most magical place in the world for dinner. (Well.. at least it is to her... "Huck-a-Donald's !!!". That would be McDonald's to everyone outside this family.)
She absolutely loves it there. Of course, it's not the food that gets her so excited. (She merely nibbles the food.) It's the musical playground!!! She gets so excited every time we even drive by. ("Mommy... Huck-a-Don-Dons!! Huck-a-Don-Dons!!!") Avery's sweet Grandparents and Aunts met us there, and we saw some friends there too!!

Then we went back to our house for some yummy strawberry cupcakes, for our little strawberry girl. She loved singing the happy birthday song to herself, "Happy Burday Cake Baby Avery" is how it went. She even blew out her candle with ease. (We've been practicing!)

She was happy to open a few presents... Reilly was so excited for her to open her new tea set we got for her- it was a hit! She also loved her new laptop, a personalized tea party book, and a hair accessory kit with a blow dryer that actually blows cool air !! I love playing with all her toys too! (She is our sweet little girly-girl and we just adore that.)

It was a great day, and we were really looking forward to her fancy tea party a few days later. Stay tuned for that post!