More Christmas Pictures

Kellie and I got new mittens from Smokey Row in downtown Pleasantville!

Touring Stratford Homes

Sitting in Grandpa's big office chair

Andrew and I in our Christmas hats getting ready to open gifts

After the blanket, backpacks and Vikings book, we now officially have EVERYTHING made with the Vikings logo :-)

AY AY AY, one more time!!

Chloe and I having chex mix and gin fizzies, now that's Christmas!

ay ay ay it's Christmas!!!

Wow, what a whirlwind it has been!! We started our Christmas celebrations at a special needs Santa visit that is set up by a local non-profit theater company. It is a nice, non threatening way to get the kids in the spirit of the season. We did not get any pics with the big guy, but the kids had fun playing.



We made the trek to Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 22nd and good thing we gave ourselves lots of travel time. It was pretty nasty driving conditions and we were REALLY glad to finally get to our destination of Gma and Gpa Fitz's house!!



Chad and Kellie and the famous BABY ROSCOE came the next day and the girls were thrilled to have another four legged friend to play with! We all got lots of great gifts and had lots of time to spend with the family. As always, Chad sucked ROYALY at the dice game, but that is why we have 'The Big Loser Rule' LOL. Next year Chloe wants to play, she was great at yelling DOUBLES after the dice landed.

It was great to see everyone and the trip home was much more uneventful. Thanks to the Mckee's I can NOT get the Ricky Martin Christmas song out of my head... ay ay ay....

In true Rossa girls fashion, the girls danced much more when the camera was not on. Oh well, this is a snippit of our dance party.

I should have many more pics soon. I didn't take too many with my camera. Just waiting for Mom and Kellie to send me theirs.

Four-legged friends

I want to make a special blog post in tribute to one of our very favorite four-legged friends,Dunny. She is Bailey's cousin and VERY best friend. She was the first little pup Andrew and I got to dogsit for and she really inspired us to get a pet of our own.
She is a sweet, gentle dog who can make friends with anyone and who Bailey will defend until the end. She has been a great teacher to Bailey and made sure she didn't go too far chasing squirrels and also kept tabs on everything that goes on in the kitchen (including Bailey sneaking some buns off the counter!:-). Here's a few photos of Bailey and Dunny growing up.

The first time Dunny and Bailey met.

Bailey used to latch on to Dunny's tail and follow her around.

Sharing a bone at the cabin.

Playing fetch in the lake.

They LOVE the snow!

The girls (probably waiting for a treat:-)

GOOD-BYE DUNNY...YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!

Inspired by the AMA's

After a weekend of illness, all the medications and naps and bland foods must have paid off. Sunday night during the American Music Awards, the girls became inspired and wanted to dress up and sing and dance. Camryn wanted to wear a 'beautiful princess dress' just like everyone else. She then added some bling with her beads and Chloe MADE her add the cowboy hat with a 'giddy up' and 'ye'haw' her outfit was complete. Chloe opted for a simple 'vikings hat' to go with her already WINNING outfit of the day :-)



Camryn was SO inspired she wanted to sing for me! Sorry I had the camera sideways, I thought you could flip videos too :-( Anyway, turn your head and watch, I think I see an 'emerging artist'.

Oh, and the illness is not over. Chloe is home sick from school on the couch :-(

When the Cat's Away... The Mice Will Play...

In order for Andrew and I to get away for the weekend, we needed to find some volunteers to watch the girls, not always an easy task, they don't come beating our door down :-)
We were so lucky that two of Camryn's therapists (and SOON to be Chloe's too!) offered to watch them for the weekend.
While we were gone, I was getting good reports. Once back into Wisconsin, I started to hear some other stories :-) I suspect what actually happened while I was gone is somewhere in the middle, LOL. Whatever happened, it may be best I don't know the whole story, the girls seemed no worse for the wear (all 4 of them!) Here are some photos of their weekend.....

At Betty Brinn Children's Museum

Camryn and Jessica

Trip to Target

Lauren and Chloe (this is Chloe's new 'smile')

At the Domes

Thanks Lauren and Jessica!!!!

Welcome to the Land of the Ice and Snow.....

WHAT A WEEKEND!! Andrew and I got to get away together, we headed up north to Minneapolis to meet my parents for the Viking/Packer game. It was a blast. Of course it always helps when the Vikings win. It is SOO much more than just a game to us :-)
We spent the weekend drinking beer, purple shopping and eating greasy bar food! It was fabulous!

Andrew and I at the game.

At the bar with our new friend, Shawn.

Here's some more pics from my Mom's camera! (I edited them on Picnik!)

Beautiful Day with a Beautiful Girl

Today was one of those rare days that I get alone time with Miss Camryn. Two days a week, I get to pick her up early from school and spend about an hour and a half with just her, the two of us usually go out for lunch and then just hang out before she starts her double dose of therapy for the afternoon.
She is such a busy little gal, but really enjoys life. When I picked her up from school today she was practicing her handwriting on the blackboard with her teacher. I saw her write the word 'orange'. It is amazing to see how much her handwriting is progressing and how she is having to THINK less about letter formation and the writing is coming a bit more naturally. She beams from ear to ear when she completes each and every letter. Camryn really enjoys her accomplishments, as she should, she works long and hard and has come very far.
After lunch we took a short walk, about all we had time for. Along the way we stopped and played in the leaf piles :-) It was a great hour and a half with my girl- who I have been calling 'Sally' which really makes her giggle.....

The 'almost finished' living room

The living room is really starting to come together. I just have one more wall to finish and then maybe some little changes :-)