Bernard's Last Ride

At Mirra's request...

Gentry Christmas

We gathered at my mom's on Saturday to spend time with her family.  The drive was a bit nerve-wracking due to excessive rain and all the holiday travelers.  We ate Baltimore hamburgers and played Bunko.  My luck was pretty low but Andy had his usual luck.

Playing Bunko.  Mirra really got into it this year.  She stated quite seriously "My job is kicking butt.  Winning and kicking butt."  Competitive much?  My cousin Lance and his fiancee, Ellen, asked the kids to pass out programs at their wedding in June.  Drew and Mirra are pretty excited.

We had fun altering my dad's "To-Do" list.   We love to tease my parents that they don't enable us enough and need to raise our kids for us and pay our bills...we would never give our babies up:)

Andy and Dad were the only ones to win a bunko round with our ghost players.

Mirra and Laci.  Pretty girls!

Bernard's Latest

He also spent one day holding onto Ozzie's favorite bone.  With only one day left before Christmas, we wonder what he will do next:)

Taking Bullseye for a Ride

More Elfing Fun

Bernard replaced the kids' stockings with their underwear.  Drew was not amused.

Mirra left a note for Bernard asking him to hide in the Christmas tree. 

Sliding down the banister

Not to be left out, Drew left a couple of notes for Bernard too.

Scaling the fireplace

Pigging out on Puppy Chow

Ever wonder how those chocolate pieces get on the cookies?  

 

If you ever want my kids to laugh just say the words "poop", "fart" or "butt". 

Mirra's Christmas Program

The first and third graders did a great job performing again this year.  Mirra took her practice seriously and was very ready by the performance date.  Our friends, the Halls, joined us prior to the show and Mirra and Lilly were very excited to get dressed up and ready to sing.  These are our little Christmas angels:)

Elf Antics

Roasting a marshmallow

Chilling with Ann and Andy

Captured by LEGO villans.  Drew rallied the hero troops and they freed him.

UNO with Mirra's babies

Hanging with Barbie

Bernard

Happy Holidays!!!

This year Grammy gave the kids an Elf On The Shelf book and can you believe we had our elf appear the very next day?!?!  He hid out in the large wreath above the fireplace all day and Drew and Mirra did not notice.   When Mirra's friend came over, she pointed him out.  Mirra began reading the book to the little elf and the kids decided to name him Bernard.

Day 1: Bernard left a message on the bathroom mirror for the kids.  He must have lost his grip because he fell to the sink later that day.  The kids knew not to touch him but unfortunately, Andy did not know all the elf rules.  Mirra began to cry and Drew was very upset.  You see when elves are touched they lose their magic.  Never fear!  Mom quickly called the North Pole and consulted with a Head Elf.  Bernard caught a ride back to the North Pole with a fellow elf, Red, and his magic was restored by Santa.  The kids were relieved to see Bernard the next morning sipping syrup in the pantry to get his strength back.  Drew took no chances though and referenced the book for his dad, pointing out the passage stating that elves can't be touched and keep their magic.

Bernard did not retaliate against Andy, though Mirra suggested to him that he stick Andy's toothbrush in the toilet.

I didn't get a shot of Bernard ziplining down the Christmas lights in Drew's room but here are a few photos to let you know what else Bernard has been up to this week.

TP the tree - technical difficulties getting this photo upright

Keeping warm in a stocking.

Kyle & Alyssa's Wedding

We were privileged to be a part of my cousin Kyle and his bride, Alyssa's, wedding.  They chose Mirra to be their flower girl.

It was a long day of pictures for a six year old, but she did so great during the ceremony.  We had such a good time with my amazing family and celebrated a wonderful couple.

She can only be prim and proper for so long:)

Andy looks so thrilled to be having his picture taken and dancing: Two things he does to humor me.

 

A good example of how to make a marriage last 43 years

My angel with the Build A Bear that Alyssa and Kyle got her for being their flower girl.

Mini Me or Mini You?

Since her birth I have thought Mirra was her dad's Mini Me.  She has so many of his features.  But this morning I came across the following two photos and thought "she has some of her mama in her after all."

1979?

2012

Baseball Blue

At the end of last summer Drew decided he wanted to play baseball.  We told him he had to wait until spring to join a team so we practiced drills at home.

This year Drew went to baseball camp and joined a kid-pitch team of 9-11 year-olds.  I have to say we are part of a fantastic group of kids and parents.

Monday was Drew's first official game.  He had a a lot of support from his fans!  Grammy and Papa drove over to watch and our neighbors (and good friends) Mark and Debbie attended.

The boys did great hitting, fielding, stealing bases and knowing when to let the pitcher walk them.  Drew played left field, walked twice, struck out once,  stole two bases and scored twice. 

He was the ham of the game.  During his second at-bat he bent over to dust off home plate.  The ump said "thanks!" and Drew replied "You're welcome, Umpire!"  

Our "Cascade Blue" won 10 to 3 and we had one very excited son.

The fan club

First at-bat

On First

His first score!!!

HAPPY!

Our New Addition

The two most commonly used phrases in our house are now:


"Ozzie, drop it!"

and

"Mirra, pick it up!"

We adopted "Butter Ball" from the humane society during their PetSmart adoption days.  He is a lab mix and is seven months old.  We see some Pit Bull in his face.  We decided he needed a better name and landed on Ozzie after the former St. Louis Cardinals shortstop.  He has many lessons to learn but he is fantastic with the kids and that is the most important thing.