Roper came to our house late last night.

Not Mister. Just Roper. Our washing machine caught on fire (technically, there was just a ton of billowing smoke and a horrific smell, and Jack said I can't call it a fire because I didn't actually see flames...but doesn't it make the story sound better?) After the repair guy said it was a goner, we went and bought the cheapest machine on the lot. A Roper. I had never heard of it, and now it is my life-line to eliminating B.O.And since we are already spending our meager savings on our trip to CA, add the washing machine, the fact that we believe our camera was stolen falls to the bottom of the list, to be replaced maybe during tax refund time. A moment of silence for our financial woes please.

Thank you.

...So join the choir he did!

In August when we went to Back to School night, we bumped into F's music teacher who told him (and us) that he should join the choir. Reluctant, F went to the first meeting and that was it--he was hooked! Being the only boy in the choir from his grade, we were pretty proud of him. They had their first Christmas Concert (not Holiday Concert--as here in the South we need not mince words or feign being PC--heck, they even sang songs about Jesus).

The obnoxious child in front of me kept sneaking in for a photo op, so here is the best I could do.

The antlers were for the Rudolph Rap! Ahh, we have come so far since the Sugarhill Gang!

'Tis the Season to force a good picture

Every year we say we are going to take a great family photo on Thanksgiving to use in the Christmas card, since we are already dressed up. It has only happened once. So this past Saturday we loaded up kids in the car and under threat of not attending the Christmas Parade, we went to Wild Wood Park to see if the boys could pull off the "Ahh, they are so cute and getting so big" photo. Here are some of our favorites that did NOT make the cut!

Pictured here--the McKinley Boys Choir

Getting no genuine smiles, Jack started talking about poop...

So G at Jacks bidding--no not really, but it looks like it!

S, asking Jay (Manuel, of ANTM of course)

"Is this the emotion in my eyes you are looking for?"

And, deciding they were finished--the stick revolt ensued!

Guess you will have to check your mailboxes to see their "best shot" and find out WHO will be going to Bejing...I mean, nevermind!

Turkey, stuffing, & sweet potato pie

For nicer meals, I appreciate a well set table as much as I appreciate the food that is served on it. Here was our Thanksgiving Table. I wish the picture showed our personalized embroidered napkins! After the meal, the adults were meticulously perousing our Black Friday ads and making lists of our own...this is where we found S!!

And while everyone else prepared the meals, read the paper, & chatted amongst ourselves, this is what the boys did--

Wii are obssessed!

So the hot Christmas talk around our house from all FOUR boys is about who will be getting a Wii (the new video game system, for you old-timers). On the way to school this morning, the conversation went something like this: "Well mom, the Herndons are getting a Wii." "Sarah and Emma are getting a Wii." "Mom, even Michael is getting a Wii!"

--Ah, ha! My in...

"Well boys, Michael is an only child. Would you rather have brothers, or a Wii?" As the oldest, F smiled at me and replied dutifully, "Brothers, of course." As middle child, G expressing in his --Tell it like it is Dr. Phil mentality--cried, "No brothers--I want a Wii!!," as he chortles his evil villian laugh.

There will be no laughter in the house on Christmas morning when the Wii is nowhere to be found, and we return to a simpler time...(did that sound "dickens-y" enough in it's tone of Christmas despair?)