Potato Chip Dance

Thanks you Classic Lays - tonight the kids and I did the potato chip dance for mom.  No, there is no such thing as the potato chip dance...because there is no earthly way we can recreate it ever again!  But she ate her sandwich (grilled ham and cheese with LOTS of butter!) and all her chips and then asked for seconds of chips. 

Both kids got wide-eyed - because mom eats like a sickly bird these days - and I said "I KNOW!" so of course mom asked "what?" and I told her we were excited that she liked the chips and that if she ate them all I would be so happy I would do a potato chip dance.

She ate them all - and I think swiped a licked finger across the plate for all remaining crumbs! - and the kids were quick to point out that I had to do the potato chip dance.  So the Lays chip bag and I danced and the kids joined in and mom smiled - really smiled. 

Who doesn't love a Potato Chip Dance!?

Smiles in the morning!

Today is full of smiles - mine, believe it or not!  Is today a better day or am I just better prepared? better rested? better centered?  I took some time to go back to living thankfully last night and that is always a key to my contentment and positive outlook...so why can't I go there every day, every minute?  That's a questions for another day.

I stayed home from the pool this morning thinking it would be important for me to be home in case mom woke up early today like yesterday - she didn't.  I believe she can sense when I am in the house or near her.  And it makes me smile to think that I can have that kind of relaxing/calming effect on anyone!  Just ask around - I am not the calmer - I am the make-you-crazier!  Anyway - that's smile #1

I decided to make mom ham and eggs this morning as a nod to my daddy's breakfast specialty - thought it would be a good idea to have his spirit with me to start this better day - that's smile #2.

Murph started watching an MLB Bloopers show he had taped and it made us ALL laugh out loud - I call that smiles #3, #4 and #5!

Mom is sitting with me in the red room just enjoying looking outside and Peyton is singing at the top of her lungs in the shower - it's not so much a song as it is just some random thoughts she is having set to her latest made-up pop tune - complete with Christina vocal runs!  and that is smile #6 - and it's not even noon!

God blessed me last night with a decision to enjoy a moment with my family and not worry, the choice to stay up past my bed time and watch an action film with the kids even though I was tired and the complete disregard for our tight budget to turn the AC down to a very comfortable sleeping temperature and I have been rewarded with His Grace and a lot of smiles!

Alzheimer's still sucks, but today I am smiling through it!

Christmas Day 2011

 Believe it or not, I woke up before the rest of the house...and after I got over the shock of the presents that were left last night...I made coffee, made a fire and sat in the beautiful lights of the tree and the mantle and the peace of knowing we are celebrating the birth of the Baby Jesus

 Peyton's super gift...a Hot Mod electric scooter...if this were bigger - it would be my Vespa!

 for Murph...a PS 3...more gaming, better graphics, cooler effects and all of it comes easy to him and makes no sense at all to me...thank God for Patrick!

 The kitchen tree...always my favorite...such simple, old fashioned decorations...and all of them MEAN something to our family

 In keeping with tradition - Keaton is the first one down the stairs - nearly bursting with anticipation and totally freaked out that he slept this late!!!

 Ready to ride!

 wiffle balls for my baseball player

 Keaton:  "This is so cool!" 

Sophie:  "I wish I had thumbs..."

 Everything good comes in a Justice box!

 The HOOPS outfit - thank goodness Santa has connections!

 headphones for a teenager...very cool...love that he is loving music

 blurry picture...do you think it's because Peyton aka Santa's little helper is moving so fast or because I'm not a very good photographer...I think it's because she's moving so fast!

Every year she takes great pride in passing out the presents!

 Our son, the reader - every year he discovers a new series of books and can't be pulled away until he's read them all....LOVE that!

 Peyton's hair curlers...the squishy ones that make ringlets...can't wait to try them!

 Lord of the gift

 the hat...the gray Rangers flat brimmed hat with the red brim and T...once again, thank goodness Santa has connections!

 A different kind of hat - the perfect critter hat for my puppy loving girl...how adorable

 Everything an American Girl doll needs!  a new bed, a salon chair, clothes, accessories - yay Karly and Katie

 the Hot Mod's maiden voyage down Mount McKinley Road

 Just look at my cool scooter...and my cool HOOPS outfit...and my cool boots...

Hot Mods RULE!

Merry Christmas everyone!



Christmas Eve 2011

The Zedick's Annual Neighborhood Christmas Eve party...



 A glass of wine, a sparkly sweater, seats by the tree and the whole neighborhood!

 Santa has arrived with his bag of toys for all the girls and boys!

He's a classic!

 Peyton on Santa's lap...what could it be?

 You're never too old at this party to sit on Santa's lap...if you were ever a child in the neighborhood, Santa has a toy for you!

 Blue Nike sweat jacket - it was on the list...he doesn't look exactly thrilled, does he?

 That's more like it! 

Our annual family picture with Santa - went right up on Facebook - I love this tradition!

 Patrick and Keaton waiting for the adult gift exchange to start....this year, a massager that doesn't really work...last year's was better - the flip cam!

 Check out Peyton's gift from Santa - all the eyeshadow a girl could ever want!  Well done, Santa!

 Home at 11:00pm - still need to decorate the cookies for Santa...we did better this year on everything else, but left this til the last minute...oh well, a bit of frosting is good for the soul on Christmas Eve!

I could totally be Santa...I love me some sugar cookies!  This was our gift to him this year.



Getting Ready for Christmas...



A huge accomplishment this year...started shopping early and started wrapping early - presents under the tree a week before Christmas...NO WAY!  The kids were awesome helpers - especially Peyton - she loves making bows and writing names on the gift tags!

 A day of Christmas shopping done her in!

 Christmas Eve - 15 minutes 'til opening - the line at Honeybaked Ham!

So, the Thursday before Christmas - the 22nd, I think, we went to Cousins Barbeque for dinner.  They had a giant stocking hanging over by the drink station and a box to enter-to-win!  You were supposed to write your name and phone number on the back of your receipt from your meal and drop it in the box.  Peyton filled ours out...she was so funny, which number do you think I should put down so they can get ahold of us when we win...I adore that positive attitude!

So, we're coming out of Buffalo Wild Wings after a night of playing the trivia game and Patrick's phone rings - or he checks his messages or something - I had headed out to get the car started - it was cold outside that night...and he says something that lets the kids know it might be Cousins.  They are beside themselves with Giant Stocking Joy!  When they finally get in the car, they are bouncing off the inside - Patrick plays the message on speaker phone and they squealed like they had just won a million dollars - it was classic and funny and wonderful!

 And here it is - 6 feet of mesh stocking filled with toys - one entry, the night before the drawing...she is a lucky one!

 some of the toys were great - some not so great - the kids asked that we leave the ones they were too old for or didn't want out for Santa to take to kids who might need some toys...made me proud time a thousand!

 very cool art kit

6 feet of stocking full of toys is too much for one little girl!



A real-live Birthday Party!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

For the past 2 years, we have taken Peyton to Great Wolf Lodge for her birthday - but now it's really a family trip (although she still claims it as 'for my birthday').  So it was time for a real birthday party with invitations, a cake, presents and friends.

Christmastime is s tough time for a party - everyone is so booked and this year - two friends had colds, but a few still managed to find time to drive across town to Skate Town to celebrate Peyton turning 10!



 Her very own, store-bought (much to my dismay) birthday cake with P E Y T O N candles.  Chocolate cake, whipped frosting - not up for debate!

 Keaton making the wise choice of putting on his knee pads...his balance is improved, but if he gets going too fast...you just never know!

 Peyton and Gracie - BFFs on the rink

 Gracie, Peyton, Michayla and Abby...Alexis is still putting on her skates!

 The birthday chicken dance...who knew?

 Time for cake and ice cream - and of course a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday to You"!

 Blowing out her candles!

 Opening presents with friends...this made all the planning and shopping for birthday stuff and invitations, etc all worth while...she was beaming!

 A blanket from Abby - with her name embroidered on it - very cool...and very snuggly!

 A little something extra from Alexis - a holiday scene make-it kit

 The bling peace pillow - she saw this while we were back to school shopping in August...it's been tough to keep hidden all these months!

The girls - ready to head back out and skate and do the hokey pokey!