Introducing.......Jake!!!!

I know....some are thinking I have lost my mind. Just when I thought I couldn't put any more on my plate, or have any more responsibilities....I get a puppy for the girls!!!!

But, I can honestly say, I think it's been good for the girls. Lily and Anna are so good with Jake and so gentle. We had Duke and Annabell already when they were born, with Jake, they get to watch him grow and have responsibility in caring for him. Lily actually takes him outside to go potty (with me prompting her to do so, but she does it). Lily came with me to the breeder and got to see Jake's mommy and daddy, and the brother and sister he was leaving behind. I have never seen so many dachshunds in my life!!!

I have really missed Duke and Annabell, but I didn't want a puppy in the house I was renting. Now that I own my home, I felt it was time and I really wanted the girls to have him before Christmas. Lily came up with the name, with a little help from me. Jake Delhomme is our quarterback for the Carolina Panthers (which are having a killer season by the way), and Jake Long is the defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins (Dales team)...so with that.....Jake it is!!!!! Will keep you all posted, but I did forget about the puppy stage, potty training and that sad puppy cry!!! He loves to sleep with us, I put him with Lily first and she actually falls asleep faster now. Then when I go to bed, I take him in with me. Lily is a rough sleeper and Jake is just too little to handle himself in her bed. Right now he only weighs 2.2 pounds. we've had him at the vet and he is in excellent health....yay for us!!!!

.....and the wonder of it all

Here comes Christmas!!!!!

It's Christmas time!!!!! The girls have been havin a blast gettn ready for Santa, Lily was very into decorating the tree, where each ornament went and how many lights had to be on the tree. Was too cute to watch her, and she was so proud when we were all done. This year I had one of Lily's friends over to decorate sugar cookies. A favorite tradition of mine growing up. Lily and Anna helped roll out and cut the cookies the night before. Lily and her friend Cayleigh decorated the cookies the next day, while Anna slept. No way I could do that with Anna up, she'd want to lick all the frosting and eat all the cookies!!!!

Also some random recent photos of Lily and Anna with their Godmommy Katrina and their Grammy during her visit here for Thanksgiving. Lily and Anna are growing up so fast. It's hard not being with them every day, but overall, I think the girls and I are doing great and adjusting to our new life and new traditions.

This Christmas will be very hard for me due to the girls being with Ken on Christmas Eve. Can not even imagine not having them here waking up Christmas morning so eager to see what Santa has left. Lily's Gaga cheared me up a little with giving me "the Elf on the Shelf". Lily's aunt Mimi bought the last one at the "Buttercup" and passed it down to me. If you dont know what it is....a small red little elf that appears in your home during the holidays. He magically disappears every night to report to Santa how the children's behavior has been and if they have been "naughty or nice"....he then magically appears again some place different the next day... Anyway, Lily is so into this and has named the elf Nick. I love this age and how they truly believe in all the magic of Christmas. Every morning she is here with me she runs around trying to find Nick and where he landed when he "flew" back from the North Pole. A great family tradition and one you can get I think through Amazon (The Elf on the Shelf).

.....and the wonder of it all

Thanksgiving in Lenoir.....

Lily, Anna, Grammy, Dale and myself all traveled to Lenoir, NC to spend Thanksgiving with the Pendergrafts (Ken's sister Katy and her family). It was one of the most beautiful days, all the cousins and uncles were outside throwing the football to one another. I can honestly say that I had an emotional moment watching from the backyard. It was almost something you see in a movie and walk away knowing how much everyone truly loved eachother and were thankful for all the good things they have in their life.

I for one, was sure thankful for my beautiful little girls, having my mother in for a great visit, and most of all still feeling a part of the girl's family, even though Ken and I are not together, I love his family and had hoped I would maintain some kind of connection with them. Charles and Katy have been wonderful and I will be forever grateful for them opening their home to me and my new life to continue to be involved and love Lily and Anna.

Some of these photos capture the day; me and the girls, Lily with her cousin Sara and Lily with her Grammy and Gaga.

Great day and one I know I will remember for some time.

......and the wonder of it all