Update and pictures

I know we haven't been great about posting...sorry! We hope you all had a restful holiday season. Derek headed back to work yesterday, Delaney went back to school yesterday too. I go back on Monday :(

Here is a link for Christmas pictures. We spent it with Derek's family. Delaney had a great time opening all of her presents and was excited by them all. She loved spending time with her cousin Landon. They got along really well, and even shared a cold with each other...fun! We opened the gifts from my parents Saturday before Christmas. Those pics are also included.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?a=67b0de21b35cf7dde4fb&sid=0QcNGLly0asXnw

New Years was spent with our good friends, Jess and Brett and their two kids. They came out our way this year. We've spent every New Years with them since 1999, except for one year. We took it pretty easy. We went to Ikea on Sunday and out to dinner that night. Derek and Brett took Delaney and Cort sledding on Monday...Brett kept Derek's adventurous side in check, so everyone came back unharmed. NYE we made dinner while the kids watched movies. We all struggled to stay awake. We celebrated the Eastern time zone's New Year at 11 with a glass of bubbly, and barely noticed when it was actually the NY here!

Delaney is getting ready to be a busy bee. She's still going to do a dance class (Tap and Jazz this time), her Spanish class, and swimming. She LOVES swimming and asks every day if it's a swimming day. She also will do gymnastics for 8 weeks. She took it when we lived in OH, so we'll see if it's still a winner. She still loves playing with her friends in the neighborhood. She's into playing board and card games, drawing and writing, and playing make believe. She's still a High School Musical and Hannah Montana superfan...a day doesn't go by when we don't hear at least a few songs from those shows. She still likes the Wiggles and Dora, so she's not completely in the 'tween scene. She's super excited to be a flower girl. My best friend from Salem, Stacie (as in the Stacie and Paul who came to visit Singapore), is getting married in April and asked us all to stand up for them. Delaney and I have our dresses. In fact, I think one of the photos is of Delaney in her dress. Three months and one day!!!!!

As for Jake (the wonder dog - ha!) his tail is healed, finally. He enjoys his days laying on the landing of the stairs where the sun streams in. He's not a fan of the snow and cold anymore. He spends about 3 minutes outside a day!

Derek officially ends his rotations today. He starts his "real" position officially on Monday. He will be a category manager...he can post more on that later.

Take care and let us know how you are doing!!!!

Ms. Happy Outlook

Setting: Our Home Office
Situation: Delaney pointing to her bag of Halloween candy

"Thats all the candy I can eat every day until I pass away"

Delaney - Deep Thoughts

Setting: Our House
Situation: Delaney wanting her mom to carry her up the stairs

Melissa: You are getting too old for me to carry you.
Delaney: You're old too!
Melissa: I am not!
Delaney: Yes you are...but there are two kinds of old.
Melissa: There are? What are they?
Delaney: There's the tall kind of old where you get bigger. That's what you are.
Melissa: What's the other kind of old?
Delaney: The kind where you get bumpy and slow.


Setting: In the car on the way to swimming lessons
Situation: Conversation between Derek and Delaney

Delaney: PaPa's skin is different.
Derek: Different than who?
Delaney: Me, you, Mommy.
Derek: Different how?
Delaney: It doesn't match.
Derek: How?
Delaney: The color doesn't match.
Derek: Why doesn't it match?
Delaney: It's a mix between blonde and black.

Star of the Week!

Its official.....Delaney has begun her reign as "Star of the Week" at her school. Its an honor that entails filling out a bio sheet (containing important info like favorite food and favorite book), bringing in a movie of her choice for movie day and finally having 4 handpicked photos talked about in class and added to the Star of the Week bulletin board.

We are proud of her and I feel like I need to be star of the week at work just to fit in.