a scrumdiliumptious Lasha-kinda Christmas

The photos really say it all, but knowing me, you'll all expect a few words. So be it. It was a grand day. The roads were hazardous with some Minnesota snow and ice, yet the room was pleasantly warm when we arrived first at Tom and Carol's home for the Hanson festivities.
My family did not make an appearance, so I had to be the sole representative, and represent I did. Being the first to arrive at the house, I greeted everyone at the door.

There's a whole lot of me to love in these photos. Probably because I was the center of every one's attention. Without demanding it of course.

This is me demonstrating what it would be like to look really good after being fat. The natural result of lap band surgery of course.


Greg and Sandy are enamored with my quick wit and articulate nature.


The children, of all ages, were fascinated with my story time and storytellers charm. They were asleep before dark!


I don't know how this picture of Seena got on here, but she tried to steal my light with the coveted drinking helmet. I threatened her and she stopped stealing my sole-representative-of-the-Dennis-clan-lime-light.

Of course Joe had successfully tried to get into my pants on this trip. Please pardon the double entendre it was necessary for maximum laughage!

The Stewart children are the DELIGHT of the Hanson Christmas!

Once again my children are the delight of the crowd. I dare say that if they didn't show up, perhaps joy would have not shown up also! Gabe laughed and played in the snow. Ava bossed the big girls around and conjured up some adorable sassy sayings. And Clara cooed and wowed the crowd with her very advanced babyness. JOe and I just sat back in awe of our products.

 

 

 

 

Dinner at Lasha's very merry Christmas 09

 

 

 

Oh those Hanson's sure know how to cook! We had Lamb chops, my favorite, fresh cheese ball, made by Doris, (she know's I crave those) as a prequel to our eating of the lamb, and washed down with some wine provided by Tom. He said he picked the grapes himself, that may be another Tom Tall Tale, but I know the wine was selected just for me. What a very merry Christmas it was for me!

Cookie overdose at the Lasha CHRISTMAS

 

Look at all the cookies the Hanson ladies baked me. STOP, STOP, I can't take it anymore! There are just far too many delicious morsels to consume in such a short time. Oh those ladies are so thoughtful to over indulge me with sugar!

A Very Merry LASHA Christmas it was!

These people were all at the Hanson Christmas too. They look like they had fun!

bath time with Gma Gwen

 

 

 

Baby loves her baths. Anytime, anywhere. Grandma's baths are even better though!

Ms. Independent

 

 

Clara can hold her bottle all by herself at 4 months and 3 weeks. What can your baby do?

Walnut picking season

 

I just lost 9 dollars paying the kids to pick up the walnuts that fall from our trees, 5 cents a walnut. If I were smarter and had more time, I'd collect the walnuts, and sell them for the $9 a pound they're worth and make a $40 profit. But alas I'm not that smart and I don't have any time!

Gabe's very serious first campaign

 

 

 

 

We have been working very hard these last 2 weeks on Gabe's first political campaign.
It all started with the loss of his pick for school PREZ... His candidate of choice, the not cool looking 5th grader was running against the "cool looking" 5th grader. The rest of the crowd voted for the cool looking guy (Does this ring any political bells or what?)who didn't have any good ideas. Gabe came home SUPER upset that the not-so-cool kid lost, " Mom, he seemed like he really cared for the school."
How can you deny this kids heart?
So, 1 day later he decided to run for class rep, to work under the cool-kid--with-no-good-ideas office.
Gabe's platform: that 3rd graders should be able to run for president and not just 5th graders!
Classic case of big dreams. So naturally, mom and dad swung into action. Like all good campaigners, we started strategyzing.
We all have our roles:
Mom-- she is the PR rep, also community organizer neighborhood canvasser!
Dad-- number cruncher, poll analysis
Gabe-- the face behind the campaign
My first step was to come up with a catchy slogan. We ruled out Babes vote for Gabes, not school appropriate. We also ruled out all of Gabe's ideas, such as " vote for me and you might get a pizza party" When we asked him where he was going to get the pizza from, he said, "Mom, I said 'might'" We than had to remind him of our current political status in the US and said, that he was not allowed to be like a real politician, he has to run this race with integrity an politcial savvy not political scurvy.
Which is when it hit me, BABY CLARA. Everyone loves babies, and if they don't it's totally uncool to say so. Hence our campaign slogan. The "Hope: Change we can believe In" people can suck it, cuz they don't have anything on Baby.
She isn't an empty promise, she isn't even saying anything! She's just merely suggesting that if she's smart enough to vote for Gabe, you should too. The power of baby and voter influence wrapped up in one dramatic poster.
The love for babies are gender neutral, appealing to boys and girls alike. The silly face she is making appeals to the boys cuz it's funny and the sheer cuteness appeals to girls cuz it's Clara. The poster had to include reasons why Gabe was interested in running and once again Joe and My community Organizer brain went into full swing. Appealing to the male voters: Transformers & blowing heads off with pure awe of a great idea... Appealing to the female vote: grandma's and signing...
We think the poster covered all voter demographics. The speech writing is next so we have to sum up our big ideas in 1-2 minutes to really pull in those swing voters. Bribes of candy and pizza have already been ruled out by the boring teachers. But no one said anything about hiring ACORN to help us conjure up some mystery voters or find some ballots in a teacher's trunk. We'll let you know as of Friday who the winners are...

Clever Clara

Clara is so cute and cuddly. She is apicky sleeper, for a 3rd born. She loved her Johnny jump up. She loves to stare and observe her big brother and sister. She's mom's biggest fan as well. Can you blame the girl?

Ava 100 piece + puzzles DOMINATED

Ava rocks the puzzles. She loves sitting down and gibber jabbering about the characters and then sets in with shear four year old ferociousness until it's done. AND DON"T LET THERE BE A PIECE MISSING! oh no, she'll remind me to find it days on end. Grandpa bought her 2 new outfits and she decided to Charlie Angel pose for the camera, in true Ava fashion.

tender Clara moment

 

 

It took exactly 4 minutes for Clara to fall asleep on grandpa's lap. A SUCCESSFUL SLEEP OFF!

Grandpa's 1/2 birthday Party

 

 

 

 

Yet another bogus birthday party and a 4 layer chocolate cake has come and gone at the Stewart house. Grandpa was official 13 or 31 depending o how you read the candles and Ava got to blow out the candles twice and had cake frequently within a 2 day time frame.