Here's Your Holiday Card

I don't do Holiday Card mailings. So, here ya go!

Happy Holidays

Love,

The Westovers

Steve, Fiona, Niamh, Finn, and Eddy

I Love My Dog

We have this big huge softie of a dog. He weighs anywhere between 85-90 pounds (we all have our skinny days and our "I'm retaining water" days). A lot of people are afraid of him when we are out walking or when they come to the door. I keep telling them that he is friendly, couldn't hurt a flea...or a Chihuahua!

We took care of our good friend's 2 Chihuahuas last week while she was away. We had been camping with them a few times over the summer and the kids just loved the little dogs..so different than their own big beast at home....and Niamh says, "Saying Chihuahua is really fun!" So, we took Sadie and India in to the family for 5 days.

I took this video of Eddy greeting them when they first arrived. Now, if this doesn't convince you that this old dog is the friendliest and most harmless creature, I don't know what will. Beware of the Chihuahua though!

I have to make a note about the state of the house in this video. The orange cord hanging from the door was for some lights we were hangning from the porch. They have since been taken down because the cord is just so tacky. We had also just put up the Christmas ornaments and the boxes are still lying around. The pack and play by the door was just returned to me after I loaned it out and still hadn't put it away. And, there is also the Chihuahuas' kennel in the middle of the room. Geez, what slobs we are!

Someone's Got A Crush On Me

I have been finding these little notes all over the place. They are written on receipts, scrap paper, Lipton Soup envelopes, you name it. Looks like I have a not-so-secret Admirer. I'm pretty smitten with her too. For the record, she does have a dad, she just like me better.

Click to enlarge-it's worth it

Translation please? top to bottom, left to right

Love, Niamh. My Mom is my favorite friend.

Mom, I love love love love you.

Mommy, I love Mommy. I love because you are my best fan.

Fiona Mommy

You're my mom

I think I'm blushing.

Niamh's Birthdays

It must be because Niamh's birthday is always around Thanksgiving that the celebration seems to go on forever! This year her birthday was actually on Thanksgiving Day. So, we celebrated at home in the morning, at Grandma's and Grandpa's that evening, then had her birthday party with her friends a week later. Truly, it all started a few days before her actual birthdate because on Monday morning (3 days before the day), she declared that we should call her "Birthday Girl" since her birthday was upon us. Yes, Ma'am.
Get ready for the onslaught of photos..........

Remember that Doll House I keep referring to? The one I spent so much time making prettier for her? Well, turns out, all it needed was some fancy princess castle furniture from Auntie Alex to make it fun to play with.

This doll was the gift that Steve and I bought for her. It took a lot for me to break down and get it for her. She kept pointing it out to Grandma in the toy store and said it was what she really wanted for her birthday. Niamh has so many dolls and stuffed animals that she loves for about 2 hours and then go in a pile in the round red tub in the play room. I figured I might as well get her the toy she asked for and won't play with, rather then get her the toy she didn't ask for and won't play with. I know you are dying to know if she plays with it? What do you think?

On to celebration #2 at Grandma's and Grandpa's house.....

Makeup, obviously a grandparent gift.

Makeup, obviously a gift that Finn enjoys as much as Niamh. He applied this himself.

Pumpkin Pie! Her favorite dessert!

And the Finale, her party with her friends at Paint The Town at U Village, followed by lunch at Pallino Pastaria. A venue I would definitely repeat.

Niamh has a fun group of friends she has met in kindergarten. Though the #2 person on her list of invites was her teacher (suck up),  we thought it best to let teachers have rest from their students on the weekends.

Yes, that is Jaya with the Buckaroo hat on. I'm telling you, that girl's style is tough to match.

Not shy for the camera. These girls are all personality.

I was only a little surprised that Finn chose a purple monkey as his art piece.

During lunch, this Sweetie told me she could only eat a little bit of cake because she is getting a cavity...so she only ate the frosting. Love her restraint and discipline.

My favorite shot from all the parties!

Happy 6th birthday, Niamh....again. Guess what, Girlie, December is someone else's birthday month. I'm not talking about that baby in the hay. I'm talking about ME, your Mama. I think I'm ready for you to start referring to ME as "Birthday Girl."

Day at the Salon

Recently, Niamh got a really cute bob style hair cut. It was so perfectly adorable that I decided to take her to see the gal who cuts my hair at Gene Juarez downtown. I wanted Chloe to make it just a little bit edgier, not so cutesy perfect.

We entered the salon and the receptionist handed each of us a smock to change in to. I took Niamh to one of the curtained rooms to take off our coats and put on the robe. As I was putting mine on, Niamh said to me, "Do I keep my underwear on, Mama?" I turned to look at her and her skirt was at her ankles and she was pulling down her tights! Hilarious! "No, Babe, we aren't here for a female exam. Just a hair cut!" We'll have that bonding moment in about 10 more years.

ADORABLE and edgy!