Happy 4th Birthday Cousin Miles!

Yesterday, my Grammy and Pop-Pop took me to my Cousin Miles' birthday party at a really fun place called BounceU. Well, just like the name says, you can bounce on just about everything in there! We all had to wear something called "wristbands" and take off our shoes in order to bounce and slide. There were two big rooms full of gigantic things to bounce and slide on and we played in both of them. The slides were a little too high for me so, I just bounced. Many of the grown-ups were bouncing and sliding too... even my Pop-Pop! Here are some of the pics that Miles' Mommy and my Grammy took while we were there...


















After everyone played, bounced, and slid to their heart's content, it was time to eat and celebrate the birthday boy. Cousin Miles was seated at the big "BounceU" chair at the head of the table. We had soft pretzels, pizza, juice, and soda. He also had a really neat birthday cake that was like a giant "Rice Krispies Treat" that his Grandmother Arlene made for him and it was really good! We sang the "Happy Birthday" song to him and he blew out all the candles on his birthday treat, with a little help from his Mommy.








We also played with ballons and a game with something called a "pinata". Cousin Miles had to swing at the pinata with a stick to break it open and when he did, it was filled with candy that fell to the floor! Everything that we could pick up and hold in our little hands, we could keep. I got a banana split lollipop and, because I like bananas a lot, that was just fine with me. After that, Miles' Mommy gave all of us something called a "goodie bag" and then, it was time to go home. Everyone had a great time and I hope that my Cousin Miles enjoyed his birthday as much as we did sharing it with him!

From Our Family To Yours...

Little Sister Sophia & The Booga Wooga

As we celebrate the birth of the Baby Jesus, we wanted to share our best wishes and prayers that GOD will continue to bless all of our family and friends. We hope that this will be the best Christmas ever for you and your loved ones. Peace and love to you all!

It's Christmas Eve!

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!"

About This Classic Poem & Author

This beloved poem, "Twas The Night Before Christmas", is also known by another name... "A Visit Of St. Nicholas".

Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) wrote the poem in 1822 and it is a tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve. The poem has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the story, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers.

The author of the poem was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend sent a copy of the poem to the New York Sentinel who published it. The condition of publication was that the author of the poem was to remain anonymous. The first publication date was December 23, 1823 and it was an immediate success.

It wasn't until 1844 that Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry. Clement Clarke Moore came from a prominent family and his father Benjamin Moore was the Bishop of New York, who was famous for officiating at the inauguration of George Washington.

The tradition of reading this poem on the night before Christmas is a worldwide institution.

Our Christmas Cards 2009

There are only 8 more days until Christmas and everybody in my house is very excited. My Mommy got out the camera and took a few pics of us recently for her Facebook page. Well, I guess you know what happened next, right? Mommy told Grammy about the new pics and she went right over there and made copies of them for my blog. But, you know Grammy... first, she made a quick stop at Loonapix and had a great time turning them into Christmas cards! She said that these cards are very special and you won't be able to find them in any store, but you are welcome to come back here to see them at any time...

U Betta Watch Out...

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town!
The NORAD website has many fun things in store for you and your kids this Christmas Eve. Visitors can take a stroll through Santa's North Pole Village and click on the downtown shops for fun games and activities including Mrs. Claus' Alphabet Soup Typing Test, an illustrated PDF Elf Story, and a Snowboarding Game. The Santa Tracking Control Center kicks off operations on 2:00am MTN Christmas Eve and lets you track Santa live as he navigates the globe. Just click on the image or text link above to get to the site. See you there on December 24th!

Christmas Is Coming!

Quiz Rocket Challenge

Me and my Grammy found this really cute quiz about Christmas that you might enjoy from that place called the "internet". If you've got some time to spare, try it and see how many "little things" you remember about the holiday. Just click on my badge above to get to the quiz. When you finish, you'll get a badge just like mine to put on your site. As you can see, we took the quiz and I think we did pretty good, don't you? Good luck!