Look who made ESPN!!!

We saw them filming today, but never fathomed we'd make it onto TV! This was aired during the Liberty Bowl, which took place in Memphis today.

Some cute shots...

Cora and Emi as nuns...

 Emi LOVES her wooden puzzles!

What's wrong with this picture?? 

No, it wasn't Sofu, it was Daddy who dressed Emi after her nap... backwards overalls (she didn't mind at all!)

Cora tries out her new roller skates

A trip back to the Peabody Hotel

Not sure why we thought today would be a good one to take Oba and Sofu downtown Memphis to the famous Peabody Hotel to see the march of the ducks. It was the most crowded we've ever seen, but it was still fun. Cora, Emi and I were able to sit front-row and watch the ducks pass in front of us from the elevator to their fountain. They were probably 6 inches from us and it was a great view. I don't think anyone else saw the march, though... But we stuck around and saw their "house" on the roof of the hotel and also watched them swim/dine for awhile in the lobby. 

 A birds' eye view of the ducks getting fed -- from a silver platter, of course!

 The girls acting like ducks with friend Caroline

Emi was SOOO interested in the ducks this visit, she was busy quacking at them!

The ducks' "pool" on the roofdeck -- notice the "ducky door" which leads to their inside quarters

we LOVE our fireplace!!!

We've finally lit a fire in our fireplace and it's wonderful! A wood-burning fireplace was high on our "wants"list while house-hunting, and it was a challenge to find one. We are happy we did and we predict many crackling nights by the fire for many years... 

How to spend/waste MANY hours...

A fond memory from my childhood, we've taken on the challenge of a puzzle -- "A Victorian Christmas" by Thomas Kinkade. It's been pretty arduous, but we're getting there... and EVERYONE is helping out (in fact, we're pretty sure Finn ate a piece or two that we just can't find...)

 a pajama-jammie day, eating leftover pizza and taking a stab at the difficult puzzle

Greg joined in the fun, as well

Cora and Sofu decide to tackle the Disney Princess floor puzzle instead (with 48 pieces as opposed to 1000 pieces!)

It's snowed in Tennessee!

How great! Too bad there isn't enough to build a snowman or go sledding, but we still love seeing some of the white stuff :)

Christmas 2012

 BEFORE the hurricane hit...

He came!

Our Christmas jammies

 Emi proudly shows off her pewter spoon

 The girls opening a "team gift" from Santa

 Finn enjoying smelling his candy cane rawhide from cousin Libby

 Bonny buttering daddy up

 The girls got my doll cradle from childhood and immediately rushed to rock a baby or two

 "Santa got us a DRUM!"

 "AND a workbench with working tools!"

 Opening gifts from the girls -- homemade ornaments with so much love!

 Emi carefully tearing each gift open (and taking her sweet old time)

Cora THRILLED with her new Barbie friends and VW beetle

Oba and Sofu loving their new picture from the girls

 The drums were by far the favorite gift received...

Even daddy got a kick out of them -- and was eager to start tutoring...

Showing off new drumset to GG Madea via FaceTime -- the next best thing to celebrating Christmas together!

 MMM more eggnog (in special pewter cups tonight!)

 Big sis helping clean up Little

Merry Christmas Eve

What a great day! We spent it decorating, gift-wrapping and just hanging around. For dinner we made Grandpa Callihan's spicy shrimp and it was excellent. We went to the 7 pm service at church and made it in time to sit in the front row... thankfully the girls were on great behavior. 

 Emi checking out the mantle

 the best attempt at a family picture 

 Oba and Sofu got more compliant company

 Emi opening her early Christmas gift

 Cora gets a "little girl doll"

Emi showing off her new pantry food for her kitchen

Cora scoping out the gifts from family (and organizing them into piles based on what has her name on them!)

Cora carefully stocked the goodie plate for Santa and his reindeer

What a way to end the night... with eggnog :)