Thankful for Ooma!

The staff at LOLApalooza wants to send a huge shout out to Ooma, the mother, mother-in-law and Grandmother, for making a fabulous Thanksgiving Day feast! We all left happy and full! (this is normal when Ooma cooks up dinner)
Lola had so much fun playing with her cousins. She played so hard that she fell fast asleep last night with no fussing, which is rare for Lola. Ian also had fun with his little cousins, he gave them a run for their money during an intense game of hide and go seek.
Thanks so much for a nice evening Cindy, we love you!
posted by Emilee

Happy Birthday Emma! and Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy 12th Birthday to my little tiny baby cousin (and avid LOLApalooza follower) Emma. We love you and we hope you have a GREAT DAY!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! We have so much to be thankful for! I'm starting my day off being thankful for all of my lazy loves snuggling on the couch watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade (not pictured is Gabbi who is growling from under the Christmas tree or Aaron who is in the kitchen making pancakes or Ian who we won't pick up until later)

Have a great day!
posted by Emilee

the gift of gab

Thank You Veterans

Today is the day we honor military veterans.
We want to thank all of our family and many friends who have served or are currently serving in the United States Military. Today we remind ourselves that it's because of you that we have our freedom. We especially thank our Dads, Grumpa & PopPop, and our Grandfathers for your bravery and time at war. I was trying my best to explain to Lola why we don't have to go to work and school today. I told her that today we think about the wonderful people who have fought at war for our freedom. She walked away thinking that her Grumpa and PopPop got into a fight. HA! Kids! They are kinda dumb.

Grumpa & PopPop - We are proud to be able to call you Dad. Thank you and we love you!

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. -Elmer Davis

Posted by Emilee at 8:08 am - Veteran's Day

free kitten to a good home

NO NO! NOT THIS KITTEN!
Aaron did a fabulous job yesterday painting Lola to look like one of the jellicle cats from her favorite musical Cats. (although Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is running a close second so watch out, she may be sporting an amazing technicolor dreamcoat one of these days)

Our house currently occupies two cats too many.

Runner is here to stay. He is a perfect cat. I found him when he was a kitten, I was jogging on some trails and he followed me. That was 13 years ago.



Gabbi was an accident. I wasn't out to get another cat but after having lost both Norma Jean & Moe the previous year I had a soft spot so when my vet called and asked if I was interested in meeting a little calico kitty I said sure. I mean I was just going to go look.... She is 2 and as I type this she sits comfortably on my lap.



Then there's this one. We're calling her Isabella or Bella. Lola wanted to name her after her friend at schools baby sister. Bella is almost impossible to take a photo of because she is always moving. Bella is a nice kitty and very tolerable of Lola. Ideally we would like for Bella to go to a new home, a good home. BUT... reality sets in and I'm realizing just how hard it is to find a good home for a cat. Bella has been here for a week now and she seems to be very comfortable. She has been staying out in our sunroom so she can recuperate from her surgery (she was spayed last week). SO... if you want a kitty she's friendly, has had her kitten shots and is spayed. All you have to do is take her home and love her... come on.
Anyone?


posted by Emilee

Happy Halloween!

Enchanted, the unicorn, spotted in a small town

It was a magical day for grownups and children when Enchanted, the unicorn, made an unexpected visit to a small town in southern Ohio. After spending time with the town locals, posing for many photographs and lifting his leg on a few trees Enchanted made his big exit leaving a trail of glitter behind him.

The Grumpa Hawaiian Coffee Dress

What used to be an old man Hawaiian coffee shirt has been transformed into a super fabulous dress for Lola. I also used one of Dad's yellow t-shirts to make the ruffles.

Thanks for the hand-me-downs Grumps!



P.S. The earrings are her Grandma's clip ons. Lola does not have pierced ears.
post by Emilee

Now this is more like it

Lola & Stella vs. Emilee & Jenny

Sure, these little girls are pretty cute but let's not forget about their Mothers. Jenny & I were something special back when we were young too.
For instance this is pretty cute....


or this one...


or this one for the Christmas cards...


That's right. Who is cuter now? I'll look forward to your comments.

posted by Emilee

A rainy day at the lake

Our bags were packed for a sunny day at the lake but unfortunately we didn't have the chance to change into our suites or load up on sunblock BUT... we got to have a nice visit with Aaron's Grandma and Lola's Ooma and eat good food! That stupid rain didn't stop Lola & her cousins from having so much fun.

Thanks Gram Yates & Ooma for a GREAT DAY!!! We love you all!




P.S. This post was submitted by Emilee, not Aaron like it says below. I ran out of upload space on my account so now I'm using Aaron's until I figure something out.

Bruce continues to be the best dog ever

Daddy's shirt has never been so cute

Settle down ladies... that up there is my husband. Try not to be too jealous.

As I continue to sew like a crack addict does crack (ask Aaron to show you his impression of me at the sewing machine) I've become a little more comfortable trying new things. Like sleeves. Anyway, I found a website where a girl turned an adult sized sweater into a sweater dress for her daughter. It was so cute and come to find out it was a super easy & fun project. I only had two sweaters to use so Lola has two new sweater dresses for the winter. Like most crack addicts I am poor and can't afford all the fabric I want to keep my habit going so I sent Aaron up to his wardrobe to see what he could find for me and SCORE! he brought down this amazing brown shirt! Why didn't I ever see him in this? I love it! Using the same technique to make the sweater dresses I made this fabulous dress for Miss Lola! Not only does she have a cute new dress she has a special dress made from her Daddy's shirt.

It's Bronx & Anora day!

Lola waited all week for her friends Bronx & Anora to arrive for a fun girl's weekend waking up each morning and asking "is it Bronx & Anora day yet?" The girls played so well together with only one minor incident to report on Saturday evening when Lola & Anora wanted the same coloring book. The situation was smoothed over in no time.
Rowan got wind of the girl party over at Lola's house and casually told his parents "we should go for a walk around the block" sure Rowan.... we know what you were up to, it was all a part of your master plan.
Below are more photos from the fun weekend.

Debbie - it was GREAT having you girls here!!!!!!! We love & miss you all so much!

Lola's Labor Day weekend surprise

Lola received a phone call on Saturday afternoon from her Grandma Joni. Grandma said "come outside Lola" ... So we headed out front to find Grumpa standing there in yard! Lola said "Grumpa! How did you get here?" Then she spotted her Grandma! She took them to the park, to Joanne Fabrics and The Pub with the other Brown family. Lola's Daddy, Grumpa & Jeff went early so they could have a couple beers before the children arrived for dinner.
Today she plans on showing her Grandparents some of her ballerina moves before they head back to the windy city.

Thanks for coming to visit Dad & Joni, it's been a fun weekend!