Unbelievable!

I forgot to mention it with the other Rupp Christmas info...but, this is a fact that I am still blown away with....and that truly does deserve to be 'recorded'.

My Great-Aunt Maureen did a pull-up....twice. She's 70. Seriously. Please tell me your mouth just dropped open to. We all witnessed it! That little fireball just popped right up there! She's my hero. Seriously!

But, on top of it all--she has a heart of gold. I think every single person in that family looks up to her. She gives more than anyone I know to everything/everyone in her life...she is so full of joy (And Energy!!!)...she is always ready to listen...and she truly cares about the people in her life--the kind of person that makes you feel like a million bucks when you're with them b/c she cares for you that much. She's obviously my hero in more than one way!

Love you, Maureen!

(Here's Maureen in case you need a visual for that pull-up!=)

Rock Band with the Rupps

For most of you, this is going to seem like overkill on the pictures...but, I had to document this historic occasion. It got a little crazy at the Big Rupp Christmas...one I will always remember!

It started out with a few of them playing Rock Band (And Alexa was trying to join in on the fun).


It gradually got a little more intense....

Then Linda was tackling people trying to get them to sing!!!

Before we knew it, the majority of the crowd was downstairs watching everything

...and Linda starting dancing on the fireplace...(And Rachel was REALLY good at singing...seriously!)

David was rockin' out on a solo =)

Nick entertained JD so much (and taught him how to throw pool balls) that he just wanted to be with Nick the rest of the day!

Owen and Nick teaching JD how to throw those pool balls (Are you readers feeling bad for me yet? If you aren't, feel sorry for my mom...she has a pool table in her basement which probably means that SHE will be the one to have a hole in her wall from this adventure!)

I have this picture here for 2 reasons. One, I thought it was incredibly cute how much JD got along with Nick (which is completely due to the fact that Nick is great with kids!)...but it was just darling. and Two, this is JD's typical playing stance. He squats down and can stay down there for a long time...even 10 minutes...he'll just play and play. Ryan thinks he's going to be a catcher.

Brady concentrating very hard

Linda and Olivia singing....to some Pin Ball song that Linda insisted that we would know (but none of us had ever heard of it before!!)

And, they even got Craig to play!!!!!!!!!!!!

The singing trio was apparently taking a break or something....aren't they all really cute though?!?!?

Rock Star Ryan=)

Christmas #3!

We had so much fun at Scott and Sarah's house yesterday! It's always a fun Christmas to go to since we don't get to see everyone all that often!

Janelle, Owen, Alexa and David

Herb and Mary Ellen

Craig and Julie

Maureen giving her annual Christmas speech (which we all love!! =)

with Don...and Colson looks oh, so serious!

Alexa loved their dogs! (and their dogs loved Alexa's crackers!)

Aunt Maureen helping Alexa with that stubborn bow!

SHELLS! Alexa got a basketful of shells...and she LOVES them! She asked me last night where they were as I was carrying her up to her bed half asleep=)

Owen and JD hanging out...after a long day of rock band=)

(more on that later....)

SO COLD!

It's been SO incredibly cold here the last two days...the ice was so thick in Fort Wayne yesterday (they got at least an inch of ice!)...but, the temps were sitting around 0-2 degrees...and they said -20 degrees with wind chill. BRRRR.

Ryan thought it was too ironic that the Coldwater Rd. sign in FW had ice hanging from it like it did....not a drop melted yesterday...so we snagged a picture as we drove by!

Playing with Daddy

Ring Around the Rosie....



And we all fall down! JD and Alexa just laugh and laugh....

Then, on to "Horsey" and "Chase JD" (If only I had recorded this so you could hear JD's belly laugh when he's being chased. This might be one of his favorite things to do!)

And...tackle Daddy!

JD These Days...

....Keeps us very busy and entertained!

As you can see, he's found Alexa's pink Dora slippers and likes to tromp around in them.

I was heading to the laundry room with my arms full of dirty clothes and I see this as I walk by! Little stinker just made himself at home in the bottom drawer!

Then when he saw that I was taking a picture, he was trying to get out...and realized he was pretty stuck! I made him suffer through a picture and then I saved him =)

Christmas #2!

We spent the last few days with Papa Rod and Aunt Christina here at our place. The big hit was the Bitty Baby that Alexa got and has named "Sarah". She spent all evening playing with her.

Christina also gave the kids a book--they LOVE books!

And JD's favorite was the box with packing peanuts. Nothing else existed for him during that time=)

This boy is in heaven!

Snow Angels

Christina has been praying for enough snow to do Snow Angels with Alexa for the last week. The snow arrived last night, and they got all bundled up and headed out!


They did them in the driveway because it was the only place with enough light to try to get a good picture!

I asked Alexa if she was having fun and this is her saying "YEAH!!!"

Look at those pretty angels!

The Attack!

We had finished painting the dining room and I was so tired! Can't anyone get a little peace and quiet around here?! =)

Special Treat

We all went to Ivanhoes, and Great-Great and GG wanted to get Alexa a special Ice-Cream Treat (via Christina)...

And JD dumped out a bunch of salt and was having so much fun playing in it (I know, shocking!)

Alexa...waiting in anticipation for her strawberry ice cream

Wow! A Clown Sundae! (She's never seen this one before!)

Pretty impressive, don't you think??

Ready to dig in...but where to start?!?!?

Yummy! Thanks Great-Great and GG=)