Christmas Teaser

So, I am a bit overdue with a blog update. Christmas came and went and was great fun. It was spread out over the course of a couple weeks and I've been busy trying to stay on top of the post Christmas mess, getting new toys and clothes put away, keeping the house clean, etc. I have not taken the time to upload and organize the Christmas pictures yet, but I'm about to! Here is one little teaser photo from the holidays, mostly to hold my mom over. (She sees us the most often, yet I think she also checks this blog most often, so here you go, Mom!) Dad and Uncle C, with bananas dangling from their waists while Uncle J. takes measurements alongside some oranges. Hmmmm...what could this possible have to do with Chirstmas??? Stay tuned!

Candle-Kazam Wraps Up With Challenge #8!

For our final Candle-Kazam challenge, public humiliation was the ticket: Wear a fake mustache in a public place for at least 15 minutes. Dad was as good of a sport as ever! The public place we chose was a local drug store/gift shop. Dad did a super job of wearing the 'stache, the "gangster" model, so the packaging said. He looks so somber in the photos, but he really was cooperative and in good spirits. This experience proved a theory that I have...mustaches make people look more serious than they really are. 'Tis true!

Dad and his gangster 'stache, looking at greeting cards. He has the gangster eyes in this shot, I think!

To make this challenge a bit better, I mean worse than it already was, Dad ran into a coworker while we were there. Awesome! Thanks for letting us take your picture with Gangster Mustache Man, Jill! I hope it wasn't too creepy or awkward for you!

Dad was awarded a small prize for his Candle-Kazam efforts. The prize this year was a Swatch sticker. To most, this will not seem like a desired item or prize at all. But for Dad, a Swatch owner and avid fan and a sticker collector, this was something he's been wanting literally for years!

After the challenge was over, we quickly put the 'stache to good use. It now has a proud new owner...Cardboard Brian! Well, Brian sported it for a little while. When Ainsley saw him wearing it, she quickly tore it off of his face. I guess she did not find it very becoming. Again, thank you so, so much to Dad for being a wonderful sport during the 2010 Candle-Kazam! This was his best year yet, and we are thankful to have such a wonderful man and wonderful memories this Christmas!

Candle-Kazam #7 Caught On Tape!

Candle-Kazam #7 was quite entertaining. "Call Uncle B. (Dad's brother) and talk to him using your Jack Frost voice for the entire conversation." A little background....Dad has a silly voice he frequently uses when pretend playing with the girls. He pretends he is Jack Frost, and he spews threats about the weather when in the character of Jack Frost. Uncle B. was forwarned that this bizarre phone call would be coming, and he did a great job maintaining the dialogue so we could enjoy it. Dad did a great job completing this embarrasing task, doing it with an audience of extended family and allowing it to be video taped. Excellent job, once again! Stay tuned for one more Candle-Kazam challange to come on Wednesday night!

A Cold Candle-Kazam #6

Candle-Kazam #6 was a chilly one this evening: Make a snow angel in the yard, wearing only shorts and a t-shirt! Dad said, "Oh, this will be pretty fun." Apparently he did not know what he was getting himself in to. Here he is, just before going outdoors. He is smiling (kind of) and upright.
This is the only picture I was able to get of him actually making the snow angel. It was so cold and he worked very quickly. I've not seen a snow angel produced at this speed before. It was quick!

Beautiful job, Dad!

This challenge was hard on the old boy. When he burst through the door to come inside, he was yelling/screaming and he fell to the ground. Laying in the snow in shorts and a t-shirt nearly did the man in! It was quite funny and alarming all at the same time. Two challenges remain, and don't you worry, Dad. They will not be as bad as this one...at least I don't think they will be. We shall see!

Candle-Kazam #5

Candle-Kazam challenge #5 has been met! "Let the girls gift wrap you for Christmas!" Now for the record, the red bows are supposed to be buttons on Dad's paper shirt. I just wanted to clarify!
I think that the girls had more fun ripping the package open than they had wrapping. Good job, yet again, Dad!

A Tasty Candle-Kazam #4

Candle-Kazam challenge #4 was met last night! "Eat a slice of pizza with everyone's favorite Christmas topping: crushed candy cane!"
Mmmm, mmmm, good!

Ainsley watched with anticipation.

And the first bite goes down. And to quote Dad, "The peppermint crunch and mintiness really overtook the sausage and pepperoni." I think that means he liked it????

All I Want For Christmas Is....Hog Wash???

We took the girls to an area business to see Santa last night! Given you have to wait outdoors, outside of his house for your turn, it was a great night to go. It was a balmy 37 degrees!
Neither of our girls believe in Santa, and Bennett is definitely not a fan of sitting on a strange man's lap, telling him what you want for Christmas when you know he won't bring it to you. She is, however a big, big fan of the beverage, Hog Wash, which was being given to children who visited Santa. This motivated her to visit with the man in the red suit.

Ainsley gladly sat with Santa, who I might add was probably a 24-year-0ld lad wearing reflective sneakers...highly realistic. Props to Santa though...he did a good job. All Ainsley wants for Christmas is a craft kit. Santa had not heard that request yet. Apparently all kids want a Zhu-Zhu Pet this year. Not Ainsley!

Here are the girls, leaving with their candy canes, coloring books, and the nasty...I mean delicious...Hog Wash! We look forward to visiting again next year!

Candle-Kazam Challenge #3...What a Doozy!!!

The reactions you see on our girls' faces regarding Dad's most recent Candle-Kazam challenge sum it all up....completely humiliating and hilarious! Candle-Kazam Challenge #3 - Dress up like Santa, climb on the

roof of the house and sing your favorite Christmas carol!
Oh my, this was one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed, personally! Even as I post these pictures, I am chuckling to myself. Dad was such a good sport. Here is "Santa" with the girls just prior to going "up on the housetop!"
Not only did Dad sing in his Santa suit, but he also broke out some serious dance moves. We were not expecting that, but it was the best thing he could have possibly done! He was HILARIOUS beyond measure and he was just belting out the tunes!


More moves...

and some more...

...and the finale! This was certainly his best challenge to date.

It's going to be a tough one to top!

After he came off the roof, he let Bennett sit on his lap and tell him what she would like for Christmas. Quite honestly she has the best thing a girl could have...an absolutely wonderful dad! He is just the best!

Candle-Kazam Challenge #2

Candle-Kazam challenge #2 is underway as I type! And the challenge is... ..."Have a sleepover with the girls in Ainsley's room. Bring a teddy bear!!!" Oh, my. The children are thrilled, especially about the teddy bear part!

Here are the cheribs, nestled in their sleeping bags and bed. Dad looks like a slacker, sleeping in the cozy bed and all. But in his defense, Bennett and Ainsley begged him to sleep in the bed so they could have the floor. He was completely fine with that arrangement! And might I add, a boy is never too old for his teddy bear.

Here are the girls and their dad, pretend sleeping. After I took the picture they decided to do some sleepover story telling. I can only imagine the tales that are being shared as I post this. Way to go, Dad! He is two for two on the Candle-Kazam challenges. Tune in for #3 in a few days!

Candle-Kazam 2010...Challenge #1

Candle-Kazam has officially begun! This December, Dad will face eight challenges. If he completes them all, we will be very amused and he will win a fabulous prize. Here he is, posing with the girls and the eight toilet paper tube candles. And yes, Bennett is wearing a tank top with shorts and Ainsley has her swimsuit on. Your guess is as good as mine on that.

Dad, bracing himself as he reads challenge #1. He actually got to start off with a really easy one this year. "Participate in an epic battle with the Chestnut Mountaineers, a.k.a. Bennett's nutcracker collection."

Here is the army Dad selected. I see he boasts the medic, the postman and a mouse soldier. Is that Randy I see as well, or could it be his twin brother Phil??? Looks like quite a team!

Bennett and Ainsley also have a strong group. A fireman, a chef, the tall general and a princess. Never pick a fight with a girl!

And the epic battle begins. It looks like the Dad's pirate soldier is going up against Randy's twin, Phil. Who won the war? This battle ended as all Chestnut Mountain battles do...a dead tie! Good job with challenge #1, Dad! We cannot wait for the others to come!