Merry Christmas

Christmas started off a little rocky for me this year. For some reason I just couldn't seem to get myself in the right "holiday spirit". I just felt off! The week after Thanksgiving I forced myself to put up the tree and start my shopping. It helped, but something still just felt lagging. I allowed myself to take the year off from sending Christmas cards and that seemed to eliviate some stress and make me feel better. A lot of my shopping was done online making it less stressful then getting three kids bundled up and in and out of the car! The girls' Chirstmas programs at school were so very cute this year and lifted my holiday blues. They were so cute and so very excited.

On Christmas Eve we were driving in the car and Jn asked why it wasn't snowing and she decided she should pray and ask God for snow. So she looked at her sister and said, "Close your eyes Jh and let's talk to God." It was so precious!

Christmas Eve is always spent at B's parents home and it was very nice this year. When we returned home the kids got to open their one gift from mom and dad - their Christmas PJs.

I absolutely adored their PJs this year. I love how all 3 of the matched! I know I won't be able to do this every year as they grow - but for now I am cherishing it!

Milk (both regular and soy) and cookies were placed by the tree for Santa to enjoy after dropping off gifts! And reindeer food was placed out front so that Rudolph would have enough energy to finish delivery presents!

After the kids were in bed and fast asleep the wrapping began. B and I were up until 1am, but we had a good time!

In our house Santa has devised a really cool present identification system. Each child's presents are wrapped in their own unique paper and "keys" are left so that no mistakes will be made! This eliminates Santas need for tags! Santa is a bit lazy and finds this to be much faster and easier! :)


Jn was up at 7am and Jh followed at 7:30am. The rest of the family arrived at 8am and grabbed some Dunkin Donuts, coffee and found their places to watch the present opening. The girls were so excited and tore through the presents with such passion! What had taken hours to wrap was all completely disassembled in a matter of 20 minutes! But they loved all of their presents!

For Uncle N it was a tough morning! After all the presents were unwrapped he had to have a little nap!

It was a good day for all! Merry Christmas to all! And Happy Birthday Jesus!

The not so mysterious, mysterious poop.

Yep! I said the P word on my blog! Sorry to my readers with a weak stomach! You may want to stop reading now! I will tell you - unlike my other posts there will not be pictues with this one! Aren't you so glad! :)

Saturday morning B* took the girls and went to Dunkin Donuts to hunt and gather our morning breakfast! So yummy! When they returned home with their stash we all sat down and enjoyed! The girls and I enjoyed several donuts covered with green, red and white sprinkles. I though nothing about it until I had to change Jh's diaper later that evening. Yep - you've got it! Her poop looked like she had ate a Christmas tree. At first I was alarmed thinking - what in the world is wrong with her. Then I remembered the donuts. Ahhh yes. B* and I had a really good laugh.

Sunday morning I went to change little J's diaper and there as something strange in there too - black threads. Now what in the world. Oh yes, I now remember. Saturday I wore a black sweater that was shedding and I held little J most of the afternoon. So I guess he ingested some of that fuzz and then it came out in his diaper. GROSS! I felt like a terrible mom. I guess I won't be wearing that sweater any more this winter!

Ahhhh poop - never fails to amuse me!

I am Thankful

I think this would or could be an easy Thanksgiving to overlook all the good in the world because there is so much hardship and pain right now. I know that I have been hit hard this week with circumstances and situations that have just brought me to my knees in tears and prayer - for family and for friends. It is easy to get bogged down in the hurt and feel helpless - but I have felt such a pull to really stand up and do anything that I can to help. God has blessed us and has been faithful and in return His call is for us to do the same for others. It may only be prayer, a hug, an encouraging word - but God isn't only in our big works, He is just as much in the little things as well.

I am thankful for...
my husbnad and my children. For our warm house and clothes. For the food on the table and that in which we are able to share with others. I am thankful for my parents and my siblings and for the ability for all of us to share this Thanksgiving together. I am thankful for my faith and for my freedom to share it with others. I am very thankful for all of the men and women who serve in our armed forces who fight and defend the freedom we all live in and for their families who are strong and courageous as well. I am especially thankful for good friends who are there to love and support me in the good times and the bad - who are honest even when it is hard to be. I am thankful that my daughters have the ability in this country to dream big and be educated so that one day they can stand up and make their own marks on this world. I am thankful and blessed to have a personal relationship with God our Father and know that someday when my life here on Earth is over I will live eternally in Heaven. I am blessed - no matter what way you cut it or what angle you look at it from. This Thanksgiving I am blessed and so very thankful.

God has given me so much and I hope that I live a life He can be proud of. Am I perfect - NO, I am not. Do I do the best that I can - I hope so, it is what I strive for. I do have a heart for God though and my hope would be that that is something that others see when they look at me.

May your homes be filled with blessings this Thanksgivng. May you have your friends and family near to you!

Wedding Weekend

WEDDING? Did someone say wedding! Oh yeah! Aunt J's big day!
(Had to throw in one picture from the rehersal! Little man in his suit! Isn't he just the cutest!)

So here they are! The happy couple! Doesn't Aunt J make a beautiful bride? And Uncle A is very handsome!

The ceremony was beautiful and went perfectly! The flower girls didn't do anything embarassing! They were little angels!

The poor little flower girl after the ceremony! She just couldn't take any more and fell asleep during pictures! Precious

Picture 1: Mom and Jc

Picture 2: Jh, Uncle Tim & Jn

Picture 3: Dad and Jc

Picture 1: Me and Uncle N

Picture 2: Me and Mom

The beautiful litte flower girls! Yes, Jh is such a rotten little stinker!

Picture 1: Me and the girls

Picture 2: Mom & Dad and the girls

Aunt J and the girls

Who did all these fantastic name cards!!!! She must be very talented!!!

The cake was not only beautiful, but so yummy! I wish I would have had a second piece!

Mom did a FANTASTIC job decorating and setting tables at the reception hall! We told her she could have a second career - but she said she likes retirement too much! Go figure!

So now it is all over! And we can all rest nd relax! It was so beautiful and very sweet! The girls had a blast at the reception dancing the night away! And even I was seen on the dance floor shaking my groove thang! It was a lot of fun!

Congrats Aunt J and Uncle A! Have fun in Mexico and we'll see you for Thanksgiving!

Family

We spent this afternoon admiring God's beautiful fall day. It was absolutely gorgeous! We packed the kids in the car and headed for a local park - B* had never been to this particular park so that made it extra fun. We also thought we'd try to get a few family photos (possibly for the Christmas card) while we were there. We've never done them this early - but it seemed like a good idea.

So this is the best shot that we got. The girls are both looking at the camera - even though little J* isn't looking. Bummer. But I still think it is really cute!

We had a really nice time. I wish we'd gotten a few more family pictures, but you do what you can! Maybe next year the kids will be a little more willing - but right now you take what you can get!