Sidewalk chalk and pails and shovels out on a cold, snowy day. Tonight, a little sparkling cider with the kids and watching the ball drop with hubby after work. Stay tuned for the 2008 favorite photo recap (and look back for more project 365 photos including the completion of the December daily). Tommorrow---Project 365, 2009::1, I should be a pro at this by now! Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
All about Nothing.
After the complete FLURRY of the month of December, I was really inspired by this post today. After all, we are REALLY enjoying this time of doing nothing. Of resting, reading, game playing and snowpile jumping. While the kids are enjoying all their new toys and I have been able to tidy up and organize a bit, I feel more rested than I have in a long time. This break from routine has been so refreshing this year.
I am ready to bring in a new year. This coming year---2009, just wondering about what changes it may bring. I have been thinking of my word this year. It will be Mindful. It has taken until my thirty-fifth year, but I finally know what kind of person I want to be, and exactly what kind of parent I want to be. I want every decision I make and ever cent I spend this next year to be mindful of these goals. This year our life is simply about being at home. That's it---no other resolution than getting to exactly where I want to be by the time I turn thirty -five. Not bad if you ask me.
Stay tuned for the end of the 365 Project for 2008 and the beginning of the one for 2009. I was going to take a break from it for 2009 to concentrate more on my scrapbooking craft, until I saw this kit! What a great way to get a whole years scrapbook done a day and a week at a time. As I look back at all the great photos I took and how it really captured our daily life in 2008, I don't want to stop (so Grandma--you get your wish!). After all, I just don't want to scrapbook the events...I want it all! Happy New Year!
After the complete FLURRY of the month of December, I was really inspired by this post today. After all, we are REALLY enjoying this time of doing nothing. Of resting, reading, game playing and snowpile jumping. While the kids are enjoying all their new toys and I have been able to tidy up and organize a bit, I feel more rested than I have in a long time. This break from routine has been so refreshing this year.
I am ready to bring in a new year. This coming year---2009, just wondering about what changes it may bring. I have been thinking of my word this year. It will be Mindful. It has taken until my thirty-fifth year, but I finally know what kind of person I want to be, and exactly what kind of parent I want to be. I want every decision I make and ever cent I spend this next year to be mindful of these goals. This year our life is simply about being at home. That's it---no other resolution than getting to exactly where I want to be by the time I turn thirty -five. Not bad if you ask me.
Stay tuned for the end of the 365 Project for 2008 and the beginning of the one for 2009. I was going to take a break from it for 2009 to concentrate more on my scrapbooking craft, until I saw this kit! What a great way to get a whole years scrapbook done a day and a week at a time. As I look back at all the great photos I took and how it really captured our daily life in 2008, I don't want to stop (so Grandma--you get your wish!). After all, I just don't want to scrapbook the events...I want it all! Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Christmas Vacation 2009
It has been amazing to have this time off. The cousins all had a blast at the camp in our first overnight stay together in the new house--sledding, reading, and playing games. We discovered that the camp has a PERFECT sledding hill (thank god for those hay bails!). After trying their hats on, Josh and Dad were able to get some good work done in both our basement and the camps. I even got a little nap in:)
It has been amazing to have this time off. The cousins all had a blast at the camp in our first overnight stay together in the new house--sledding, reading, and playing games. We discovered that the camp has a PERFECT sledding hill (thank god for those hay bails!). After trying their hats on, Josh and Dad were able to get some good work done in both our basement and the camps. I even got a little nap in:)
Labels:
Christmas,
Family Life,
Grandparents,
Kevin's Family
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Oh My.......

Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle, Twist, Twist, Twist......
Your very first tooth has fallen out! Oh, My....I'm Really not ready for this, In Fact, I think I'm still in shock. AS long as you still give your mom hugs (and don't grow up too fast!) I think I'll survive this. Tooth Fairy (in your special tooth fairy pillow that I have been saving) tonight!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas Day
To my family:
What can I say, You have given me another amazing Christmas. I'm the luckiest Mommy and wife in the world! Trevor, from the moment you woke up, your excitement was contageous. It was so cute that you gave everyone gifts just from you. I was beaming with pride over your enthusiasm for giving. Your favorite gifts were your Quadrilla Marble set, your castle and your Star Wars action figures. I love that you were overjoyed with so much creative play.
Breanna, we had you after the first gift. You just loved the whole unwrapping process. Your favorites were your puzzles and Curious George things. Lucas, well as always you were into mischief constantly. You loved your Garbage truck and everyone elses toys. We had a totally relaxing day, taking things so slow savoring each gift and each other. We had my favorite Christmas breakfast of eggs, grits and sweet rolls and a fabulous steak dinner with family. We played some really fun Sorry games, Trevor playing right along side the grown-ups. Josh , as usual, you totally outdid yourself....Thank you:) Trevor, Breanna, and Lucas as long as I live, I will never forget the sights and sounds of you three around the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. These are the best times of my life.
To my family:
What can I say, You have given me another amazing Christmas. I'm the luckiest Mommy and wife in the world! Trevor, from the moment you woke up, your excitement was contageous. It was so cute that you gave everyone gifts just from you. I was beaming with pride over your enthusiasm for giving. Your favorite gifts were your Quadrilla Marble set, your castle and your Star Wars action figures. I love that you were overjoyed with so much creative play.
Breanna, we had you after the first gift. You just loved the whole unwrapping process. Your favorites were your puzzles and Curious George things. Lucas, well as always you were into mischief constantly. You loved your Garbage truck and everyone elses toys. We had a totally relaxing day, taking things so slow savoring each gift and each other. We had my favorite Christmas breakfast of eggs, grits and sweet rolls and a fabulous steak dinner with family. We played some really fun Sorry games, Trevor playing right along side the grown-ups. Josh , as usual, you totally outdid yourself....Thank you:) Trevor, Breanna, and Lucas as long as I live, I will never forget the sights and sounds of you three around the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. These are the best times of my life.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
All snuggled in their beds......Christmas Eve 2008


- Rain and Snow
- a quiet day
- to the gym and grocery store
- a good nap for Lucas
- changing into church clothes
- to church...candlelight and a children's pagent (Trevor a wiseman, Breanna a sheep)
- Lucas being kept busy during church (for a few minutes) and totally fascinated by eating his very first Candy Cane.
- Homemade pizza for dinner
- Kids open 3 gifts...PJs, ornament and a book
- Bre to bed, Lucas and Trevor watch Polar Express
- Reindeer food spread, cookies and milk for Santa
- Whisky Sours and Christmas Vacation for the grown-ups
- Kids Asleep, we play Santa
- Anticipation......
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
An oldie but goodie...
I came across this as I was looking back over My December 2007 posts....
A Moms letter to Santa
Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the
breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that onlyplays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way upwithout the use of power tools.
I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and canonly be heard by the dog.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.
If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It wouldbe helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.
Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.
Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
Yours Always, MOM...!
P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.
>>>>>also, my printer ran out of ink , so I won't be finishing and posting my December Daily until next week.
I came across this as I was looking back over My December 2007 posts....
A Moms letter to Santa
Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the
breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that onlyplays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way upwithout the use of power tools.
I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and canonly be heard by the dog.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.
If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It wouldbe helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.
Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.
Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
Yours Always, MOM...!
P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.
>>>>>also, my printer ran out of ink , so I won't be finishing and posting my December Daily until next week.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Let the Celebrating begin.
Our Holiday Baking Day (with FRIGHTFUL weather outside indeed!) and my first attempt at Nanny's sweet rolls (which came out Fantastic by the way--beginners luck?) The best part--a flour fight with Trevor. A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen!! Now if I could just get rid of this cold......
Our Holiday Baking Day (with FRIGHTFUL weather outside indeed!) and my first attempt at Nanny's sweet rolls (which came out Fantastic by the way--beginners luck?) The best part--a flour fight with Trevor. A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen!! Now if I could just get rid of this cold......Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
there's always something.......
That has been getting in the way of enjoying this season to the fullest. It's been my motto for the past few weeks. Someone is crying, someone needs a diaper, someone is hungry or thirsty, someone is sick, we have lost power, the weather stinks, someone's stomach hurts or ear hurts, someone is tired, and even the grownups have colds.....YADDA< YADDA< YADDA! Par for the course in Motherhood, I guess. REALLY, I try to focus on the joy and usually accept the limitations that having three little ones brings, but sometimes one just has to vent. I was in the ER this morning with Trevor for an ear infection (not to mention at the doctor's office with Lucas yesterday for one). He was in GREAT pain and screaming despite all the meds and heating pad I gave him. It was really quite a big wast of time and I SHOULD have just waited for the doctor's office to open, but he was SCREAMING. So, I was up all night and now her I am working until 11 o'clock tonight--YIKES! So I got this e-mail today...how perfectly fitting:)
What was your best Christmas as a kid? Was it the one where there was a lot of stress about a perfect meal elegantly served—on time—to a perfectly dressed family? Or was it the one where the dog pulled the turkey off the stove and dragged it away through the dog door? There was no perfect meal that day. Everyone rolled with the punches. They rolled up their sleeves and worked together in the kitchen to salvage a makeshift meal.
The beauty of that memory is not in perfection and organization, but in remembering the joy of being together and doing things together. It was the laughter. It was one of those days when the choices were to laugh or to cry, so you all laughed it off and enjoyed one another. It brought you all together in a different way.
Holidays are times for enjoying one another. We are not suggesting that you purposely feed the turkey to the pets, but we strongly suggest that an imperfect day with little stress will create better memories of loving relationships.
We wish you a perfectly imperfect holiday season
That has been getting in the way of enjoying this season to the fullest. It's been my motto for the past few weeks. Someone is crying, someone needs a diaper, someone is hungry or thirsty, someone is sick, we have lost power, the weather stinks, someone's stomach hurts or ear hurts, someone is tired, and even the grownups have colds.....YADDA< YADDA< YADDA! Par for the course in Motherhood, I guess. REALLY, I try to focus on the joy and usually accept the limitations that having three little ones brings, but sometimes one just has to vent. I was in the ER this morning with Trevor for an ear infection (not to mention at the doctor's office with Lucas yesterday for one). He was in GREAT pain and screaming despite all the meds and heating pad I gave him. It was really quite a big wast of time and I SHOULD have just waited for the doctor's office to open, but he was SCREAMING. So, I was up all night and now her I am working until 11 o'clock tonight--YIKES! So I got this e-mail today...how perfectly fitting:)
What was your best Christmas as a kid? Was it the one where there was a lot of stress about a perfect meal elegantly served—on time—to a perfectly dressed family? Or was it the one where the dog pulled the turkey off the stove and dragged it away through the dog door? There was no perfect meal that day. Everyone rolled with the punches. They rolled up their sleeves and worked together in the kitchen to salvage a makeshift meal.
The beauty of that memory is not in perfection and organization, but in remembering the joy of being together and doing things together. It was the laughter. It was one of those days when the choices were to laugh or to cry, so you all laughed it off and enjoyed one another. It brought you all together in a different way.
Holidays are times for enjoying one another. We are not suggesting that you purposely feed the turkey to the pets, but we strongly suggest that an imperfect day with little stress will create better memories of loving relationships.
We wish you a perfectly imperfect holiday season
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The games we play.
Lately, Lucas and Breanna have been making up their own game called "running". This is where Lucas (the bossy one) says, "GO!" and Breanna runs and then he runs after her. It is just the cutest thing to watch I have to try to catch this one on video:) Ahhh, the pitter patter of little feet, LOL!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Our 21 Month Old.





Likes pretending he's a dog (No my floor really isn't that clean.)
Can say any words and repeats everything.
My favorite words of his are cheeseburger, hot dog, turkey,
Is saying two, three and four word sentences like, " mommy go up there..."," Mama play" and my favorite "Bre STOP!"
LOVES Thomas the train, Curious George and the Grinch asks for what he wants
Loves trucks, and buses and has to point them out wherever he goes, especially the trash truck.
Loves pretending especially with dolls and the kitchen set.
I love to cuddle him and kiss his little head.
Wore his full snow gear for the first time and loved being out there.
Is still getting those darn eye teeth.
Is pretty high maintenance, loves attention and being carried (good thing her is so darn cute!)
can say his Abc's and is starting numbers to twenty (with Trevor's help)
doesn't like to eat much at the table (prefers food to go) b/c of his really short attention span.
His favorite foods are "cookies" cheese, fruit, strawberries, blueberries, avacado, kiwi, pasta and sauce, and apples
only likes to wear certian socks...cars are his favorite.
is all boy in every way.
Not the post I promised.
Ice storm 2008-
Well, I have December daily days 10 and 11 completed, but not posted due to some unexpected events today. We have been without power since 2 AM. This just isn't my week! Somehow, all the photos I took last night at the CASA Christmas party mysteriously disappeared from my memory card--especially a really nice one of Bre and Helen. Speaking of that, Breanna has been totally beside herself with the stressful events from today. I don't even known what to do for her. I'm at work now, and we are staying in a hotel tonight. Last night I woke up as soon as the power went out at around 2AM. I couldn't go back to sleep, my mind was just racing and my stomach was tight just thinking about the disaster I would wake up to in morning and how UNPREPARED we were yet again to deal with a power outage. Everything in our yard is covered with a thick layer of ice, which under different circumstances would look quite beautiful. We cooked our morning breakfast on our gas grill outdoors and read books under the down blanket with a flashlight. When the temp inside dipped below 60 we headed out in the car. The roads were fine and I headed over to the gym to take a shower before work. I know, it could be worse. I'm thankful we are all safe and have food for our bellies and a warm place to sleep tonight. Let's pray that our power is restored soon so we can get out and buy that generator as our Xmas present!
Ice storm 2008-
Well, I have December daily days 10 and 11 completed, but not posted due to some unexpected events today. We have been without power since 2 AM. This just isn't my week! Somehow, all the photos I took last night at the CASA Christmas party mysteriously disappeared from my memory card--especially a really nice one of Bre and Helen. Speaking of that, Breanna has been totally beside herself with the stressful events from today. I don't even known what to do for her. I'm at work now, and we are staying in a hotel tonight. Last night I woke up as soon as the power went out at around 2AM. I couldn't go back to sleep, my mind was just racing and my stomach was tight just thinking about the disaster I would wake up to in morning and how UNPREPARED we were yet again to deal with a power outage. Everything in our yard is covered with a thick layer of ice, which under different circumstances would look quite beautiful. We cooked our morning breakfast on our gas grill outdoors and read books under the down blanket with a flashlight. When the temp inside dipped below 60 we headed out in the car. The roads were fine and I headed over to the gym to take a shower before work. I know, it could be worse. I'm thankful we are all safe and have food for our bellies and a warm place to sleep tonight. Let's pray that our power is restored soon so we can get out and buy that generator as our Xmas present!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Down Syndrome in the news...
No time to work on the album today. Josh and I had a secret mission to get all our holiday shopping done this morning while Trevor and Breanna were in school. WE got it all done and then some and even had time for a quiet lunch dowtown. It was fabulous. I will post Day 10 and 11 of the December Daily tommorrow. Until then, Here are some recent news stories that I wanted to share.....
We would like to call your attention to the following recent stories in the news concerning Down syndrome and local MDSC families:
MDSC members, Mike, Beth, Ben, and Max Allard, are followed in a feature story for Newsweek on prenatal testing for Down syndrome and the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act. The full story, with wonderful pictures, is available at http://www.newsweek.com/id/172564.
MDSC members, Sharon and Davis Randall, and Bill, Charlotte and Jacob Gray are featured in the Eagle Tribune in a story about prenatal testing for Down syndrome. The full story is available at
http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_342010617.html.
In addition to the above article, the Eagle Tribune has posted a first-person audiovisual postcard from Sharon Randall at
http://www.eagletribune.com/archivesearch/local_story_340153620.html
Cool holiday idea for the kids here.
Are artificial sweetners safe? I've just always had a gut feeling to avoid them like the plague for myself and for my family. Read more here.
No time to work on the album today. Josh and I had a secret mission to get all our holiday shopping done this morning while Trevor and Breanna were in school. WE got it all done and then some and even had time for a quiet lunch dowtown. It was fabulous. I will post Day 10 and 11 of the December Daily tommorrow. Until then, Here are some recent news stories that I wanted to share.....
We would like to call your attention to the following recent stories in the news concerning Down syndrome and local MDSC families:
MDSC members, Mike, Beth, Ben, and Max Allard, are followed in a feature story for Newsweek on prenatal testing for Down syndrome and the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act. The full story, with wonderful pictures, is available at http://www.newsweek.com/id/172564.
MDSC members, Sharon and Davis Randall, and Bill, Charlotte and Jacob Gray are featured in the Eagle Tribune in a story about prenatal testing for Down syndrome. The full story is available at
http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_342010617.html.
In addition to the above article, the Eagle Tribune has posted a first-person audiovisual postcard from Sharon Randall at
http://www.eagletribune.com/archivesearch/local_story_340153620.html
Cool holiday idea for the kids here.
Are artificial sweetners safe? I've just always had a gut feeling to avoid them like the plague for myself and for my family. Read more here.
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