365 Days.

I love the new year, a fresh slate for new hopes and dreams, looking back on where we have been and hopeful about what will come.

2009 WAS a memorable year, our lives and our hearts were full.

The Best: Our trip to Disney World, Our Summer Vacation, another year of being together dancing, laughing, and loving. Trevor Turned SEVEN finished first grade and started second. Breanna Turned FIVE, started talking a lot, made her first real best friend at preschool and is becoming potty trained, Lucas turned TWO , gives the best hugs and kisses and has a personality that we are still trying to become acquainted with. Josh and I both turned Thirty Five and are hopefully hanging on to our youthful glow for a few years longer.

As the year comes to an end we'll remember things like: smiling faces, lost teeth, children running along the beach and playing in the sand, laughter, the pitter-patter of little feet, swimming lessons, hugs and kisses, tantrum taming and cleaning up lots of messes. There were obsessions with sticking food in drinks and eating them,using kitchen utensils as toys and weapons, Curious George and the five little monkeys, Star Wars , the military and marathon running.

Most of all, what gets us through the challenges of becoming the parents we want to be is that we NEVER stop counting our blessings. We are truly thankful. Life is good.
Here's to 2010!

365:365

An evening with best friends, I can't think of a better way to end a year....

Getting Caught up...

This last month has been a total whirlwind...in a good way. SO many blessings, so many wonderful memories made. Please scroll down all the wayback to 12/23 to see some new posts....I'll be getting to my Christmas Day and 2009 Review post within the next few days. We'll be spending tommorrow night with good friends, and probably turning in early b/c we all have young kids. Happy New YEAR all!

365::364

Baby....it's cold outside!

Welcome Baby!

Introducing the newest member of our extended Family!

Leah Lorraine

7lbs 1oz 20 inches born December 30 at 12:38am

Congratulations Milke and Michelle!

365::362

Waiting patientlyfor our turn with the Wii fit....

365::360

undecorating. (The kids each have their own ornament boxes that they fill with all their own special Christmas decorations they will take them with them when they leave home someday)

365::359

Remnants of christmas still FILL our home and living room (in fact nothing has been moved from it's opening spot). I'm sad it's over....ages 7,5, and 2 were the just the best.

365::358

Joy Is......

Watching the anticipation on little faces

Seven, Five and Two

Keeping things simple

Spending time at home doing the things we love

Seeing Breanna so into everything this year, decorating the tree, opening her presents, and cuddling up to her Daddy during the Polar Express...

Remembering our own childhood Christmases and bringing that magic and those traditions into our home

Sinking out teeth into that first bite of Beef Wellington

Laughing with family and entertaining

Filling our home with the smell of Nanny's sweet rolls (and eating them!)

Believing in Santa

Sledding, playing in the snow, making snowmen

time off from school and work

Our Warm Fire

Finding the perfect gifts

Being together

watching movies

Dressing up in our Christmas outfits

Christmas Eve Candlelight services with the Children's pageant (two little lambs and a Shepard)

TRevor saying, Mom....
I'm sad it's over..." I'm sad too:)

This season...the whole thing.

Enjoy our video!

Christmas Eve

The Christmas Eve Service at St. Nicholas Church with the Children's pageant. Beautiful and meaningful as always.....

And The kids decorating the tree a few weeks ago....ENJOY!

365:357 Merry Christmas Everyone!

May your Christmas be filled with love.Have fun making all those wonderful family memories! I know we will. From our family to yours...MERRY CHRISTMAS. I'll be back in a few days with lots of photos.....

365::353

Making Nanny's Cinnamon rolls and filling the whole house with the smell of Christmas--adding a little love and kneading by hand always makes them come our better.....

365::351

Starting back up an old tradition that we had skipped for a few years due to the busy-ness of our lives. A Father- Daughter lunch and Christmas shopping for Mom, what a fun day!

365::350

Our traditional glass of wine and wrapping the gifts night......

365::349

Today: Dec. 20th

Something Savory brewing on the stove all day, baking and decorating our cut out cookies (for Santa), making "kiss" and M&M pretzels, playing outside in our 2 hour blizzard, Potty Success! Saying our prayers at church, reading the newspaper, watching football and relaxing.

Happy Birthday!

No matter how old you get....some things NEVER change:) Happy Birthday Mom! WE love you!

Cindy, Josh, Trevor, Breanna Lucas and Lucy.

365::348

What We've been up to....

(sledding, playing, and staying warm and cozy on these VERY cold days:))

365::347

Gosh, will I be sad when these sweet days are behind us.

365::346

The First Gift of Christmas.......At the CASA Christmas party. The kids got to see Santa (again) and even each got a present! I never thought Our family could be a spectacle in a room full of special needs kids, but Lucas fell off a chair, hit his head on the floor and screamed for 15 mins, refused to see Santa and Breanna flipped out that we had to eat at a table with strangers. BUT, it was our first totally diaper free outing and no one had an accident!

what we're doing to stay healthy this winter...

1. Diet
Trying to cut way down on processed foods, white sugar and flour. Trying to only eat fresh foods and food that doesn't come in packages. Cooking at home and not eating out. Eating lots of ethnic foods, spices and homemade soups

2. Drinking lots of water and decaf Green Tea
3. Supplements:

Isotonix OPC3 (not for kids) (Josh and I haven't had so much as a sniffle since starting last fall on the recommendation of a co-worker of Josh's- knock on wood...)
Vitamin D
Calcium
Multivitamin
Fish Oil
Probiotics

4. Hygiene
using disinfecting wipes or vinegar on door knobs/surfaces for 5 mins daily, rotate surfaces cleaned
want to add a shower filter to remove water contaminants (who knows what we are breathing every time we shower in addition to chlorine)
Keeping hand sanitizer in every car, three little ones in my purse, one in Trevor's lunchbox, and one by every sink in the house, we're already washing our hands a ton b/c of the potty training.
Making My own Hand Soap (using Natural Castile soap liquid in a foam pump and adding a few drops of Lemon, Peppermint and Tea Tree essential Oils)
disinfecting work surfaces with alcohol before starting my shift at the hospital and washing my hands hourly.

Listerine morning and night
disinfecting shopping cart surfaces at the stores
trying not to touch our faces with our hands in any way (easier said than done with kids!)


5. Indoor Air
Opening the Windows to let Fresh Air in for 5 mins a day no matter how cold .
Not using candles, scented oil or any other fragrance indoors---using instead cinnamon on the stove or a few drops of natural lemon or orange oil to freshen the air.
Using an air purifier and humidifier with Purified water and newly replaced filters.

6. Exercise:
Minimum 3-4 times a week (must sweat) no excuses.
Spend at least 15 mins a day outside no matter how cold...

7. Relax
Don't over schedule
Yoga and meditate
Reading Starbright before bed
Taking Deep Breaths
Spend plenty of time as a family, snuggling, wrestling, laughing and playing games

8. getting vaccinations for seasonal flu and H1N1 if available (though controversial in effectiveness)

9. Pray:)
Hopefully we will fare better than last winter!!!

365::345

Boys and Mud, you gotta love it (and them!)

It's confirmed

You CAN dip anything in chocolate and it tastes Yummy (even a peanut butter sandwich)

365::344

Winter kids...

365::343

Around the House:

1. Lucy cozy in her bed next to the fire and the Christmas Tree 2. The cozy Fire 3. Reflection of a Tree 4. one of two advent Calendars 5. two anf two advent calendars 6. handmade ornaments 7. the last month of our photo calendar 8. The gingerbread House 9. Kids in their jammies (love this!) 10. our Tree 11. Grandma's handmade needlepoint stockings 12. Believe 13. Our button Tree 14. Decorations on the Mantlle

365::342

There's nothing like a little Frosty the snowman on Grandma and

Grandpa's lap:)

365::341

Breakfast with Santa:

Lucas was NOT a fan.

Breanna (surprisingly) was a huge fan...

Trevor, is just big. He said "Mom I believe in Santa because I have seen him three times and he always looks the same." Keep believing kid:)

Also today:

The St. Nick Church fair

swimming lessons

a grandparents visit.

365::340

We love reading Christmas books in front of the cozy fire at night.

Our Favorites this year:

Trevor: Polar Express

Breanna: Curious George countdown to Christmas

Lucas: The Grinch who stole Christmas

an imperfect Mom with imperfect Children

Today's inspiration....

LOVE, LOVE, LOVe this.

Especially this part:

I've walked through campus as the parents of girls Sarah's age turn away from me, avoiding my eyes as I avoid theirs. I've heard from her classmates about the birthday parties she is never invited to, the mother daughter book clubs they attend, the soccer teams, dance classes, swim team, and so on.
I'm done. Selfishly, I can't tolerate it anymore. I want out of the world of “, “my kids are grand and let me tell you about them”, and “my child is advanced and needs to be challenged” ways of thinking. I want to be around other parents of children who don't fit, not the parents of neurotypicals or high achievers, but the families who are nurturing the quirky kids. The parents who are utterly exhausted like me. The parents who will go to any length, spend all their money and emotional effort, trying, hoping, PRAYING PRAYING PRAYING for some small sign of forward movement, an indication that their child will be OK.

Today

Today:

Up and showered by 7:30

Breanna to school at 8:30

Grocery Store to pick up brownie mix, eggs, cheese

Lucas to H1N1 clinic...waited 40 mins.

Lucas to a playdate

Home to have lunch

off to the craft store to pick up melting chocolate

Pick up Breanna

Bake 3 batches of brownies and make soup for the Church fair on Saturday

get Trevor off the bus

Take Trevor to the pottery studio to make a teacher gift

home and dinnner clean up, get kids in bed and make lunches....
Josh off to grocery shop (he volunteered!)

Help with homework and play games

cut his fingernails and tuck T into bed:)

PHEW!

365::339

Lucas loves playing with his little Christmas boxes and wearing his Santa hat...

365::338

Our very own 2,500 Imported Italian Twinkle lights...

snow day

Even Breanna LOVED being out in the snowstorm today building a snowman (she hates the cold!). Seriously, one of the cutest things ever:) Love this...

365::337

Letters to Santa.

365::336

Our fourth annual gingerbread house workshop, one of our favorite Christmas traditions.

Favorite Memories this year:

getting the perfect parking spot

Breanna eating the marshmallows and adding her gumdrops

Lucas at story time with his hot chocolate

Trevor with his design ideas

Josh getting the frosting everywehre

365::335

And just like that.... winter is here! ( We went from 70 degrees to snow in two days.) Here are the kids this morning (before breakfast!) There is just something magical about the first snowfall.

snow

finished hanging the outside lights just in time for the first snowflakes to fly.....I don't know who was more excited (you would think snow was a novelty around here). Trevor shouted, Mom, Dad, quick come outside...it's SNOWING!"

365::334

Our favorite Christmas movies....

The Grinch

Polar express

Elf

Christmas Vacation

Frosty the Snowman

Rudolph

Charlie Brown Christmas

Curious George

365::333

I love everything about taking the boxes of Christmas decorations out and making the house sparkle. I love when Trevor said, "Mom, that christmas tree smells wonderful in here, I LOVE that smell...". I love seeing all the ornaments come out and reminisce about when and where we got them and how old they were (and we were). I LOVE that the kids were all into decorating this year. I loved watching Breanna put up all her own ornaments (at the bottom of the tree all on one branch). I love my little German smoker. I love watching Lucas play with his little Christmas boxes and nativity set. I love that Lucas spontaneously said today, "Are you serious right now?!?" Gosh, that kid makes me laugh:) I love watching the kids looking at all the Christmas books under the tree. I LOVE everything about this season.

365::332

Cutting our tree....just one of the many family traditions that we find joy in each holiday season. This year everyone was so into it. No kids in backpacks:) Love this shot, it is so "us":)

365::331

Look who was in the newspaper!

365::330

What I am loving about you Lucas right now.....

That Trevor helps you brush your teeth

That every time you wake up in the morning you run into my room and say, Mom I waked up from my whole nap..."

You are potty training (again.)

That you understand Christmas this year:)

Made me laugh

HY WOMEN SHOULDN'T TAKE MEN SHOPPING

After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in
and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women - she loves to browse. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Target.

Dear Mrs. Samuel,

Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our
store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you
from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Samuel, are listed
below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's
carts when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute
intervals.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, "Code 3
in Housewares. Get on it right away". This caused the employee to leave her
assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn
resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the
company money.

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.

6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children
shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the
bedding department to which twenty children obliged.

8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and
screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' EMTs were called.

9.. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror
while he picked his nose.

10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the
clerk where the antidepressants were.

11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the
'Mission Impossible' theme.

12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look'
by using different sizes of funnels.

13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled
'PICK ME! PICK ME!'

14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a
fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'

And last, but not least:

15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then
yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here' One of the clerks
passed out.