17 December

L.

Four is the best age ever to be celebrating anything. Even the littlest things are so exciting and interesting and he is SOOO into everything. This morning, "Mom.....I love you so much I fell like I could explode and I will give you tons of hugs...." )(Love Him). I love how he worked for days on making and hanging up these paper snowflakes on the windows so we could have a "white Christmas"......Love him.

16 December

All I can do at the end of my long days, when I barely see the light of day (and there is not much light to go around these days!).......fall onto the couch with a glass of hot something in my Santa mug in my cozy wool socks or slippers in front of the TV or laptop or knitting or book, my love by my side doing the same. Let the days of the long winter hibernation begin:)

15 December

Today.......we have Breanna's annual meeting at the school. Well, it's the holidays and we are kind of going into it blind, I mean not a word written down, but with a continued focus of what we want to overall picture of Bre's education and life to be. It's always hard when the reality of it all is shoved in your face. When you look at Bre's cousins the same age and neighbors and friends and know that she will just not have the same opportunities in life as them, and the opportunities (especially with today's shrinking budgets) are going to be things we have to fight for, well it's hard. Anyway, enough about that. We had been hearing it on the radio for weeks, about a "big" gingerbread house contest and display to benefit a local charity at one of the hotels downtown. Last night after dinner we decided to check it out and "big" it was not. There were some cool ideas, but there were only 4 little houses and 1 big one in a small set up in the hotel lobby. It probably won't become a yearly tradition (unless we decide to enter the contest next year....which, knowing Josh very well may be...).

14 December

Thanks Dad.....for giving us just one more Tractor ride (sled or no sled)

Happy Birthday!

We love you!

13 December

Notes From Christmas Past (gotta LOVE those couches, green carpet and curtains!):

My parents always did everything to make every Christmas special. We always had a fake tree with a special star on top we called the "eat at Joe's" star. My Mom always had to get that one "picture" of us in front of the tree before we were allowed to open our presents (LOVE her for that) and even then Dad only passed them out one by one. When we were older we always went to midnight mass on Christmas eve. I don't remember any particular special presents I received, but I do remember the special times together. I loved that we would always sing Christmas Carols as loud as we could belt out on the way home (in the Buick) complete with harmonies as we looked at the lights along the way on those COLD winter nights. Most of all I remember that we were always so happy. Those were the best times.

12 December

He says, that if you learn how to play a B flat scale, then you can play "Joy to the World"

11 December

Right now......

Enjoying.

• Three AWESOME, creative and beautiful gingerbread houses and a gingerbread train made at home (an all day affair)
• an afternoon at home in my sweatpants sitting next to my pellet stove with the cracked glass (don't ask)
• front yard football games
• hot cider and tea and cocoa
• reading and being inspired by books, magazines and the web.
• being done shopping and wrapping and mailing (for now).
• my December Daily album
• Christmas movies and Music
• wearing red, lots of it.
• visits with family, neighbors and friends
• Two little kids playing and pretending to be "santa"
• Couch pillow jumping contests
• hanging all my Christmas cards on the window this year
• Sunday afternoon football games on TV
• baking with children
• Christmas pillows and flannel sheets
• homemade food and seeing children's handmade gifts coming together
• Remembering yesterdays concert and how much I love Christmas concerts.
• fresh greens, carolers passed down to me from Grandma and handmade needlepoint stockings
• Little Girls' Christmas dresses and boots
• the smells coming from our kitchen
• the energy and excitement of little faces
• a clean house
• peppermint bark
• our church, the people and our new pastor
• the lights in our neighborhood, the twinkle is just awesome this year!
• breathing, staying healthy, moving slowly for just one day, pausing to take it all in and taking time to notice the joy all around me:)

10 December

Today.

We worked into the night last night helping set up for our church fair which is tons of fun and held every year. We especially like the kids shopping room where the kids get to bring in a few dollars and shop for their siblings and parents (alone!) from a collection of donated items. The soups, baked goods and local crafts are just awesome. After we left there, we met up with Gammie and we were off to Trevor's basketball game and then to Veronica's winter concert. The kids sounded just fantastic and we even got to have a "high energy" dinner with the cousins afterward at a local Freeport brick oven pizza place. The little town was decorated so wonderfully , all the old houses were covered with little white lights along the main street. We left to head home with such a spirit filling our heads and hearts:)

9 December

Counting Down to Christmas......

As a kid, we used to have one advent calendar with a yummy chocolate inside each day. My brothers and I couldn't wait until every third day when it was our turn to open that little door.

Elf on a shelf who hides in a new place each morning, they can't wait to race downstairs to find him.

Lucas' homemade calendar

Our winter skating scene Advent calendar comes out year after year

We wrapped up 23 books from our Christmas collection. We "take turns" unwrapping one each night and read as a family.

New this year.....Our Lego City advent calendar. We race downstairs to "take turns" opening a door each morning to build the little lego surprise inside (it's so fun).

8 December

Tonight.....

The annual CASA Christmas party complete with DJ and dancing this year.

These kids can cut a rug like no other.

And a Santa who comes with presents is icing on the cake.

The CASA staff members are just such a special group of people who help take care of our kids day after day, I am so thankful.

It was Awesome.

7 December

6 December

Dear Santa,

This year, I know I may ask for a lot, but you are a magical guy. I wish for peace and comfort to those around the world who need it. I wish for kindness. I wish for peace in my home and good health to the ones I love. There are fewer things more important to me than being a good mom, wife and friend. There isn't much else you need to bring because I have everything I could ever need right here. Thank you Santa, for blessing my home year after year. I'll be sure to leave you something really yummy under the tree on Christmas eve.

Love,

Cindy

P.S. Oh and If you could help Breanna learn math at school, that would be awesome, thank you Santa!

5 December

Had a blast yesterday shopping with Mom:)

and the words from our new pastor seems to follow me wherever I go....I think of these words often, as I reflect on how blessed I am to have the family that I do, and how supported and loved I feel on this journey.

“Life is short,” the blessing goes, “and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us. So be swift to love, and make haste to be kind.” AMEN

4 December

Today.

Our third annual breakfast with Santa.

Trevor: would like a Wii (but Santa forgot to bring it last year...)

Bre: Would like angry birds (it's free!) and a farm.

Lucas: Would like an iPod touch (sorry Santa doesn't bring those to 4 year olds), a train set (which he has already), almonds and a remote control car (love him!)

3 December

Let the Holiday fun family stuff commence:

I'm just loving the twinkling of our tree this year complete with some new LED colored lights.

Our annual candy cane workshop event to benefit the Dream factory of Maine. The kids always have a blast making their candy canes (still warm) into shapes. this year Bre made a "B" and Lucas wanted to make an "A" and Trevor made a traditional candy cane shape and a Christmas tree.

Our Annual Christmas shopping trip date night. We spent some time walking around downtown in all our favorite specialty stores like Abacus and Made in Maine. We ate an awesome comfort food dinner at Ri Ra's, and then it was off to some chain stores to get our fill of the hustle and bustle. We made it until 8:30 :)

P.S. I 'm LOVING the camera on my iPhone and the Camera + app, so much fun!

2 December

Love this, Lucas:)

1 December

Welcome December.

Our Tree. The story. (the real of it)

We were excited ALL day about the ceremonial yearly tradition of the cutting of our tree. I personally wait all year for this, we have been cutting our tree at the same farm since the year 2000. We had been planning it precisely all week, we had all our other decorations up so we could savor just the decorating of the tree. We picked Bre up at school and since her schedule was disrupted, it didn't make for a good time getting out to the car (and thus there was crying before we even got there.). We picked Trevor up at the bus stop and rushed over to the tree lot (b/c the sun was already setting!). We spotted the perfect tree right away, it was tall and nicely shaped, but then walked around for a little bit(through the mud) to make sure it was "the one". As the sun dipped below the horizon we made our way back and cut down our tree (with only a little fighting about whose turn it was to use and carry the saw), there really wasn't much time! We stood for the yearly photo (Mommy not included), and then the tree was carried off to our van (no Tractor rides during the week, but it's Ok,......there are no crowds either!). For the very first time, our oldest boy assisted in the carrying of the tree all the way to the car (sniff, sniff). Then they fought over who was going to sit where in the car for a few minutes (resulting in more crying) before we tied the tree to the top (completely filling the inside of the car with pine needles) and headed home, checking the mirror to make sure the tree was still on top every few seconds all the way. When we got home Josh got the chainsaw out (so he could be just like Clark Griswald), trimmed the tree then brought it in and completed his "prefect leveling system". He placed about 1,000 lights on the tree (b/c there is no such thing as too many lights), just in time for dinner and the great unveiling complete with drumroll. The kids each did their own box of ornaments their own way, Bre saying, "I did it" every time she successfully put an ornament on the tree. And I misplaced my star filter so I missed out on those great photos (still didn't find it). All in All, it never goes as I expect it, (as with most things), but this treasured family time each year becomes special for each of us in our own ways. And that, my friends is what just warms my heart year after year. And every year "it's the best tree ever..."

30 November

I know God has given me all these extra challenges because he think I can handle them. Some days, I'm not so sure.

29 November

Just an awesome day today.

Spent the morning out Christmas shopping and had lunch with a best friend.

She helped me pick out my new phone.

No, I don't really "need" it, and I'm worried about the extra distraction (and the 80 bucks a month is a little hard to swallow), but It's so fun and it feels so good to be connected with all my people:)....Plus the camera is so cool!

Then I went to the salon for two hours of having my hair pampered and drove home as relaxed as I could be. Merry Christmas to me:)

28 November

Just a few more favorite shots from the Thanksgiving holiday:)

27 November

Today"s Sermon:

Went something like.....Life is continually changing, we only create the illusion that things are staying the same for our own comfort. Think of the one reason that you were put on this earth right now at this very moment. Life is short, we must continually count the blessings of each passing moment. Anyway, I want to remember those words today b/c these things are constantly in my mind, how fast things can change and are changing. AND, on a lighter note our halls are 75% decked (the Santa in the front yard......not my idea). Now, WE just need a tree!

26 November

Today....

My girl and I got all dressed up in our holiday best and attended our very first Nutcracker ballet show. She LOVED it, clapping and smiling through the whole two hours. The costumes were fabulous, the dancers were incredible, and me, I absorbed every minute of special-ness with my favorite girl:)

25 November

"Time is an enormous, long river, and I’m standing in it, just as you’re standing in it. My elders are the tributaries, and everything they thought and every struggle they went through and everything they gave their lives to, and every song they created, and every poem that they laid down flows down to me – and if I take the time to ask, and if I take the time to see, and if I take the time to reach out, I can build that bridge between my world and theirs. I can reach down into that river and take out what I need to get through this world."
~ Utah Phillips

24 November

Thanksgiving 2011. We missed the cousins so much but we feel so lucky that we got to skype with them. We are just so blessed to get to spend another holiday with our grandparents. Four generations of women cooking the Turkey with all the fixins.... with kid-made paper turkey and candle centerpieces........just Fantastic:)

23 November

Look who lost her first tooth!

22 November

Over the River and Through the woods.......

21 November

Love You. Love that your transitions at school are going much better over the last few weeks and love that you are so close to losing that first tooth:)

20 November

Congrats to Josh who just finished the Philadelphia marathon (his third this fall---crazy!!) After all that exercising, I think he's really looking forward to that Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday:)

19 November

I heart Breakfast.

Oldest Boy: Koala Crisp or cheerios, milk, fruit,vitamins and yogurt.

Girl: Honey Sunshine,milk, apple juice,vitamins,sometimes fruit and a cheese stick

Youngest Boy: Whatever his oldest brother is having, and vitamins, sometimes a granola bar and a "warm"V8 fruit juice

Mom: Plain Puffins, Milk and Green smoothie, vitamins, sometimes oatmeal or yogurt

Dad: Eggs, and egg sandwich or a peanut butter sandwich on pita bread and coffee (lots of it!)

Weekends: Sometimes pancakes or waffles.......for a special treat, "real waffles" and bacon or sausage:)

18 November

Yep, it's before Thanksgiving but we HAD to break out the Christmas movies tonight for "movie night" (every Friday). Elf was the kids choice (they love the snowball fight part...). And the Christmas Music, yep, that will be out this weekend as well. There's just so much good stuff to look forward to.

17 November

Lately.....

our game of choice is war, and I'm pretty impressed on how you already knew how to play (including the values of the face cards). And oh, the funny things you say......

"I wish my birthday was everyday and I wish my star could come to me....."

'I love all types of pie except Shepard's..."

"I love riding on planes b/c you get little snacks and stuff."

"You add such a warm bright light to these colder, darker afternoons:)"

16 November

You taught Lucas how to play Texas Hold 'em, and you guys play ALL the time. The other day I think I saw him running for his wallet so he could pay you a penny. Really.

15 November

These origami Yodas and Darth Vaders' are literally taking over the house.

14 November

Love this.

(Lucas 11-11, 4 years old)

13 November

My favorite part of November. The in between. In between back to school, soccer and the holidays. Where we are anticipating and planning the bustling season of many wonderful family times and celebrations that are right around the corner, but life slows down, just enough to do this on a weekend afternoon.

12 November

First game of the season.

11-11-11 11:11

cool.

11 November

Today.

I'm grateful for the fact that when I asked you to empty the dishwasher.....you did it, and when I told you to get outside to play, you did it (by yourselves:)).

11-11-11 Thank you.

Thank you brave, courageous soldiers, and thank you brave courageous families waiting at home. Thank you for your sacrifices so I can be free.

10 November

I want to remember........

Every morning we walk to the bus stop together at 7:45, the sun peeking through the trees is just beautiful and the leaves are shimmering, usually we can see our breath in clouds of smoke as we walk. I want to remember how you usually walk a little slower than I kicking stuff along the way , and we usually always have some type of debate going about how homework is not necessary, and how it's going to be so much harder in middle school (because you have read Diary of a Whimpy kid, you know all about middle school.) I want to remember how you are just teetering on the brink of the knowing everything yet forgetting everything stage.

I want to remember......

how every afternoon, your little brother and I bike or scooter down to the bus stop at 3:15. We always bring your helmet, bike or scooter with us. He is always excited to climb the tree, write his name in the dirt and play with the other younger siblings at the bus stop. He ALWAYS has to pee in the woods because the bathroom at home is just not as good and he never realizes that he has to go until we get down there (luckily he is a boy!) When you get off the bus you run to the neighbor's house to play tackle kickball while we are waiting for your sister. I want to remember how we all walk and ride home together and how the youngest one always seems to "win"!

I want to remember.....

These school days and the joy of what stays the same day after day.

9 November

Mom, the best thing about today was when I got to have a friend over and play hockey in the living room all afternoon.

8 November

Voted. Keep your fingers crossed that our kids get the new school they desperately need.

7 November

Because when you are four and you spend most of your preschool days outdoors and you live in Maine where you could get mud season in October, you need some serious BOG boots. Love you:)

6 November

Weekends.

a few years a go I would have never imagined that kids would be playing by themselves outside all day while Mom and Dad winterized the house/yard and got about fifty chores done (that were all put off during soccer/marathon/dance season). It felt so good to come in at the end after being out ALL day and plop down with a warm drink and dream ahead to planning all the upcoming holiday season celebrations. I can't wait, it's Good stuff.

5 November

She's a star:)

And Miss Vanessa, we love you for giving our girls this opportunity.

4 November

Loving......

my new boots:)

3 November

::Right Now::

I want to remember

how these sports games are your go to thing,they come out every day. I love how She brings them up from downstairs by herself and puts them away every day.

how our new pellets are so great, and warm and cozy for afternoon family time

How we practice our math facts every night (and it helps when the adults practice along side of the kids), and how proud you were to finish the speed quiz tonight with 100% correct. You will get it with hard work (as with anything in life).

How Lucas needs to have his own "homework" folder too (buddy, you will have real homework soon enough).

How we love adding to our thankful poster and Gratitude box at this time every year.

How grateful I am for the camera and some new upcoming projects that cause me to pay even closer attention to the little details of our life right now.

"I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?"

~Mary Oliver (from "The Summer Day")

2 November

Every week Bre brings home a special envelope full of little books from school that she can read. Every night, we sit down and practice reading them together. Tonight, she chose to have "Nemo" do the reading and she said, "Nice Job Nemo". I'm loving this little ritual:)

1 November

Just Finished the Marine corps Marathon on 10-30-11 in 3:38 :) We're so proud of you guys!