17 January

“Meaning hides in repetition:  We do this every day or every week because it matters.  We are connected by this thing we do together.  We matter to one another.  In the tapestry of childhood, what stands out is not the splashy, blow-out trip to Disneyland but the common threads that run throughout and repeat:  the family dinners, nature walks, reading together at bedtime, Saturday morning pancakes.” – Kim John Payne

16 January

Today....

Drove an hour and a half to go skiing!
Lucas was so excited about his first real lesson and even skied by himself without holding on for a little bit
Trevor got a 90 minute private lesson b/c there was no one else signed up for his group.
While they were in lessons, J and I got to ski (BY OURSELVES!) for a whole hour.
There weren't that many trails open, but the conditions were still fantastic.
It was really COLD! (but hey, it's winter!)
We picked up B from the daycare and hit DD on the way on the way home b/c the mountains hot chocolate machine was broken.
We drove 1.5 hours home, unpacked everything, got the house all heated up, made dinner, got everything unpacked, took a hot tub bath,  made the lunches for school tomorrow and then finished tiling the bathroom!
Not bad for a Monday! (I guess we are still young:))

15 January

Baby, it's cold outside!

14 January

She did it!  and she LOVEd it:)

13 January

This boy.

loves the snow more than anything else in life.  He says the other day....."Mom, I think its snowing all around the world!"  He can't wait to take ski lessons (Monday!). He does best when he has some structure to his day and some kind of project.  He loves to figure things out and has the brain of a little engineer.  You would normally find him on any given day by his Daddy's side helping with whatever the project of the day is.  He loves to read and his favorite time of the week is our library story hour every Monday.  He is a bruiser and is always falling and hurting himself (see the newest scratch on his cheek??)  Oh yeah,  and he's a little weird about food.  He likes to eat with non-traditional utensils like skewers and party forks. He loves fresh fruit and if I would let him (if he didn't have a project he was working on) , he would love to sit in front of the TV and snack all day (but I don't let him).  Last but not least....his favorite toy is a cardboard box.  For Real.  I Love this boy.

12 January

Today....

If you thought that 6-8 inches of snow and non-plowed roads and sleet and freezing rain and ice were a reason to cancel school, haircuts and grocery shopping, then you were wrong!  Winter in Maine.....gotta love it!

11 January

Just taking a little Moms day out today (but we talk about our kids the whole time) with a good friend and finally using that birthday gift card for a hot stone pedicure!.  AHHHHH.....:)

10 January

What does any mom want for her child? Hope. Hope for a successful future, happiness, the opportunity to fulfill dreams. And when you're told your child has Down syndrome, for a moment, you think you have to give all that up. 

-Kelle Hampton

You.

Are just 100% joy (with a little bit of stubbornness and grumpiness and frustration in between).  I'll never forget as long as I love the pure happiness you gave me when I saw you walking into school today with the biggest smile and "HI MOM!" that you could yell out.  Then you took my hand and walked all the way to the classroom saying hi to everyone you knew on the way there, with the purest most genuine form of love and kindness for everyone you see.  And no matter how down I get sometimes about all our extra challenges, it brings me such joy to know for sure that this pure and genuine  love and joy for me and others, that will never change.  That is your gift.

9 January

It's funny, the other day at breakfast Trevor drew out a calendar and created his "fun" schedule which included ice skating every weekend and skiing a few times too.  This past weekend, we had a great, relaxing visit with the grandparents and while Bre was at her Girls scout cookie rally, Trevor got his wish (and he's great on those Hockey skates!).

8 January

This weekend, Trevor finished up his fifth basketball season.  They had a great coach who just loved the kids, respected all their different abilities and they had a ton of fun.  He also arranged a special pizza lunch after the game, way to go Trevor, we're so proud of you!

7 January

And so yesterday, winter in Maine began (aside from the many inches of snow that stuck around for a week in OCTOBER!). It was the first official snow of 2012.  It's so beautiful and we're so itching to get out there on the slopes!

6 January

January 6,2012

Today…

The bus, then a long eye appointment (no glasses needed-YEAH!), home, preschool pick up, grocery shopping, school pick up, OT appointment, dinner-stuffed peppers(I love when we do an early dinner so we have time for quiet activities with each child before bed), baths, read/homework,bed. And to the complete stranger who said to me as I was getting on the elevator with Bre, "You are such a great Mom...".  Thank you, it made my whole day:)

5 January

Now look who is reading to who:)  We're so proud of You Bre!

4 January

On my first day back at school from Christmas vacation: "Trevor I don't understand why you don't like school....I LOVE school!" And then you fell on the ice at school playing outdoors and got a bloody chin and a puffy lip, but were still all smiles when Daddy picked you up!

3 January

Back to school!

2 January

Today.....

we did not do a whole lot but chores to get ready for the start of school and work tomorrow.  We ran around in the car, got a few groceries and washed all the sheets, blankets, stuffed animal sleeping friends, backpacks and lunchboxes.  We wanted to go ice skating, but the ice rink wasn't frozen yet.  Even I know that extremely cold temperatures are right on our doorstep, it's hard to believe our lawn still looks like this in January.

1 January

Happy New Year!  We had a blast on New Years Eve having a sleepover with the cousins!  We watched movies, played outside and played in the toy room and on the Wii.  The adults had a yummy ham dinner , and a competitive game of Blokus and 10-10-10.  Most of us were in bed long before the ball dropped (although I'm not sure we were all asleep), snuggling up next to our favorite cousin (some insisted on sharing beds or just holding hands from the bed next to them!).  On New Years morning we had our traditional sparkling grape juice toast and a big waffle breakfast.  Good times.

365 Days. 2011

31 December

Welcome 2012!  This year is going to hold so many wonderful adventures.We will celebrate our 38th, 10th, 8th and 5th birthdays.  Our youngest child will start Kindergarten.  We're going back to our little cabin in the woods and back to Disney World.  We're going to garden (hopefully get some of our own strawberries and raspberries this year), plant fruit trees and join our local CSA.  We will relax more, eat healthy, exercise and get outside.  We will celebrate our 12th anniversary.   We will read and make art and be inspired.   We will complete a few more road races (I'm sure another marathon is in Josh's future).  We will blog and scrapbook and photograph.  We will host many family and friends around our dinner table and around our firepit.  We will work on our backyard.  We will ride bikes, play in the circle and look for frogs.  We will play and walk on the beach.   We will love life and each other.  We will listen and be present and savor these days.   I can't wait to see what blessings this year brings.

30 December

And if you know Josh, you know he means, "Let's remodel the whole bathroom" when he says, "lets just paint the bathroom".......LOL!

29 December

And a nice long walk (in the COLD, COLD air) with a nice hot cup of something when we get home is a cure-all for a snippy family who needs to spread out a little after a little TOO much closeness and togetherness:) .

28 December

December Daily 2011 Finished.

I thoroughly enjoyed this project this year and really put ALOT of work into it.  I LOVED adding the photos, words, and bits and pieces of our holiday season to compile this album.  I pulled out everything, digital and paper, and really got all my creative juices flowing.  I learned how to use photoshop somewhat and that I have been meaning to do for a while.  I LOVE it and I'm so happy to add it to the shelf with years 2008,2009 and 2010.  I will cherish these albums for years to come.  This project is AWESOME.

27 December

What were up to.

Enjoying a slowness to our days (getting dressed by noon), each other (most of the time) and being home.
Starting a bathroom painting project
Playing some new board games including Sequence, Blokus, Mastermind and our new Wii.
Finishing up my December Daily album.
Reading some new books from our Elephant and Piggie Series.
Playing Play-doh
Having some friends over and going to their houses.
No snow on the ground means no sledding, skating, snowshoeing or skiing just yet which is kind of a bummer, although we are enjoying some mud puddles in our backyard right at the moment.
Only six days left of vacation....and not much to show for it, but that ok.....I have to remind myself that we don't always need a super on the go, always doing fun stuff  vacation for it to be good and memorable.  Slow is good:)

26 December

As these special days of the year pass us by, I find myself wanting to hold on just a litle bit longer. I want to linger in the love and light, and etch in my mind the memory of those faces, voices and the hearts behind them in this moment of each of their lives.

-Soule Mama

I found myself wishing these every same things last night as I relaxed on the couch taking in everything around me.  My heart ached a little knowing I would never see Christmas through the eyes of my youngest, my four year old again (next year he'll be five!).  And the Christmases when he was three and two.....they seem like just yesterday.  My heart ached a little more today when it all came down because it was just a few minutes ago that it all went up with such a great joy and anticipation of this wonderful season.  I am so blessed to take with me these photographs and wonderful memories of the best days of my life. Each year, as they grow older and I grow older, I find myself just wanting to hold on so tightly to these precious times and never let go.  

25 December

Joy is......

the smell of homemade cinnamon buns baking in the oven (while two kids covered themselves in flour!)
Hot cider with and Orange slice
Walks and runs outside in the cold, fresh air
Nine, seven and four
Red sweaters and Santa Socks
Baking,  making, and giving
Email video messages from Santa
Lego Advent Calendars
Giving back and shopping for the ones who really need it
Dinner with friends and family around our table
a Long winters nap
Birthday Surprises
Christmas Cards
Lighting the candle on solstice night
Unwrapping a book each night and reading it together
Little bare feet
Christmas Jammies
Carolers and handmade needlepoint stockings
breakfast with Santa and the candy cane workshop
Snow, slowly floating down on Christmas day
Cutting Down our tree and decorating the whole house with ALOT of twinkle.
Our Party of five
The smiles, the surprises, the joy on little faces
Bre handing out the programs and saying, "Merry Christmas" to everyone  at church on Christmas Eve.
a Picnic with our italian Sandwiches while watching the Polar Express.
Date nite, and Wrapping nite
Every day life, school and work
Our traditions, our gatherings, our meals, xmas breakfast, beef wellington
Skyping with everyone that we couldn't be with.
Breanna's constant hugs to everyone on Christmas morning.
Lucas homemade Christmas tree picture.
the warmth, the love, the family, the friends and neighbors, the day, the season.
I can't wait until next year:)

24 December

From our family to yours.......have a Merry,Merry Christmas!

Seriously.

23 December

The eve of the Eve......

It's hard to believe it's already here!
Hello first day of Christmas vacation.
Hello errands and crowded grocery store with little children and one BIG cart.
Hello SNOW!  Too bad the weathermen were wrong and it melted.
Hello food for our Christmas feast,
Hello to catching snowflakes on our tongues.
Hello teaching yourself how to play Harry Potter on the piano using You tube.
Hello Daddys' that can do a "high pony with a bow" 
Hello 2 hour walk in the woods to tire out three excited children. one daddy and one dog while Mommy cleaned the house from top to bottom.
Hello clean house. I love you.
Hello to sitting on the couch tonight.
Hello Christmas Eve and Christmas.  I'm so happy you are almost here.


.

22 December

Don't Blink.......

P.S. thank you so much Heidi for the fantastic lunch and relaxing afternoon:)  Happy Holidays!

21 December

What is inspiring me today on this VERY icy morning (we were slipping and sliding getting kids on the bus).......a little Holiday eye candy from
Pinterest. And being on vacation until the end of next week (and a morning spent running around town and having a relaxing lunch at the local coffee shop with my hubby who is also on vacation while three kids in school). Vacations Rock!

20 December

because today.....this picture just makes me happy:)

Thinking.

Ever since I saw this quote, I think about it every day.....

19 December

The FIRST ANNUAL.....birthday Christmas girls luncheon. A VERY fun day, and so nice to catch up over a fantastic lunch. And a little boy who had a busy day with his daddy who is on vacation was sacked out on the chair when I got home. Cheers ladies until next year, and Happy Birthday Mom! (is it 49??) So happy I could be a part of it:)

18 December

A fun, fun evening with our good friends. No matter how much time passes it is always so easy (and Fun!) every time we get together and I just look forward to the kids gift exchange all year, it's just the best:) and Karly and Lucas....they'll be going to the prom together someday, I'm sure of it:)

Baking Day.

Cookie Day.

I've been making these chocolate covered peanut butter Ritz for the neighbors since Trevor was sitting in his bouncy seat. I remember that year, I was so excited to be working only part time and home during the week to provide my neighbors with these "secret" gifts. Now the process has evolved to everybody " helping" which means ALOT of clean up (and don't worry-we labeled everything that was licked as "not suitable for human consumption"). Just the little conversations that go on while everyone is "working",someone has to pinch me b/c I can't believe that I'm their mother. But its all totally worth it, and we just make some of the best memories every year:)

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..."