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:)