Looking Back

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I made a smilebox collage that summarizes our 2009. I hope you'll take a look!

Happy New Year and New decade! WOW, 2010 is really here!

Our Holiday

I think the pictures speak for themselves.

WW - So, It's a Little Big But Still Cute

My brother and his family sent this warm and cozy outfit for Baby K for Christmas. It's a tad big but worked perfectly when we bundled her up for a walk the other day. I couldn't resist snapping away...


Oh the cuteness!

Picture Perfect

Simply said, we had a lovely Christmas. It was at our home and small and quiet (well unless you count the crazy noises that escaped from the 5 year old's mouth when he saw that my mother had gotten him a zhu-zhu pet. Oh GAWD. But wait, that happened 2 days after so yeah, ACTUAL Christmas, pretty quiet.)

We ate well, as usual, and found ourselves warm by the fire and surrounded by love and nice things. So many are not as blessed. Not nearly. I prayed for them.

I focused on my children and didn't have to worry about traveling elsewhere or how to explain Santa's multi-faceted delivery process. Thank Goodness.

I slept 8 straight hours Christmas night into the next morning. EIGHT blessed, glorious hours. It was absolutely splendid. Merry Christmas to me!

And somewhere amongst all the wrapping paper and toys and Christmas cookies and awesome sleep, I tried to get THE picture with my new camera.

This is the best I could get.


Yeah, you should totally see some of the other ones. Or not.

But it doesn't matter that it's not "perfect" (or that Baby K isn't wearing a bow and therefore could totally be mistaken for a boy but we all know she's not so "there!") because it's still cute and they are my sweet, Christmas children and I'm so blessed to be their Mommy.

Really, really blessed.

I hope everyone's holiday was as merry and bright as mine.

I SO do.

(and okay, here are some of the ever-more-not-so-good ones... I just had to, you know, for posterity and all...)

(click to enlarge)

Be Careful What You Wish For...

I got a new toy camera (Nikon D5000) for Christmas and besides a little cropping, the photo above is SOOC and one of my favorites that I took over the holiday (of course the fact that it's a favorite has more to do with the subject than anything else really...).

The manual is as thick as a short novel and let's just say I have A LOT to learn. But it IS what I wished for and Santa (a.k.a. Tim) was REALLY good to me - again.

So.... who wants to teach me??

WW - Holiday Edition

So, we're just hanging out this week building ginger bread houses and...


trying to figure out what's in our gifts under the tree...

and hanging out in our Christmas-y pajamas...


and smiling big thinking of what's to come in a couple of days...

Now excuse me while I run out for just ONE MORE gift...


For more Wordful Wednesday go visit Angie and wish her Happy Holidays!!

P.S. You can go HERE to see our actual Christmas card.

Merry Christmas!!

Thank You God For...

The boys and I pray together almost every night. Sometimes Tim does it instead but I'm pretty sure he's not quite as thorough as I am so I like to do it myself. Plus it's my snuggle time with my boys and I get to hear what they are thankful for each day.

We begin by thanking God for the myriad of good things in our life and then we pray for certain things and those in need.

Last night I asked the boys what they were thankful for, as I always do, and after they replied (Little G for Mama and Katie - AWWWWW! and The B Man for "Hamsty" his hamster) The B Man broke out with this little nugget of wisdom,

"I bet if you thanked Jesus for something it would be for chocolate!"

Does my child know me or what???


The recipes for these Christmas-y treats can be found at Beth's blog*. She's been my holiday candy/cookie guide this year. And I thank God for good bloggie friends like her (you know, the ones who help "feed" my habit).

*(oh except I did add a layer of semi-sweet chocolate to the bottom of the peppermint bark because that's just WHO I AM.)

PSF - The Joy of Pancakes

Upon seeing the pancakes that daddy was making this morning he said,

"That's awesome, I love it!!!"



Superman tends to be pretty easy to please, well as long as you make him pancakes when he WANTS them... Otherwise watch out!


Hosted by Cecily and Honey Mommy

Emotional

I drove up close to the mailbox like I do almost every day after picking up The B Man from school. He rolled down his window, opened the box and grabbed up the envelopes and fliers.

He handed them to me and I was happy to count seven Christmas cards amongst the pile and see names of my friends and family.

We got in the house and I put the stack down as the boys hollered to watch "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." (thank you Netflix) After I set up the movie for them it was time for me to pump and then feed the baby. I went into my bedroom with my supplies and, on the way, grabbed the cards with my last free fingers.

As my little girl drank I leaned the bottle against my chest and started opening the cards (I'm getting even better at multi-tasking...).

I opened the one from my friend Heidi, who lives back in my old 'hood, and I smiled at the pictures of her and her family. And THEN I read this note that was included, from Heather, her daughter, who was in The B man's pre-school class last year (and he would have gone to Kindergarten with).


Just in case, it says "DEAR BEN I HOP YOU OUR HAVING A GOD TIM IN LOUISANA," which I quickly translated to "Dear Ben, I hope you are having a good time in Louisiana." (sharp as a tack, I am)

And THEN. I lost it. I did the full on ugly cry. REALLY hard.

As my tears fell on to my sweet baby girl I realized NOW is when I miss them the most - my friends, our family, our church. I MISS A LOT. At the holidays.

But this time it sneaked up on me. I went from smiling to major meltdown mode in like .0356 seconds.

Now I know how the toddler feels.

I WANT to be back there. I WANT to be with my friends laughing and telling 'poop' and 'tantrum' stories. I want to hear one of Heidi's HILARIOUS diatribes because she is so friggin' funny (seriously one of THE funniest people ever) IN PERSON. I WANT to go back.

I want to NOT feel this way, but I do...

(To Tim: sorry you had to walk in on my sobbing and not know what the problems was right away and yes, I miss our old home tremendously but I am okay. I love you.)

WW - Things Boys Can't and WON'T Wear So My Girl Certainly Will!

Let's see...

pink

tights

"mary jane" shoes

lace

bows on their heads

dresses

flowers (except maybe the tropical kind...)

and...

ruffles.




My little girl already wears ruffles. And that folks is ONLY the beginning.

If you can't already tell, I can't resist taking pictures of her.

And doesn't the shirt just say it all - "cute to the core" - Uh huh! : )



All the Wordful Wednesday action is happening at Angie's place.

Christmas Tour of Homes 2009

This year we are in a new home. It's our first Christmas in Louisiana. It took us a while to figure out where the tree should go but we found a good spot. We're still figuring out the stocking situation (in other words, I don't have enough stocking holders) but the mantle looks pretty good adorned with some sparkly pretties.

It's also our first Christmas as a family of FIVE! And, one of the new ornaments on the tree (my favorite decoration for the season) is a darling "First Christmas" ornament made by Tim's Aunt Diane for Baby K. We also added a Fleur de Lis ornament that I acquired after "stealing" it from another mom during our Moms Club ornament exchange (what? I needed it for our 1st Christmas here as it's a VERY popular symbol here in Cajun country).

To me Christmas is also about Santas (I collect them), the children (I mean c'mon their eyes as they are opening presents, there's really nothing like it!) and of course, the birth of our Lord. I've been praying with the boys that we remember, amongst all the hustle and bustle, what this season is REALLY all about...

We also have a new visitor this season, "Elfie!" He's our version of the Elf on the Shelf and does a great job of watching over the boys and letting Santa know how "good" they are behaving.

And of course in our house the Christmas season must include tasty snacks and some sweets. We have yet to make our traditional sugar cookies but the "puppy chow" is already being consumed. Please, grab a handful on your way out. That is if there is any left when you get here...

Welcome! And a Merry Christmas from our home to yours...

Link up with the Christmas Tour of Homes at thenester.com