Ummm...

has anyone ever wrestled an alligator...?//!!!!! cuz' thats what its like to change christian's diaper right n0w, geezzz!!!!

i'm just sayin'!

What's Up?!

Hello friends...I don't have too much to share, well actually I guess I do, I just don't have any pictures uploaded yet, soooo.....here I sit. I did some Christmas shopping tonite after a trip to Starbuck's and a great manicure and pedicure. My toes are a shiny Christmas red, a new OPI color - love it! It was a good night, I needed to decompress and what better way than with shopping, coffee and spa treatments!!!?

Christan's party was wonderful Sunday, I cannot believe he is 1~ we celebrated with cake and champagne, and a few of our closest friends! Blue and white and "birdies" were my theme, since we call him "birdie", it was fun and cute and the big kids had fun decorating small bird houses. I sent home as favors monogrammed ornaments for each of the kids that I made, pink and green for the girls and blue and brown for the boys. Tied with feathers and polka dots, too cute! I'll be sure to post pictures this week hopefully.

So, here is what I am working on this week: Christmas cards (a big stress -er for me!) , Thank you notes for Christan's party, cookie baking for a SWAP I am attending this weekend, party planning for Campbell and Charlotte's school parties next week, menu planning/grocery lists for Christmas week, adding pom-pom fringe to our stockings and starting to wrap! Bryan and I have a "date" Friday night, we'll finish up our shopping...we are just about done. I still hope to do some fun stuff with the kids, a Gingerbread house and green and red paper chains... So, what are you doing? I want to hear about all your preparations! It is such a busy time of year (and throw in two December birthdays too) but hope you are taking time out to count your blessings and laugh and have fun too...and do something nice for yourself it definitely helps to re-energize! So go on... DO IT and report back to me!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Christian

Happy Birthday to you!

I love you little guy, more than anything else in the universe - you are a blessing in too many ways to count! ...

Thank you to ALL our friends and family (way tooooo many to list!!!) for ALL that you did to help bring him into this world - healthy and happy and safely! Your friendship, love and support is forever embedded in our hearts and souls, you are as much a part of Christian as we are!

Children are God's greatest gifts...

xoxoox on this snowy day!

A Perfect Day

It officially feels like the Christmas season is in full swing...after we attended Charlotte's ballet dance company's performance of The Nutcracker recently. Campbell and Charlotte were dressed in their finest and off we went for a fun-filled day. Our friend's Maren and Claire were beautiful little butterflies, it was fun for Charlotte to see the "older" girl's perform as we all anxiously await her first dance recital at the end of January. Campbell loved seeing Maren and Claire too, since they are all friends and classmates. After the ballet, we headed to the bookstore for hot cocoa and cookies followed by some book shopping. It was the perfect day!

Charlotte and I attended the Nutcracker Tea a few weeks ago (which is a pre-event for the ballet) at Knollwood Country Club. Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara and the fairies was very special. A craft, raffle and pictures with the Nutcrackers was so fun!

Special days like these are priceless...they remind me how truly lucky and extraordinary it is to be a Mom, more importantly the Mom to my babies...I am beyond blessed. I used to want a sister for Charlotte, I have always longed for a sister I never had and I wanted that for her but true to God's plan he knew what our family needed and that was for our precious angel to be sandwiched between two precious boys that adore her, a Daddy that is so smitten and lives to make her every dream come true and a Mommy who holds their special relationship so close to her heart...who relishes every special moment together as "Daddy's girls" . She is truly a girly girl in every way imaginable, honestly, I could not of planned it any better, since I am as prissy as they come! So, thank you God for blessing me beyond measure. I love you Rosie Posie and hope you are feeling better soon my little sugar plum fairy!

Let It Snow...

More snow is on the way tonite...the kids are ready to build their first snowman of the season! The decorating is just about done and everything looks lovely and festive! The kids enjoy laying on the floor at night and looking at the tree and talking about all their favorite ornaments! I did a candy and sweets theme this year, I usually opt for something more dressy and fussy but the kids love the Nutcracker (the Land of Sweets) and so they have enjoyed seeing those goodies in our home. Campbell and Charlotte actually helped me make gum drop and peppermint topiaries last year as I was on bed rest waiting for our sweet Christain; an early Christmas blessing indeed! So, the topiaries have a very special place of honor on our mantle. All the "hoopla" is exhausting but soo worth it when you see the kids faces everyday and they anticipate Santa's arrival and all the excitement of this magical season. So...I am dying to know what you are doing? How are you decorating? Real or fake tree? Favorite decorations? Share, share, share!!!! ...I have been cooped up with sickies all week, I need some inspiration!

PS- I'll post some decor pics this week too...

Knee Deep...

I am knee deep today not just in snow but in sick kids - ugh! We have a round of colds/coughs...Christian is doing breathing treatments and Charlotte spent all night throwing-up...Campbell had the same "bug" Thanksgiving night! I am tired and feeling under the weather with my cold as well...BUT I decided to have the attitude of gratitude today...not only am I lucky for the many obvious reasons but beacuse I am the Mommy to these precious babies and there is nobody else's snotty noses I'd rather wipe and vomit covered clothes and sheets I'd rather wash!!!! really, no kidding?! So whats a sleep deprived Mom of 3 sickies to do (oh and a sick hubby too...) crank-up the Christmas tunes, make another cup of coffee and decorate!!!!! Have a great day!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Happy December...can you believe Christmas is right around the corner? Where does the year go? We are very excited in our house not only for Santa's arrival but because our little Christian is about to be 1! It is bittersweet because he is our "last" baby (unless someone knows different?!)...I feel sad in a way, you are so busy trying to "survive" that time with a baby just vanishes it seems. He has filled our family with immeasurable joy and happiness, he is sweet and "easy" and just precious - the love of our lives! Hope you all had a very happy Turkey Day...we did! While we missed our families we enjoyed the focus just being on each other. We cooked, baked and got our tree at the tree farm - saw Santa...!!! Decorated the tree (my favorite part) and got most of the house decorated too! The outside wreaths and lights are up, still waiting on fresh garland and a big wreath for the door (from Scouts!) Bryan and I had a "date night", we had dinner did more Christmas shopping and talked about all we have to be grateful for. The weekend ended with a wonderful Advent Festival and dinner at Church. As always, it was great to be with Him and officially welcome in the Season. We awoke this morning to a beautiful, fresh fallen snow...a great way to start December - the most wonderful time of the year! From our home to yours...wishing you a happy Monday and a great week!