Merry, Merry!

Glory to the newborn King!

Merry Christmas and I'll see you all in the New Year!

The weather outside is frightful...

But the fire is so delightful...since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! ...We are under a blizzard warning tonite friends, it is FREEZING, like -2 (w/out windchill!). I am happy to have a warm home, the fire is burning and I am pleased to report I am officially DONE!...done shopping, done with stocking stuffers, done with my Christmas cards and most of my baking. We are working on our last bit of wrapping tonite, the house gets cleaned tomorrow while we are at the Mall (God help us) to do Build A Bear for Campbell's 7th birthday...can you believe we have never taken our kids to Build A Bear? They are both quite excited and I just know Christian will love the stroller ride -poor #3 just gets dragged around, huh?...We have friends coming for some "Christmas cheer" tomorrow night and then the rents arrive Tuesday.

The kiddos did us proud today in their Christmas Pageant at Church, Campbell was a Shepherd and Charlotte was a sheep - they were absolutely precious and sung their songs proudly, I of course cried my eyes out , is it me or does the music just "move you" ? I usually end-up reminiscing about the year, good and bad. Then we went to brunch, it was a great day! Snuggle-up with those you love tonight and hold them near, they are the real gifts of Christmas! Kisses friends!

Birthday Baby

Just wanted to share some pics from Christian's 1st Birthday last weekend...he is truly the love of our lives, the sweetest little angel who has blessed our family beyond measure! He is growing much too quickly and I try to savor every moment with him...

I love birthdays! They were always made special in my house growing-up and I am trying to create happy memories for my babies as well. I love the plans, the shopping and the gift-giving. I love themes, balloons, the decorations the favors and making the cake and invites from scratch! I make each baby a birthday scrapbook too that I hope one year they will treasure, but even now, the kids like to through and reminisce, it brings me great joy too!

With two December birthdays it is always a busy time here...well, I off to prepare for Campbell's birthday which is Monday! Have a great Saturday and stay warm!!!

Snowfall...

This put me in the spirit...how about you? (pics of our house from yesterday's early morning snow) are you almost done? Time to sit back and enjoy the anticipation and excitement of the next week!

A Cute Gift...

Aren't these cute little monogrammed ornaments?! I got this idea from my bloggy friend over at 40 Pink Piggies (see my blog list on the side bar). I bought gray-blue and lime green ornaments and personalized them with a first initial. The girls got hot pink feathers and the boys, brown and white polka dot ribbon. I used a paint pen. These were favors for Christian's 1st Birthday last weekend. I displayed them on a small feather tree in the dining room, each child found their ornament before leaving. I loved them so much I have ended-up making more for gifts this week...Super cute and easy and personal too! Hope you all are marking your "to do's" off your list! Good luck!

Thank You!

A huge thank you to my sweet new friend at Landlocked Mermaid for her adorable package I received last week. We were Swap partners for some Holiday goodies. Loved everything...the DC ornament, the cute kitchen towels and lovely sachet, the Lilly scarf and bag were the best! She was so thoughtful in remembering my kids, a stuffed doggie with antler ears for each - they love them! I feel so lucky to of made such a sweet new friend...you must visit her blog, you'll be hooked! http://www.landlockedtweetie.blogspot.com/ I also posted a pic of her gift that I tied-up in cellophane and mailed. She was so sweet in her thanks and I think she loved it all - I had a blast shopping for her, the joy really is in giving...soooo fun!!!

Have a good week...I am busy trying to get cards done, wrapping and baking and preparing for the kids school parties Friday. Hope you all are well and happy and warm! Lots to post this week so I'll be back soon to chat!

Tree Tour

I joined the Christmas Tree Tour...take a look!

Here is a picture of our tree...I love it! Choosing the tree (always live! duh!) and then decorating it has got to be one of my favorite things about Christmas every year. We have beautiful ornaments...our parents were kind enough to give us lovely little beauties such as Radko, Tiffany, Gorham, Waterford and the silver collectible yearly ornament from Ross-Simon. I love mixing in the precious ornaments made by Campbell and Charlotte's sweet little hands too. We always use white lights (that Bryan does a fabulous job stringing) and the garland beads we rotate out every year. Another special addition is two American flags at the top of the tree by the star...to remember our Nation is at War and to honor our troops and our freedom. Every year we give the kids a special ornament - we have a special dinner the night or so after Thanksgiving and I wrap them up very specail... they already have quite the collection! I also try to make each of the kids their own ornament too...(we'll see how long that lasts!)Hope you enjoy a glance at our special beauty!

Pixie Dust!

"Pixie Dust and Pixie Dust..." This is what Charlotte says while playing Princesses...Oh, how I wish I had a Fairy Godmother to grant me all my wishes right now...here is my short list:

more days until Christmas

more hours in the day (leading up to Christmas)

that i could help christian stop crying

that i could take a long nap (followed by a long bubble bath!)

that i didn't have to hire a sitter everytime we want to do anything!

that i was related to kick a** photographer

that my grocery shopping for the week was done

that my meals for the week were done (and in the freezer)

that my christmas cards were done (and addressed and stamped! and mailed!)

OK, thats not alot to ask for, huh? Albeit, I have lots to be thankful for though and I know it! So, off to tackle this list!)...PS- The above pictured bag of "Pixie Dust" and "Magic Wand" was part of a favor for Charlotte's birthday ( a lovely shimmer-ey glitter that yes, makes a mess but is a huge hit with the kids!)

Yummy!

YUM! This is my new favorite thing!...So, while Bryan is playing BB with friends and I should be...straightening-up, cleaning the kitchen, laundry, addressing Christmas cards and wrapping gifts, I am blogging, checking-in on Facebook, returning emails and yes, enjoying Peppermint Bark ice cream! Are you procrastinating tonight or is it just me?...

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!

Happy Turkey Day

See you all next week for the Christmas countdown...

Almost...

Almost 1!!!...I love you Birdie! Where has the time gone?!

Tis' The Season...

Busy, busy...here is a glimpse at my project table...busy wrapping Christmas and Birthday gifts, trying to finish Christian's Baby Book before his 1st birthday, getting swap packages ready for the mail and I am working on a couple of Christmas craft projects too...tis the season for lots of crafts, projects and "hoopla"...I love it! What are you working on?

Special Gifts...

Aren't these cute? Some Christmas gifts arrived last week from Pottery Barn Kids...they are wrapped just precious with felt Santa tags and red grosgrain ribbon...can't wait to put them under the tree!

We had a great weekend with friends who came to visit...we saw Twilight (great movie!) and went out for drinks, did some shopping too. We did more shopping Saturday and had lunch while the boys enjoyed the ballgame. After the Notre Dame game we had friends over for pizza so all the kids could visit and play, they had a ball! Campbell and Charlotte loved having Ellie and Camryn (and their sweet dog Chloe) spend the night and stay with us...I loved having them all here too...miss you lots Maggie...your friendship is a gift! Anyway, it was a busy weekend with all my favorite things. Hope yours was happy too!

It's beginning to look alot like...

Christmas ornaments! Look what I found...VINTAGE ornaments! A whole box for, are ya ready....for $1!!! There must be 40 or so, all colors and sizes, I am so excited-I need another ornament like a hole in my head but I just cannot stop myself and for $1...who'd want to?!

Fresh Fallen Snow...and Other Fun!

Just wanted to share some pics of the kids in all their glory! It has been a busy few weeks, only to get busier. But it is truly fun (for the most part!) Highlights after Halloween have included: an overnight at the Airzoo Museum w/ Scouts, Nutcracker Tea, a special date with my two big kids to see a performance of The Nutcracker, followed by a trip out for hot cocoa and book shopping, Campbell's Fall party at school...we had a ball baking "pumpkin" cookies and making hand-dipped chocolate turkeys. We have also enjoyed our first snow this week and it was a big one! It was truly beautiful - the first snow always is and the kids were thrilled! It got us all in the Christmas "mood"! They are anxious to start decorating and I am too! There is so much to look forward to and I can't wait to enjoy the holidays with you all...