December Daily- Day 1

It all started at 6:30 this morning. Running, shouts of excitement, all 3 children awake. Did I really oversleep.... is it Christmas morning? Hauling myself out of bed I remember why they are running around like they have eaten sugar for 6 days straight. Dec. 1st, advent calendars....ahhh yes the excitement begins. I kept the theme a surprise this year to torture, I mean add to the excitement. They had no idea what they were going to wake up to.

Sissy was a bit of a challenge this year. Since she loves anything crafty and anything to do with books (wonder where she gets that from?) I ended up making a tag a day for her. On the back of the tag is a quote or passage from the Bible or a Christmas story. Today's passage was from How the Grinch Stole Christmas;

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch- feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't thought of before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

Of course, there has to be Thank you LEGO..you made me look like the best Mama in the world! He was beyond excited (and so was I since they were actually ready for school early today because of these oh so lovely calendars!). He told everyone he encountered today about this amazing thing he woke up to. Sissy told him since she wakes up first, she will come get him in the morning so they can see what they get for Day 2. Sounds like a plan to me!

A snowman it was for the first day of the LEGO calendar.

Owie P. is too young to understand what is going on but, he does understand Sissy and Mr. B were getting something and he isn't so an animal cookie it is.

I loved seeing the excitement on their faces and can't wait till tomorrow!

Oh blog of old...how I have missed you!

I have been thinking for a while now about resurrecting my blog. I enjoy writing but since I am back in school I have spent so much time on the computer writing papers I couldn't stomach the thought of anything else. Since it's time for December Daily again what better time to bring the blog back and keep updated instead of falling off the wagon!

So.....here we go! See you in the morning and glad to be back!

P.S.-what would a post be without a picture!

Ms. KK is growing up way too fast!

One year ago...

Our little monkey was 3 months old. He laid there quietly and would cuddle in your arms.

Today is a very different story. He is 15 months old, still sweet and loving (when he wants to be) but, he is a bit of a wild child! He climbs everything, puts everything in his mouth, runs around screaming (very ear piercing) just because and kicks every round object hes sees. He also still likes to cuddle, has the biggest smile that lights up his face, giggles over everything and makes us laugh constantly. What would we do without our Owie...

P.S.- this picture was taken after he pushed the chair to the counter, climbed up and dumped a cup of water over and pulled silverware out of the drawer in a span of 30 seconds.

Thankful

so many things to be thankful for this year. Where do I begin....this is going to be a quick post so we'll do the list format!

1. for trusting in God

2. my husband, our marriage

3. my beautiful, loving, funny children

4. a supportive, loving family5. a roof over our heads

6. food on our table every night
7. amazing friends

8. grilled cheese sandwiches made with goat cheese

9. my job

10. Diana Gabaldon for coming out with the next book in the Highlander series, I was waiting very impatiently for the next book!

11. the fact that the "someday I will wear these jeans again" fit again!

12. crafting

13. Scott working hard so I only have to work part-time

14. my Dad having another year cancer free!

15. crafting, crafting, crafting and that Scott doesn't mind our bedroom also being my craft room (atleast he doesn't tell that he minds)

I hope everyone has a blessed, relaxing and safe Thanksgiving. I am looking forward to the holiday season and hope you are as well!

Brendan

Even Batman has to listen to Mama.....

30

When did that happen? Wednesday, November 4th I turned 30. Do I feel different...not physically. Mentally and emotionally...maybe. for some reason I am having a really hard time with 30. It's not the fact that I am starting to notice changes in my body, I have 3 kids it's pretty trashed already. Although I did find a gray hair when I woke up Wednesday morning. Starting to notice really fine lines along my eyes. I am okay with that too because it means I am smiling and laughing a lot and if the price is lines around my eyes then so be it.

In my head and when I look at myself in the mirror, I am still 22. When I see actual 22 year-olds I think differently but for now in my head I am still 22. I guess that's a good thing because as long as I think I am young, I will be! I have had a few encounters this last week that did lead me to believe that my age idea that is in my head might not be believable to everyone else. I went shopping for a new vacuum at Target this week. Not a big event in most people's lives but for me I was VERY excited about getting a new vacuum. So excited in fact that I had to send Scott a text message to tell him just how excited I was. I was informed that I was very dorky. Oh well, that has nothing to do with age I always have been a little dorky. As I was walking towards the back of the store where the vacuums are I was approached by a young man and asked "can I help you with anything MA'AM?". Are you serious? When did i cross the threshold of being called Miss to being called Ma'am? I swore yesterday I was still a Miss. Though I was very traumatized by the store clerk that CLEARLY needed glasses, I purchased my vacuum and headed home. This is where I started to worry about myself. All I could think about was getting home and trying out my new vacuum. I WAS EXCITED TO VACUUM! There has to be something wrong with me. Maybe I am getting sick, it can't be because I am turning 30 and might be considered a responsible adult. Holy Moly!

Vacuum story aside, Tuesday night by best friend since we were 5 years old got me out of bed at 10 o'clock and to me to TGI Friday's. She said I need to have dessert and a drink at midnight as I turned 30. Lots of fun... when I was younger I would have just been getting ready to go out at 10 o'clock but, now that is way past my bedtime. Concern again. when we walk in the bar there is a DJ. A DJ on a Tuesday night? The bar was packed (don't these people have to work in the morning?) and we found a spot. Chatting non-stop like we always do, I paused mid sentence and said (I still can't believe these words came out of my mouth) "It's a little loud in here. I can't even here you talk." What? Did I just complain about it being too loud? Yikes.

These are not the reason's I am having a hard time turning 30. I do feel like I just turned 22 and now all of the sudden I am 30. How did this happen? When did this happen? If my 20's went SO fast it scares me that the rest is going to go even faster. I don't want it to go faster. I want it to slow down. Enjoy everyday not rushing through life and then realize it's close to being over. I want to stay this way forever (not just because I am so clumsy that Scott tells me I am going to be in a wheelchair by 40) because I am loving life right now.

There is only 1 upside to turning 30. My 20's were crazy and fast-paced. A roller coaster of emotions. Getting my degree, having 3 babies (one I had while in college), getting married, illness, surgeries, death in the family, almost losing our marriage. Such extreme highs and lows. Financial struggles, emotional struggles, just lots of struggles in general. Becoming responsible for 3 human lives. My 20's were very unpredictable. That is the one thing I am looking forward to in my 30's. The only wish I have. A very boring, non-descript decade of life. Will it happen...probably not but, I will try and love every second of it. Here we come 30's...hope you can handle me!

I know it's only October but,

I am already getting in the mood for the holidays. I want to bake things and have holiday parties. Snuggle on the couch drinking hot tea out of a fabulous coffee cup while watching a movie with the fireplace on. Where did this come from? Getting the new Pottery barn catalog in the mail is the problem. They had so many beautiful things that make you want to have Thanksgiving dinner at your house and to be honest who actually wants to have Thanksgiving dinner at your house. Look at this....
(all of the images are from the Pottery Barn catalog)

sorry the image is small but aren't these little squirrel salt and pepper shakers cute. Totally impractical which is what I usually am but isn't everyone entitled to whimsical everyone once in a while.

These salt and pepper shakers are more my style...

Look at the black and white pictures in the vases! Love it!

Too bad snow is not something we get at our house...

Isn't this table setting beautiful...

I know I haven't been around the last week or so, okay two weeks. We have been busy, busy, busy. I promise to come back and post pics of what we have been doing!

Girly Girl

I can't believe you are 7 years old today. You definitely make us laugh with your funny sense of humor. You are also such a smart girl and we are so proud of your accomplishments. We are going to have quite a fun birthday celebration starting tonight. On the menu for the birthday girl's dinner... pesto pizza with pine nuts, goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, fruit salad and salad with cranberries, goat cheese, candied walnuts and raspberry vinaigrette. for dessert the birthday girl is requesting homemade berry cobbler and vanilla ice cream. Not quite the menu most 7 year olds would pick but it sounds good to me! Enjoy your day sweet girl...we love you so much!

"Circumstance does not make me,
it reveals me."
{ william james }

This has definetely been tested and proven this last year and 9 months

Weak in the knees

Everyone has their weakness'. Some it's food, others it's shopping. Here are the things that make me go weak in the knees...... (not in any particular order!)



1. a REALLY good book, the kind that you think about when you aren't reading it and when you are done you feel a loss. Like this series...

2. pretty paper...well any type of paper. I have loved paper since I was a little girl. I remember receiving stationary as a little girl and I would never use it because I liked it too much.

3. going to the bookstore (are you seeing a pattern here?)

4. dessert. How can one not like dessert? I am convinced it should be a food group.

5. My sports team(s) winning. I am a happy girl if I can watch the game with an adult beverage adn some good food. It is even more perfect if the food is something like wings followed up with dessert. It's a good day at our house if the Angels, Chiefs, Lakers, or Gators are winning.

6. Putting the kids to bed and having a quiet dinner for two with the lights low and no interuptions. I am always surprised at how much discussion goes on when you are not repeatedly saying "where's your napkin" "sit in your seat" "use your silverware please".

7. clean sheets. I love the feeling of climbing in bed right after the sheets have been washed. The feel crisp and cool and I just like it!

8. Seeing my husband walk through the door after work everynight. Not just cause I love him but because my partner is here and now we can tag team the 3 monsters destroying our house.
9. any flea market. I love the hunt and the happiness when you make a good find or get a great deal!
10. anything vintage


I know this is a random post today but it's always good to sit and relfect for a few minutes about the things that make you happy.
On a side note, funny 6 year old story. I took Ms. Kennedy to school this morning and when she got out of the car I noticed her shoes didn't really match her outfit. I commented on them and then said "oh well, doesn't really matter. Nothing we can do about it now." She looked at me with the exagerated eye roll only a young girl can do so well and said "Geeezzzz Mama, you have no style." Awesome.