I'm still here...

The entire family has been very sick for over a week. I'm feeling somewhat human today. Time to catch up on stuff. Will post again later.

*Birthday Girl*

Yep it's my birthday!

Happiness

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself "what else do I need to accomplish in life to truly be happy"? I have done this from time to time, not so much lately, but if you had asked me that question 10 years ago I would have had a list at least a mile long. So much has happened in the last 10 years that I can now without a shadow of a doubt say...there is absolutely nothing else I need to be happy. So why? you ask are you rambling about this now? Well you see 10 years ago tomorrow, my *birthday* to be exact, David and I had our first date. I can still remember what we both wore and everything we did that night. I guess you can call him the birthday gift that keeps on giving. We have been together ever since and still going strong.

So in the last ten years:
*I have moved up and around in the same company and found something I like doing
*I lost my Grandfather (I miss him terribly)
*I met and married my soul mate
*I bought a home with said soul mate
*I started a family (two beautiful daughters)
*I became an Aunt
*I watched my baby brother graduate from Army Basic Training
*I mended my relationship with my Dad
*My Mom and I became *friends*
**just to name a few things

I truly am happy *right here, right now*. Sure there are still things on my "Life's To Do List" but none of which impact my happiness today.

So in this *10 year anniversary year*, I have HUGE goals. This is the year for *Simplifying* and it is the year for *Home*.

Back in the saddle

Well we are back in the swing of things, yesterday was Lindsey's first day back to school after Christmas break. She was a bit tired but didn't give us too much grief, she was totally dreading the homework though, I was too for that matter; but it wasn't bad last night, we got it all done before dinner and even had some time to scrapbook a little bit before bedtime. I have been moving into my new space upstairs the last two weekends. I had my craft room/office in a 12x8 room by the laundry room (an addition the previous owners made, sort of a work room) but after we had Mallory we decided it would be best to move me upstairs to the bonus room so the girls could play/hang out while I work. Yesterday was so nice, we were all upstairs, Mallory was playing, Lindsey was doing her homework and I was working. I felt disconnected in the other space, I used to think that was nice, but now, not so much. After Mally went to bed last night David, Lindsey and I went upstairs to *hang out*. David of course got several calls from work so he had his laptop working/conference calls etc. Lindsey and I scrapped. We moved a TV upstairs and have arranged the 70's furniture into a sitting area in front of the TV. The 70's furniture was left by the previous owners of the house, they added the bonus room with a spiral stair case leading up to it, so the problem is they could not get they furniture down to move it with them so now we are stuck with it. I am now in search of a chainsaw to cut the wooden framed couch apart with and am looking for some simple yet comfy chairs that can be taken apart and hauled up the spiral stairs or through the attic, (the bonus room has a door leading to the attic space) Anyway, all in good time. I love the space nonetheless. I still have to get my sewing and embroidery machines moved up, hopefully this weekend, and then I should be set. When it is finished I will take some pictures and post them here soon.

Oh and reason *1,999,999* that I *so adore* David......he has totally worked his butt off to get the upstairs painted and looking fab for me. HE ROCKS!!!

A few of my favorite things

I am trying to adjust to life as a working Mom again. My 1.5 weeks off were *really nice*. It has been hard trying to get back into the routine of work this week. Mallory is back at daycare, she was so excited to show her teachers her *new trick*, she is sitting up.

YIPPEE for her, she is so thrilled with herself. Big Sister will be home today, she went home with J (grandmother) to Ohio after Christmas. David is on his way to pick her up as I type. We are both ready for her to be home. We missed her a ton.

So, I had a really great Christmas, and here are a few of my most favorite gifts, all *handmade*, which in my opinion are *simply the best*.

My *hand* made pot holder from Lindsey:

My picture plate from Mallory:

and My hand painted windows from my Mom:

We had to have new windows installed this past summer and we saved the old wooden windows, which I think may be original to the house (late 1950s) I sent some home with my Mom when she came for Mallory's birth and told her I wanted her to paint them for me for Christmas. She did an amazing job on them, I *love* how she did the crackle finish on the window frame. David hung them for me in the den this past weekend.

*AWESOME*

Christmas Hangover

This was taken the day after Christmas:

A bigger post soon, right now I am enjoying my time off with my family.

*YUM*

Lindsey and I spent all day baking on Saturday. Well she kinda got bored with it after a few hours and moved on to other things like cleaning her room, hmmm I would have rather baked than clean my room when I was eight. Gotta love it though, that is her Dad coming out in her. I did however get 90% of my baking finished and I am so happy about that. Last year I was a total slacker with the holiday baking. I think the only thing I managed to do was the Chex Mix and that is only because David and Lindsey would have made me ride on the hood of the car to Ohio. Chex Mix is a must with those two, forget everything else as long as there is homemade Chex Mix. I was 12 weeks pregnant this time last year, so I really was not up for much of anything except my head on a pillow. Anyway, this year I am on schedule with my decorating, my baking and pretty much all of my shopping, well my gifts are mostly handmade this year. So after....

2 batches of peppermint bark

Several batches Chocolate Kiss & Turtle Pretzels

2 batches of mint chocolate dipped oreos

3 batches of Chocolate gobs

3 batches of Chocolate chip cookies

3 batches of Chex Mix

3 batches of Sugar Cookies

I am almost finished. I still have a few things left to make, things that really can't be made until the day prior to consumption, but for the most part......*DONE*.

Just for fun

Lindsey and me, goofing with the camera:


And look at this *cutie*

*Love* the tootsies, so cute.

*Holiday craftiness*

Here are some of the things I have been working on:

This is the mantel in our Family Room, I painted the canvas *packages* two years ago and made the stockings that same year, obviously I had to make a fourth one this year, (I had saved some of the extra fabric just in case;) glad I did) The feather trees are new this year, very easy and inexpensive to make. I *love* how they turned out.

This is a wreath I made for Lindsey's bedroom door. Very stylish for a *sassy* eight year old.

These are our advent boxes/calendar, also new this year. Got the idea here and here. Lindsey is really enjoying opening up the boxes each day to see what *goodie* she and Mally have gotten. Not all are filled with actually goodies, some are filled with pieces of paper that list something we will do as a family that night, like *cuddle under a blanket and drink some hot cocoa* or *watch a Christmas DVD* or * put on your PJs climb in the car and go look at Christmas lights* with a to go cup of hot cocoa of course.

I am really excited about the holidays this year, so much to be thankful for. It has been a busy year and I am looking forward to slowing down a bit and spending it will my family. Yes, they are all coming to my home this year. Christmas Day will be spent with my Dad, looking forward to that too, it has been a pretty good year for getting our relationship back on track. I am happy about that, esp. for my girls sake.

Going out soon...

Our Christmas card:

O Christmas Tree(s)

OK, so I was talking to my Mom on the phone yesterday while waiting in carpool line at school and she was asking me how many Christmas trees I put up this year, so I mentally go through the house counting them and say twelve, then pause....and she busts out laughing. It was a total accident that I had put up twelve trees, and didn't realize it until I was talking with her. For those of you that know us, you will find this *hilarious*.

Sick-O x 4

We are re-cooping from a household cold epidemic. We are all drugged and ready to face the world again. More to come.... Some pictures to post too. YEAH!!!!

Getting Ready...

I love this time of the year, getting ready for Christmas, making lists etc. I *love* getting out all of my Christmas crafting books and magazines and getting a few new ones to add to the collection. I have several projects (gift tags, advent calendar, canvases etc...) in the works, trying to get those finished. I plan to get the decorations up this week sometime and I can't wait. I *love* it. I usually put up at least 3-4 Christmas trees throughout the house. Pictures to come later.

Happy Thanksgiving!

For this I am so Thankful:
Photo by Marci Lambert.

I survived....

OK, I survived the *birthday weekend* two parties later. We celebrate a whole weekend of Lindsey's birthday, well it usually consists of a party for her friends (a scrapbook party) then a family party which is our traditional spaghetti dinner. Why spaghetti? Well for starters it is one of Lindsey's favorites and the real reason...when we brought Lindsey home from the hospital, that scary six mile drive, the one where you are thinking OH MY GOSH we are responsible for this tiny miracle in the back seat and traffic should be stopped so no other cars can come close to us. Anyway when we pulled into the garage and opened our car doors all I could smell was my Step-Dads spaghetti and meatballs, *SO YUMMY*, he makes the best, hands down. That was the meal we had our first night home with our little sweetie. Every time I smell them it takes me back to that day when we walked into our home together as a *family of three*. Just to keep traditions going, it was the meal we had when we came home as a *family of four* too. Thanks Bob! Your Spaghetti and Meatballs ROCK!!!!

When he wasn't looking I snapped some pics of him cooking:


I'll post some party pics later. I have to get ready for work now.

Happy Birthday Lulu!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful *eight* year old!

*Apple* of my eye

Well, at least one of my eyes, the other is reserved for my little *cutie pie*.

This and That

Lindsey's birthday party is this weekend and I think I am ready. I spent this past weekend preparing. My Mom and Step-Father will be in town on Thursday as will my Grandmother. Lindsey's party for friends is Friday night and her family party is on Saturday; our traditional Spaghetti dinner.

Halloween was fun, we had a last minute costume change, but it all turned out OK. However, let me say this, I miss the days of Lindsey wanting to dress up as Minnie Mouse, Belle, Jasmine, Little Red Riding Hood, and a Cheerleader. This year she was an Aqua Fairy, still not sure about that one. It was a very tween like costume and to be quite honest, it was not a battle I wanted to fight at 3:30P on Halloween. I let her wear some black eye shadow and lipstick too. I had a weak moment people. Truthfully, she looked kinda cool. David didn't freak out as I thought he would, he just goes with the flow; another reason I *adore* him. I thought for sure when he got home from work and saw her he would just go into shock, but he didn't, he could see how excited Lindsey was with her costume choice....and so they went trick-or-treating and scored some good candy. Mallory and I hung out at the house and greeted trick-or-treaters.

OK so here is a picture of Lindsey in her costume....READY? Are you sure?

We lost the wings, just couldn't get them to cooperate:

My *Aqua Fairy* gotta love her!!!!

Happy Halloween!

Working~scrapping~being Mom

Work is busy right now. (I know I say this a lot but it really is.) Trying to finish up a project by weeks end. I spent a better part of the weekend programming at home(work) and the other part being a Mommy and wife. I am tired today.

I am co-room mother for Lindsey's class this year and we decided to put together these scrap albums for the children to scrap in throughout the year. So at the end of the school year they will have a nice keepsake to take home. I put together the album to get them started and they will add pages throughout the year. I took pictures of the children with the teacher for the cover and for the teachers album I took a picture of the class with her. I like how they turned out and I can't wait to see how the children will create their pages.

Second Grade Monkeys:




I am also finishing up Lindsey's birthday party invites. WOW she is going to be *eight*. *sniff, sniff*.

Mallory had her first taste of cereal over the weekend too. Just *Messy Cute*!