Continuing to be thankful

I consider myself to be a very thankful and LUCKY person - I appreciate all of the gifts in my life. Today, after hearing some bad news about folks we know, I'm considering myself even more fortunate.

Our lives are even more full and rich because we live near my aunt and her family. They are very loving and giving and we spend as much time together as possible. On Tuesday night we traveled south to watch Christie play basketball.

{Christie playing ball}

{Watching Christie}

{Walking on the court with Gini and Christie}

Last night Andy got the train out that goes under our train. It's still not actually under the tree - but it was good fun to have the train out!

Here is some of Sawyer's wonderful Holiday Art. He came home BEAMING about this piece -- he exclaimed how much he loves it. I love it too!



Here is where Nick, our holiday Elf, decided to hang out today. Festive!


I'll keep counting my blessings today, everyday this holiday season and beyond.

Okay, okay...

Alright, a couple of you have asked and I know the rest of you are thinking it -- what is wrong with Andy's face? I PROMISE - it's not even worth the space on here.

You know when you take pictures with a flash and you get those annoying red eyes? I do my best to avoid it altogether. But, when I take my point and shoot camera places, like dark rides at Disneyland, I have no choice.

so, on this particular Saturday, the baby was enjoying all of the spookiness of Sandy Claws on Haunted Mansion - so I snapped a pic. The boys all had red eyes.

Once we returned home, I had to fix that. and, I got a little overzealous with the red eye correction.

End of story. that is a digital snafu on Andy's face. it's not really like that.

More later, I have pictures to share!

Truly, I am about as behind as I can be. Do I really care? YES! I hate this feeling of needing to do 1,045 things. We're celebrating the season and enjoying each others company. Why do the 1,045 other things have to overwhelm me and not enjoy AS MUCH the other things that really matter? Oh well!

Took the kids to Disneyland on Saturday for a full day of fun. We did all of our favorite things, new and old, and just enjoyed ourselves and enjoyed being together!

{SOMEONE got into the leftover halloween candy before we left}


{The NOT blinded by the sun, boys}

{Momma and her baby outside It's a Small World}

{Look at who is on the naughty/nice list!}

{The mandatory picture outside of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride}

{Two happy brothers?}



{Don't ask about Andy's face}

{CUTE}

Enjoy your day!

The GLINCH!

Last year at the beginning of the season, we discovered Sawyer's favorite movie. Since then, we've honestly probably watched it well over 100 times. NOT an exagerration. He loves, without restraint, Jim Carrey's version of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

I don't even know if LOVE is strong enough. He *IS* the Grinch, he adores the Grinch - there are days when we eat, sleep and breathe the Grinch. Sawyer can quote several lengthy passages from the movie - and it's hilarious. It's one of those things that I love about having kids. How their personalities are so fun and really make you enjoy THEM as a person.

Anyway. Because of Sawyer's adoration for the green creature (because what is he, really?!) I decided to take him and Cam to a stage production of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas at the Globe Theater in Balboa Park in San Diego. (That is a mouthful) We went with my friend Kate and her 2 kids. Turns out, Kate's good friend is married to the sound guy there. We were lucky enough to get a tour after the show. Fun - and more to be thankful for!

{my grinch loving cutie}

{outside the theater. it was VERY bright and sunny}

{in the grinch's sleigh}

{enjoying the props!}

Thankful, every day

Did you see that? What you ask? The perfect day that has just ended. There were several things that made me happy that I had today.

1. Today was a warm 80* and not one cloud in the sky. I searched for a few seconds trying to find one. It was futile, so instead I enjoyed the warm sunshine on my back.

2. Gas prices are so low that filling up my incredibly empty (4 miles till empty!) gas tank cost less than $31.

3. Campbell took a Reading Counts! test today on Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone and passed. woohoo for my boy.

It's also December 1. That in itself is a good thing. We've had a good Thanksgiving weekend. Many days together and we weren't sick of being together! I was even sad to send the boys back to school today. Nick, our Elf on a Shelf, has been visiting since Friday - and so far so good. Today was day 1 of our Lego Advent calendar and we all enjoyed the little Lego man who came with a Turkey leg.

We have been planning our joyful month and we're looking forward to all of the fun we're planning. There are many good times out there that I'm looking forward to having!

{my cousin Christie and her new car. she turned 16 on Friday!}

{two of my turkeys}

{the advent calendar}

Funny baby

A couple of things.

crowdSPRING, hire Kelly Purkey for your new Community Marketing Manager!

A friend of mine makes beautiful, beautiful handmade items and sells them on Etsy. You REALLY ought to check them out. They are really inexpensive, super nice and beautiful. I LOVE all of the pieces of hers that *I* have!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5639287

She has more crystal stuff up than normal. But, it's all really sparkly if you're into that. she's into vintage.

Anyway. Back to regular programming. The baby is in full blown toddler mode - doing all kinds of crazy things. Mostly talking. Today, he has a new word. ROW. As in, row row row your boat. You do the motions, he says row or row row. Whichever he's feeling like. Here's a video of him saying "GO!" Love that little guy. (Sorry it's sideways. )

Remember me?

It's been a while. I'll try not to let it happen again. Been busy with Thanksgiving prep at school plus lots and lots of photo taking!

rose bowl

I'll keep it short. I've had a busy week and not too much to contribute to any of you that might read the chatter I produce.

There are a lot of things in my life that are important to me. One of the things that is important to me is seeing new things, doing new things, experiencing new things. In order to have another experience under my belt, I headed up to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA and went to the swap meet. (For the record, the Rose Bowl evokes memories of the early 80's and the Iowa Hawkeyes taking their winning selves to the Rose Bowl. Long live Hayden Fry!)

Vintage, ruffly and beautiful!

Happy Birthday, Baby!

A year ago right now, I have no recollection what I was doing. BUT, I had a brand new baby boy - the third in the set. He was hours old and I was probably sleeping, and if I wasn't I was groggy. The thing I remember most about the hospital was falling asleep mid-conversation with visitors. (And the green jello. How I love green jello!)

The point of this is that - well, it's only been a year! I can actually remember this day one year ago. I do have a sneaking suspicion that I'm always going to remember that day. It's when my baby was born.

So, today. Today was really like any other. Sawyer had a dentist appointment, we shopped a bit with friends, took some photos - the only difference were spontaneous happy birthday choruses and a cupcake. I think the baby had a good time!

{happy birthday, baby!}

jubilation!

Feeling happy, bursting with pride and hopeful for our future. So happy to have kids that were interested in the election and to share this win with them.

Not only is the election of huge importance in our family, but so is our baby's birthday. Tomorrow was supposed to be his birthday, but it got pushed back a day. (due to an over booked hospital!) Instead, we look forward to Thursday to celebrate the birth of our bouncing baby boy!

However, we've already celebrated! We did it big - it's our last and only, first birthday party, after all!

{there was face painting!}
{grrrr! a tiger!}
{a cupcake pinata with my friend Cari}
{beat it!}

{come on, we want the loot!}


{a smash cake for one wee boy}

{enjoying one of 96 delish cupcakes}

{mmmmm...cake is good!}

{it just gets better and better}

{harrison and his emma}

Harrison was particularly lucky to have his Ma and Papa in attendance. He and the other boys are the luckiest boys in the world - they have some pretty great grand parents. They are loved and cherished and we only wish they would stay longer and come more! The boys love them and Sawyer moped all day Monday when they went home. In fact, in the afternoon, he exclaimed "Maybe a piece of Halloween candy would cheer me up!"

We live a very good life here and it's made even better by having ma and papa in it. We all can't wait to see them again at Christmas.