New Hair Cut - After ...

When I uploaded the last blog, I could not get an after picture up... so here it is! His curls are gone, but I love his BIG boy hair cut. His hair is getting so thick!

1st Hair Cut

Stephen got his hair cut! Uncle Gene did the honors and Stephen did pretty well. After 4 women at Westminster Canterbury thought Stephen was a girl, David was more than ready for the trim.

Grounded

This post has taken me forever to start.... "New Years" are always a time of reflection for me, a new beginning. I love New Year's resolutions, whether I keep them or not, I love to get organized and plan for a New Year. But, no matter what you plan, life seems to have its own plan. Unfortunately, Cir@uit City, did not plan to continue with us into the New Year. We, as a family are like so many families right now, looking for a new job, a new beginning. I am the eternal optimist, and my better half is the eternal pessimist (aka a realist.) I believe this is why we work so well together, we balance each other out. I know that something wonderful is out there, just waiting for us to seize the new opportunity. I also believe that this not the worst thing that has ever happened to us. We are healthy and neither of our children are ill. For that fact alone, I am eternally grateful and blessed.

No matter what seems to happen, I can't help but stay grounded. Children keep you grounded. No matter what happens, their routines are constant. Today, I still played with Play Doug, laughed at Kate's funny faces, watched my kids eat Oreo cookies, assisted in the bedtime routine... When taking care of them, you are focused on the task at hand. For a while, you escape into a world where the big decision is, what 3 books do we want to read tonight? After they fall asleep, there are still toys to put away, rooms to pick up, laundry to wash, rooms to clean, and plans to do it all over again tomorrow. I am thankful for the routine, the escape, and the reminder that the most important things haven't changed.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Under Construction

"It's the most cookie-baking time of the year..."

My Katie Kate

Tonight while Kate and I snuggled in bed she said, "Mom, I feel the family-est when I am in bed with you." She is so sweet... my baby is growing up too fast.

Legendary Santa

The Magic of Christmas

We have transitioned from Thanksgiving to Christmas. (A couple of sleepless nights in between put me a little behind). I needed to take a deep breath (and get some sleep) and focus on what the season is really about... joy, wonder, giving, peace, and creating memories for my children. And with one long weekend, the turkeys got boxed up and all the red and green poured out.

For starters, our neighborhood Shadow Ridge, in Brandermill, has won the Christmas decoration contest for the past 18 years plus. So, the first thing we needed to do was get the outdoor decorations up. I was dreading it because last year it took forever! I was pleasantly surprised how fast it went this year because we already had everything and we knew where it went. I love how beautiful the house looks at night all lit up with the wreaths in the windows. Contest or not, I love that we have an excuse to make the house look so good!

This year our big addition to the Christmas decorations was adding a train around the base of the tree. It is so magical... it plays music, has a bell, lights up, and the engine sounds so real! Kate and Stephen can both easily use the remote control and various tiny toys are placed in the baggage car for a ride around the track. The train is also a perfect distraction for Stephen when he realizes that the ornaments on the tree come off. I loved watching Kate recognize her ornaments from the past years while decorating the tree. As soon as she got a few up, Stephen would take the down... So they participated in the process, but if they helped the entire time the tree never would have been finished.

I love the tree, I try not to comment on the placement of the ornaments. However, in my true anal fashion I have to rearrange them until it looks just right. It is all about balance and being able to see my favorite ornaments at all times. (They get the best placement on the tree.) So what is my favorite ornament? I guess I have to break it down into a group of them.

From my tree when I was little:

1.) a multi-colored soft clown from Jane McGonigle

2.) 2 glass angles from Grandma Ruby

3.) a frosty the snowman from Miller & Rhodes

4.) a wooden angel I won at the Watkin's Christmas carnival when my Dad was principal there.

My additional favorites....

1.) a hand carved wooden Santa holding a bird I bought at the Bizzare Bazzar with Grandma and Mom

2.) My Kate and Stephen large glass ball ornaments

3.) Grandma Bev's very very old ornaments, some are circa 1900 and they are amazing!

They all have a story and some along the way have been nibbled (aka destroyed) by my furry children, Dixie and Belle. They have done more damage to the tree than the kids!

I love looking at the tree at night and watching the ornaments sparkle with the lights.

Happy Thanksgiving

Arms of Angels

Tonight I write with a heavy heart, Baby T died last night... my heart aches for her and her family. Josie wrote so eloquently not long ago about our friend, "K" and her baby girl "T" http://kurzfamily.blogspot.com/2008/10/empty-swing.html Unfortunately, baby T never left the hospital to go home, she was too sick.

From her outward appearance, you would not have known Baby T was ill. I told K on Thursday that all babies are beautiful in their own way, but her little girl really was beautiful. She had a perfect round face, warm rosy cheeks, long dark eyelashes, and a full head of dark brown hair. She started mimicking her sister's trait of playing with her hair and her mothers' hair when she was holding her. She smiled and the sound of her mother's voice, and snuggled into her for comfort... All the small cherished moments between a mother and her child. These moments are all that K has left. I can't begin to fathom the loss of a child, I don't know how you find the strength to go on.

I ask you tonight to please say a prayer or words of kindness for this family to find hope and strength. Please hold your children a little tighter and know how blessed you are to have them in your arms.