Here comes Christmas!

The turkey has been eaten and the pumpkin pie is gone. It is time to jump into the wonderful Christmas season. I started shopping about a month ago, and today we are decorating the house. Adam and the kids are outside putting up lights and decorations and I have been taking care of the inside. We will not put up the tree until the first weekend in December. I just can't do it before then, not to mention the fact that a live tree gets pretty dry if we get in to much of a hurry.

I love this time of year. It is filled with tradition and family and all the memories of Christmas past. When Drake was three years old, a friend shared her idea of a Christmas Countdown. Everyday you do something to help get ready for Christmas. I started it that year and have done it with the kids every year since. The kids get up every morning excited to look in the pocket and find out what special thing we are doing that day. Our countdown includes everything from The Christmas Parade, to making gingerbread houses at grandma and grandpa's, to putting up the tree, to filling an angel bag for a needy child, to baking cookies for Santa. It is one of my favorite things, and I treasure every memory it has allowed me to make with my kids during this special time of year.

So, get ready, because here comes Christmas!

Time to Give Thanks

Thanksgiving is approaching quickly and it seems to be the time to reflect back and give thanks for the wonderful year we have had. As I think back on this past year, it is with a bit of sadness as I realize how quickly the years seem to be passing. I told Adam the other day that I wish I could somehow magically freeze time right now. I love this place in time. I love that our family is complete and we have the kids with us and still small. It makes my heart skip a little to think that in just a few years Drake will be driving, and then before we know it gone... I guess I wouldn't mind freezing MY age either.

Things I am most thankful for:
1. My wonderful husband. Adam and I celebrated our 15th anniversary in June, and I love him more than ever.
2. My kids. They are all I ever wanted and the best thing I have ever done.
3. My parents. They have been there my whole life to support me and to love me and they are the best grandparents I could ask for.
4. My sister and brother and their families. We are very close and I am so thankful that they are my best friends.
5. My father-in-law. He is the best. Could not have asked for better.
6. My job. I love what I do.
7. Good friends
8. Good health
My list could go on and on.

I wish a Happy Thanksgiving and God's richest blessings to all!

Bonfire Time!

It is November and it is finally getting cold! Saturday night we had a bonfire and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows at Adam's dads house. It was really cold but we had a lot of fun.

Breakfast with the Ballerinas

This morning I took Emma and my niece Caroline to Breakfast with the Ballerinas. My niece Molly is in the Nutcracker again this year, so we went to see all the beautiful ballerinas in their Nutcracker costumes. The little girls started Stepping Stones, which is the beginning ballet class, in August and they love dancing together. Molly has had a part in The Nutcracker for three years now, so we have become big ballet people. The show has been wonderful every year, and we truly enjoy going to see it. Emma was in love with the "prince" and waited very patiently (well, pretty patiently) to get her picture made with him. It was so much fun and I really enjoyed the "girl time" with Emma.

Happy Halloween!

Last night was Halloween. We went to Jim and Shawn's house for dinner and trick-or-treating! Their neighborhood is great because almost every house gives out candy. The kids spent two hours going from house to house getting way too much candy!
This was the first year Drake wanted to be something scary. So, even though I still think of him as a dinosaur or a sweet fireman, I gave in and he got a scary skeleton costume. Jack was his favorite character, Jack Sparrow, from Pirates of the Caribbean, and Emma was Snow White. (She has loved Snow White ever since meeting her at the Princess Breakfast at Disney World.) Adam and I even got into the Halloween spirit. Adam wore a mullet and I was a "nice" witch.
Everyone was completely exhausted, especially mom and dad, but we had a very Happy Halloween!