easter 2011...

The children after church on Easter Sunday. (A rare shot of The Boy)

I know, I know Easter was several weeks ago. Just thought I'd stop by and post something on this poor old blog. I guess it's really been a while because I'm feeling really rusty. (What size photos do I usually post? Why is the cursor there? Why can't I download multiple photos at once?) I'd like to get back to posting regularly. I wish I could make that a goal but life is still a bit too crazy to make any promises.

Easter was lovely. I was relieved that it was late this year. I still didn't do everything that I wanted to but it was nice to have the extra time to get ready. The Husband was actually home for a few days while the children were on spring break prior to Easter. We crammed a lot into that little week! Yard work, house work, an overnight trip to Boston, a visit to our favorite local children's museum. It was fun and exhausting. I should have some photos on my camera that I'll eventually get around to posting. For now, here are a few shots from Easter Sunday.

Pinky stops to smell the flowers.

Cha-Cha and Princess adore Pinky.

Pretty Princess.

Charming Cha-Cha (love those freckles!).

A bird's nest found in the bushes at Grammy and Bippy's house. Such pretty Easter eggs!

santa snapshot...

Here's the photo I mentioned a couple posts ago. The children with Santa. I was so happy with this shot that I designed our Christmas card around it. All the kids are looking (okay - well at least facing the camera), no one is making a strange face or crying, the Boy is actually semi-smiling (he hates having his picture taken) and Santa & Mrs. Claus are pretty cute, too... what more could a mom want?

the christmas story...

It's Christmas eve, we've read the Christmas story and watched this sweet nativity. My kids adored it and would like to make one of their own with their cousins someday. We'll see! Merry Christmas!

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

The children were looking particularly festive this past Sunday so I snapped a few photos on the front porch. Even The Boy was somewhat willing.

Then we stopped to see Santa on our way to church. He was visiting the historic one-room schoolhouse in town.

The one with a separate door for the girls...

and the boys. (My kids are endlessly amused that they used separate doors)

Santa was a right jolly old elf. Princess even whispered as we walked in the door "I think it's the REAL Santa, not one of his helpers!"  I got some great photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. One was so darling I featured it in my Christmas cards so until those are delivered I won't post it here, but isn't this one of Pinky on Mrs. Claus' lap sweet? No fussing, just a shy, tentative cuddle with Santa and his wife!

We've visited Santa here before, several years ago. It's a lovely, quiet, activity. Only three other families stopped by while we were there. Santa gives each child a tiny chalkboard ornament personalized with their name and the year. We snacked on cookies and punch before we headed off to church. It was a delightful little detour.

Merry Christmas to all if I don't stop by here before then.  The Husband will be returning home in a couple of hours after being away since the first week of December so, needless to say, I've got a few more things on my list to accomplish before Santa arrives at our house. Wish me luck! Hope you're all enjoying your Christmas Eve eve.

ribbon candy is eye candy too...

on this day...

December 21, 2006

The children registered their gift requests at the head elf's office....

chatted with Santa for a bit...

and checked out his sleigh on their way out.

Look how little they were! Oh time...

a bit of coldplay for christmas...

Pinky's dancing to this as I type. On the desk.  In just her diaper and red patent-leather shoes. With my car keys. I gave up the fight. Too tired to fight. Lots to do today. I'm trying to conserve my energy. Enjoy! We are!

stovetop potpourri...

I'm up to my eyeballs in holiday craftiness this year. So much so that I haven't even had a chance to take photos to share. Or to draw up our next Meredith coloring page and it's Monday, AGAIN. Forgive me. I'll be back soon with some holiday happiness and Meredith's letter 'J' page. For now I'm loving the idea of this stovetop potpourri. Isn't it festive? Holiday smells make me happy! I'm definitely going to put some of this together as soon as I can get to the grocery store. Here's to festive holiday prep!

'tis the season...

Oi vay! Could this season be crazier? Sorry I missed a coloring page. The letter 'J' may have to wait until Christmas has passed. We'll see. Here are a few of my favorite Christmas songs to tide you over. A couple are missing since last year... like "I Heard the Bells" by the Carpenters and "I Saw Three Ships" by Sting... but there are still some good ones to turn up while you wrap presents and deck the halls! Enjoy...

it's almost time...

Can you believe it? Halfway through November already. (Are you sick of my constant amazement at the passage of time yet? I know I am. If it would start moving a bit slower I'd happily be un-amazed. Let's start a petition.)

It'll be time to pull out those advent calendars before you know it. (Yes, so you can start counting time with treats, there has to be some consolation for it's rapid disappearance, right?) And if you want to make a lovely new one, like this one from Purl Bee, you'd better get crackin'! Like, right now! Isn't it pretty? So cheerful and bright.

And if you're looking for more advent calendar loveliness feel free to peruse the advent calendar countdown that I posted a few years ago. There were quite a few fun crafty ones in the mix that you might still have time to make. Here's a list of the do-it-yourself ones and I've even checked out the old links for you. I'm nice like that sometimes. Enjoy...

 a bright, felty coin garland countdown

 the garland of boxes advent calendar

a crisp modern advent calendar (sadly the original link no longer works but you can read the directions here - be sure to scroll down)

a cookie sheet countdown (another funky old link but this one seems to work)

some darling stocking and mitten garland countdown ideas

a colorful tag calendar (here's an updated link to her inspiration complete with candy)

peppy little advent calendar pockets from Allsorts

a set of smart looking countdown boxes for your wall

P.S. I just had to include the image of materials needed for the Purl Bee calendar because... well, just look... so orderly and happy. I can always use a bit of orderly and happy, can't you?

 

ghosts in the yard...

`

'Twas the eve of the eve of all Hallow's eve...

and all through the yard four creatures were stirring...

 

they flitted and floated in and out 'mongst the trees...

whisp'ring Happy Halloween to all...

and to all many treats!

trifling with candy...

Have you seen this irresistable trifle-esque candy display. So festive!

More Halloween delights where that came from right here.

remember me?...

Hey there... if anyone's still there!? I'm still around, just crazy busy.  I've finally joined facebook after much reluctance. I guess it's a good way to keep up with lots of people quickly. Well, I figure that if I can post there on occasion, I can stop here and update the blog too (which I actually prefer).

Anyhoo, I'd really like to catch up with photos and such from the past year that I've missed blogging. Perhaps you'll indulge me and let me go back in time for a while. Warning there will be lots of baby, baby photos of my now 16-month old (when did that happen?).

For now though, here are some semi-recent photos. Shots from Memorial Day 2010. I thought it was apropos since I seem to recall falling out of step with the blog after my Memorial Day 2009 post.

Yessir... that's my baby.  Pinky at 14-months, getting ready to watch the parade while noshing on a donut and attempting a wink.

Princess played soccer for the first time this spring and was thrilled to march in the town Memorial Day Parade with the soccer club.

Cha-Cha was an enthusiastic Daisy Scout this year and loved marching with her troop in the Parade.

The Boy adores vintage vehicles and posed for a shot with this beauty.

The blanket was quiet with just Pinky and the Boy to watch the parade with us. We missed the big girls but it was fun to watch them march.

Another shot of Pinky.  Sorry (not really).  Can't resist those delicious cheeks.  She's mine, all mine...

holiday weekend...

Thank you for all your nice comments on the last post. We got to play with Spencer this weekend! His blood counts were too low to start his second round of chemo on Thursday so he got to spend the holiday weekend at Grandma & Grandpa's with lots of cousins and family. He was in good spirits and it was fun to see him enjoying the normalcy, or rather the insanity, that is a weekend of 16 children playing together!

Not only did we celebrate our nation's independence with fireworks and picnics but we also enjoyed the baptisms of Princess and Spencer's older brother and also the church blessing of our little Pinky. A really special weekend!

Hope you had a happy fourth!

memorial day...

Some photos from a glorious Memorial Day weekend. The weather was spectacular, we spent the whole weekend frolicking with cousins and friends. We attended the local parade with my sister and sister-in-law and the fourteen children we have combined! All the children are around the same ages, spanning from my Pinky at 3-months old to my brother's oldest daughter at 11-years old.

















It truly is a joy to have so many cousins nearby. Between The Husband's family and mine, our children have 25 cousins and only 6 that we don't get to see regularly (and miss dearly). So many people to love and be loved by, such a blessing.

Anyway, it was a lovely weekend. Everyone left on Monday evening to return to their regularly scheduled lives. Fast forward to four days later, Friday. My brother's youngest son, Spencer, a happy busy 2-year old went to the pediatrician for his regular checkup where they found a lump in his abdomen. He was immediately sent for an ultrasound and two grapefruit sized tumors were found in his tiny body. Long story short, he was admitted to the nearest children's hospital that night and has been there basically ever since. So far the diagnosis is Stage-4 Clear Cell Sarcoma. It's fairly rare as only about 20 new cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S. Spencer's treatment has had to be rather aggressive as it appears to have metastasized to his skull.

I'm still reeling from the realization of how quickly the world can be turned upside down. One weekend this sweet little toddler is wandering around exploring the world and roughhousing with his siblings and cousins and such a short time later he's living in a hospital room being poked, prodded and enduring the ugliness that is cancer and chemotherapy. It's very scary.

I've been away from the blog all this time as I've hesitated to tell you this story that isn't really mine. But at the same time I've been conflicted about coming here to write about trivial whatnot's while my brother and his wife endure this extreme hardship. The difficulties they've encountered in just these few weeks are things I've never imagined. They are an inspiration to me as they struggle through this trial with humbling faith.

Anyway, I'm here now because life does go on. As I speak, my children are happily playing with my brother's other five children. And as I renew my resolve to spend quality time with my family I realize I would still like to document the fun times here. I also recognize that acknowledging and appreciating some of the pretty incidentals in life isn't a bad thing. I am thankful to have the luxury of sitting here with my peacefully slumbering baby on my lap, writing about the good and the bad.

Thanks for being there and for listening and if you would send a few prayers Spencer's way...

the loot...

Thank goodness for the internet where I did the majority of my Easter shopping this year... in my p.j.'s with Pinky in one arm...
















[pocket etch-a-sketch] [gray sunglasses]
[iPod mini speakers] [gold bunny]


















[pocket etch-a-sketch] [dotty sunglasses]
[easter outfit for bitty baby] [gold bunny]


















[easter outfit for bitty baby] [dotty sunglasses]
[pocket etch-a-sketch] [gold bunny]


















[calico bunny] [pink sunglasses]
[babydoll teether] [patchwork mary janes]

image via pingg

bunny love...

Wouldn't this adorable Moon Bun be sweet in an Easter basket?

school valentines 09...

Phew, the Valentines are done and on their way to school. It was fun, but I'm so glad when they're finished and out of the house.
















This year we had decided to make chocolate dipped mini-pretzel sticks and package them up. Cha-Cha gave them out at preschool on Tuesday and then I procrastinated making the rest until last night. It's a good thing I did because The Boy came home with a letter from his teacher yesterday specifically prohibiting Valentines that included food items. Oi!

Princess and Cha-Cha had a great time dipping and decorating about 100 pretzels. Oh, chocolate and sprinkles everywhere! Too fun! The Husband and the girls bagged them up while I made bag-toppers decorated with argyle hearts, the recipient's names and a simple Valentine message on the back. Pretty.

We scratched the pretzel idea for The Boy and gratefully adopted Design Mom's Mad Lib Valentine idea. It wasn't as simple as we thought it would be. Turns out Mad Libs aren't so easy to find 'round here. The Husband ran to four different stores finally returning with a stack.

From there we had a bit of trouble again since the blind fill-in pages are on the back of the previous Mad Lib page. We decided to photocopy several of our favorite Mad Libs with their accompanying fill-in page onto festive red paper. It worked out well.














We cut the 8.5x11 sheets in half, rolled them up, and wrapped them several times with baker's twine. Then we typed up Design Mom's clever sentiments, "I'm mad about you," "I can't 'lib' without you," and "You've got mad skillz" onto cardstock tags we designed to look like notebook paper. We added a clip art Mad Lib face for fun and then used a heart-shaped punch to cut them out. (click on images to view larger)














We tied the tags on and were pretty happy with the results. The Boy was excited to give these out. I hadn't even known that he knew what Mad Libs were. He's thrilled to have several books of his very own to fill out now. Thanks Design Mom for the great idea!















Some of our past Valentine projects...

Bookmark Clips, Cookie Valentine's for the Teacher, Valentine Frogs, Valentine Fortune Cookies