Christmas treat

My adorable niece!!! Seriously can't get enough of her and her scrumptious rolls. YUMMY!

Well this is what is all about...FAMILY! All of my siblings, spouses, kids and parents together. We also had some extended family, Grandma & Grandpa and some friends too. Whew it was a house full and it was wonderful.












(Not pictured )Aunt Tammy, Cousin Josh, Cousin Jake, My Dad, Mom's husband Steve, friend Kathy H., friend Kathy, friend Josh, Nat's boyfriend John...ahh did I forget anyone else????? It could be easy as it was literally a house full.

Tumbling

L favorite part of the week is Wednesday. "Mom we go to gym and then tumbling at morning?" Is his usual question when he wakes up. It is hard when it isn't tumbling day. "oh just gym and then tumbling Sunderday." which is his definition of another day.


















Miss M has been making big improvements and can now do a back walk over. She is gumby and looks so cute too. A is also taking tumbling but he doesn't want any documentation, as he thinks it would be good blackmail for mom later on.

Santa

proud mommy moment

I was in charge of organizing the Reflections contest at our school this year. It was a big job but well worth it. The hardest part was getting the entries back from the judges with who had won. Ugh a little heart wrench for all those who had entered and didn't win. Thank goodness I didn't have to judge...I wouldn't be able to do it.
It was fun to be able to call up the kids that won and give them their trophies. The best part was being able to call out my son's name and see the look of shock and excitement. He didn't have a clue. On our committee we swore everyone to secrecy until the day of the assembly. No telling any of the kids including our own. That was hard but really fun to see the end result. (The Reflections contest was what started me on my love of art and especially photography. I still have my Reflections trophy from long long ago for one of my first photographs, when I asked my dad if I could use his camera to take a pretty picture. Thanks Dad!)

















Here is the picture. I have to say I was quite envious because I didn't see it when we were taking pictures. He said Mom give me the camera I want to take some pictures. I love when someone, especially my kid can give me a better perspective. We haven't heard any news yet on whether he is progressing past the next level. But he was thrilled with getting a trophy. He worked so hard this year to pick his best photo. Last year he was so heart broken when he didn't win anything. I shed a few tears with him because he was so upset. It was a good teaching moment though and look what he was able to do this year. It is good to not win sometimes.

turkey for me, turkey for you

I can eat turkey in a big brown shoe....
Even my youngest sings it and I LOVE IT! L was singing it this morning and I just wanted to eat him up. We had such a great Thanksgiving Day. So many things to feel complete gratitude for that I can't even begin to put words to the list.




I think this is a new tradition that we will do every year. Thanks Peen and Bear Bear. And we are not FAT because we got up early and ran a 5k. So all the rest of you that stayed in bed you are fat :P. I am so pleased with myself because I shaved off 12 minutes from my last 5k. WHOOT WHOOT!!! sorry just had to toot my horn for a moment. Can't even begin to express how grateful I am to have a healthy functioning body!























Hey that is 16 people in my kitchen....grateful for more than a one butt kitchen :).











Some pre and post turkey activities. Band Hero, Up and beat up on cousin Braden.








I sat back after all the stuff was over and felt peace, contentment and gratitude. Grandpa Price told us about in WWII when he was on one of the destroyer escorts and they were in the middle of the typhoon, while he was steadying himself on the metal walls as they washed back and forth he caught his wedding ring on a rivet and he was washed out on the deck and was able to grab a life line and then other sailors jumped on top of him and drug him back to safety. Grandpa Price said with a little choke in his voice, "That is how close all of this (pointing to all of us) wouldn't have been."

peace and quiet for a moment

headband obsession

Okay I know this is hitting me later than most people but my sister Natalie made some really cute ones that I thought I would try. I seriously think I need hoards of these in different fabrics, flowers... the endless possibilities.




ps do you know how hard it is to take pictures yourself of yourself????

oh deer....

I LOVE this fabric.

ahhh back to life

Reflections contest is done at our school. I have a few more things but at least the biggest chunk is over and maybe I won't live at the school or make 6 trips in one day. So last night I finished a couple of sewing projects I have had sitting. Here is the one M is wearing today for the Primary program. I literally stole this pattern from Leigh the day she got it. I did fess up before I walked out of her house with it. (and I have returned it to her) It is ModKid Kyoto. I am in love with this pattern it is so fun and a few different variations which don't worry you will get to see them because I have others almost finished.
















My sister Natalie makes the best headbands, hair pieces, flower clips and also does bridal pieces. Anyway here is her blog. I need to take more pictures of the cute stuff M has from her so she can update her blog. She sells them so fast that we never get to see all of her amazing creations. Here is one flower clip I just love.

Veteran's Day

These are pictures taken a few years back in Washington DC at the WWII memorial. Thank you to all who have served and our currently serving. Especially my Grandpas and their generation! I went to my Grandpa's Veteran dedication today at his Senior center. Have you ever heard this generation sing patriotic songs? They mean it with every fiber of their being and you can't help but have it resonate in you. There was my Grandpa with his oxygen tubes in, singing America the Beautiful waving his little American flag and very proud. Are we learning from them? It's not long until this generation is gone. It will be a sad day, did we listen and have we learned? Are we forgetting their sacrifice?

blink....October is gone????

October 1-3 Girls trip with Marnie and visited Erin


Ahh what a breath of fresh air. Traveling without kids to go stay in the Renaissance Glendale Hotel in Phoenix,AZ watch Marnie teach at the scrapbook convention. Eat yummy Mexican, catch up and laugh. Visiting Erin was so much fun. I love friends that even though it has been 8 years since we lived by each other and very infrequent phone calls we can spin back time and make it seem like no time has past and remember why it is we LOVE our friends from college so much. Oh and Marnie and I subjected a huge room of women to our karoke...I bet you wished you were there!!!!


Jemima and JoAnn came from CT the same weekend. I got to spend Sunday evening with them before they flew out. I love FRIENDS! Come and visit anytime!

October 9: my baby's bday, he's "FREE" in his words




















Halloween party: Toy Story family theme















Oct. 31: one picture taken


Finished just in time for Halloween our new table runner.

Hens and chicks

Okay so I already completely apologized to Danielle and Leigh but seriously I made fun of them buying this fabric. It was ridiculous and I had no vision for it. Then it happened, they both made cute skirts and then I was begging for remenants.

batman

Okay we have entered into the world of superheroes again at my house. I LOVE it! Thank goodness I kept some of these items. "You not batman Mom. I batman."

it's a bird, no it's a plane

...it's superman!


















"Mom I jump the table, K Mom! Oh I need my superman first. Mom go get my superman right now Mom K."

how much is a smile worth?

Enough to make me say yes to more lessons. This is no pose for the camera smile...this is "I can hardly contain myself, I am giggling the whole time, tickled pink, don't you dare take me off this horse smile"

She is taking lessons with her cousin who is riding English style and looks so good doing it. M will move onto that once she has learned the "ropes". Her cousin was cantering and jumping gates today. I was not there for her first lesson 2 weeks ago but Grandpa Gull was. M got right on the horse and was soon onto a canter and went over a gate and landed on her bum. Well a few tears were shed but she dusted off and wanted to get back on. Great Grandpa Joe will be so proud. M wanted to post in this lesson today, she started out pretty well but I think that will come with practice.