First Day(s) of School

The 3 big boys ready for their first days of 4th grade, 2nd grade, and Kindergarten. Ready and smiling for a new year.

Brian on his first day of pre-school...He was a little less excited than his brothers, but did great. I've been a nervous wreck all summer waiting for school to start. He's a little lot bit of a mama's boy. Has a hard time being away from me...and tends to cry a little a lot when I leave him...but God put him in the hands of the perfect teachers, and he went in without a tear. I left in such relief that I couldn't keep the tears from flowing....Such a blessing to find teachers who love your kids the way you do!

Alex has a great hit, followed by a great steal!....

Almost 2!

Nick's First Kid Pitch Game

Nick played in his first Kid Pitch Tournament this weekend...So much more fun to watch! He did great pitching and had an awesome hit...so proud of him!

Kissing Kate

Super Sweet Brother Brian.....not sure sure sister Kate!

Sliders Win!

After 9 very hot hours in almost 100 degree heat on Sunday, the Sliders's took home a 1st place trophy!!!----Tourney Champs!!!..Things are starting to wind down on baseball season...and just in time for really hot temperatures......well.....except this week..We have 13 games this week! But next week we'll be sitting pretty in the pool!

To Blog or Not to Blog....that is the question.

I have gone through times in my life where I really felt the need to write "stuff" down...Then I go through short (or long) times where I dread the thought of even taking the time to write....Then I start feeling guilty about all the things I have missed by not writing...and then I get overwhelmed by what I haven't documented and I just can't get started.....It's a vicous circle!

So, I have decided that all this stress and guilt has got to stop. I have decided to just write when I feel like writing and not feel guilty when I don't.....those little spaces in time when I'm not blogging will just have to be little gaps.. Over a lifetime those little gaps will not even be noticed. So here I go....maybe for a day...maybe a week, maybe even a month...we shall see....
Here's a recent picture of my babes....growing too fast.

Brian.......oooopppps!

No Snow Day

There is a dusting of snow at our house....

but not enough for sledding :*(

All 4 boys got sleds for Christmas. They can't wait to use them. In fact, they pulled out the sleds last night in anticipation of a snow day. When they awoke this morning I could hear them rattling around the windows looking for piles and piles of snow. They were definitely disappointed. It's snowing as I write, so maybe by this afternoon there will be enough for a little sledding and sliding!

Project 365

Click on the link below to see my first "Project 365" post!

http://project3654guysandadoll.blogspot.com/2011/01/jan-4-2011.html

Gorgeous Kate

I love this girl....A picture from Christmas Eve....Kate loves her baby doll!

Giggles

This picture makes my heart sing....love both these boys :)

Sweetness

Mary Did You Know?....love this song!

You'll have to pause my playlist to watch....

5 Question Friday

I have been reading others 5 question Friday posts for awhile...
So I thought I would join in this week...Here ya go!
Linking up here.......

1. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Both! We have a big celebration on Christmas Eve with my family, my husbands' family, and all the uncles, aunts, and cousins. Either Papa, one of the Uncles, or the Hubs dresses up as Santa and brings his big bag of toys to the kids (gifts are from the family--not Santa ha!). We have our big dinner on Christmas Eve and do all of our extended family celebrating that night...

On Christmas Day, Santa brings the presents. We spend time just as our "little" family in our jammies...I usually make a breakfast casserole and we just hang out and let the kids play with their new toys. Last year we went sledding that afternoon...but we don't often have a white Christmas.

2. What is your favorite Christmas cookie (or candy)?

My favorite all time cookies are sugar cookies with frosting...yum yum...and for candy...FUDGE...

Oh my!

Dieting til Christmas so I can eat my weight in both ;)

3. What's the worst Christmas gift you've ever received?

I am TRULY not one of those people who gets upset about the gifts they receive and whether or not they live up to my standards...I truly believe the other person tried their hardest to get me something thoughtful....On top of that, I don't even care about receiving gifts...so I'm no fun for this question.

4. Christmas song that you love?
This would have to be "Silent Night"....It always makes me think about Mary . What was going on in her mind as she held my Savior in her arms, kissed his sweet little head, and breathed in His new baby smell? Tear up almost every time I hear it.

5. How many trees do you put up?

This varies from year to year....this year it is two...one for upstairs and one for down...We have our big tree in the living room and a smaller one in the upstairs loft for the kids....neither one of them have ornaments on the lower 1/3 ;)

and the stockings were hung.....

P-E-A-C-E

I can't remember what was going through my mind when I bought those "PEACE" stocking holders almost 12 years ago, but I obviously had more foresight at 24 years old than I gave myself credit for.... I bought them shortly after the Hubs and I got married.....I bought them before we even started discussing baby #1...but somehow,

I knew....

Every year I would take them out of the Christmas box and look at them. I thought about putting them up after Nathan was born and getting some stockings for the Hubs and I...

But I didn't.

I waited

I waited until last year, when we finally had enough stockings to fill them up.......I've always known I wanted a big family....I've always known one way or the other we would fill up each of those letters. Even way back then....before I knew where life was going to take us....I knew.

Those stocking holders aren't even my style anymore...I'm all about rod iron and dark wood...and these are a bright silver...( I have 4 AWESOME rod iron snowflake ones that I love!)...But when you have held on to them for close to 12 years waiting to use them.....well,....you use them. Maybe next year I'll spray paint them black or change them in some way....but for now..I love sitting in front of that fireplace looking at ALL those names and remembering the wonderful, exciting, fulfilling years it has taken to fill them up...

WW- Sweet and Sassy

OH MY---Look at those eyes!!!!

three

My littlest boy is three today....We had his party on Saturday...He loved blowing out his candles and really loved opening gifts..We had his favorites for dinner...Spaghetti and chocolate cake with m and m's!!
Brian has a very sweet disposition. He is our shy guy and takes a little while to warm up to people. BUT once he's warmed up, he'll love you like no other!!!! He is so calm and quiet and happy all, well, most of the time. Brian is very funny and has a contagious giggle. He is an extremely polite little boy...He very rarely misses a "please" or "thank-you" and often adds an "I love you mommy", or "can I have a hug" to the end. Brian is a little more cautious than his brothers (and his sister for that matter)....You won't find him climbing to the top of trees or doing flips off the diving board (which his brothers were doing by this age)... He enjoys the role of "baby" despite actually having a baby sister, and sometimes uses that to his advantage :) He loves his siblings like crazy. He has beautiful sparkly brown eyes, gorgeous thick wavy hair, and is definitely a handsome little guy.
Brian CAN recognize most of the letters of the alphabet and sing his ABC's. He can count to 15 and loves to do puzzles. Brian can hit a ball off the tee with perfect form and can hit a ball out of the air when thrown to him!!! He can punt a ball like no kid I have every seen. Brian writes and throws right handed, but does anything that requires sporting equipment with his left hand (ie bats left handed, golfs left handed)...He can ride his new scooter like a pro, catch a ball in the air almost every time, and throw a pretty good spiral with the football...Brian is totally potty trained (even at night)....

Brian is, without a doubt, the sweetest three year old I know, and he has his mama's heart wrapped around his finger! I am so proud to call him my son! Oh how I love my littlest boy!!!!

ww-almost 3

Sweet brian will be "3" on the 7th...he shares a birthday with one of my best friends Christy and of course with Pearl Harbor Day...which will forever make me laugh because it's the first thing my Daddy told me when I spoke with him after Brian was born...he also shares a name with my brother....more of a tribute to come later!!!

November (30)

I did it...i DID it ...i did IT!!!

30 days, 30 posts
they weren't all great, or even good,
but they are ALL there!
....and because I am exhausted
...and having nothing else brilliant to say, ahem.
....I'll leave ya with.......

"That's all I have to say about that"
Forest Gump