The End Of A Decade

Looking back over the past 10 years I realized I've come a long way! Back in 2000 I was living in Lawrence and going to school for computer networking. Within the past 10 years I met Steve, got married, had 2 babies and bought a house.

It hasn't always been easy and there is a year or two I wish I could do over but I'm proud of what I have accomplished. I hope and pray that the next 10 years are just as wonderful. We're very excited about the arrival of Baby #3 and the thought of buying a new house.

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas was so amazing. Cam woke up around 5:30-6ish and came into our room. He got in bed with us to lay down and said "I don't think Santa came, I didn't hear his sled." I asked if he wanted to go downstairs and check but he said "not yet." We got up around 6:30. Poor Arianna was not happy about being woken up! Steve and I were overjoyed watching Cam open all his gifts from Santa. He loved everything and it couldn't have been better. It took Arianna about an hour to fully wake up but once she did she enjoyed herself.

Cameron loved the fire station and his police motorcycle. He was so fixated on those 2 things he couldn't have cared less about his wrapped gifts. If only I had known! I think Arianna's favorite gift was a new sippy cup!







Later in the morning Arianna brought me my camera...well when I went to take a picture of the kids after they got dressed the flash wouldn't work. So, I don't have any good pictures from my Mom's house. I was extremely disappointed!







The day couldn't have been any better. Next year should be just as fun!

Cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve!

Cam was so excited to make cookies for Santa this year. He told me we had to leave out "5" cookies and "chocolate milk." Arianna wasn't too interested in making the cookies, just eating the dough!









As we were making the cookies I realized I had no white frosting. We had used it the week before when we made cupcakes. So...we decided to frost the cookies with Nutella. YUMMMMM!!!



Our Christmas Eve tradition is that my parents come over and we have Chinese food then open our gifts to each other. Cam wanted nothing to do with the Chinese food so he had Cheerios but Arianna loved it! The kids were of course spoiled!





After the kids went to bed Steve and I opened our gifts. It was a great night. I was so excited for the morning, more so than I think the kids were!

Snow Storm!

We had our first snow storm of the season and the kids loved it! It was Arianna's first time really playing in the snow and she's a fan.

Cam had no problems shoveling snow on her head...


Cam wanted to take Arianna for a ride!

Wordless Wednesday: A Rare Occasion

Gingerbread Houses!

Today I went to Cam's school to help the kids make gingerbread houses. It was a great idea and they really didn't make too much of a mess. It also gave me a chance to see how Cam is in school and to chat a little bit more with his teachers.

A parent or a few parents made the gingerbread houses by using a butter carton as a base then securing graham crackers to the sides and top with frosting (sugar, confectionery sugar, and water). They used a sugar cone as a tree. The kids had tons of candy to decorate with (candy canes, marshmallows, gum drops, mini oreos, licorice, m&ms, etc) and a bag of their own "glue." Cam kept telling me "the candy is for decorating not for eating." Well, until his teacher told him he could eat it. After that there wasn't much decorating going on!

The idea was adorable and I can't wait to do it again next year!

Mystic, CT

We took the kids to Mystic Thanksgiving Weekend. They both had a blast in the pool!







Ending the night with some dinner! He thought the woman bringing the food into the room on the rolling table was great!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

I love Christmas and having children makes it that much more special!







A family tradition...end decorating the tree with some hot chocolate and marshmallows!




The finished product (notice there is NOTHING on the bottom where little hands can reach!)...