Room for 1 more...Alexandria makes four!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Having Snow Much Fun!

Well another day home for me and no school for Avery today!! I've been going a little stir crazy since I haven't been working much BUT it's ok just focusing on counting my blessings and trying to make the most of each day! We got some snow yesterday late afternoon and more Tues. night so we got to go out and play in it! We were out almost an hour and had *SNOW* much fun :)

LOVE!

First time out in the snow to play this year.

She called her icicle a unicorn horn :)

Helping mommy put salt down on the sidewalks

Oh Avery was THRILLED when I told her she could play on her swing set!

Weeeeeeeee

Making snow angels.....she made 3 b/c she wanted to make a family....awwww HOW sweet is that?!

I told her she looked like Santa so she said "Ho-Ho-Ho Merry Christmas!"

Love her face!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Hoping 2011 be Merry and Bright......

I think I say this EVERY year but seriously 2010 went by in a heartbeat! I just can't believe how fast time is going but that's what my Grandma Crilow always told me....the older you are the faster time goes. Plus I think having a child speeds things up too!

Looking back at 2010 besides all the snow we got the start of 2010 was quiet, in Feb. we did get new windows with our tax refund and LOVE them! It was a good project for Josh to do physical labor instead of mental labor he does during tax season. I can't say I can put a window in by myself but I can tell you how step by step :)

The Spring of 2010 was a good one! In March we took a little getaway to CoCo Key Resort in Newark. Josh needed to get away for a weekend since he works such long hours during tax season. What a beautiful resort it was and Avery had a ball! We hope to go again in March if we get another awesome deal :) We celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary and we also got to go visit my Dad in St. Croix! That was Avery's first trip and first plane ride.

The Summer of 2010 was great weather wise, June was a blur since we were gone for half of it, Avery had a Birthday when we got home...the BIG 3, signed her up for swimming lessons - one of the best things I ever did. Lots of swimming at Proper's pool. In August Avery started Pre School another one of the best things I ever did! She is the youngest in her class but is doing VERY well! She absolutely loves school, her friends and most importantly her teachers! I can't believe how many things she is learning.

The Fall was another busy time with tons of activites, events, me having my "tax time" at one of my 3 part time jobs and September blessed us with another beach vacation in S. Carolina. I'm actually scrapbooking that trip right now and it's fun to scrapbook a beach vaca while it's snowing and cold out!

Then in a blink of an eye it's Decemeber! I just don't know where the time goes but I try to make the most of every day, believe me this is a challenge some days! 2010 didn't bring all that we wanted but we are truly blessed by all it did bring us and we are thankful for everything and most importantly our family and friends! Looking forward to 2011 to be Merry and Bright and can't wait to see what enfolds for us this coming New Year!

Happy New Ear as Miss Avery used to sing :)

Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Christmas I DIDN'T!

I didn’t put many bows or ribbon on the presents. Wrapped and done.

I didn’t even use many tags. (Just coded them by wrapping.)

We didn’t have a November family picture for our Christmas cards – I ended up using pictures taken during the year.

I didn't jam pack my December calendar like I normally do. (Felt guilty but getting over it! ;)

I didn't go to Christmas Eve Service since we had my mom over and that is OK.

Mmmmm the wine, the Filet Mignon..........

Avery was SOOOO sweet to watch opening her presents from mom.

Your expressions say it all!

I didn’t make ANY cookies with cut outs or beautiful icing or any candy or ANYTHING. But thanks to my Mother-In-Law Santa did have homemade cut outs with icing :) (But Santa said he would have been fine with oreos.....he told me so ;)

I didn’t cook anything on Christmas Day NOR did we leave the house. (Stouffer's. Thank you.) This was the first in years that I can EVER remember staying home on Christmas...ALL day.

I didn't get out my jammies either on Christmas Day and neither did Avery :) Well Avery did but just to change into a new pair :)

I didn't get to see some of my family and friends. (This is ONE "didn't" I DIDN'T LIKE!)

I didn’t take enough pictures – I was too busy being in the moment. (But I’ll probably regret it.)

I didn’t pick up the millions of barbies and accessories that have been underfoot for days. (Ok I surrendered.)

I didn’t take one piece of Christmas decor down till Monday since I felt the itch, I went ahead and put our stockings, holders, manger sceenes and Avery's tree away. I leave my pine, snowflakes and snowmen out till end of Feb. but feeling the itch to put those away too since I want to put some of my NEW stuff up I got for Christmas ;)

I didn’t break out into hives when the house threw up all the new toys and all the great gifts she got from everybody else (THANK YOU AGAIN EVERYONE!). I'm still working on rearranging and figuring out where to put it all :)

Josh and I didn’t exchange gifts and we didn't spoil Avery (believe me I could have! Trust me she had a GREAT Christmas and keeps telling me so :) (I will thank myself in June when her Bday rolls around b/c I'm all done shopping for her :)

We visited Mabel (Josh's Gma), Avery's Great Gma and yes Josh is taking this picture...stinker!

Avery's face Christmas morning! She said "Wow I must have been good to get all these presents!"

Post Christmas!

She loves her easel that Mimi and Pop-Pop got for her.

Sunday morning, all dressed up for Church.

Then we headed to Proper's for lunch and presents!

Kids were excited!

Singing their cute little hearts out!

Tick Tock I'm a clock! Playing with Uncle Josh/Daddy :)

Ya we wish this would have happened but it didn't....they are all fakers!

Happy Birthday Jeannette! (Dec. 24th)

Christmas with cousins and coccia house :)

Every year, I have all of these visions of what our Holidays will be in my head -- And those visions pretty much never happen. It’s never perfect. I never accomplish all that want to. Every year I say, I’ll make a list of those things I want to get done and make sure to do them. And every year life gets in the way.

A whole lot of “didn’t” happen but a whole lot did. And every year I realize how very OK with that I am. Our Holidays don’t end up our like my visions -- but they always turn out just fine or sometimes so much better then I envisioned.

I hope your Holiday was all you (didn’t) envision and so, so, so much more. :)