Lost and found

I totally forgot about these pics from our cruise. They had somehow made their way into the wrong folder and were found today when I was browsing through some old photos.

Gabe was in awe watching the planes come and go. I feel for the guys (or gal) who has to clean these windows at the end of the day.

Allie and Baby Panda are best buds.

Every night Baby Panda sleeps on one side of Allie and her stuffed animal, Chinchilla, on the other.

As hard as one may try, it is extremely difficult to make your child sit and behave quietly in airports for hours at a time. I happen to love this picture. They are always into something....especially Gabe. And don't worry, as soon as I got the picture, the climbing came to a stop.

(If I have already posted these pics before, thanks for humoring me and looking again. I didn't remember ever posting them, nor could I find a post about them.)

I'm in love....

...as previously mentioned, my sweet husband surprised me with Photoshop for Christmas. I had to fight back the tears I was so excited. I decided to download a set of Pioneer Woman actions and give it a whirl. Super easy and I am ecstatic about the results.


Pioneer Woman's Fresh and Colorful action.


SOOC (straight out of camera)

I'm already in love with you Photoshop. Looking forward to getting to know you better.

We had an amazing Christmas. It was so good to be able to spend the time with my parents, brother, husband and kids. I am so blessed and thankful to have them all in my life! My parents came up the week before Christmas and spent all week with us. We had lots of fun hanging out, shopping, baking cookies, and playing banangrams (for all you scrabble fans, it is a must have).

We even had the honor of having Pappy and Grammy in our presence on Christmas Day (via skype). That way they could be a part of the kids waking up to see if Santa had stopped by to drop off any Christmas wishes.

Speaking of, I must've been especially good this year! I got PHOTOSHOP! I am nervous and excited to take the plunge and get familiar with it.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. Let's not forget the most precious gift of all, Jesus.

Here's to a great new year!

Personalities

Two kids, two totally different personalities.



Gabe is our happy go lucky kid. Smiles and high fives for everyone; knows no stranger. Easy going and plays well by himself. He is all boy and VERY BUSY. He loves to explore, climb, throw, spit, anything cars and balls, and his favorite passtime is to pester his sister. He wants to do anything everything she does whether he truly likes it or not. He is cooperative and listens. He gets his feelings hurt when you raise your voice at him. He is a morning person and wakes up bright eyed and ready to play. Gabe is too busy to snuggle with you. There is a window of about 30 mintues after naps and in the mornings where he might snuggle with you. He loves his blankets and walks around the house with them draped over his head. Gabe has always been an easy baby.....overall such a happy little guy.



Allie has reached the age where she wants to do everything for herself even if she cannot. She prefers someone to be playing with her at all times....and I spend hours upon hours coloring/painting/playing dolls with her. She loves playing with other kids and plays well with them. She gets her feelings hurt when others do not want to play with her. She likes to keep busy and gets bored hanging around the house. She is neat and organized and cleans without me asking. She is stubborn but at the same time when called out....listens and minds well without throwing fits. Allie is a sweet girl but can be very shy around people she does not know and needs time to warm up to people. She is a little mommy to Gabe and constantly looks out for him. NOT a morning person....she takes about 30 minutes to get going and during this time likes to be left alone. otherwise, she is our snuggler. She loves to snuggle up with you and watch cartoons. She is also a blanket carrier and will not leave the house without her "white blanket" and "sleeping beauty blanket". When she gets upset she asks for them. She is a sweet, helpful, kind, loving and affectionate little girl. A momma's girl but has started to tear up in the mornings looking for her daddy. She is our little princess.

Gaber's new do

This ones for you out of town grands...I present to you, Gabe's new haircut.

Small Group Christmas Party

From left to right: Rob and Stephanie, Nathan and Kathy, Stephen and myself, Amanda and Matt, Charlie and Jessica (and baby), Craig and Kelly.

This is our small group from church. I can't even begin to explain what these people mean to us. Moving here, we knew nobody. Now, they are our family away from family.....our friends and confidants, the people that keep our kids for us when we have dr. appointments or Christmas shopping to do. We love you guys!

So, Stephen and I hosted our small group Christmas party this past Monday. We seriously laughed the night away....until our heads and cheeks hurt! We played our rendition of "The Newlywed" game. Talk about getting to know people....enough said. We also played "Dirty Santa" with white elephant gifts. The famous snuggie was brought, a Shaggy cha-cha-cha-chia head, goldfish, autographed baseball card circa 1985, handcuffs (she said they were from her lingerie shower when she first got married...hmmmmm????), lovely frog and chicken light switch covers (lucky us, that is what Stephen ended up with), and other unmentionables (it's always the quiet ones).

We had so much fun. Good times guys. Thanks for the laughs and thanks for the memories.

Shepard boy

In the spririt of Christmas, just wanted to share a picture of our little shepard boy. Yes, he does this by himself. He constantly walks around with his blankets on his head (lots of times blindly running into walls and such). It will never get old to me. If he is anything like his daddy, he will carry a piece of this blanket in his pocket with him until he is 12 (sorry Stephen, hope I didn't crush your self esteem. Okay, so I exaggerated a bit...more like 6). Oh, and see the pacy? We have 2 left....and aren't buying anymore. I panic slightly when one is missing. But, I understand he is 17 months old and he is growing into a toddler....thus, the pacy must go soon (sniff). I'll keep you posted...

My family

I feel compelled to post this family picture, a.) because I rarely get family shots of us being that I am the one behind the camera most of the time. This was taken by my mother-in-law on the cruise. I'm one lucky girl to have a professional photographer in the family. And b.) because two photos down (what was I thinking?) posted a lovely picture of myself sans make-up after running a 5K. So, here you have my lovely family whom I couldn't adore more!

Santa's lap

Last year we waited until the week before Christmas to take the kids to sit on Santa's lap; we waited close to 2 hours. I was not about to let that happen again this year. So, I was happy to wait in the 30 mintue line today. This was the first year Allie was excited to see Santa. But like the past 3 years, shyed away once she was pushed Santa's way. Lucky for her, we brought her "Dear Santa" list and she didn't have to talk much.

As for Gabe, we were next in line, when he looked up at me with teary eyes and his bottom lip puckered out. I was surprised he was nervous. He never cried, but just sat there in Santa's lap with his fingers super glued to his mouth. Same with Allie. What is it with my kids and their hands-in-mouth complex? Everytime they get nervous they can't keep their hands out of their mouths.

I'm a list person, and I like checking things off my to-do list. Santa's lap - check. Sending out Christmas cards...........let's go ahead and check that off to. If your reading this, consider this your Christmas card. I'm not sending any out this year (except for immediate family and I ordered the Santa photo cards from our Santa lap session....it's not great, so you aren't missing out on much).

Did any of you Greenvillians notice our new mall Santa this year? I liked the old one better....he will always have a special place in my heart....for Allie peed on his leg two years ago.

Powdersville 5K

Hey, look who placed 2nd in their age group!!!!! Granted, there were only 150 registered to run...and it was a misty and COLD morning. Pretty sure not everyone showed. Regardless, I finished in 26:57 and placed 2nd in the 30-34 age group. I had to post and share with everyone because this will never happen again.

Thanksgiving Cruise

We had a blast on our Thanksgiving cruise. I must admit, first mention of a family Thanksgiving cruise, I was a doubter.


My husband can electric slide with the best of them. Here are he and Allie dancin' away at the bon voyage party on the Norwegian Sky.



Allie was all about the big cruise boat. Here is Allie and Uncle Chris watching as we pulled away from port of Miami.


Here is the crew. We were THOSE people with matching shirts on our family vacation. Lovely shade of bright neon green. Pretty sure we got a good deal on this color choice.
(Back row from L to R: Susan, Jodi, Judi, Howard, JR, Alan, Doug, Chris, Jennifer, Stephen.
Front row from L to R: Amy, Logan, Gram, Emily, Patrick, Allie, myself, Gabe)



Stirrups Cay (Norwegians private island). This was one of my favorite days. It was beautiful, relaxing, and we all got to hang out on the beach together.


The guys played their annual Turkey Bowl game. This is a tradition that started when Patrick was MUCH smaller and could barely catch a football...he would beg his older cousins to play football with him. They look forward to it now.



It was so much fun watching Allie play with her cousins. Her eyes lit up when they were around.



This is Emily.



Patrick.



and Logan.

Allie asked me today if her "new friends" could fly to our house for a visit. She is really missing them.


This was Gabe's reserved seat for the trip. He loved hanging out with Gram.







We had a cake one night for Gram's 89th birthday. The grandkids in this family fight over Gram's attention. We all love her and she constantly has one of us right next to her.


Thanks again everyone for a wonderful time. And I doubted it would happen!

Thanksgiving

We normally spend our Thanksgivings braving the cold, snowy weather in western PA with all of Stephen's extended family. This year was a bit different; we all (all 20 of us) agreed upon a family cruise to the Bahamas.



We started out in Marco Island where we spent a couple of days before we sailed away. This is one of our favorite restaraunts on the island...a dolphin just so happened to surface while I was taking a picture.



It's just not right for late Nov./early Dec. is it????



When Allie was asked what she was thankful for: fruit, juicy drinks, mommy and daddy, God up in heaven, Izzy. (Poor Gabe, maybe you'll make the list next year bud.)



Snowbirds are very smart people! I WILL be one....one of these days. South Florida is gorgeous this time of year.



We especially loved spending so much time with Gram (Susan's mom). We had her all to ourself for a couple of days before we met up with the rest of the PA crew. We love you Gram....Gabe misses sitting on your lap.

To be continued (cruise pics to come)...

We need a little Christmas now.

Haul out the holly, I may be rushing things but, deck the halls again now. For we need a little Christmas. Right this very minute.

Yes, we are THOSE neighbors with the Christmas tree lights already shining through the window! We are going on a Thanksgiving cruise in a couple of days and decided it would be nice to return home to a decorated, Chrismasfied house.



We let Allie skip her nap to help us decorate the tree. I love her technique...our tree is very ornament heavy on the bottom this year.

So, I quickly learned Gabe LOVES candy canes. There is only one remaining on the tree.



I had the kid's hand imprints made last Christmas. They have become my favorite!





"Hello Grammy, it's Gabers. Put away anything you somewhat care about because I'll be there in two days".

Rub a dub dub

When did THIS happen!???!!!! Gabe is getting SO BIG. Seeing pictures of him makes me realize how my little baby is growing into a little boy. And all boy he is. Tonight we were unwinding watching "UP" (cute movie!), when he climbed on Stephen and headbutted him....which lead to him (Gabe) crying. He throws anything he can get his hands on. And tonight in the tub he was pinching his sister. They had a sweet moment too. Stephen and I were in the bedroom while the kids were bathing when we heard lots of belly laughing, the kind that brings a smile to your face. Allie and Gabe were splashing water out on Izzy while she lapped it up off the floor. They can be so sweet.

Dot

We had another great visit to AL to spend time with my family. We kept Grandma Dot in the dark and she had no idea we were coming until a little 3 year old knocked on her door and yelled, "Boo". Her jaw dropped to the ground and I think I might have seen a little tear. She LOVES her great grandkids.

And we love her too....she will never understand just how much.



So much that she and Allie are now tattoo sisters...Grandma Dot is such a good sport!


And she and Gabe had a moment coloring....but you can't see the coloring book sitting on the table. (And nevermind Gabe's chocolatey face....he had been licking the brownie batter spoon).



Until next time Grandma Dot...We love you more than you will ever know!

Afternoon at the park

It was a wierd day today. Gabe went down for his nap at 10:30....and I mean, there was no waking the kid up! He was out. So he was rested and ready to play once we picked Allie up from school at 1:00 (which is normally when we come home and both kids nap). We were driving home blaring the Lion King (thanks again mom and dad, we are now on song #14...we know EVERY SINGLE WORD to those songs...some of which are in Swahili or whatever language that is). The weather was perfect....and I guess I got caught up in the moment and instead of driving home, I made a turn towards Cleveland Park.




The kids had a blast running around playing. I had a blast trying to keep up with the both of them! After an ample amount of playtime I informed the kids it was time for our impromptu photoshoot. Bless Allie's little cooperative heart....she did great and faked smiled everytime I asked. Now, if only I knew how to operate my camera...




This one was too busy trying to play in the trash cans and eating leaves to pay me any attention.

I need more time.

Look how she has the under the belly hold down.

Allie came up to me the other day, put her little arms around my neck and said, "Let's get married".
Caught me a little offguard, but I said, "Okay, what do we do"?
Allie - "kiss".
So, I gave her a little peck on her lips.
Allie - "NOOOO, a slooooow kiss".

I have not mentally prepared myself for this. I need more time...she isn't even 4.

Trespassing

I have had my eye on this field, with bales of hay, thinking it might make for some cute fall pictures. I decided to take the risk today and trespass.



I bet passerbyers were questioning my sanity. I pulled out my best dance moves to get them to smile! Okay, so they were laughing at me....I won too, I got smiles.



It was my most favorite time of day....and the weather was absolutely perfect. Now, I remember why I love fall...now if only we can dodge the next round of viruses!



I have loved having my healthy kids back! Gabe has been an absolute delight to be around the past couple of days. He is such an easy going little guy.



I wish I would have spent more time today at the hay bales...I think I'll go back and try for round 2. Maybe next time, I'll ask permission.