these are a few of my favorite Christmas things

If you are ready to be done with anything Christmas, I apologize. A lot of what I blog is for far-away family who can't be with us, and for my husband who likes this digital record of our family happenings. So there might be a few Christmas posts that happen even after the New Year. Sorry if it is just a bit after the fact.

(and Blogger is being very weird and shrinking some of my text, so a second apology if you can't read half of this post.)

If you are still here reading, sit back and have yourself a very merry viewing of some Christmas favorites.

such as polka-dotted, fuzzy bottoms


little girls who think a one dollar Cinderella necklace is one of the BEST presents


Joey's excitement


Daddy love


new toys

(a helicopter for Joey, and for me, a new lens that makes it possible to take photos like this)


a nephew that frees up my hands and lap :)


admiring her Cioci's Christmas sparkles

(Cioci, pronounded CHUH-chee, is Polish for aunt)

love from her soon-to-be-Uncle


moments with Grandmom

(She loves to point out everybody's "pretty.")


little girls waiting patiently



my Dad loving his Lizzie


wrapping paper mayhem



and my most favorite: our little family, all of us, together.

And the proof that, yes, I was indeed there for Christmas. :)

from the inside

A snowy Monday means the men shovel


while I stay inside.

A snowy Monday means pink hats are covered with snow



while I'm warm and dry inside.

A snowy Monday means Daddy buries the children in the snow



while I don't get a flake on me.

A snowy Monday means angels visit my deck



while I stay inside with my polka-dotted, fuzzy-footed angel.


A snowy Monday means I get to use my favorite toy to take pictures of my favorite faces



from the inside.

greetings to you

one whole year

My little, tiny, baby girl turned one on Tuesday. She wanted nothing to do with opening presents or eating icing-covered, sugary treats. But she is still one. Apparently, lack of birthday enthusiasm does not stop a child from turning a year older. Which is good, because then the reverse would mean extra birthday enthusiasm would age you faster, in which case, Joey would be about 87 by now.

So, she is one; and not walking yet because she wants to wait just like her big brother and sister did, which is fine with me, because her recent fascination with stair climbing is enough to manage. Hmmm, if only they made some sort of gate that fastened to the wall, to keep a baby from going where you don't want them to go...

The journey to two begins, and it is such a fun year. My babies finally sleep through the night sometime in the coming year, as well as learn to walk, and the language explosion is awesome. I like the year from one to two very much. And I like Lizzie very much. Actually, I am quite smitten.

If you knew her, you would understand. She just drips of ooshygooshygooey wonderfulness.

Happy Birthday, Lizzie.



(photo from November and completely unrelated to birthday post. But still cute:) )

this week

This was one of those weeks that wore me out. The never-ending stomach bug that hit all of us but Adam, plus an additional health drama of my own (everything is okay now) has left me a bit weary.

This was one of those weeks that made me long to hear the calming sound of waves hitting the shore and to smell the salty air.




This was one of those weeks that I would easily trade for the week in November when we took a trip to the beach "just because."




This was one of those weeks where not everything felt quite right.




But it was the week God had just for me. And He loves me, and knows me, and gives me just what I need.




This was one of those weeks that made me glad just to be alive.

from above

bedheads

I love the hair that comes perched upon the bleary-eyed heads that wake up each morning.
There are so many different looks to enjoy:

The mussy-mop.


(do you like the foot peeking out?)

The spiney-pokey.


(that may be a look of slight displeasure at mother shooting his picture first thing in the morning while his mouth is full of breakfast)

And the teased-to-please.


But to be perfectly honest, this is how Katie looks most of the time, not just in the morning.
She is not a well-kept girl. It is not her way. Her mane cannot be tamed!

Lizzie usually gets this mussy mop pulled up into a pebbles-style sometime in the day, but this is basically how her face looks most of the time.


Always smiling and showing of those goofy front teeth of hers.

Morning to night, what a delight.

a fine Saturday

Any Saturday that starts with Adam taking out the waffle iron and baking up some glorious belgian waffles is a fine Saturday indeed.

But the day also had some train rides around the Christmas tree


and some classic movie viewing.



No, the movie wasn't too loud,

it is just that the witch is much less scary when you cover your ears.

While Adam was getting dinner ready, I went out and got a little shopping done.

And just what did Incredihusband make for dinner?

A wonderfully juicy and super flavorful standing rib roast with a side of asparagus and mashed potatoes. Perfect!

After dinner, we played a game of "Draw and Guess" per Joey's request.



Katie is turning out some great works lately. Can you guess who these two are?


Lizzie doesn't have any drawing skills, but was proud to show off her new standing-unassisted skills.


And put on an over-the-top display of her prize-worthy, chubby cheeks.


Yes, a fine Saturday indeed.