Countdown to Christmas Part 2

I LOVE traditions...I love that there is something that I can count on every year...

My girls love it too...my eldest, especially, is a romantic at heart...(sorta like her momma) she fantasizes about each "tradition" and how "wonderful" it will be...(which is also the reason she asks to be the FIRST to do everything...and whenever we allow her that chance, she does it with FLAIR)

From the time Italian Stallion was a boy, he has gone to Fly Away Tree Farm to chop down a Christmas tree...his cousins own the place and we love to go in a visit every first weekend of December.  Without fail, we find our "perfect" tree and drink gallons of hot cocoa and listen to stories from Martha & Marcia before heading back down the street to our house.  I will tell you that they have some funny ones to share too:)  (just FYI: they are twin sisters...it's Martha & Dave's farm, but all the family come in to work the Tree Weekend...this year, stories revolved around Martha & Marcia's "Europe Tour"...let's just say that after having $900 stolen and shimmy-ing themselves under locked doors...well, we were rolling in laughter)

I thought I'd share a few pictures from "through the years"

***note: can't find my 2008 picture of the tree farm...even though I have stellar organizational skills...I know, it's mind-boggling!!! ALSO, before 2005 I did not own a digital camera...and I'm too lazy to go find pictures and scan them in...so there***

 and THIS year...again, the PERFECT TREE:)

We had a great time starting our Advent traditions this year...I love that cutting down the tree is part of them!

Countdown to Christmas Part 1

Well..the countdown has begun...

So much has happened in the few days since Thanksgiving that I'm going to have to break it up into a couple of blog posts...otherwise, you're just going to give up and never come back checking to see what's going on in this Italian household (and I DO use the term "italian" quite loosely...it's more of a "saying" rather than we actually ACT Italian...but I digress...)

Anyway...We had a wonderful time of Thanksgiving together as a family...and once we ate our way through all that food and raced as many Mario Karts as we could around the tracks,we knew it was time to get ready for Christmas...

Our first "Christmas" present was given/received just a few days after Thanksgiving...Italian Stallion's sister is able to come into town for just a couple days after Thanksgiving and we have a "mini-christmas" time with her family...We never know how the travel is going to be in December, so we don't take our time or moments for granted...

The cousins decided that in place of a gift exchange this year, we'd all go in together and get something for Nana & Popi's house...

Welcome Wii...

We enjoyed some great cousin time...my husband thought it was a good idea to drop pillows from the loft above the children for "entertainment"...He "may" have been right:)

We also enjoyed a fabulous meal...an "italian" one to be exact:)  Popi gets to make meatballs and we stuff our faces full of all the good food, while we listen to stories from aunts and uncles and holidays of the past:)

The kiddos all get matching PJs too...not sure how much longer that tradition will last, but again, we don't take those moments for granted!

Here's a little slideshow of the whole evening:)

Thanksgiving Day

I love being with my extended family...I enjoy hanging out with my brother & his family...with my sister(s) and my parents...I love sharing in festivities...

However, for some reason, Thanksgiving Day has become a little pocket of time that we've been able to carve out for just our immediate family...We see my side of the family the weekend prior and we see Italian Stallion's family the weekend after...

That leaves the "day of" open...just for us...

We've come to soak in that time together and enjoy our day...

It starts off with the parade on the TV in the morning...usually while working on "crafts" or other things that the girls have "planned for"...this year, we got out the big ole puzzle and started working on it bright and early...

Once Daddy made the trip to the store because,  mommy always forgets something for thanksgiving dinner, he likes the fresh air...the girls and I started on our Thankful Tree and getting all the place settings ready.  Sweetpea's favorite thing is to set up the napkins in some new way each year.

Daddy tackled the bird this time around...he had high hopes of turkey injections and marinades that made your mouth water... (and he did not disappoint:)

I took care of the mashed potatoes:) 

Don't get me wrong...we worked as a team in the kitchen, but if you ask HIM, he'll tell you that HE was the master chef...and that's okay...I'm more of the big picture and "make the table pretty" sort of person...he likes to make sure the food gets cooked...So, like I said...we make a good team:)

The girls did a fabulous job of helping and getting things looking so nice...and the turkey came out delicious...

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal...every last drop:) And Italian Stallion made a large dent in the carrots...his FAVORITE Thanksgiving side dish...(he would even admit it tops the bird...)

While Mommy took pictures and tried to avoid the scraping of dirty dishes and soapy water and Daddy cleaned up the mess, the girls enjoyed another round of Wii Mario Cart (the annual new Wii game that Daddy buys)...

We had much to be thankful for again this year...but for me...

THIS...

 is what makes my heart most grateful...

Thankful for Dirty Dishes...?

We tease that we lead a "charmed" life...

I mean, if you compare our life to those in 3rd world countries or even those living in the inner city here in the states...OR if I really keep my heart right...the fact that I have a relationship with the Creator of the world...HELLO, I'm RICH!!...

I know, I know...my parents told me that you can always find someone who is better off than you and worse off than you...sometimes it's a matter of perspective...

And yet, how often do I focus on waht I don't have or what I wish I could do...a new camera, ummm fashion sense, a maid, more "stuff" for my kids...the list could go on if I let my mind wander in that wilderness of "want" and "discontent"...

This year I want to choose to be thankful for what I DO have..and not JUST the important things like my God, my parents, my husband, my children, our health...etc..

But for seemingly insignificant things...things that sometimes irritate me to no end...but again, it's that "perspective thing" again...

I'm thankful for dirty dishes in the sink, reminding me that we have plenty of food to eat.

I'm thankful for the laundry strewn all over my couch, it means that we have more than enough clothes to wear and keep us warm.

I'm thankful for polly pockets, calico critters and crafty stuff scattered everywhere...we still have little ones who still enjoy make believe, for this time is short.

I'm thankful for toothpaste stuck in the sink bowl & splashed on the mirror, it means my girls are learning healthy habits & we have the means to keep them growing strong.

I'm thankful for my spotted & matted carpet.... a daily reminder that we are blessed with many friends & family that have come through our doors & children who have wrestled on those floors.

I'm thankful for sippy cups found in hiding places, it means I still have a "baby" who has made this house her home.

And I AM thankful for those big things too...for a husband who takes the time to communicate with me, and tries to "figure me out", even when I must drive him nuts!...for a best friend who never gives up on me...

Thankful for 3 beautiful daughters who each have their own personalities...for Sweetpea, even though we tend to "collide" at times because we are so similar, I am thankful for "I'm sorrys" and sincere "I forgive yous"...for her compassionate heart and her attention to details...

For Peanut who reminds me often to just enjoy LIFE...for her carefree take on things and the way that she just gives her whole heart...

For Lil' Munchkin who keeps me on my toes and reminds me of my daily momemt by moment need to ask for guidance from my heavenly Father:)  For her cute face and way she makes me laugh!

For our parents and their health...for trustworthy and dependable friends who have never left our sides...for a home and the means to give to others...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and "getting ready for Christmas" holiday:)

Apparantly I've been rather "stern" lately...

How do I know? 

Little Munchkin came up to me today and said, "Mommy, I don't like it when you look at me like this..."

I replied, "Do I look like that when I talk to you?"

She said, "Yes, Mommy and I don't like it...you need to make your eyes go like this when you talk to me...and be sweet!"

An Understatement...

to say that I've been busy would be an understatement...

to say that we had "fun" last weekend would be an understatement...

to say that I'm looking forward to the holidays would be an understatement...

I'm apparantly into understatements this evening...it's more because I don't think I can adequately verbalize all the "stuff" going on...both in the real world and in my head:) 

Let me start by saying that I feel utterly privileged and blessed to have the whole photography business-thing.  (I know that is such a professional way to put it, but this is my "family" blog and I don't necessarily speak the Pro-language here...just keepin' it real people)

Anyway, I've been busy this fall...it's been a good busy, but, I'll be honest that it's been a "guilty-mommy" busy too...I'll be frank and say that I don't HAVE to be "working"...I didn't start this photography thing for money, per say...more so because I recognize that there IS life outside of being "mom" and since I enjoyed it so very much (not to mention that I DO like all those nice, expensive lenses AND it's an opportunity to give & have my kiddos involved in it) it became a wonderful outlet for me...it's been a challenging, learning and growing experience...it's given me opportunities that I wouldn't otherwise have had...I've been able to dabble into teaching again and let my girls watch a "mom-entrepreneur" in action...all good things...

edit:  I just want to interject that I'm not writing this to brag or boast or anything about the financial status of our family life...I think it would be better stated, that I'm doing this photography stuff because I knew that God put it in my lap at the time and I just take one step at a time with the whole "venture"

However, on the flip side, I did not expect to be THIS busy...having full schedules on the weekends and editing into the wee hours of the night consistently...well, it's just been "something"...This is the first year that I've had to 'turn people away' and I absolutely HATED to do it...I so love meeting people and new challenges...I'm not trying to complain by any means, I'm just putting it out there why I've been so lax in my "family blog" here of late. 

The girls and I (and Italian Stallion) are all trying to decide on the child we can support and the other World Vision/Compassion opportunities that CTPhotoMemories provides:)  And so, it is with great anticipation that I look forward to my last edit...my last CD burn...and the time when we can go cut down our Christmas tree and not worry about Mommy having to rush back home to drive to another shoot:) 

IN THE MEANTIME...with all this going on, my hubby has been good with making sure I don't completely go insane...and I'm glad he and my sister in law think alike...because she & my brother invited us down to Tennessee with them last weekend for a "brother/sister...cousin" get away...and it was AWESOME....

Thought I'd share a bit...The accomodations were incredible...the kids played like siblings, but even better:)  We did pottery, we carried children on our back through mud and slippery slopes climbed mountains and we swam at the waterpark...it was a good time had by all:)  I'll be posting more pictures over on my facebook page if you want to hop over there too:)

We did water slides, wave pool and Mommy's favorite:  the hot tub:)

The Snake Pool was another favorite...fun times when they decided to open up the doors to the outside...made the water feel like a hot tub at that point...I don't think the daddies or the kiddos cared much at all though:)

Thanks to my brother and sister in law for such an awesome time...we need to do it again...SOON:)

DOUBLE DIGITS TODAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETPEA!!!

I remember the moment she was born...after 17 hours of labor and being deathly scared of needles...after hours of her daddy trying to help me get through crazy contractions...they put all 7 lbs. 5 ounces of miracle onto my chest...

Never have I known such emotion...so much love for this little miracle...so much love for her daddy and for the life that we would all live together...

My firstborn...the one that first changed our lives in such a beautiful way...

Happy Birthday Love...

I love your compassion, the way you put yourself in other people's shoes...the way you love others.. your dramatic flare, your belief in "happily ever afters" and your hope for bright tomorrows...

You are a dream come true...we love you so much!!!