The Rush

So, my intention was to fill the blog with lots of holiday musings and pictures. And now, it is just 8 days away and that obviously hasn't happened. So what did? hmmmm.... Sean Michael Smitheman arrived, the kids saw Santa at King of Prussia mall, we baked 130 cookies for my cookie swap, we gave 5 well thought gifts to our giving tree at church, we hosted a nice brunch for my parents and I helped put together a book drive for my MOMS club service project. Oh and the house is decorated, semi-clean, and the tree is finished (to the un-trained eye). The kids seem to be enjoying the holiday spirit, the shopping is almost done and I'm only moderately exhausted. We even went to a lunch playdate last week and baked cookies at Jaime's house! See when it's on paper (er.. a screen), it's not too bad.

Please don't ask about Chrsitmas cards, gift wrapping or anything crafty... 8 days left right?

Thankful

Despite my crabby demeanor lately, I'm trying to remember what today is all about. This year, I'm especially thankful for:

• healthy kids, especially the healthy,active baby boy on the way


• a husband who puts up with me and tries hard to make me happy


• having the means to go shopping for gifts for the people we care about tomorrow


• the fact that all 4 of our parents are here to spend the holiday with

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fall re-cap:

Ok so better late than never. I was waiting to have some Halloween pictures to go with this posts and ooops-- it's almost Thanksgiving. It was a strange fall this year. We were wearing shorts until almost Halloween. Now just a few weeks later, it's dipping to freezing at night, yet the leaves are at their peak and falling. Strange. Halloween was it's usual chaos. Both boys enjoyed the trick or treating and dressing up this year. It really feels like a tradition now as it's the 6th year that we went out in our neighborhood. Mommy ate lots of candy afterward and I'm very anxious to see the scale at thie doctor's this morning for my 28 week appt.

We visited Linvilla Orchards for a hayride, the corn maze and the pumpkin patch. We did some fall cleanout in the storage room and outdoors. Christine held her halloween party, where I could again count on pigs in a blanket and some seriously cute pictures. The boys both had parades and parties at their school. And then by November 2nd, I was so excited to put it all away and enjoy the "calm before the Christmas storm".

More soon as the Christmas rush begins!

hmmmm...

So I've considered just eliminating this blog and letting it fall off into cyberspace. Why clutter up my list of blogs that i love to read right? But then I realized that I'm wasting a useful tool in my life. I've actually been pretty good about keeping a pregnancy journal sort of up to date. And I'm trying to scrapbook also (tons of catching up there). In doing that, I've realized how many fun stories and neat happenings have been missed. I remember what received for Christmas last year, who we visited etc. But I don't know exactly what the kids said as they opened those fabulous presents! Wouldn't it be nice to check the old blog archives for that??

So here's to making another effort. If nothing but to keep my much overused pregnancy brain from melting down in the effort to keep track of all my stuff on my own. I'm adding a picture taken just under 3 weeks ago at the zoo (lest I forget that I actually looked thinner at 21 weeks along).

Merry Christmas!

It's been a joyful holiday here with happy kids, great gifts and good times. Here's another festive Disney shot to celebrate the day:

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

3 days to go.. wrapping to do and lots of it.. a house to clean.. things to bake and cook. Repeat to myself-- "You love Christmas!" Sure doesn't feel like it this year. Sickness, airports, travel stress, exhaustion. I think I'll add a really cute Disney pic to remind myself why all this stress is worth it. Once the big day has passed, I'll post a recap of the trip

Tis the Season

So here we are at December! Whoa! So many things to accomplish before 2006 comes to an end. Doing really well with Christmas this year. Shopping about done, cards are here but not ready to mail, house decorated and ready for the tree. All this with our trip to WDW only 8 days away! Here is our card shot for this year. Not what I had planned but cute and pretty representative nonetheless.