A Thankful Mommy

Wow - the holidays are getting here a little too fast for my taste. We had a wonderful Thaksgiving - pretty relaxing for those of us who let everyone else do all the work. Bob and I cook the turkey and my Mom does the rest - sweet deal! As usual - my mom outdid herself with her special little touches, corn casserole for Bob, carrot casserole for her darling daughter, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, corn, peas, you name it - we had it! The kids were amazing and we got to see most of the people we love and relax a little but before the big rush for Christmas begins.Lizzie now begs to take a tubby with Annie and our sink is so big and deep that they both fit. I'm not sure how clean our new bathtime ritual is but they love it.Now it's Ellie's turn - and NO, we did not change the water.Lizzie in her hat from Bolivia - how cute is she?Annie getting in on the act.Ellie was not hapy about having the hat on.Uncle Scott took these pictures of Ellie while he was babysitting.A Papa morning visit - we love when he comes over early and hangs with us!Annie got a haircut and would NOT cooperate when I wanted a picture of her to show it off. She was perfect for her first haircut and she looks adorable! I love how Peter is with his sisters - here he is putting his sister to sleep one afternoon - look how cozy she looks with him!Annie learning to crack nuts.Our Thanksgiving table - what a feast!Annie cutting her food by herself - she was thrilled ot be able to hold a knife.My handsome boy!I love the look on Molly's face in this picture - like there is no place on earth she would rather be right now than her Papa's lap! Sometimes I wish that I still fit on his lap!Uncle Ed entertaining the kids. My brother is so great with the kids - as soon as he gets to the house he has them in the yard or downstairs playing and he never stops all day. They love being with him and they always come home tired!Molly girl!Grandma Betty and her two sons!Papa and Annie getting somecuddle time.KK came over for dessert and got Lizzie up from her nap. She couldn't stop loving on Lizzie - even for a picture!Ellie had on a cute little blue dress but then my dad and I realized that it looked a little like a school uniform - that smile gets me everytime!I just want to eat her up!Papa and Ellie - not sure what Ellie'slook is about!Uncle Bob can not get enough of his goddaughter and Katie doesn't mind a bit.Annie hanging with her godparents!Katie was looking very sweet with a little bow in her hair but she would not cooperate at all for a picture. I love those big blue eyes!Uncle Bob getting attacked by the babies!

Lizzie is never going to Mardi Gras but boy does she look cute with all those beads around her neck! Lizzie was such a little doll all day - she slept, smiled, kissed and hugged everyone. Karla and I got up at 4:30 a.m. and shopped like crazy - the deals weren't as good as usual but the company was worth it. Hopefully the Christmas tree and lights are going up tomorrow - yeah!

We are so blessed that our family is all healthy, safe and happy and that we can be together on the holidays - what a lucky mom I am!

GNM - ILY!

The joys of little girls!

Everyone who knows me knows that I am by no means a girly girl. I've managed to dress up once in a while for Bob's sake and when it is socially necessary but I much prefer jeans and t-shirts to a pretty black dress. That being said I LOVE being a mom to my girly girls! I love hair bows and dresses, dancing and singing with them and I love watching them dress up together and giggle. I am savoring these moments when they are little and anticipating the amazing times ahead when they are best friends (And they had better be!). An impromptu dance session with three of the girls - while Ellie snoozed for 4 hours - made my day, week and month. It was wonderful - even when Bob got in on the action! So enjoy the pictures below without captions - my only contribution to any sense of rythm you see is the music in the background. Molly is teaching Annie everything she knows and, I know I'm her Mom, but Molly is a pretty great dancer!

I love Baby Playtime!

I have to caption this one so that I don't get phone calls from people who are puzzled.
Lizzie loves to unzip Ellie and blow rasperries on her belly - the other day she found Ellie's diminishing hernia and was tickling it.Annie, Molly and I baked cupcakes the other day. Later that night we found Annie's chair pulled up to the stove and several empty cupcake holders. At least they were not frosted yet!KK and Uncle B went to the diner for breakfast on Sunday and then stopped over to play with the kids - what a treat.They went for a walk and then played in the yard for a while - it was a beautiful day and a blessing to have an aunt and uncle willing to take time out of their weekends to just hang out with the kids and love on them.

Molly and Annie are missing Auntie Beth ALOT right now. We said a prayer at dinner and Molly asked if it was okay to pray for AUntie Beth to get an apartment in CT. I told her that she could pray for anything but that she was very lucky that Auntie Beth was able to come home so much and spend so much time with her. Her little lip quivered and she said "I just get excited on holidays cause I think Auntie Beth is going to be here and I wish she was coming home." I never thought that when I carelessly threw out a comment about Auntie Beth not coming home for Thanksgiving that Molly may not have known that Beth couldn't come home on every holiday. Peter's contribution to the conversation was that Papa was strong enough to be a pilot and so he could just fly us to LA and Auntie Beth to CT anytime - and then Grammy could be the flight attendant. Not realistic but the picture of that kind of cracked me up! SO - we all miss Auntie Beth and are grateful for the amazing family that we do get to see everyday - what lucky lucky lucky kids I have! GNM - ILY!