365 - Day 98

A day late since yesterday was INSANE!  There's a little theme here...
1.  Little mice.  The girl had Nutcracker dress rehearsal last night (which was late, and LONG).  She and her fellow mice were adorable!  Can't wait for the show!

2.  Dinner!  I think I ate it around 9:30 or so, and was STARVING!

3.  A bed to collapse into.  Which is exactly what I did around 1:30am.

Happy 1st Birthday Sailor Mae!

Auntie loves you! xoxo

365 - Day 97

1. The day after accomplishing putting up (most of) the lights I was asked how many I had plugged into each other.  Apparently connecting all of the lights isn't necessarily the wise thing to do and there's a limit on those things!  Whoulda thunk it!  I went back are read the boxes, and darnit if I didn't have 3+ times the limit!  For fear that I was going to short out my lights I didn't plug them again again.  I'm proud to say I finally adjusted them and added more outlets and they are on!

2.  Chicken pot pie.  It's what was for dinner. Yum.

3.  Isabelle's 1st Grade World Program was tonight.  The kids did a great job!  Very cute!

365 - Day 96

1.  Umbrellas

2.  Blankets

3.  Dark Chocolate

365 - Day 95

1.  I'm thankful for my husband who works his butt off to provide for our family.

2.  Twinkling Christmas lights.

3.  Christmas Music Specials.

365 - Day 94

1.  I finally have Christmas lights up!

2.  The sense of accomplishment I felt getting our lights up, and talk I was able to have with Belle afterwards about how she can do anything she sets her mind to! 

3.  Looking at my girl and all of her little friends in their Nutcracker costumes put a huge smile on my face.  They looked so cute!

365 - Day 93

1. Watching my sweet niece dive into her 1st Birthday cake.

2.  My house is FINALLY decorated for Christmas!

3.  It's a Wonderful Life.  One of my top two favorites.

Flashback Friday

365 - Day 92

1.  Hearing both of my kids singing Feliz Navidad on the car ride home.

2.  My adorable niece Sailor Mae.  It's her 1st birthday party tomorrow and I can hardly wait!

3.  A quiet evening in.

For you Gramps

My Gramps was a Fire Chief.  I'm thinking he was smiling in heaven when my little guy was in his fireman jammies and put on a fireman's hat to brush his teeth....in bed!  Here's for you Gramps!

I miss you most at Christmas time

Dear Max,
Every Christmas tears fill my eyes as I unwrap this ornament and hang it on the tree.  Every year the same thoughts flood my mind as I stare at it.  I remember when your Nino and I sat in a parking lot of a school as we excitedly talked about how your Mommy and Daddy asked us to be your godparents.  I remember your Nino getting teary and so did I at what a huge honor and responsibility it would be to be your Ninos.  We dreamed of the years ahead and how we would spoil you rotten, how we truly wanted to embrace being your second set of parents to the fullest.  We were thrilled for the future.

I remember the last time I held you.  I stopped by your house to borrow a shampooer from your parents.  Your Nino and I were getting married and had just bought our first couch, which was used and needed to be cleaned.  I got to spend a little time with you before I left.  As I held you, you were a flirt, batting your gorgeous blue eyes and smiling at me.  I kissed your cheeks over and over and left.  I remember bragging to your Nino how adorable you were and how I could have eaten you up.  I didn't know that was the last time I'd hold you.

You'd be over 8 1/2 years old now.  I wonder if you would have kept your blue eyes, or how tall you would be.  I wonder how different our families lives would be if you were still here.  I wonder how our Christmases would be different.  I imagine your Nino and I searching for the perfect present to put a huge smile on your face. Your Nino and I have 2 little cousins for you now. We've told them all about you and taken them to visit you. Your cousin Belle has asked many questions about you being in Heaven.  She wonders if you still look as you do in the pictures she's seen.

We think about you often.  Somehow Christmas makes thoughts of you even stronger.  As I walk by the tree I catch a glimpse of your ornament and think of you.  I think of your parents, your little brother, and your little sister.  I'm sure they are missing you.  I pray God blesses them this Christmas and always.

We love you angel baby, you will forever and always be in our hearts. I wish you were here.  Love, Nina

365 - Day 91

1.  I actually got Elias down to my Mom's and back to work by 8:20 this morning! 

2.  Bacon.

3.  Betty White and her SNL muffin skit.  Hilarious.

365 - Day 90

1.  I survived the day without screaming at my kids.  I call that a triumph considering the kind of day we've had.

2.  I survived without screaming at ANYONE, I also call that a triumph.

3.  The ottoman my feet are finally up on.

365 - Day 89

1.  We received a stack of Christmas cards today!  The solo one we received prior is not so lonely now!  I LOVE decorating with cards we receive.

2.  Going to sleep to the sound of rain.

3.  I finished a scarf I was making, and I think it looks pretty cute!

365 - Day 88

1.  Memories of loved ones no longer with us.

2.  My daughter has managed to keep her room clean since we organized it.  I'm amazed!

3.  I mailed our Christmas cards! (Well, the first half, the second half hasn't arrived yet for me to address)

365 - Day 87

1.  Our Christmas tree is decorated and looks beautiful!

2.  Yummy chili for dinner.

3.  My girl was picked to welcome the audience for her 1st grade program.

365 - Day 86

1.  I survived today!  I had SO much to do, and I actually accomplished most of it!

2. I saved $125 grocery shopping today.

3.  We have a Christmas tree!  It's not decorated, but we have one!

365 - Day 85

1. I'm 1/2 way through addressing my Christmas cards. 

2.  My house is CLEAN.

3.  Thrilled for a wonderful woman I know who is finally becoming a mother through adoption.

365 - Day 84

1.  My kids are safe and sound in their beds tonight, and still have their innocence.

2.  Tonight I'm happy for my friends who are going to be starting a new adventure.  Sad for me that they are moving, but I'll focus on being happy for them.

3.  When I opened the door tonight Elias was standing right inside and said "Oh, hewhoa Mommy! Gimme a hug!"  Great way to come home!

365 - Day 83

1.  Chicken Chowder.  Head on over to Grubbin Goodness for the recipe.

2.  Nantucket Cranberry Pie.  Thanks Pioneer Woman!  I made this one on Thanksgiving and heard it was a hit in both houses I brought it to.  I made it again tonight and am ready to cut into it.

3.  The show Hoarders.  It inspires me to CLEAN!