Maya's First Gingerbread House

I'm not sure where the idea came from...probably some book that she read. But Maya got it into her head this year that we needed to construct a gingerbread house.

Now I've never done this, and the thought of the effort it was going to take was daunting to say the least. But never fear (a distant trumpet sounds) Sam's Club had these great prefab kits with everything you could possibly need. Well, everything but comprehensive directions.

So after much muddling and winging it. Here it is... the first and possibly only gingerbread house ever to grace our home. Oh, did I mention the net weight is 4 lbs? That's a lot of gingerbread...

Happy Halloween

The best part of getting older is getting to go to multiple parties...

The Local Library with Oma:

School:

Trick or Treat at Meme and Pappy's house with our neighbor:

My baby is turning 1!

I can't believe that it's been a year since Anya made her appearance, a week late I might add. I can't imagine life without her. I can only whisper how wonderful she is for fear the gods will hear me and want her back.

Cradle Song

From groves of spice,
O'er fields of rice,
Athwart the lotus-stream,
I bring for you,
Aglint with dew,
A little lovely dream.

Sweet, shut your eyes,
The wild fire-flies
Dance through the fairy neem;
From the poppy-bole
For you I stole
A little lovely dream.

Dear eyes, good night,
In golden light
The stars around you gleam;
On you I Press
With soft caress
A little lovely dream.

- Sarojini Naidu

Happy New Year's!

Thanks to Kami for this picture which shows just how much I had to drink on New Year's Eve. Cheers!

Merry Christmas

For any one whom I didn't get a Christmas card to this year, I apologize. This was the picture enclosed. Since I seem to need more hours in my day, or maybe more days in my week, I chose to take Christmas pictures myself this year. In my disillusioned, overworked and sleep deprived state, I thought that would be a good idea and somehow easier that having them done at oh, say...Walmart? Rest assured, that will not happen again.

Awesome Christmas Eve Sunset

Decorating the Tree

"No, seriously. What is this?"

"I've got angel for a hat, hat, hat..."
"Hmmm, I wonder if I can redecorate this tree when everyone's gone to bed?"
"C'mon let's take a goofy picture of ourselves!"

"Ugh! I swear I tested those lights before we put them on. Oh well, the bottom half will just have to be unlit. I'm not taking them off now!"

From our tree to yours...

Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

May everyone you meet be friendlyMay you get enough to eat
May your day be filled with surprises
May you smile when you think of all your blessings

If you read this, you are one of our blessings. Thank you for friends and family, love and laughter, good food and good times. From all of ours to all of yours....

Halloween

Halloween was a blast this year. We went to Morgan's to trick or treat because we live in the middle of nowhere and she lives in a nicely populated, well contained plan.

The Bride and Snow White

Our neighbors came with us to avoid the blackhole of candy at home.

The Flower Fairie

The kids managed to walk the enitre neighborhood (which was quite a lot) and came back with a motherload of candy.

The Bride and Anakin Skywalker

Morgan and I happily stayed behind to drink and hand out candy to other trick or treaters.

Mommy Pirate and her pet Lion

Big Butler Fair

Here are some pictures from our annual trip to the Big Butler Fair. Although I don't know if it's technically a trip since it's less than a mile away from our house...



Maya's first Roller Coaster? The Wiggly Worm



Maya's favorite ride this year? The Haunted Mansion

Number of times Chad had to sit through the Haunted Mansion? At least 6

Maya's strangest pose? On the rocket ships.

The highest ride? The Fire Engine (Which Maya insisted was a red school bus)

The waviest ride? The slides
Fair food of choice this year? Pizza

Number of animals petted? 5




Anya's response to all the noise? Fairly calm





Number of arty pictures? I limited myself to one because the batteries were dying.




Why do we pay to much money to go walk around in the heat and dirt every year? Because it makes the girls smile.

Happy Mother's Day

Some things I have learned since becoming a mother.

1. My house will always by cluttered, I have learned to deal with this.

2. Drool isn't as gross as you think when it's coming from your own child.

3. You can function on even less sleep than you did in college.

4. You will cry at commercials, movies and news stories because it's not someone else's child anymore, it's yours that you see.

5. Nothing will drive you more insane that your child kicking the back of your seat and singing nonsense syllables over and over and over.

6. The phrase "Stop crying or I will give you something to cry about," now makes perfect sense.

7. Your child will make you laugh harder and cry longer than anything else in the world.

8. The love you have for your child is so deep and so strong that you really would do anything for them.

9. Even on my worst days, I know that it is all worth it.

Happy Easter

Hope your Easter is warmer than ours... it's snowing and 30 degrees here, but we're cheerful and warm inside!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

I hope your day keeps you "hoppin' "!

Happy 3rd Birthday

I've been holding tight a little secret

Been sneaking around the halls,

And now the day's arrived It's time to tell them all.

Unwrap it right now before me

For I filled it with hugs and kisses sweet,

Press them close to your heart

And smile big and wide inside

You are, yes you, are today's perfect treat.

- unknown author

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYA JANE!!

Thanksgiving Birthdays

Every year we celebrate Chad's niece's birthday at Thanksgiving dinner because her birthday is November 27th.


This year because of work schedules, not every one could make it to Maya's party, so we decided to combine the girl's parties together since their birthday's are only 5 days apart.


Maya's loving the idea of getting three sets of presents: Chad's family at Thanksgiving, our family on her birthday and then her friends party on the 9th. And two weeks later comes Christmas! That girl knows how to party!

Seventh Anniversary

"This is my beloved, and this is my friend..." Song of Solomon 5:16




Happy 7th Anniversary Hunny...May we make it seven more just as easily!

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

This scary guy spent quite a bit of time crawling across the sidewalk in front of our sliding glass door. I think he was trying to wish us a Happy Halloween. After some research I found that it's called a Shamrock Orb Spider. Now having spent an hour looking at spider pictures I feel like my skin is crawling. Just thought I'd share the creepy crawlies with all of you!