Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

We had a wonderful Christmas! Thanks to all who sent cards and presents. I took as many photos as I could, but things got pretty crazy on Christmas. We have about an inch of snow now and the girls spend a little time each afternoon playing outside in it. Wyatt is still taking great naps for me every afternoon. We are all looking forward to school resuming next Monday. The girls are bored (their words, not mine!) and miss their friends. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

It's Christmas!!

It's just 6 days before Christmas and our house is buzzing with holiday cheer! The girls are so excited as we countdown the days until Christmas. We have cookies to bake for Santa and reindeer food to sprinkle out on the law Christmas Eve.

Earlier this month, we went to the annual Ray Twp. Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The girls got their photos and Christmas wish in two different newspapers. The newspaper clippings make great baby book keepsakes. They also won the raffle and got a 3 foot stocking filled with goodies!

I finally found a great use for all those crafts the girls have been making at school. I hung them on some Christmas ribbon across the arch in our kitchen. They made wonderful decorations and I'm proud to display all the beautiful art they created. I put all the Christmas cards we've received on top of the arch. So if you've sent us a card this year, zoom in and you might just see yours on display!!

As for all of us, we are finally in good health. All in one day, Gracie got a very bad toe infection which required antibiotics and a day off from school, and Georgia and Wyatt got strep throat. Poor Georgia, who had never missed a day of school up until this past Thursday, had to stay home for the first time. Unfortunatly the day she had to miss was the class Christmas party. She was so upset. Wyatt is back to normal and eating again. Yeah! He sleeps much better when he eats:) Dave and I some how missed all the sickness. Hopefully we'll all be healthy on Christmas this year.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

It's that time of the year again. Time to think back over the past year and count up all the many things I have to be grateful for. Not that I need a holiday to do this, but it's a great tradition. What a blessed and wonderful life I have. Here are a few photos of our past week that sum up what I am most grateful for...my little children. Six years ago I didn't think I could be so lucky as to even have one baby, let alone three! I am equally thankful for my adoring and faithful husband. He is my rock, my best friend and my constant partner in both our marriage and parenting. Yes, I have been blessed!!!

Fall on the farm 2009

The corn is such a lovely golden color this time of year and I wanted to snap a few shots before it's all gone. These pictures were taken in our fields over the weekend. It's been very mild ane in the low 60's for a high the past few days.

The giant topsy turvy wedding cake I made

I was hired to make a wedding cake for some friends of friends for a brother's wedding. I never met the bride since she lives in Seattle, but did meet with the sister of the bride and mother of the bride to discuss the cake order a few months ago. I made the cake this past Thurs and Friday and had it all done and waiting to deliver to the wedding on Saturday. I was so proud of myself for getting it done! Then at 7:30 Friday night, I took a look at the cake and the second tier split into about 5 sections. We tried everything to shim it, but ultimately had to take it apart and throw it in the trash. Dave and I stayed up all night making a new second tier from scratch and recovering/decorating the top one to match. Here are some photos of both cakes. The photos of the one with all circles in design is the final cake that made it to the wedding. Dave helped me the entire time from baking to decorating! He's was a lifesaver:)PS, I've retired from cake making after this event! It nearly did me in!

pumpkin picking

We took the kids to pick pumpkins on Sunday. They loved it! Wyatt stayed with the girls the whole time and didn't run away like I feared. It was nice to not have the stroller. We also bought a bunch of fresh farm produce since the pumpkins were at a local fruit/veggie stand we love to shop at. I'll be so sad when it closes in a few weeks. It's in the 40's and 50's here now and seems we are headed straight into winter with very little fall. It is so beautiful though with all the autumn colors on the trees and grass.

A few more from the first day of school

1st day of preschool for both girls

They were so excited to wait for the bus!! They are gone from 12-4:30 everyday and it's very strange and quiet without them. I think Wyatt really loves the extra attention.

I broke my little foot!

I'm thinking that the great deal on my new running shoes wasn't such a great deal after all. I broke my foot this past weekend (after my 3rd run in my new shoes) but didn't know it was really broken until Thursday when I gave in and went in for an xray. It's in a fiberglass cast now with a little removable boot that assists me with walking. Unfortunately, the cast is NOT removable!!! I have to wear it 6-8 weeks. At least I get to use the electric shopping cart at the grocery store. Too bad Old Navy and all my other stores don't have these handy carts, or ones that I can load all my kids into as well!!

pergola!!

Dave finished my pergola!!! I'm so pleased and can't wait to get started on our railing for the porch and fence for the patio. That's this weekend's project:)

Armada Fair 2009

We all made it to the Armada Fair again this year. It's the highlight of our summers each year here in Michigan. Gracie wore sunglasses the whole day since she was just a week post-op from her eye surgery. Wyatt went on all the rides too but cried everytime we took him on the merry-go-round. Georgia needs to grow 1 more inch before she can go on the big rides that she's been begging to go on for 3 years now. Must be 42 inches!!!

Our little Gracie turned 3!!

What a wonderful birthday celebration! The party started at 6 a.m. when Wyatt woke us all up. We opened presents and had eaten ice cream cake by 8 a.m. and then just played and played and played. The party was Tinkerbell themed. I think she's set now! Her new baby has 7 new outfits, a carriage, diaper bags, bottles and sockies. Gracie's new outfits and jammies all fit and she loves the books and new dolls and jewlery box. Dave has really put in quite a good deal of time today assisting Gracie with changing baby's new clothes...over and over and over again:)Georgia lucked out and got a gift too. She got "a husband for Barbie". That's what she calls Ken anyway. Thanks to all who made this day so special for her. We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends!! I can't believe how quickly 3 years have gone by.