Christmas

I am finally getting a minute to sit down and upload pictures and update the logs!  I am sad that we didn't get our Christmas card out this year, but I am working on sending out New Year's cards!  We got our pictures done late this year and with very little vacation time and James working long hours, we didn't get pictures done until the Saturday before Christmas!  Well, I figure that most people were also having a rough year getting it all done because we only received 5 cards!  I hope everyone is recovering from the holidays, I know a whole lot of people were sick and crazy busy.

Santa pictures were definitely memorable this year!

Christmas was wonderful here.  We were able to do some fun things with the kids and really make it a good end to the year.  We went and saw Christmas lights, made cookies, watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (per Eric's request), made gingerbread houses, saw Santa and did our Advent calendar.  We didn't adorn the house to the extent that we usually do because of the house being on the market, but we kept it nice and simple.

Reindeer Cookies

Christmas Lights at the Gullo's

Our "Gingerbread" Nativity

We spent Christmas Eve with James' side of the family.  It was wonderful.  We enjoyed time with everyone and sharing laughs, gifts and a delicious meal.  The boys really liked meeting their new cousin.  Eric loved to touch his hair!  Josephine really needs to get some more hair so she can keep up with her baby cousin.  We love having family so close to us and I can't imagine having it any other way.  We are so blessed to be near each other.

Alex was really excited about Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's house

Christmas Eve Pajamas

Christmas day my parents came over and we enjoyed more laughs, food, gifts and excitement.  The boys were over the moon with what Santa brought them!  They had been asking for Skylanders for about 8 months!  Finally they got it and they were so excited.  Josephine really liked unwrapping gifts and playing in the paper and ribbon.  She made us all laugh with her excited squeals and expressions.

SKYLANDERS!!!!

Thanks Santa

She loved her maracas

She loved all her new toys

modeling the hat Grandma made her

The day after Christmas we had a showing scheduled!  It was CRAZY but we got the house ready to be shown at 9:30 in the morning the day after Christmas!  If ever you want your house cleaned up after a holiday, just have someone schedule a showing!  We crammed 3 dogs, 3 kids, GiGi and myself into our van and drove around while the prospective home buyers looked at our home.  A cold front finally came in that morning and it was COLD!  Well, for us it was cold.

Eric loves his new pillow pet!

Alex loves his new Legos

After everyone left, and Christmas was done we found Moroni like this!

We had a wonderful Christmas and feel very blessed to have so many wonderful things to celebrate   For the first time in a few years I really got into the Christmas spirit and it felt like Christmas.  There was so much joy and love in our home that it was bursting at the seams.

Piano Recital

I have to brag on my Alex for a bit now.  Alex played in his very first piano recital!  He has only had ten lessons and he played beautifully!  I am so proud of him.  He went up and performed with such confidence that he radiated happiness.  He played Mary Had a Little Lamb and Jingle Bells.  He really loves the piano and loves his teacher very much.  At first he was upset that I had signed him up for lessons without me asking him, but now I have to pry him away from the keys so he will do his school work.  I am so grateful that he loves music, because he really has an ear for it, and has since he was a baby.  He is getting so big!

He is such a ham

Such concentration

I LOVE that smile

Alex and his teacher Sister Weaver

8 Months Old on 12-12-12

Josephine is 8 months old!  Can you believe it!?!  She is growing up so quickly and really developing quite the personality.  She is definitely as fiery as her hair, which is coming in nicely.  Here is a brief update on our little princess...

on 12-12-12!

*She has mastered scooting around on her bottom and is trying her hardest to crawl

*She waves hello and goodbye and says "Hi"

*She claps her hands and says "Yay"

*When we ask her 'How big is Josephine?"  She raises her arms above her head and we say "So BIG!"

*She LOVES to sing and tries to overpower the choir during practice

*She scrunches up her nose when she is being silly

*She plays Peek-A-Boo

*She definitely lets you know when she wants your attention (and not quietly)

*She hates anything dressed up (santa, mascots...)

*She loves pulling things out of containers

*She steals food off of your plate any chance she gets

*She has 6 almost 7 teeth!  (She's a piranha!)

*Her brothers make her laugh all the time

 *She got her first baby doll and LOVES it

*She is becoming very busy!

I love this smile!

In her Christmas outfit!

The Chick-Fil-A cow had tried to shake her hand...she wasn't taking her eyes off of him

Loves playing in the laundry baskets and helping Mommy fold laundry

November

Well, I cannot believe it!  It is almost December!  November has flown by and it was a wonderful month.  Well, time to update.  I will start with the most important thing that happened in November...my birthday!  Just Kidding, but really it was amazing.  My husband is one of a kind, and yes ladies, be jealous and men, take notes!  I don't know how I got such an amazing man, but he is always keeping me smiling and keeping life exciting.

This year for my birthday I really wanted to go to the zoo with our family.  I LOVE the zoo!  I just love the animals and I love watching my kids at the zoo.  We haven't been since Josephine was born and I was really wanting to go.  Well, money was a bit tighter than planned and my van needed some serious attention in the brakes department.  I was super bummed out to not be going to the zoo.  Still, James took off Friday and while he worked on the car I went and got a massage.  When I returned from the massage the house was a man's version of "tidy" although when I came home James was mopping the bathroom (should have been my first hint something was up) even though I told him not to worry about mopping, I would get to it tomorrow.  I was starting to really be grumpy because James wasn't doing anything about dinner and just wanted to lay around the house!  Then, out of nowhere he loaded us all into the car (he even woke up Josephine from a nap!) and took us to Wal-Mart (oh joy...).  Now I am down right irritated!  I'm hungry and my birthday has been a flop!  No cake, no ice cream, no dinner...nothing!  Well after he took us on other random errands we headed home.  He started texting on the way home and I yelled at him and told him to hand me his phone and I would send the message for him.  He refused to hand me the phone...now I knew something was up.  By the time we pulled into the driveway I was telling James that I just wanted to go home, put on my pajamas and go to bed.  Then, I saw some cars parked in front of my neighbors.  I complained that they were having ANOTHER party, then it clicked.  I HATE being surprised.  I can't stand being startled or scared and that fear started to set in.  I didn't know what was behind my door and I didn't want to go in.  I was trying to shove my kids in first (real protective mom huh!).  Finally James pushed the door open and our home was filled with friends yelling SURPRISE!  I don't know how he did it, but my husband had pulled off a surprise party!  I had even seen most of these friends during the week and nobody even hinted bout anything!  I was totally surprised and overjoyed.  I wasn't forgotten!  We then enjoyed cake and pizza and lots of wonderful friends.  It really was a birthday I will always remember!

Right after they surprised me...the shock was still setting in.  Look how smug James looks!

Me and Edrea (my Chinese sister!)

 The other big thing about November is the obvious...Thanksgiving.  I was very proud of myself!  I cooked everything except the gravy and it was yummy.  We invited some friends to join us, so when all was said and done there were 14 people in my little house!  Eight of which were children.  My home was filled with laughter, yummy food, smiles, friends and family.  It was the best Thanksgiving I have ever had.  I wish I had pictures of the day, but I don't.  I got so busy cooking and cleaning I totally forgot.  Then josephine caught a little tummy bug, so I didn't even get a picture in her little turkey outfit because she yucked it up.  I will just have to live it in my memories.  We are truly blessed and we have so much to be thankful for.  

Eric as a pilgrim at his school Thanksgiving program and lunch

Silly boys at Eric's School Thanksgiving Program and Lunch

Josephine enjoying the Black Friday ads while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

I know I didn't update on Josephine turning 7 months, but we are almost to 8 months, so I will update then.  Let's just say that lately she is so wiggly it is like trying to handle an octopus!  SHe scoots on her bottom and is full of giggles and personality.

7 Months Old!

 December will be here in two days and I am looking forward to creating some new memories with the kids and to enjoying some of our established traditions.  So until next time...

Halloween

This Halloween wasn't too eventful for us.  I really felt like it came together at the last minute and wasn't the best Halloween, but it could have been a lot worse.  We went to a Halloween carnival that James' company put on and had a blast.  The boys loved the bouncy castles and the crafts.  Josephine won 3rd place in the costume contest (because she wasn't old enough for the first or second place prize) and loved being outside in the nice sunshine and cooler weather.  We enjoyed our time there a lot.  His company even programmed one of their robots to hand out treats to the kids!

The boys checking out the newest robot at Daddy's work

Josephine taking her treat from the robot

Mmmmmm!  Thank you robot!

The costume contest

Enjoying her prize

This year Alex was Batman with muscles (the "with muscles" part was very important).  Eric was a ninja and Josephine was a tutu cute giraffe.  We hunted down three pumpkins on Halloween and carved them without Daddy.  After James got off work we went over to his parents and we went trick-or-treating with Aleena, Paul and Andrew.  The kids had a great time and that is what is important.

6 months!

Yikes!  Josephine is 6 months old!  That's half of a year!  Can I just admit to you that I am completely over the moon for her and I just can't get enough of her.  She is definitely my little princess.  Here is a quick update of our little girl

Isn't she just PERFECT!

*She sits unsupported!

*Her brothers are her favorite thing to play with

*Her giggles make everyone laugh

*She is super vocal (gee, I can't imagine where that comes from)

*She is still an excellent eater and wants to eat whatever you are eating

*Has the bluest eyes and they make strangers stop in their path! (no joke!)

*She still only has a tiny bit of hair but it is definitely RED

*She will study her toys and objects (beofre they end up in her mouth)

*She still HATES tummy time and yells and throws a temper tantrum until you pick her up

*She has a fiery personality to match that hair

*She is in the 57% for weight and 73% for height

And I think my favorite thing right now is that she gives hugs!

She loves being outside

She is full of pure joy

A Quick Update

Well, it has been a month since I last posted on here and in some ways a lot has changed, and in other ways, everything is still the same.

We are still living life and enjoying it to the fullest we can.  Alex is really enjoying being at home and me being his teacher.  Eric is thriving in Pre-K!  We are finally getting somewhere with his letters and numbers!  Josephine is growing and changing every day!  James got a promotion and a raise!  It had been a long time coming, but he is so excited about his new position at work and that he is an irreplaceable asset to the company   It is nice to feel important and needed when you ave worked so hard for so long. James is also doing great in school and really enjoying the challenge. I am still chugging along with all my Mommy duties.  I had to put my cake and dessert business on hold for now due to time constraints, stress and that I had to pack up all of my supplies and store them.  We put our home on the market last week and we are anxious to get it under contract so that we can put some earnest money on a home we fell in love with.  It is in the Lord's hands and we are doing all that we can so that we can prepared and ready for when the Lord says the time is right.  We are feeling very blessed and that our struggles and hard work are really starting to pay off.  Who knows where we will be next year, or heck even next month, but we know that it will be where He wants us to be.  Here are some pretty recent pictures for you.

So until next time...