My Cup Runneth Over

I can't help but look at this beautiful gift basket so full of fruit, or remember Sunday's chance to share Christmas with some of our family in the warmth of my sister's great New Hampshire home, and feel so blessed.

My family has a growing abundance of wonderful, healthy, active, caring young children. (Pictured above are my three boys, one of my sisters and her four young children, and my other sister's three kiddos, along with my father, grandfather, and one of my aunts.)

I am never not thankful.

Well, hello there!

He's so full of smiles these days.

Pumpkin Bread

I might be pumpkin bread's biggest fan. My love for it all started with my big sister's recipe. She lived at home with my mom and I when she was in college, and she always made the yummiest things. She really has always amazed me with her ability to make up her own delicious concoctions. I don't know if this begins to compare (I haven't tried her homemade bread in a long time), but I do love this too. Recipe here.

I made a lot. The last time I sent Brian out for canned pumpkin puree he returned with two 30 oz. cans. I didn't have a bowl big enough, so I mixed it all up in a big stock pot!

(That's one can of pumpkin. It made 12 mini loaves.)

Gabe and I sampled some this morning, and I don' think there was a single crumb left. Mmm.

Paper and Scissors

I asked Thomas to make a holiday paper chain to adorn the living room window.

The snowflakes were his own idea.

I think they add just the right touch.

Santa Goes Green

It was the title of Thomas' school holiday concert, which was cute, funny, overall entertaining, and just plain totally awesome. I took some photos and video, but it was a bit difficult since this is how far back we sat:

Thanks to modern technology, I was still able to get in pretty close with the camera. I'll zoom in slowly for you, just to show you how cool it was that Thomas was standing directly in the middle of the group. (It made it so much easier to take photos!)

Here he is; see the elf teacher directing the choir? Thomas is the handsome boy in the suit and tie, just up from her right hand.

He and his classmates were penguins. (Look closely. He has a white tummy.)

He really stands out in this picture:

Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun.

If my photos are not as clear as they ought to be, it might not be the camera's fault. I had a sweet baby Logan in my arms the whole time.

He slept through most of the show. Gabe came too, but I didn't catch his picture. He became a little antsy and difficult toward the end, but I think he was a little excited too, at first at least.

We celebrated by picking up some mint chocolate chip ice cream from Stewart's on our way home, as did everyone else from his school. (The morning coffee rush had nothing on us!)

Here's our penguin one more time, sans white tummy this time:

Okay, maybe a couple more times. I can't pick just one photo!

What a handsome kiddo. I can't believe how grown up he looks in his suit!

Oh, I almost forgot! I also uploaded a couple of short videos to youtube. You can see them here and here.

Goodnight from all of us!

Yum.

Peppermint mocha latte, decaf. Definitely a treat. Especially considering its price tag of $4.59 with tax. Ouch. It may be my last at that price, but I had to try it, and it was really, really, really yummy.

Just please don't tell me how many calories I just consumed!

(Don't worry. It was gone before Gabe found it.)

Just Had To Say

I am working on 3+ posts right now... and have been for at least days. Needless to say, I'm way behind on commenting on other blogs as well. Nursing seems to be the only time I can combine with computer time, and this one-handed typing thing is getting a little tiring!

Soon, though... Soon.

Woah.

Yes, that was meant to be the caption for the photo above.
Logan gets wide-eyed often.

He is one full month old today. He weighed 7 lb, 6 oz at his check-up today. (That's small, I know, but good.)

Following is a pic I took last week. It's funny how different he can look depending on his clothes and my angle.

In some ways he looks very different than his brothers did at his age. Then again, there are definite similarities too.

Here I am with my boys (yesterday?? the days all blend together now)... I look awful... wearing one of Brian's tee shirts, a full fifty pounds heavier than I weighed at the beginning of my second pregnancy. Never mind my weight before Thomas. (I'll lose it again but still... UGH.) It's a cute pic of the boys though, so you get a rare shot that actually includes me.

Have I mentioned how much I love them?