2009

2009 was a good year--a little crazy, but good overall.

My mom used to send out a Christmas letter each year with updates on major family events. She stopped after last year, but if she had done one this year, we would sure have had some events to share. (Apparently I was supposed to carry on the tradition. I didn't.)

Let's see; I quit my full time job of four years back in February. Then Thomas had his second and more involved middle ear surgery in March, which was right around the time we confirmed that our family would soon grow to five. In a desperate scramble we found a house and succeeded in closing for the first time ever. Then, of course, there was moving, which meant a new school and tae kwon do program for Thomas. Brian's 30th birthday was met with crow bars and a big dumpster as we prepared our second floor for an all-out reno. Shortly after that I was sentenced to bed rest for a month and a half. HUGE thanks to all our family, again, for helping out through that. Logan made his grand entrance in November, and we've been scrambling for and through the holidays since then! Also on the list were Gabe's 1st birthday and Tommy's 7th plus a stressful ordeal last spring that I'd rather not get into. On a happy note there were two big grandma birthday celebrations on both sides of the family, and my mom turned 60 this December! My sister also welcomed her fourth sweet baby, a girl, into the family in April, and my cousin gave birth to a handsome baby boy over the summer. We had trips to NH, MA, RI, and CT, all for different family events. Plus Tommy started soccer!

Yes it was a good year, but I wouldn't be completely honest if I didn't say I wouldn't mind a bit of a slow down for 2010. Of course, I already have big plans, which you'll hear about here soon enough. More on that tomorrow!

Happy New Year!

Discovery

Conversations with Gabe

Me: You're going to have a birthday soon.
Gabe: CAKE!
Me: *chuckle* Do you want to have cake for your birthday--and a party?
Gabe: Yeah! ...CAKE!
Me: What kind of cake would you like? Elmo?
Gabe: Yeah. *grin*
Me: Dogs?
Gabe: Yeah! *grin*
Me: Kitty cats?
Gabe: Yeah! *grin*
Me: What's your favorite?
Gabe: Uhmmm... Cake!

Thank you.

Brian bought me a stand mixer for Christmas. Let me tell you, I was really working in the dark ages before, creaming butter and sugar by hand, for one thing.

Of course, I made cookies straight away.

Brian's father also bought us a very nice new camera. I have no idea what I'm doing (with the camera) but have always wanted to learn. I mean REALLY learn. I do already photograph everything, for goodness' sake.

Although, Brian did say he would have to stop giving me a hard time for taking pictures of everything from dinner to the sky after he saw one of my random photos in an online publication recently. Tee hee!

Anyway, the cookies were delicious, and I thought they put both gifts to great use.

So thankful!

Christmas '09

...In photos. Click to enlarge.

Merry Christmas

Meet Caroline

I usually prefer to knit toys, but yesterday I wanted to crochet because I generally find that crocheting is easier with lots of interruptions, plus Logan likes to fall asleep in my arms but wake up when I try to lay him down. I can crochet somewhat easily (and safely) while I'm holding him.

I wanted something fun and stress-free, so I used the pattern search on Ravelry to find something fitting the yarn and hook I had handy (love that I can do that) and came up with this sweet little bunny.

I think she's pretty cute, even for my first crochet amigurumi, and I know a sweet little girl who I think might like her just a little.

You can make one too. The pattern is free, from Lion Brand. Here's a link.

I think I'll make another.

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.)

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?