Thursday, November 27, 2008

journal Christmas.


we had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
the food was great but the company was better.
laughing and sharing stories.
knowing just how much we have to be thankful for....

Jeff and I are off to Blowing Rock tomorrow for our 10 year anniversary getaway.  Really looking forward to some time together and so thankful that the grandparents were up for the challenge.  Truth is we know they are going to have a great time and so are we.

For the past few years I have made a journal of our Christmas.  Truly so much fun.  Signed up for the class about 3 years ago and now as an alumni I receive the class for free.  Looking forward to doing it this year.  My album is made and ready for the daily prompts that she will send.  If any of you are interested in this venture here is her website.


If you do decide to do it let me know in the comments section.

Happy Thanksgiving Thursday!
Alicia

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

thankful.

Thanksgiving 2007

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith that you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."  Colossians 2:6-7


today I am thankful for:
God's answers to prayer.
Jeff. 10 years on Friday!
anticipating a wonderful weekend at an Inn in Blowing Rock.
My children.
Macs.
our Friends.
our "homey" home.
the new "classy" color on my kitchen walls (thank you baby for your hard work, and thank you Shannon for your color picking..."cornmeal" it is.)
visiting parents coming tomorrow.
karen returning from Utah.
colors outside my window.
warm clothes.
hot tub.
potty training success.
lauren playing piano.
knitting.
great books (The Shack).
the 17lb. fresh turkey from Trader Joe's in my refrigerator that gave its life for my family to enjoy 2 days from now.
chocolate covered cherries.
our marriage class.

Happy Tuesday!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Alicia

Monday, November 17, 2008

Swimming in leaves.

(click on picture to see full album)

last week was a little rough around here.
really felt "the enemy" in my home.
amazing how quickly he creeps in....
I am so thankful for grace, forgiveness, 
God's word, and my husband, who calmly
prays with/for me.

jeff was/is sick.
I am beginning sick.
jack is in full potty training mode. 
a little man potty in every bathroom.
pp not a problem.
the other one, not so easy.
1 chocolate chip for pp, 2 chocolate chips for the other.
he washes his hands.
and really enjoys flushing and waving his "stuff" goodbye.

on saturday we went to a dog show.
first time i've been since I stopped showing dogs years ago.
so neat to see the junior handlers.
explaining to the girls "this is what mommy did when she was your age."
really enjoyed watching the dogs go through the agility courses too.
we are going to attempt to work with macs on doing some of this.
we may just start with "sit" and "stay".

on sunday, after church, we headed outside for some fun in the leaves.
the girls had an absolute blast.
lauren fell off the zip line a few times, but what a trooper.
really enjoyed the crisp, cold weather.
there is something so wonderful about watching the seasons.
spring newness, summer bounty, fall colors, and winter cold.
an appreciation for each one.
one of our favorite sunday traditions is dinner with grandma.
either our place or hers.
last night it was hers.
homemade manicotti, salad, and apple cobbler from GG's cookbook.
two words.
yum eee!

Happy Monday!
Alicia

Sunday, November 9, 2008

2 years 6 months 30 days.

















































It took us this long to take the plunge and cut Jack's sweet baby curls.
Believe me this was rough.  I thought I just needed to give it a little snip, but once I was standing over him with scissors in hand I actually felt myself getting choked up.  I had to pause a few times before finally cutting the first curl.  I felt like I was destroying him.  Crazy! I know.  Anyhow, he did great and Lauren was able to film it, so anyone who is sad at this moment because they weren't here (mom, karen edited: Shannon too), you will be able to watch the show.  Here are some before and after shots.  Love this boy!

Have a blessed Sunday!
Alicia

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Hayes visit.

Hayes visit

(click on image to see album)

We had such a great time with the Hayes.
Time just seemed to move too quickly.
The weather was great.
The leaves were in full color.
Lots of outside play.
Attempted to go to a fall festival 3 times, but decided that hanging out was more fun!
Shannon and I made an Executive decision and decided to move Halloween from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 (and really it worked out because it turns out that kids only want the candy...so we gave them the candy as long as they each said "trick or treat")
Megan and Elli 
lots of dancing and singing.
deciding that being a goddess for Halloween was a good thing. 
Megan was Aphrodite (the Greek goddess of love and beauty).
Elli was Venus (the Roman goddess of love and beauty).
birthday celebration for Megan, Lauren, Elli and Jeff.
mini bike rides.
the Kit movie.
typewriter fun.
matching knitted hats.
knitting night at A Peace of Yarn.
Riley and Lauren. Lauren and Riley. 
what a perfect pair they are. 
Spider Man and Holly Hobby.
(us parents have pretty much promised them to each other someday....shhhhhh!)
Riley singing "my beauty".
planting a pine tree in the middle of the bedroom. no kidding!
swinging each other on the zip line.
mini bike rides.
trampoline.
hours in the cold seeking out bugs.
Jack and Charli.
Jack loved playing with Riley's "griffin" bird. 
(Thank you for sharing Riley)
Charli buzzed around in her walker.
Each time Jack would run past Charli he would slow down and very softly say, "Hiiiiiiiii Charliiiiiii."
Jack saying, "I wikes her!" 
Naps.
Charli's first Halloween. She was a flower.
Jack's 2nd Halloween. He was baby Einstein.
Us parents.
mostly got to visit with each other late at night.
praying together.
a lot of laughing.
Shannon and I admitting that we really have four children each, and that our husbands are our "firstborns". (absolutely would not have it any other way...we love you guys!)
Jeff and Phil went to a hockey game.
going for a walk with Shannon and Charli.
eucalyptus branches on the side of the road (started pulling off branches and then decided to drag the whole thing home).
grateful for each and every moment.

It was so great to have them here.
But there's just one thing about those Hayes.....they always leave us wanting more!  
it's just never enough!

Thank you guys for giving up your "box" (our joke) for a week to come and make our week so amazing!  Thank you for loving us so much and teaching us so much!

Happy weekend days.
Alicia

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

out of the mouths of babes.

Lauren: "mommy what will happen if Barrack Obama is President?"
Me: "well, lots of things, I think."
Lauren: "will we have to pay more for things?"
Me: "possibly."
Lauren:  "well, I better go buy some M&M's before he becomes President!"

Lots of laughing.

Happy Tuesday.
Alicia