The Birthday Boy

It's Nic's birthday. I love to torture him.

Just kidding! ;) It wasn't his turn today. We were waiting on big brother, Alex, to get his bottom braces on.
The ladies at our wonderful ortho office put a movie on for Nic and made sure he was super comfortable during our wait.

Hard to believe my little man is FOUR YEARS old!

Happy Birthday, baby Nico!

Another first...

First... let me give tribute to our finished Thankful tree.

We spent yesterday just hanging out  - I made French Toast for breakfast, we cleaned up and did some chores, then worked on stuff around the house (nothing crazy - very relaxing). 

For dinner Marcos grilled burgers & dogs... I put the french fries in the oven! ;D After dinner, we migrated to the formal living room and opened THE box.

The box has been sitting there - ready for some attention - for a few weeks now. The time had finally come.
I know I mentioned this before - this is our first Christmas tree ever. The kids and I were super excited!
After bending and twisting each of the branches just so, we started to add the ornaments.  

UMMM. Nic just HAD to get in this picture! ;)

Once the tree was complete and looking mighty fine, I started to work on the wreath I was building from scratch.

Finally, we add a few more festive things to the front porch. We plan to add tinsel strands, Christmas lights, and, of course, snow on the windows.  I will be sure to add a complete "after" picture - hopefully next weekend.

Today, Marcos is at work, I am going to settle down and watch Eat, Pray, Love on DVD and then make Chocolate Chip cookies later this afternoon.

Another LOVE-filled day, with not much to do but enjoy ourselves.

I am thankful for my husband and my three beautiful children. I am thankful for this LOVELY house and what it means to us. I am thankful for this holiday season - and the firsts we get to experience.

Life is really, really good.

Cookies & Christmas - that's what Nic's thankful for

Here it is - Thanksgiving Eve.
I think I am just about ready to host my parents and grandparents tomorrow.
This being our first T-day in our new house - I am feeling anxious & excited.

The kids and I have been preparing all day.

We made a Thankful tree. The older kids wrote on their own leaves things they were thankful for.
I wrote down Nic's thoughts. After cookies and Christmas - it went all downhill from there (e.g. Spongebob).   We cut out extra leaves and set them, along with markers and tape, on the table in the hall so that our family can add to the tree as they see fit throughout the day tomorrow.

We then made some turkeys to hang on the wall.

Finally - I just took my pumpkin pies out of the oven.  I made pies last year (first time ever) but they were with store-bought, ready-to-use pie crust. This year, I wanted to make it from scratch. I found a KitchenAid mixer recipe - and IT WORKED!   Look at these sweethearts.

Impressed much? Yeah, I didn't think so. =)

Well, back to dressing my dining room table; I want it to look fantastic. Just getting started...

I hope you all have a wonderful and loved-filled Thanksgiving tomorrow! You deserve it. =)

P.S. Sorry abt the picture quality - still having issues with my camera's memory card. Had to use my BBerry.

Brrrrr!!

I swear - it has to be 20 degrees outside. It's gray and overcast. And cold!!
Okay, it's probably not 20 degrees out; it sure feels like it, though.
And if it feels like it's that cold outside, you can imagine what it feels like inside la casa. Right, 21 degrees.
Brrrr.

I want me 100's back!! And my Mr. Sunshine.

Speaking of misters...

Have you met my brother? His name is Jesse. Today he reenlisted in the U.S. Army for another two years. He joined in 1993 straight out of high school; this new reenlistment will take him to retirement!

Jess has completed three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan (and has been stationed in Saudi Arabia and has done "day trips" to the likes of Colombia). He is a Medic, and this past year was certified nationally and in the state of North Carolina as a Paramedic.

I'd be proud of him - except for the fact that he still insists that I was found under a rock.
So, for his accomplishments, I am whelmed. Not over nor under. Just whelmed.

Do you think I should put the heat on?! My toesies are cold.

Please hold & things to look forward to

I have a few posts I am just about ready to publish - but my camera is not cooperating. =(  As in, when I put the card into my laptop, it says it needs to reformat the card [and delete all of my pictures!]  I am too skurred to do anything - so these posts will have to wait.

Just to tease you a little - they involve pumpkin, bookcases, chocolate chips, and contact paper.  Not necessarily in that order.

[wow- I just realized that my kids put on Christmas music - LOVE IT!]

I cannot believe the year is coming to a close. There are a few things I have to look forward to.

[umm. Alex just changed the station. Darn him!]

Since I barely started this blog back in June, one thing you may not know about me is the fact that I love budgets. Since we've moved, I've yet to hook up my personal computer; I've been using my work and personal laptops.  On my beloved personal computer I have my budgets, past and future ones.

I am ready to get back to basics ($$$$), get organized, and create some personal and financial goals for 2011.  

Have you started thinking about things you'd like to accomplish next year?!

Hello, Pumpkin!

I stumbled across a blog the other day... and now the writer and I are super close friends. I know so much about her [and not because I've stalked her blog from beginning to end - or end to beginning]. She just doesn't know ME yet.

Don't you love finding really GOOD, local blogs? I do.

Anyway - back to Connie.  She is adorable. She has an adorable little boy. She is very pregnant with baby # 2. And she has some fantastic recipes that I am ready to try. So very ready.

Connie completely inspired me to bake today. During my LUNCH HOUR from work. Who does that?!

Take a look at this post...
Go ahead. I'll wait for you to come back...

Oooh! Back already?!

Now do you see why I wanted to get all Betty Crocker-like? 

Thankfully, due to the Holiday's coming around the corner, I had everything on hand. It didn't take long at all to whip that batter up. The hardest part was greasing the pans... I wonder if Connie hasn't heard of cooking spray. Eh. I wanted to follow it to the letter - so I greased my first set of pans today. A standing ovation?! You shouldn't have. Thanks! ;)

Here are a few pics to show my process...


The husband and Nic were out and about - so they had no idea of my mischievousness... but the moment they walked thru the day - they knew their dreams had been answered... Alice from the Brady Bunch finally decided to come out of retirement (Or is it permanent retirement? How awkward; I should really Google that).

Nope. It's just me.

Look at that...

Mmmm, mmmm, tasty!

You need to try Connie's recipe.
Like she says.... You're welcome!

Free to a good home

Free, you say?
To a good home?

[pauses to ponder for a moment]

Yes, I have a good home. I think.

Office furniture? A whole room full?

Oak? Eh.

Wait. I have paint.  I'll take it!

[no cute baby elephants were harmed in the making of this post]
[pictures to come after i have had a chance to actually sand and paint the free stuff. bookcases -yay!]