Happy Heart Day

All heart...that's what this girl is.  She is the cuddly one in the family, the one who will say "Mom (or, Dad), I love you", just out of the blue, because she wants you to know.  She gives the BEST squeeze hugs you could ever imagine.  Even at the age of 3, she really seems to care for other people.  It hurts her heart when she thinks someone is angry with her, and she expresses that hurt in a typical 3 year old fashion.  I love her love.  I love her heart.

Valentine's Day was a special day for Ella.  No, really.  It was her "special day" at school.  The day where she gets to be the teacher's helper during calendar time, and the day she gets to bring "Bingo Bear" home.  Ryan didn't care much about Bingo Bear when he was in preschool (don't get me wrong...he has a big heart, too...the bear just wasn't his thing).  Ella, however, carries Bingo Bear *everywhere* and makes the best of every moment she can with him until it is time to return him to school...which she does with a very sad heart.  Oh, and let's not forget the Valentines.  A box FULL of love from her friends.

Yes.  Our Ella-girl enjoyed her Valentine's Day.

 

2011 in Review

Happy New Year!

Isn't it refreshing to think of starting anew?  I am not one for making resolutions, but I do think of the New Year as kind of a clean slate for new memories, and new starts and stages.  One thing I always do when I am doing away with the old calendar and opening up the new one for the new year, is I look back.  I look back at the previous year on our calendar, what we did, where we went, etc.  It is always interesting to me the things that I have forgotten about.  I have since thrown our calendar away, and of course some of these *events* weren't actually written on our calendar, but from my memory...here is a recap of our 2011:

January
An after Christmas trip to Maine
LOTS of snow
I passed a 6mm kidney stone (one event I don't really *care* to remember)
Lots MORE snow
Ella started sleeping in her big girl bed

February
Ryan and I got the flu, which turned into an ear infection for Ryan
MORE snow
We re-did the upstairs bathroom that the kids use (as well as overnight guests)
I started training for a half marathon that I hadn't even signed up for yet

March
We tried to refinance our mortgage, but the market was so bad that we were unable to do so
MORE snow (in fact, a pretty big snowstorm for March)
I signed Ella up to start preschool in the fall, but was worried because she wasn't yet potty trained
James went to Ryan's preschool to talk to the kids about his occupation
We signed Ryan up for tee-ball...his first 'team' sport

April
We took the kids to see the Imagination Movers in Wilke-Barre, PA
Tee-ball started, but it was so rainy we maybe got one game in
It rained...a LOT
Due to foot/ankle issues, I switched my registration for the half marathon to the 5K

May
I interviewed for a position at Ryan's nursery school
I went to Ohio for a girl's weekend with my gal pals from college
Ryan and Ella spent a weekend with Uncle Dan and Aunt Susan and their 'big' cousins.
We *think* a tornado (at least a VERY severe thunderstorm) made it's way through our area.  It left James in the dark for the whole weekend I was away with my gal pals.
Ella made her first trip to the ER (we think she dislocated her elbow, but by the time she got there, it was fine again, :/)
I ran my first ever 5K
Ryan finally played some tee-ball
We registered Ryan for Kindergarten
Ryan graduated from nursery school

June
We went on vacation with James' parents and my Mom to the Outer Banks
Lots of playdates for the kids
The kids and I made a cute recordable storybook for James for Father's Day
I did not get the position at the nursery school

July
The kids started swimming lessons
Ella turned 3

August
Ryan attended Kindergarten Orientation
I ran the Beach to Beacon 10K race in Maine.  Super fun...and my first 10K!
We all spent a week in Maine visiting family, and even snuck in a trip to Storyland in NH
James went on a fishing trip in the Adirondacks.  He ended up sick the first night, and they got kicked out the following day due to a hurricane
We experienced drenching rains and high winds due to a hurricane
I was hired and started working at the nursery school

September
The greater Binghamton area experience MORE drenching rain, and record flooding.  We were fortunate, but the area was devastated.
We carried on with a mini-golf party for Ryan's birthday
The start of school was delayed for both Ryan and Ella, due to flooding
Ryan started Kindergarten, James had a birthday, and Ryan turned 6 all in the same week
Ella started preschool and we discovered she was shy and clingy (not so much at home ;))

October
We celebrated my birthday and our 10 year anniversary
James and I got away for a night to a lovely Bed & Breakfast
We discovered that Ryan sees double sometimes, and therefore had a follow up appointment with a Vision Specialist, at which Vision Therapy was recommended
I started a book group at my house every other week

November
My Mom came to visit for a few days
We celebrated Thanksgiving at our house with James' parents
James got bronchitis and pleurisy
We *think* James passed a kidney stone

December
Ryan had another ear infection
James surprised me with a visit from my Mom for Christmas
Ryan started vision therapy

That's our year in a nutshell.  I'm sure there were more happenings that I have forgotten, but I think I got the big events. 

So thankful for a God who provided us with a healthy year, and the ability to be so busy.  I pray that in this new year, we can look ahead at what we can do for HIM...even in our everyday activity, to bring glory and honor to HIS name. 

Grateful that I don't need a calendar to start anew.  I worship a God who makes all things new.

 2 Corinthians 5:17 
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Christmas Surprise

I got quite the surprise this Christmas! 

My sneaky husband planned an executed a surprise visit from my Mom!  She came to visit us in November, but we had kind of accepted the fact that we would not be seeing each other at Christmas time.  James' vacation was such that he was off the week *before* Ryan's school vacation, and there would be no time for us to travel to Maine and back before James had to go back to work tonight. 

I was home sick with an icky stomach on Thursday, and really was very concerned that we would all be down with 'the bug' for the weekend.  Fortunately, it didn't happen that way, and everyone else stayed well.   The following day, Friday, I knew that I needed to go out and finish a few last minute shopping things.  I headed out the door with a line of questioning from James as to when I would be back.  I tried not to seem annoyed, as he was staying behind with the kids, and I was going out by myself, but he REALLY wanted to know what time I planned to be back.  I told him I hoped I wouldn't be long, but it depended on whether or not I could find what I was looking for, and where I needed to go to find it.  I ended up being out longer than anticipated, and when I called him to let him know, he told me he had to go out as well and that he took the kids with him (obviously).  I didn't question him...it is Christmas, after all, and perhaps he was out buying me a gift!? 

He was out picking up my gift, alright.  Just not the gift I expected!!

I got home just after he did.  When I walked in the door, he was pointing his iphone at me, like he was taking my picture.  I stopped and gave him a weird smile and asked him why he was taking my picture.  I then realized it was a video he was recording, just as my Mom said "Merry Christmas" from upon my couch! 

It was a wonderful surprise, one that I had absolutely no idea about, and it definitely made our weekend that much brighter. 

We went to church Friday night, and then spent Saturday visiting James' side of the family.  On Sunday, we woke up (before the kids, even!), and spent a leisurely morning opening our gifts.  I think my Mom really enjoyed being here to see the kids open her gifts, and they sure enjoyed playing with her all afternoon.

It was the best gift of all to be together.

Did I mention I love my husband??

Christmas Party and "Holiday" Show

For the past couple of years, we have attended a work party held for the Trooper's families out of James' station.  The lady who hosts the party, and all who are involved in making it happen, do a really great job.  The highlight (or not so much for some kids) of the evening is a visit from Santa, in which he brings a toy for each child present.  The kids gather around the Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols, and wait for the guy in the red suit to call their name. 

Ryan has no fear.  He goes right up and confidently takes his present (unfortunately, I missed getting a picture of him doing so!).  Ella, however.  She is not so sure of herself...or, of Santa.  This amazes me with my children, because Ella is my "spirited" child at home, and Ryan is my quiet one. 

Anyway, both kids walked away with something they had put on their Christmas list, so they were happy campers.

 

Ryan and his buddy, Will

 

Ella sitting with Daddy...not so sure about all this!

Oops...he caught me trying to take a picture of him singing!

 

Ella (well, Daddy) getting her present from Santa

 

A new baby!

 

A Lego City Police Car!

Ella *thought* she wanted to sit on Santa's lap.  She changed her mind. :)  Even her baby sitting on Santa's lap didn't help.

All of the Kindergarten classes at Ryan's school put on a "Holiday" show.  I am not going to go on some irrate tangent as to it being called a Holiday show, as opposed to a Christmas show, because they actually *did* sing the Dreidel song, and Hannukah *does* start today...so...technically...

Anyway, Ryan was out of school with an ear infection and pink eye last week, and today was his first day back to school.  I would have been overwhelmed by having to perform on my first day back, but...he just goes with the flow...and I love that about him.

Ryan is the cute little elf, second to last row, second child in...cute, right?

Enjoying a snack after the performance!  :)

Gingerbread House

Grandma bought the kids a Gingerbread house kit from Michael's.  Her intent, I think, was to come and put it together with them, but it just didn't work out that way.  So...Ryan was home sick with a sore throat last week, and since we don't EAT the gingerbread house, we decided to put it together.  It was a lot of fun, and the kids enjoyed having their own side of the house to work on.  Here is the final result!

Ella was being a little bit of a stinker and didn't want her picture taken.  Sigh...

Ryan was quite proud of our little house!

Crafting Fun!!

I have really been in the mood to craft lately!  I have been searching crafting blogs for various projects, and Oh. My.  There are SO many creative ideas out there in the blogosphere!!

I made a turkey shirt for Ella for Thanksgiving, and though I meant to take a picture of her WEARING it, I didn't.  And now, while I am thinking of it, it's upstairs in her dresser while she is sleeping.  No need to wake her while I dig for a shirt for a picture for my blog!  Anyway, I assure you, it is cute...even with some crooked stitching (I admit I am not the best at sewing).

These two shirts were super easy. 

The first is a ribbon tree shirt.  I got the idea from a couple of different blogs, and yet, I didn't save them to my favorites, so unfortunately, I can't reference them here.  I did use different ribbon than the two blogs where I saw it originally posted, so let's hope I don't get in trouble!!

Ella tolerated having her picture taken.  Nevermind that her skirt is twisted. :)

The second shirt is probably my favorite, and I got *that* idea from this blog.  The crafter who posted the original pattern chose to sew around her pieces.  I ironed on the felt cutouts, and honestly, I was afraid to ruin it by sewing.  I thought it looked cute without that step, so I left it as is.  I'm not sure how it will wash, but we shall see after tomorrow!  :) 

Fun!  Fun!!  Fun!!!



This and That

I hate when I get behind in blog posts, because it's really hard to know where to start in my updates, and it honestly becomes overwhelming to me to think about all that I *need* to post.  But, really...does it matter?  To me, it does...and it's my blog...so, there you have it.

Here are a few shorts on what we have been up to.

In October, James and I celebrated 10 years of marriage.  That is a pretty big milestone, or so it seems to me!  We celebrated by going on an overnight trip to a Bed & Breakfast in the Hudson Valley (The Stone House).  We had dinner at a nice restaurant overlooking the Hudson, and spent the following day touring a winery.  OK...two wineries.  The first one really was not at ALL what we were hoping it would be.  It sounded lovely in the brochure, but our first clue should have been that the restroom was, well, a port-a-potty.  Yeah...it was that bad.  The second one was much more to our liking.  The tour was self-guided, but the winemaker was there leading the tasting, and he gave a lot of interesting information on the process of making wine.  Great wine, too!

Ryan played soccer this fall.  He didn't really love it like I thought he would.  I think part of it was the disorganization of the whole program.  No two weeks were the same...until the last 2 weeks...which were the best of the season.  Ah, well...perhaps next year.  He is going to try basketball this winter, so we'll see what he thinks of that!

Ella is slowly warming up to preschool.  We have made it quite a few days in a row, now, without any tears.  Here's hoping that will continue after the Thanksgiving break.  She's so darn cute, though, isn't she?  :)

Ella at her field trip to the Fire Station


Some friends and I have started a book group at my house every other week.  We are currently reading "What Women Fear" by Angie Smith.  A GREAT read.  It is opening my eyes to things that I didn't realize that I fear.  Not sure what we will do next for a book...any suggestions??

We are staying home for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, and I look forward to starting (and continuing) some traditions in our own home. James has taken vacation during the week of Christmas this year (he would otherwise have to work on Christmas weekend).  I'm thankful that he will be home to celebrate with us.  I think, so often, of those who are in our armed forces and have been away from their families for months...birthdays and other celebrations missed.  It makes my heart sad...and those commercials that are on this time of year...you know, the ones where the child is reading one of those recordable storybooks to his/her Dad across the miles.  Oh, boy...those get me.  It puts it in perspective when I think about complaining that my husband has to work an overnight, or an entire weekend. 

I guess there isn't really a whole lot to update you on, but I had to start somewhere.  I have more pictures, but I'm having a hard time getting them to upload.  Bummer.  Apparently there is a lot of busy-ness going around, because most of the blogs in my sidebar haven't been updated in quite some time!!