Decorating

We had so much fun last night we had to repeat tonight. Tonight was all about decorating. Although mommy is still not at the top of her game - she was far more able to help decorate and participate in some of the fun. Addison loved decorating and well eating the decorations... kinda like her mommy - the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree. Jackson has a little bit of a cold so he steered clear for most of the activities - but we got one good shot of him tossing some sprinkles. The kids really enjoyed our second night of fun - what are mommy and daddy gonna come up with for tomorrow...lol. Oh and thanks again to daddy for being such a help and cleaning - I love you honey - oh and thanks for letting me take a half hour to blog about it while you unload dishes : )

The finished product - some day I will figure out this blog and ordering of pictures - but for now - I'll caption correctly.

The pastry chef herself - can't get much cuter than this!

This one is for me - this is a mom picture - she'll hate me later in life for it - but these are my Addi moments that I love the most - she's a cheeseball and I love it.

All Jackson can think - is when do I get to eat one - Friday big boy - Friday!

Kisses with mommy's girl

Thumbs up dude!

Just one taste please....

So focused - she even sticks out her little tongue - I love that!

Precious little fingers - cookies made with love.

Making my Heart Smile

As Valentine's approaches I am reminded about all the blessings I have but none more so than the night we had tonight. Tonight we made cookies, all four of us. It made my heart smile. I love my family - I love my children - I love that they love life and I get to watch them grow through it.

Addison and Jackson have daycare parties this week - so we decided to make homemade Valentine's this year. Mommy was struggling with a migraine - so my knight in shining armor stepped in and took over. Have I told you lately that I love this man? He'll even bake when needed : ) Tonight I fell in love with him all over again. What a beautiful thing to watch - the father of your children bake with your tiny people. Addison was in heaven - and Jackson well he just wanted to eat the cookie dough - he may be my son after all...lol.

Tiny hands - big hearts - this Valentines I remember how lucky I am to get to love this BIG : )

Anniversary # 3....Check

Three years ago today I married this man...

and I began to believe that fairytales do come true.  B, I love you big, deep and wide and more than all the stars in the sky.  Its been a crazy ride so far - but I'm not getting off anytime soon.  I love you!  Here's to finishing this contract and renegotiating in 47 years or so.  Nice to know that after so many frogs you do finally find your prince oh and two little munchkins too : )

Finding the Magic in Christmas

Well once again it has been far too long since I have posted anything.  This year I am having an incredibly difficult time finding the magic in Christmas.  This is my most favorite time of year. It is my favorite holiday - my favorite type of weather, I love what the season is celebrating - I love all the lights, the good time with family and the opportunity to just slow down and remember why we are all so lucky to have the things we do.  Anyway, this year I am being a bit of a scrooge.  We just finished the lights on our house.  I am not done shopping.  I don't have anything wrapped.  My anniversary is in four days and we don't have a plan so I am a little doom and gloom to say the least....until today well yesterday and today.  It started yesterday when my sweet friend Amanda surprised me with a very thoughtful gift that reminded me magic comes in the most unlikely places and then tonight over dinner my daughter out of the blue says the most wonderful thing completely unprompted - "mama - it's Baby Jesus' birfday (her word for birthday) in just five days.  Oh and Santa is bringing presents."  And you see there it was Christmas magic.  I no longer care about all the things that aren't done and so glad that my baby gets what this is all about and knew her mama needed a gentle reminder.  My princess is an angel I tell you.  So, shake off the scrooge - time to celebrate and back to blogging regularly - I promise - how could I not share this sweet angel with everyone : )

Pics of the kiddos

Mommy I love bath time....















Are you kidding me? She really is the most beautiful thing in the world.















I love her uh oh face - she's always getting caught in the act...















Mama's happy man...















Yes, mom I am working on my Cosmo cover...

Pure Joy

I realize it has been awhile since I was able to blog last - I had promised myself that this wouldn't happen - but nonethless life sometimes creeps up on you when you aren't paying attention. I have spent quite a bit of time in the last week reading other people's blogs - thanks Corie you know a lot of amazing and special people - and it has really made me put life in perspective. Simply put - I love my life - I don't have the biggest house or even a clean one at the moment - I don't have a lot of fancy clothes or jewelry - I don't have a lot of material things that I may want someday - but I have everything that I need. I have the most wonderful husband - who can make me smile with a simple look or a one word reference to a memory we've shared together. He makes me a better person. He is the reason I get up in the morning - he makes me feel special at all times of the day. If he could have it his way I'd never wear makeup and a raggedy old t-shirt and a pair of gym shorts will do just fine. He'd like it if I let him control the TV more often - but beyond that he always tells me he doesn't have any complaints and to be really frank in moments of weakness he admits that he loves "So you think you can dance" too. He loves me - 100% - he loves me more than all the stars in the sky... He is my best friend, my inspriation, my hero and the love of my life. He is an incredible father and the person that the good Lord made to be my perfect life partner. We are working really hard at creating a love that will last through this life and into eternity. I don't know if I tell him often enough - but this is a start : ) On top of that I was graced to get to be a mother two times over. I have a lot of friends struggling with getting pregnant or who have lost a child and I often wonder why did I get lucky. But, rather than focus on that I focus on little things like the most perfect color of Addison's hair or the way that I can settle Jackson down more so than anyone else. My babies are beautiful and I am blessed to be their mom. They make me so very happy - Brian and I started a family and they have completed it. I love every little thing about them - I love that Addison speaks the clearest when she is angry, just like her mommy or that Jackson invents new sounds every day. I love that they are both in the 95 percentile in everything, height, weight and head circumference - no wonder they were both born by C-section...lol. I love them big and deep - and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life showing them just how much. I know I am being sappy today - but I just needed to state that even in moments of adversity and weakness I really do love my family....my loves...my life.

Family is the most important thing

This week has been incredibly rough - my little brother Russell got very ill and it put life in perspective.  There are only a few things in life that matter, the Good Lord and family.  I watched my children in awe this week that even at their young ages they understand these priorities.  Brian took the sweetest video of them playing together.  You can see in Jackson's eyes how much he adores his sister and she likewise.  Addi was so cute this week - she walked around all week saying that Uncle Russ had "owies".  Even though Brian and I tried very hard not to disrupt them, they knew mommy and daddy were scared and they were such troopers.  As hard as life seems to get - I still wake up everyday realizing that I am the luckiest person on the planet.  I thank God for healing Russell and I thank him for blessing me with the best family a girl could ask for.