Pottery painting with Elise

Elise and I had to kill some time out of the house today so we checked out a pottery painting place in town. She just loves this type of thing! While she was painting, I decided to try out my new video camera.

I hate my voice...keep in mind I've had a head cold for 2 weeks and my voice sounds like a mix between a tranny and someone who has smoked for 50 years!

I love the point where she realizes that I'm filming her and it completely throws off her concentration.

We're having a very low key New Year's Celebration at home with the kids tonight. My nephew is over and all 3 kids are determined to stay up to midnight.

Pure laziness

We are enjoying a lazy break this year! I feel a bit guilty about being so lazy, but I keep trying to remind myself that I've read some really good books and I'm still battling this head cold.

Since there's not much going on, here a few snippets of our life:

• My sister called to tell me I really needed to buy my son some new pants. Sigh...I was hoping no one else had noticed he'd already outgrown the jeans I bought for him in September! I bought him 14 slim, with the adjustable waist cinched up as much as possible, and he's already shot through those. Added to my to-do list (which I'm trying to avoid in my lazy haze!) is picking up some size 16 jeans for my son.

• Elise has been going back and forth with some little girls from school. As we drove one little girl home last night, I was admiring her neighborhood...older homes with tons of character that I find so appealing. As we pulled up to her friend's house, I said, "Your house is so beautiful, I love it!" Elise then pipes in with, "Yeah, I like it too....well, just kinda." Fortunately, her friend thought the fact that Elise added the "well, just KINDA" was pretty funny. She can be honest to a fault! :) We learned that this little friend goes to our church, just a different service than we normally attend. I'm so thankful that she is developing some great friendships.

• I have the world's best hubby. We had planned on re-doing the kids' bathroom over break (nothing fancy, need to repair some water damage and want to replace the flooring....which will also lead to updating a few fixtures.) Somehow he's pulled a muscle in his back. If it were me, I'd be milking it for all it's worth! But, he just keeps moving forward...albeit a bit more slowly...on the bathroom. He just cannot stand to be bored. I'm sure it has NOTHING to do with my brother-in-law deciding to upgrade their bathroom...there's not a lick of competition between them!

• My cleaning lady is coming tomorrow and I'm half tempted to cancel. Why? I'm too lazy to straighten up my house so she can actually clean it! I keep reminding myself that I'll regret it by the weekend and that ~I~ would have to actually clean it myself (and I'd still have to pay her so I wouldn't save any money!) See, I told you this has been a lazy break.

• My son spent 15 minutes on his hair this morning (mind you, a comb has probably not touched his locks in the past 15 days!). He then proceeded to wear a shirt 3 sizes too small. (He was going to my sister's house, hence the phone call to buy my kid some presentable jeans...clearly she missed the shirt!)

• I have five more days of laziness before pulling my act together again for work.

Hope everyone else is having a relaxing break. Ingrained in this laziness is lots of family time and I'm really enjoying that.

The year in review

I'm shamelessly stealing this idea from my friend Sandra's blog. Here is a look back through the past year. Time goes so quickly when you are a parent. Some of these things seem like they happened just yesterday.

January 2008:

Carson's pinewood derby car does exceptionally well!

Elise and her Piggy. (I should note that Piggy has been a steady companion to Elise. Piggy was given to Elise by her godparents right as she arrived home. She latched onto Piggy after being home for about 6 weeks and he/she was by her side daily. Just during this past year did Piggy start fading into the background.)

I just love this picture of Elise. She sits like this all the time.

Carson's school concert. I remember buying this outfit a few weeks earlier only to discover it didn't fit on the night of the concert. This year has been a year of GROWTH spurts for my boy.

February 2008:

Elise in her Chinese New Year outfit. She's so proud of her Chinese heritage.

Carson helping me prepare treats for our Chinese New Year party.

Sleepy bedheads...I love capturing the moments they get along...it proves that it does happen more often than it seems! :)

March 2008:

Elise with her Aunt Kristin (note that Piggy is still present!)

We had several snow days in March. We lost count of how many games of Dora Checkers we played on those snow days!

Carson and Mollie on yet another snow day.

Elise's annual haircut! :)

Happy Easter!

April 2008:

The weather turned nicer and we headed back outdoors.

Carson is in his element outdoors in nature. Always has had a strong love of nature.

Fairy cheerleader?!?

Words escape me....

We said a very painful and sudden goodbye to our sweet dog. You are still greatly missed, Sneakers!

May 2008:

Elise turns 6!

We open the pool.

The kids practically move into the pool!

We practically live outdoors!

Carson finds a snake (this picture still disturbs me in so many ways!)

Trixie finds her way into our home and hearts.

June 2008:

All about Maine, baby...

Me, Grandma Carson and Perry. I cherish each time I get together with my grandmother. There have been so many times that I was sure it would be the last time and she keeps surprising us with her health. I no longer worry about it being the last time, but fully enjoy the times I get with her.

Elise didn't have any strong memories of her great-grandmother before this visit, but she sure does now! Both kids enjoyed their time in Maine and visiting with Grandma Carson and our other Maine relatives.

Carson at a beautiful spot on my Aunt and Uncle's peaceful and gorgeous farm in Maine.

Elise in the sand at Acadia in Maine.

July 2008:

More pool time.

We get together with another family from our travel group. Both girls were at the same orphanage in China.

Carson got to be a Vet for a day!

August 2008:

Elise meets her 1st grade teacher, who is proving to be WONDERFUL!!!

Carson in the days before school starts.

The tractor (mower) was a bit hit this summer. Elise could help Dad drive.

While we let Carson drive it himself (with supervision!)

September 2008:

September was all about soccer.

Elise decided at the last minute to play again...mainly because her old team had PINK shirts this year.

Carson really improved on his soccer skills. Spent a lot of time as goalie and really impressed folks with his throwing abilities (Dad still says no football!)

October 2008:

Halloween - Elise as Sleeping Beauty.

Halloween - Carson as ??? freaky scary man ???

Elise loses her first tooth.

Carson kept losing teeth even after I thought all his baby teeth were gone!

Elise gets her ears pierced!

November 2008:

Proof that they do get along...at times!

Thanksgiving playing with cousin Isaiah.

Carson holding baby Peter at Thanksgiving. Peter was born in November while Carson entered double digits, turning 10!

December 2008:

Date with Dad.

Elise helps in all the baking fun.

Carson is a true blue Bears fan.

Enjoying Christmas presents.

Christmas Recap

What a wonderful Christmas Day! I just love Christmas. The meaning behind it is so strong for me and my faith. I just love celebrating this day with my family. Here's a recap on our family's celebration this year.

The kids slept in a bit for them. Carson woke up at 6:00, crawled in bed next to me and feel right back asleep. I should note here that I've ALWAYS been the first one up on Christmas morning. All during my youth, I could sleep until noon...except on Christmas Day. My parents usually spend the night at our house on Christmas Eve so they can share in the excitement of the morning.

The big gift from Santa this year was a Wii and several games, which shocked both kids!

Elise also got the American Girl doll that she's been wanting. I just love that look of excitement on her face!

While we waited for the rest of the family to arrive, we spent the morning playing the Wii (hoping I burned off a few of those cookies!)....

...trying out Carson's new bike and getting pointers from Grandpa on changing gears (this is Carson's first bike with gears)....

....and cuddling up to read a book with Grandma.

As soon as everyone showed up, it was mass chaos...but a good and welcome chaos.

And we ate more food that one would think humanly possible! This is just the sweats table.

My sister married this guy a few years back.

He sure does bring a new element to Christmas!!! (We grew up in a family where you'd NEVER find alcohol!) The gun was a gift for my dad (to go skeet shooting....nothing harming living breathing animals). The big boys were tempted to try it out in our backyard. While we do live out in a country-like setting, we do have neighbors and the idea of playing with the gun in the backyard was quickly nixed! (And as for his beer...I was drinking wine out of plastic cup so he was in good company...guess he didn't bring us down too far after all!)

Me and three of my nephews. These boys will go back and forth and back and forth for the next few days between our house and my sister's. Tyler is 12, Carson is 10 and Spencer is 9 and they get along so well!

Elise practices more Hannah Montana songs on the Wii....I can't get that Girls Night Out tune out of my head!!!!

And my bestest gift this year? My hubby made me homemade chocolate truffles....just for me! :) He knews I just adore these. It was a wonderful gesture...proving that the best gifts are really from the heart and not from the wallet! :) (He did also get me a Flip video camera that I'm still figuring out...never fear, I'll be annoying you with videos in the very near future!)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends! Can't wait to hear about them!

Merry Christmas!