Moulin Rouge

Julia's friend had two extra tickets to see Moulin Rouge at the PPAC last night... so we had a mom and daughter night...

We had great seats too! What a wonderful show! 

Christmas

Christmas Eve was spent in Watertown visiting Danny's side of the family... 

After we got home, I watched the Polar Express with Julia and Gianna : )  Then Danny and I got up early this morning to get the stockings, presents and breakfast ready. The kids got up at 9:00 and we had fun opening all the gifts...

I love these Ikea drawers for Gianna's room. She was so surprised!

And the aftermath...

I think the kids were all very happy with their gifts. Then my sisters arrived and we had a delicious Italian dinner that Danny made with lots of yummy desserts. 

My sisters and I have started a new tradition buying each other gifts and they are always so thoughtful and fun!  Kimmy gave us a chapter of her book with this adorable carved duck she named Fin! I'm so excited to read it! 

Kerry made these beautiful framed pictures of me with each of the kids. I love them!

And I loved this gift I gave to Kerry...

Listen for me in the music
the songs we held so dear
I’ll find a way to play them
so you can feel me near

each verse will lift your spirits
embrace your weary soul
each word my heart is sending
to help you feel more whole

listen for me in the music
and nature’s music too
the birds will sing my message
they’ll chorus my love for you

the wind will sing through leaves
as you are walking by
if you listen very closely
my heart’s in every sigh

listen for me my love
I’ll find a million ways
to whisper in your ear
that I’m not so far away.

It perfectly describes how we feel Mom communicates with us...through music for sure and through nature. I think she loved it! 

It was another special Christmas...although I totally forgot to take pictures today. Ugh! I was very much living in the moment I guess. 

Christmas Eve Eve

We spent Christmas Eve Eve at CeCe and Carolyn's...

Her tree is beautiful...

This was my gift to CeCe. She misses her sister, Marcia...

We ate yummy Chinese Food and desserts. She had all our favorites! The cream puffs are a Christmas tradition...and of course her famous chocolate square cake...

CeCe is so special to us. It was a nice night with my little family. (Danny was there too...just didn't get a picture of him.) 

When you choose Joy

Truth

 

They're Home

All three kids are home!  Gianna came home last week. We picked Nicholas up from the airport yesterday and Julia came home late last night too but has to go back up for one more final on Thursday. It's so nice she lives close enough to do that. I'm just so happy to have them all home under one roof again. 

Cuteness

Nicholas went with his girlfriend, Haley, to a wedding yesterday. The good son he is...he sent me some pictures: ) 

Semi Formal

Julia went with her friend, Joey, to the baseball semi-formal last night. She looked so pretty!  

Julia & Lily...

Julia with her dance team friends...

Christmases gone by

When you think back to Christmases gone by, you will most likely remember the feelings, not so much the things. Like the Christmas Eve's I spent snuggling on the couch with my little family of five watching The Polar Express with the beautiful Christmas tree twinkling and glowing brightly from across the room...

The feelings of happiness, security and contentment. 

You will always have a home

To My Babies...

Whatever choices you make in this life, wherever you go, whomever who you choose to share it with...

I want you to keep coming home.

I want you to know, that in this fast-paced, crazy world in which we live - you always have a safe place to rest your weary head - and your heart.

This door, it will never close, not to you.

I will try, with all my might, to refrain from judging you: I get it, this is your life now, your path and you need to walk it your way.

But I am here.

And I walked many paths too, so if you need any advice, ask me. I will always try to see it your way.

I just want you to remember, always, that a part of me is in you, and that your home will always be here too - even when you have your own.

And anyone in your home, has a home in my home too.

The wonderful thing about family is - we need never face anything alone.

Fly high, dream big, live loudly, love fiercely. Show the world what you are made of. Show them the way, you have so much light to shine out there.

And when your light won’t shine the way it should...

I will be here.

Always.

Written By Donna Ashworth

Mornings

Weekending

Yesterday I took a ride up to Endicott and had such a nice afternoon for myself! I went up to watch the student choreography showcase. It was so good! These were my four favorite dancers.

Kya was amazing! She was on the dance team last year but decided it wasn't for her. This is her thing for sure...

Another favorite was Amanda. She currently is on the dance team with Julia. She did an instrumental version (violin & piano) to The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. It was so beautiful that it moved me to tears...

This girl, Maria, used to compete against Julia back in the day. She was stunning as well...

And this girl, Katherine, is such an artist. What a fabulous performer! She really told her story through her movement and expression. I just loved her...

Julia had already seen the show the night before with her dance team and had to go to the men's basketball game which was at the same time as the show I was going to. However, she's sick at the moment with bronchitis/pneumonia so she wasn't performing with them. After the dance show was over, I went to watch the second half of the basketball game. I made it just in time to see the dance team perform at halftime. This is a quick clip of one of the sidelines. So strange to watch them without Julia...

The game was really fun to watch and Endicott won! 

Then Julia and I went to grab a quick dinner at Hale Street. She's making her funny face because I was sending it to Gianna...

I love that Julia is so close to home that I can make those spontaneous visits! Anytime I can be on the Endicott campus I'm happy! 

Nicholas was at the University of Michigan this weekend playing two games. That's where his cousin Justin goes to school. It was so awesome that Justin went to his game on Saturday! That made my heart so happy! 

My handsome boy...

Today is a rainy Sunday so I'm just going to finish my weekend relaxing at my happy place...home. 

December

The beautiful and most magical month...December : )

Practicing

Julia practicing in the Endicott dance studio...

She just gets better and better and better : ) 

SHU dance show

Gianna had her first (and quite possibly last) dance ensemble show last night. She felt it was way too easy and just not satisfying enough from what she was used to at NEDA. She took two classes that were run by student choreographers. The first dance, Sleep on the Floor, featured Gianna. All the girls started sitting on the floor and then Gianna comes on with a solo part. Let me tell you she really owned it! I was so proud of her! Then the dance ended with just her on the stage! She looked so confident and gorgeous! 

The second dance, Golden Hour, was the better of the two in my opinion. Again she looked so beautiful on that stage! You could see her dance training. She was a stand out. I do wish I had taken a few pictures but I really wanted to enjoy it and be in the moment. I was beaming with pride!! Danny thought she was amazing as well : ) 

This is a video of Golden Hour from dress rehearsal. I love the song so much. I think she tried harder and was more expressive in the show last night. I'm hoping there will be a video from last night's show but I'm not sure there will be. I'm also trying to get the video for the other dance as well from dress rehearsal at least. 

Dreams Do Come True

I'm so incredibly proud of my sister! As long as I can remember, she has talked about writing a book. She's always been a lover of books and reading. She's finally made that dream come true!  Of course she has I say. Because she is someone who has dreams and ideas and always makes them happen! 

Last night was her graduation from her year long Incubator Program. The ten people in the group each read an excerpt from their books. It was very entertaining. I can't wait to read my sister's book! Someday soon I hope!