MERRY CHRISTMAS

Love US

My Cinderella

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders
It's been a long day and there's still work to do
She's pulling at me saying "Mom, I need you!
There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
"Oh please, Mommy, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella while she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song

'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone....

~ Steven Curtis Chapman ~

My little girl has been suffering from fevers, stomachaches and fatigue on and off now for a while. I'm worried and just want her to get better. Please get better little one. I love you so much. So so much.

Gianna's Christmas Show

Today was Gianna's Christmas show at Little Blessings. Out of 14 kids, only 5 sang. The others just sat there. Some hid their little faces, some turned their backs, some looked like they were going to cry, and others stared with blank expressions. Not our Gianna! She was front and center singing, smiling and clapping.

This is Gianna's best friend at school. They sit next to each other in circle time. They were holding hands and leading each other around the room after the show. So so cute!

Our town is out of school earlier than usual this year so vacation is really long. Julia and Nicholas got to watch and help take pictures. They were very proud of their little sister. Time is flying by these days. It seems like yesterday that Gianna was the one watching.

My videographer (Nicholas) recorded this for your listening pleasure....

Quote of the Day

As I'm asking Julia what flavor Tylenol she wants, grape or bubble gum, Gianna said, "Oh Mommy, I love buggle gum!"

Meeting Santa

Today our neighborhood had the annual Santa party. Can you believe I got Gianna to wear a dress? She said it was itchy though and took it off the second we got home. What a nice neighborhood we live in. We have numerous Christmas parties, cookie swaps, and then Christmas caroling. What great memories for the kids.

Gianna with Santa:

Nicholas scores!

Nicholas' hockey team got to play during the first period of the Providence Bruins game yesterday. And he scored a goal! They won 2-0. It was so exciting. The video isn't the best because we need a new video camera. Ours has a tape so I had play the tape and record it off the TV.

Nicholas is #10. It takes me a while to find him through the lenses. I was trying to watch and tape at the same time. Plus as everyone knows, my eyes are not the best. Just look for the #10! See how fast he is?!?!

Festive Day

I spent the afternoon with the kiddies decorating our tree...

and the evening eating pancakes for dinner...making a gingerbread house...

and eating popcorn while watching...

It sounds oh so delightful, doesn't it? Let's not be fooled people. I was home alone through all this trying to manage the three myself. During all of these festivities is the chaos that comes with three young kids. The fighting. The crying. The breaking of ornaments. The dropping of a fresh batch of popcorn all over the floor. More crying. The fighting over who is laying where while watching the movie. Ah yes...another long day with three young children but...how I love them.

Book for Santa

To Saint Nicholas from Nicholas. (Age 7)
I love Saint Nicholas. I love you so much.
Me and Saint Nicholas. (I love how they have their arms around each other!)
Saint Nicholas gives us presents.
Ho Ho Ho
Just so cute.

Amen

'Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
'Cause the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds, and Wise Men, and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say,
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes of selling books by Franken or Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in every public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged or discarded
The reason for the season, was stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, Listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!

Let's all remember...Christ is the reason for the Christ-mas Season!

Viruses, Reunions and Maine

Viruses ~ I feel so unbelievably lost without my laptop. Nicholas was playing some games on-line and must have clicked the wrong thing. Now it is infected with viruses. As Nancy would say "not good". So now it is with the Geek Squad. I feel like my child is in the hospital.

Reunions ~ I went to my high school reunion over Thanksgiving weekend. Just a strange mix of people were there. No one I hung out with any way other than the three friends I went with. Most of the people there I had either never spoken to in my life or at least since middle school. But we made the best of it and had fun chatting with some of those people. I always have a lot of laughs when I'm with my good friend Ann. So spending time with her and Patty were the highlight of the night.

Maine ~ We went to Ogunquit to visit Kim and Paula on Saturday and Sunday. It was beautiful on Saturday and we were able to go to the beach and fly a kite. The kids loved that! We went to the Maine Diner for a unbelievably yummy dinner (chicken pot pie and cornbread) and then back to the house for a fire and the kids roasted marshmallows. They had a ball sleeping in the huge king bed in the loft. The next day Paula made us a delicious meal and Kim and I did some shopping at some of my favorite stores in Ogunquit. Perfect finish to the weekend!

The other day out of the blue Gianna started writing letters. We didn't know she could even do that! It's so fun watching her learn! I was so proud that I shared this with one of the Mom's at Julia's dancing school. Me and this Mom often pass the time chatting away twice a week so we've gotten to know each other a bit. As I'm proudly telling her about Gianna she tells me her little one (who is just 2 1/2) can read. Yes READ. I'm thinking oh sure she's memorized the book. But no. She can really, really read. Talk about knocking the wind out of my sails. She proceeded to take out a Dick and Jane book and the little thing read the ENTIRE book to me. Amazing is all I can say. So when I got home what did I do? I immediately pulled out all my educational videos and tried to get Gianna to watch them! Then it was on to the flash cards and magnetic letters! I have to move quickly here. The next class is Tuesday. You think Gianna will be reading by then???

Happy Feast Day

Yesterday the girls had Feast Day at their schools.

Gianna was happy at first...

Until she noticed the food...
In her words..."The food is yucky!"

Julia liked her food of course. She's a happy pilgrim!

Twilight: The Movie

Well....drumroll...it was AMAZING! It absolutely did not disappoint me (or Shirl for that matter). In fact, I'm simply giddy right now. I want Edward to fly in my window tonight and BITE ME!!! Oh my goodness. He was THE perfect Edward. I kept telling myself that the movie was no way going to be as good as the book. But honestly it was! The movie stayed true to the book which I loved. It was funny too! I can't wait to see it again...and then again and again on DVD! Oh what fun!!! Can't wait for New Moon to be out now! It made enough money so they can make the next one! YIPPEE!!!

I told you...I'm simply giddy over Edward right now. Sigh...

not so LUCKY

Our poor little baby boy. And we're not talking about Nicholas. We're talking about our baby #1, Lucky.

We're not exactly sure what happened although it was probably a cat fight.

The other night he jumped off the couch and limped away. We thought it was his leg. He hid under our bed all night and wouldn't come out in the morning. We finally got him out with some cat treats. Upon further inspection, we discovered he had these horrible wounds on his side. Poor kitty! He ran back under the bed. I somehow got him out later on in the day and took him to the vet. They had to put him out and sew up his wounds.

He came home last night with one of those cones around his head. What a nightmare that was! He was freaking out. He had two "accidents" in the house last night too which has never happened before. We weren't angry at all because it was the first time in over thirteen years (since we found him) that he's had an accident in the house. He was just confused and really out of it with that thing on his head. The vet said to keep it on for a week but there was no way that was happening. We finally took it off this morning. He seems a lot better with it off and not licking his wounds at all. Poor kitty cat.

I Will Be Here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up

And the sun does not appear

I will be here

If in the dark, we lose sight of love

Hold my hand, and have no fear

'Cause I will be here

I will be here when you feel like being quiet

When you need to speak your mind

I will listen

And I will be here

When the laughter turns to cryin'

Through the winning, losing and trying

We'll be together

I will be here

Tomorrow morning, if you wake up

And the future is unclear

I will be here

As sure as seasons are made for change

Our lifetimes are made for years

So I will be here

I will be here

And you can cry on my shoulder

When the mirror tells us we're older

I will hold you

And I will be here

To watch you grow in beauty

And tell you all the things you are to me

I will be here

I will be true to the promise I have made

To you and to the One who gave you to me

As sure as seasons are made for change

Our lifetimes are made for years

So I will be here

We'll be together and I will be here

Lyrics by

Steven Curtis Chapman

Happy Happy Birthday Mom!

She's happiest when surrounded by those she loves...

She looks better with each passing year. How is that possible you ask? Because she knows the secret to staying and feeling young. She spends her time doing what she loves to do. Her hobbies, her interests, her music, her family, her friends, her animals. That's the key to looking and feeling WAY younger than you are.

She's one happy camper that one.

Smiles for a Gloomy Friday

A door and a bed...

The door dance...

The bed dance...

They actually didn't do this dance which was a bummer...

Joshua and Katee were magic as usual...

He was simply fantastic....and adorable.

The show was so good, worth every penny, and very funny too!