Merry Christmas

My sentiments this holiday season. Inspiration found here.

I can not believe that Christmas is tomorrow! We have been so busy! I have wanted to update things, but life has been getting in the way.  I was able to drag the kids out in the freezing cold for a last minute Christmas "photo shoot" and here are the results:

I wish you a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

Fall Leaves

 

Our trees are now bare, but a few weeks ago Matt and the kids raked what little we had and played "sleeping zombie" for what seemed like hours!  I took this opportunity to play with my camera, which has been collecting dust. I am a little rusty!

Adjusting

 So I told you that I started working.  I love/loathe working full time. I was a full time stay at home mommy for seven years and now I am working out of the home 180 days a year for 8 hours a day. This has been a big change for the whole family!  

The pros:  I love feeling productive, and have been so active that I lost the stubborn ten pounds gained when I stopped nursing Luke four years ago, and additional funds are always a plus! 

The cons: I feel too busy to really do much other than get ready for the next day,  let alone deep clean, decorate, or blog. Note that I said "feel".  I do have free time, but it does not feel like a large enough chunk to get too much accomplished. Matt has really stepped up with laundry and dishes and that has helped tremendously! I never cook on Friday and that really gets my weekend off to a good start.  We have had time to squeeze in little projects here and there, mostly because my sweetie husband gets them done on his days off while we are at school.  

Here are some shots of the kids and I a couple of weeks ago. These kids are growing up fast and I have noticed that I am not taking as many pictures as I used too.  And yes, I noticed all the new wrinkles on my face.

Madeline's 7th Birthday

My little girl turned seven last week and it was a low key affair. After school she opened her cards and presents.  She wanted to eat at Golden Corral.  Yes, Golden Corral. She was lured by the chocolate fountain and was giddy when Daddy discovered that there was a cotton candy machine! We ate too much, laughed a lot, and had a great time.  I mentioned to the cashier that we were there to celebrate my daughter's b-day and the servers surprised her with a song and cupcake.  I will say that the service was amazing and now Luke is counting down the days (months) until he can go for his birthday!

I love this app that House of Smith's featured earlier this summer. Kind of like phone scrap-booking.  Makes me feel a little less guilty about the crappy phone pictures.  Just a little...

First Day for Everyone!

The summer flew by! We are on a balanced calendar so summer was only 8 weeks long.  This is a big year for our family! My baby, Luke is in KINDERGARTEN!!! How did that happen? He has been more than eager to begin the school year!

 

And... After seven years working as a SAHM I have traded my pjs for real clothes and I am working as  a special education instructional assistant (a politically correct term for aid).  I love the kids, the hours, and being a part of the education system again.  I am also the PTO treasurer, and the first grade level Girl Scout leader. I have been busier than ever, but it has been a good, productive busy!

Despicable Me 2

Oh, the anticipation! The kids really enjoyed this movie and we had a great time seeing it!  

Mini Farm Trip

 Last month we visited Grace's house where she runs a small farm right in the city!  The kids loved the animals and were begging for the kitten!  Grace eats "farm" fresh eggs every day and is raising a turkey that will not get the presidents' pardon this Thanksgiving.  

Pure joy!

                                                      Thank you Grace for the fun visit!

Luke's Birthday

The birthday boy and Joe

All of the party guests!

These three cousins are peas in a pod!

Luke in the special party chair!

Minion cupcakes!

Waiting for PIZZA!

Present time! There was a slight theme in case you did not notice!

McKinley, Evie, and Luke at the end of the party.  They all look a little tired!

Class of 2013

Today was my baby brother's high school graduation! He is an amazing young man and he has worked super hard in high school! Josh was awarded 10,000 in scholarships and is planning to use that dough toward an education in journalism at my alma mater IUPUI.  Here are a few pics from today.

The Penney Crew and the Graduate

The proud mom!  Josh was the last one to graduate.
She has had children in school for the past 30 years!

Josh and me.  He was one at my high school graduation...

Olivia acting nutty

Michael and Amanda

Josh and his girlfriend Bre

Chelley and her family are still in Malta and she was the only sibling missing, but we texted her throughout and I was able to send her a video clip of Josh receiving his diploma.  Apparently she had to view it upside down... oops!