Christmas 2012

The Christmas season has been rather hectic for me over the past few years since I am busy the few weeks before Christmas working for Black-eyed Susan decorating people's urns...

Fortunately, this year, the weather cooperated and I wasn't stuck having to pour boiling water in the soil to thaw it for the greens to go in...

Here is an example of one of the finished products...(it happens to be mine!)

I managed to make time to do my own, but never got around to taking a picture until New Year's Eve...

(I must remember to get that tacky time stamp off of my camera!)

This year, we invited Rhiannon Hopkins (one of my activity day girls) over for our traditional cookie decorating night...

Intense concentration is needed when making the "perfect?!" cookie...

I always love to see how much Brian gets into this whole cookie decorating process...

After playing out in the snow, Emalee, Reilly and Bella warm their feet by the fire...

The much anticipated Christmas morning!

Everyone is in their usual spots...

You can't see it, but there is a lot of squeeling and motion going on here....

This year, the gift "theme" was new room accessories...(bedding, wall hangings, pillows, etc...)

I don't know who was more excited, them or me!  I had a ball shopping for everything!

Jake feigning excitement over room decorations...what guy wouldn't be thrilled? (ahem)

After gift opening, it was time for our traditional Christmas breakfast... breakfast casserole, orange julius, and monkey bread...

followed by endless Christmas Story watching and a blissful nap!

Thanksgiving 2012

My favorite part of any dinner party is ALWAYS table decorations!

I plan and ponder weeks before and have the table set and ready at least the day before my event.

This year was no exception...

I decided to guild an assortment of pumpkins and gourds and incorporate a few cloches in the mix to add a bit of drama...

My mom and Seth, Ken and Lynne and Brian's cousins, The Garcias joined us for dinner...

Sadly, I forgot to capture the PEOPLE sitting at the table!  What the?! 

In my defense, I was so busy with food prep and hosting that I just forgot...

Note to self--Have someone else in charge of action photos next year!

Every year, my mom comes a few days before Thanksgiving and stays for the week after...

Since we don't spend Christmas together, this is the time that we fit in all of our Christmas traditions in (shopping, baking cookies, decorating, etc.)

Here she is helping Ellie with her famous sugar cookies!  They are AMAZING!  Never had better!

Sadly, I'm all thumbs when it comes to rolling out dough or crusts of any sort, so she picks up where I lack in this department.

She and Reilly always get together for a piano duet at some point during her stay...

My mom's visit officially kicks off the Christmas season!

Halloween 2012

Brian isn't usually on the pumpkin carving team, so it was nice to have him in the mix this year...

He was put in charge of my least liked October task...picking the seeds out of the pumpkin guts...

Sophie and Bella Restrepo joined us on our quest to beg for candy...

the chick magnet!...

One last group shot before Jake met up with Brady and the rest of us were on our way!

First Day of School

Oh my goodness, I have a child in middle school!

Never will all three of my kids be at the bus stop together again...

(The first day of school was actually delayed for a week because of Hurricane Sandy.

So many people lost power that they were forced postpone the start date).

So here he is...my 7th grader...

I've never seen anyone obsess so much about binders!

He's super excited for this year to begin!

The rest of the gang...

Reilly...4th grade

Ellie...2nd

You can't see me, but I'm singing the song..."And mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again!"

It was a long summer and we were all glad to begin the school year routine...

Middletown Grange Fair

 Our family's favorite time of year...

The Middletown Grange Fair!

 

 Jake is in his 3rd year of being in the 4-H poultry club "The Bucks Clucks".

It was his second year of showing his black cochin, "Sunny"...

 The combination of him knowing how to handle her and her being a chicken with a calm disposition to begin with came together for him to win this..... 

 First place for showmanship in his division...!

A proud moment indeed!  And plus, who wouldn't want a cute chicken trophy?!  I mean, really! 

He then competed for the overall competition, and won reserve champion!  

We were all so excited for him!

Jake with Mr. Alloway...the poultry club leader/advisor

 One of the things that Jake really looks forward to is carrying his chicken around and showing her to people.  It's amazing how many people are delighted to see a chicken up close and to be able to pet it!

Here are a few of my winnings...It always makes it fun to enter things...

Reilly won a blue ribbon for her pajama pants that she made with Valerie Atkinson...  

 And look at this cute skirt?! I was surprised that it only got second!  I think it's great that she has such an interest in sewing...I know I sure don't!

Ellie didn't enter anything this year...but she had fun looking at the different exhibits as well as...

eating fair food!..

and...

going on rides!

 I love that we just make a full week out of this fair.  It's really fun to be a part of the poultry club family.

I know the kids will have fond memories of our times spent here for years to come...