It's been....a very busy month!!

Our home is sold.

Andi started climbing and is always smiling.

Mommy started packing.

And Daddy and Eddie began moving heavy loads, while taking breaks to ride the four wheeler in the snow!

It's been..... A very busy month!

My long lady shark!

Andi is growing fast. A week ago I took her for her 9 month well visit where I learned that she is in the 94th percentile for height at 2ft 5 inches tall. Her height would definitely explain why she is in 18 month clothing at 9 months. Andi is beginning to develop her own strong personality which is a perfect fit with all the other strong personalities we have living under our roof. I can tell you this, Andi already knows what she wants and boy will she get it even at the cost of biting! Yep, she's my long lady shark. She already has six teeth and is not afraid to use them whether it be your finger, lip, shoulder, or pectoral area she'll get you!!! She is also crawling everywhere and getting into everything. And at times, will pull herself into a standing position! We love you our beautiful long lady shark!!!

Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012 proved to be yet another very special Christmas for many reasons. The two main reasons for me are of course, my children. Eddie was at the perfect age this year. I feel like he is really beginning to understand the idea of Christmas and the meaning behind celebrating Christmas. He was very curious this year about the who, what , where, when and why's of it all and he was also very excited to give "presents" this year which I loved. Most importantly, he couldn't wait to sit down and have "family feast" and say a ("personal") prayer. Andi on the other hand, was just happy to be with her family and in the mix of it all trying to tear wrapping paper here and there when she could. She would shout out an occasional "Yay!" and give a couple claps to show her excitement. She is a pure joy to be around and I thank god everyday for giving her to me!
Here is a slide show that recaps our Christmas together with family. We love you all!

This slideshow created with Smilebox

Sled Riding with Daddy

It's all down hill for sledders at Chagrin River Park (with video) - news-herald.com

Eddie did it again.... he made the paper and made a small clip in the video too! My boys had a great time sled riding together!!!

Do You Believe?

Now that I have children of my own, I find it hard not to "believe" in Santa and the meaning of Christmas. The past month has been filled with Christmas activities and visits to Santa. Every year, I take the kids for their picture with Santa the day before Thanksgiving where we smile pretty, ride the train, and then have lunch. Another activity that has been a tradition, is dinner with Santa at my school districts high school. Dinner with Santa is an evening event ran by the high school students who dress up as elves and of course one as Santa. All the kids are given a gift (brought in by their parents) from Santa and then they get to decorate cookies with the elves. And finally, we were able to venture out on our first dinner date as a family of four before watching the lighting ceremony in our very own downtown area. I loved and enjoyed doing all of these activities with my children. The special look of excitement and anticipation while waiting for Santa to arrive was enough to make me believe!

Eddie 4 yrs

Andi 8 months

Lighting Ceremony- Downtown

Santa

Santa

Santa

Lego Returns

Ginger Bread House- made  by Eddie and Daddy!

Polar Express

Each year around Christmas time, Eddie and I enjoy reading the book Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg  together before bedtime. From the first moment we read the book together, we were hooked but for two very different reasons. Eddie was hooked because he could relate to the boy riding on the Polar Express and I was hooked because of the joy "believing" brings to my child's life. After reading the book and watching the movie the last two years I decided it would be worth it to take Eddie to ride on the Polar Express. The ride truly tried to replicate the tone and mood of the book and because of that all children paid close attention, including my own. Eddie was so excited and so attentive that my heart melted every time his eyes widened with amazement. Here are a few pictures of our ride on the Polar Express together.

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving we traveled to my sister-in-laws to spend the day with the Alberts side of our family. We started our day together with dinner during which we went around the table saying what we were thankful for and we all had one thing in common, family. As I get older, family with out a doubt has become the most important thing in my life. I look back at the experiences I had as a child and can only hope that my own children get to have the same experiences. I want my children to understand how important all family is and how family helps to shape us into the people we become. I am proud to say that on Thanksgiving Day both of my children had one of those experiences. At the end of the day, Eddie looked up at his mema and said, "thank you for this thanksgiving dinner." I couldn't have been more proud if how he express his gratitude for the fantastic day we had together.

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat, for us, began at our very own city downtown where all the shops and pubs passed out candy to the kids during the day. Nana was in town for a while and was able to go with us to enjoy the celebration of Halloween. We were also joined by our good buddies, the Trentenellis. Then, the day before Halloween super storm Sandy rolled in causing trick or treat to be postponed until today. It is a good thing young kids really don't have any concept of time because last night daddy carved the pumpkin with us and today we had family dinner and trick or treat with grandma and peepaw Mueller. Another great trick or treat for the record books!

Halloween 2012

Thanks to hurricane Sandy, trick or treat has been pushed back to the Sunday after Halloween. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining over here at all. As a matter of fact, we are very fortunate to have a warm home, power, and each other to come home to on this Halloween night. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost their loved ones and homes in this horrific disaster. In the spirit if Halloween, however, I did take some time off of work to attend Eddie's first school parade. And then when we got home from school and work, I decided to dress Andi in her costume for a little bit anyway.

All At Once

My baby girl is growing so quickly. In just a few short days she will be 7 months old. About a week before she turned 6 months it seems like she hit all of her milestones at once. Andi is now able to roll in both directions, talk by saying ma ma ma, ba ba ba and occasionally a da da. She can push herself up using her arms and can bare wait on her legs. Surprisingly, she is even beginning to make the hi/bye motion with her hands. Andi is already such a beautiful loving happy little girl. She's makes my heart feel filled with love and happiness since she has been apart of my world. And all at once I feel like time is going by so quickly and my baby girl won't be a baby girl for long. Love you Andi Jo!!!!