Happily Ever After...

In the hot tub after a long day... Making a Gingerbread house Aunt Dani having tea with her neices. At the GA Aquarium with the family Playing in the playroom.

We took the girls for breakfast at the Americ@n Girl Bistro this weekend. Aria was so excited to wear her matching Christmas outfit with her baby. They give menus for the dolls, and seat them at highchairs at the table- ADORABLE!!!! Gianna doesn't have a Bitty Baby, so they gave her a "loaner" baby doll. Mommy and the girls are all smiles, but Daddy would have none of his little Princess using a germy loaner baby. He took one look at me, and said" Go buy her an Asian Bitty baby." She *liked* the loaner baby, but she LOVED her own. She was more excited than I expected her to be. Which is good because at 21 months old, she is a bit young for such a pricey non- Christmas gift. She gave her a BIG hug.. And kept kissing her and kissing her. Which got Aria in on the kisses. We then bought them strollers and let them walk the mall pushing their babies. Gianna was SO EXCITED that every little bit she would stop and dance. We got so tickled watching her dance, then drive...

My dear friend Muggs went home to be with the Lord six months ago. This is the first year for her husband and children to celebrate the holidays without her. It is hard. It is beyond hard. Yet God and His grace are there with them each and every painful step of the way. A year ago this month, she had just been diagnosed with cancer. She died just six months after she was diagnosed. Her battle was short, yet hard fought. Muggs has 5 beautiful children. I love them all, and have, since Muggs death, become especially close to Maggie, her 15 year old daughter. She is WONDERFUL with the girls, and Aria has started calling her,"Our Maggie". How sweet is that? Well, "Our Maggie" honored us with the privilege of making her mom's Christmas cookies with her. I cannot tell you how much it meant to be in HER kitchen with HER daughter, making HER recipe, to honor HER memory. And if that was not special enough, she played the piano for me, and a song she played for her mom wh...

Well, here at our house, we decided that the *normal* holiday activities needed a little twist this year. I mean, really, who wants the same ol' humdrum Christmas shopping, say, ummm, on two feet?? Oh, no, not us! So to spice things up, Greg broke his foot in 4, yes FOUR places. Complete with a tendon tear, and a skin infection Yessiree! On Thanksgiving Day. With a houseful of guests. I won't divulge the exact cause of the injury, suffice it to say, the boys are getting a copy of the manual "Wrestling Safely with the Elderly" in their stocking this year. That's all I'm sayin... SOOOO, anyhooo, the girls are lovin it because they get to take turns riding with Daddy in those scooter things at the stores. THAT ARE MEANT FOR THE ELDERLY! Ahem....(notice the trend here?) Christmas shopping has taken on a whole new meaning at 2 mph. I mean, Gianna can toddle faster than her Daddy can chase her driving one of those things. AND, if that is not enough excitement for ...

"In the beginning, there was GOD. There was NO peoples. There was NO numbers. There was NOOOO number 3. The End." Sigh.. Which is particularly devasting if you are, perhaps,ummm, say, THREE YEARS OLD!!!!

.. I am overwhelmingly blessed. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

...is the number of photos I took of the girls in their Princess towels and pjs. Which is not nearly as many as the 140 that I took at the Pumpkin patch, and I am too embarrassed to admit the amount I took in their duck costumes. I think they may start calling me Paparazzi instead of Mommy! They are just so cute, I can't help myself! Don't worry, I know that no one but mommy and daddy really want to see THAT many pictures, even of such utter cuteness, so here's just a few: Can you believe they make towels with crowns? How adorable is that!?!

I am one happy momma this holiday season, cuz I already have all my presents already.... Gianna already loves the Christmas decorations and shrieks, "A tree, A TREE.." when she sees a Christmas tree at the mall, the store, etc. Enjoying the joy in her voice, and the sparkle in her eye as she points to each one she sees, is a GIFT. My sweet man is not traveling, and works from home so we see Daddy lots each day, and that is a GIFT. He traveled 3 out of 4 weeks of October. We miss him terribly when he is gone... Aria is healthy. She has not had another ear infection, and the allergy medicine change seems to be working. I am so thankful for health for all of us. I don't take it for granted and it is a GIFT. Ryan has a wonderful heart for giving of himself and is devoted to sharing his faith with college kids around the world through Campus Crusade for Christ. He is using his musical talents to minister. Being used is a GIFT to us and to others. And my most recent gift is tha...

That's what Gianna shouts when she sees him. Three out of the four of my kids LOVE this dog, so although he can drive me crazy, he is a permanent family member( but don't tell him I told you that, I like to keep him guessing.) Notice his paw on the girls puzzle. Trying to look all nanchalant, his plan is to eat as many pieces of the puzzle that he can as soon as I turn my back. "Hmmm, I wonder how many of these I can barf back up at one time?" Although he has a bed that actually FITS him, he insists on curling up on the Yorkies bed. Think he is trying to make a statement? Sharing my sunny spot... Okay, he is actually trying to steal it. He will creep up higher and higher onto the couch until he has it all, and I am buried under the big galoot. He is a nuisance, so just because he made the blog, doesn't mean I really love him or anything!

I am your parent; you are my child. I am your quiet place; you are my wild. I am your calm face; you are my giggle. I am your wait; you are my wiggle. I am your carriage ride; you are my queen. I am your push; you are my swing. I am your audience; you are my clown. I am your London Bridge; you are my falling down. I am your carrot sticks; you are my licorice. I am your dandelion; you are my first wish. I am your water wings; you are my deep. I am your open arms; you are my running leap. I am your way home; you are my new path. I am your dry towel; you are my wet bath. I am your dinner; you are my chocolate cake. I am your bedtime; you are my wide awake. I am your finish line; you are my race. I am your praying hands; you are my saying grace. I am your favorite book; you are my new lines. I am your night-light; you are my starshine. I am your lullaby; you are my peekaboo. I am your goodnight kiss; you are my I LOVE YOU . ~By MaryAnn Cusimano My sweet Gianna, You have been in our arms fo...