a day in the life

Ten on Tuesday: Almost, but

1. I am almost better from one of the worst colds ever, but not quite so I decided to take another much needed nap. Sorry for not answering the phone Elizabeth, but I was asleep.
2. I almost didn't want to get up from my nap because I was dreaming about this house. But, as I am typing this, you can see that I did. Now how do I get my house to look like that?
3. I almost missed that post of that gorgeous house but didn't because of Flipboard. I almost went without knowing about Flipboard despite the fact that both of my sisters knew about it, but didn't because of Pinterest. What else aren't you telling me?
4. I almost wanted to run away from Charlie's conference at school today, but decided to bite the bullet and go in. Good choice as I have found that he is doing wonderful at school. I would almost describe his teacher's comments as glowing. But why have I scrubbed walls with doodles, spent too much time fixing broken things, and repeated myself 1000 times at home? Need to figure this one out.
5. Jack is almost walking. But not quite.
6. It is almost February, but feels like April. This weather is very weird. About this time of year I am usually almost ready for winter to be over, but this year, I am wondering when winter is going to really start.
7. I almost can't wait to hold Katherine's book in my hands, but I guess I will have to. At least until March 31. I think you should hold it in your hands too...
8. I almost have an idea of all the paint colors in the house, but I still can't decide on my studio. One wall has to be gray-does light aqua look ok with that? I almost want to start painting this weekend, but must wait a bit longer.
9. I almost have 8300 emails in my inbox, but soon I will not. What are most of them? Emails from companies telling me about sales and new products. I can't take it anymore. Unsubscribing and deleting as part of my More or Less quest for 2012.
10. Cassie's birthday is almost here. I almost want to stop teasing her about how OLD she is, but really, what is the fun in that?

12|12|12

As I was talking to Jess on the eve of the 12, she mentioned she was going to take a photo every hour for 12 hours. Brilliant, I thought. And it just so happens that I had about the busiest day ever. So here they are-12 hours in my day.
1. Breakfast with Charlie, and probably my favorite photo of him ever. He was looking at me with that sweet smile. 2. Talk about sweet smiles, Jack with Nonnie while dropping him off at the grandparent's house. 3. Charlie in the middle of getting out of the car saw me with my camera and said take a picture of me NOW Mama! Well, when you look this sweet, I am happy to oblige. 4. Volunteering at Lillian's school 5. Quick trip back to pick Charlie up from school, then back to Nonnie and Grandpa's house for lunch-sadly bighugelabs cut off Grandpa's pirate eye.  6. Sitting for a moment to drink my Dr Pepper and put a few words in my game with Jess. (I am winning-she only wins when I accidentally give up-hahahaha) 7. Either like mother like daughter, or like Aunt Katherine like niece Lillian. I found this Ariel while going through one of my old boxes and it just so happens Lillian has been making all the Muppets and now Tinkerbell fairies just like this. I must say though, I think Lillian's is brilliantly done. 8. Almost every day Lillian gets off the bus this excited, runs up the driveway, arms extended, ready to tell me about her day. It is awesome. 9. Originally I thought this was Lillian practicing piano in her dance clothes (yes I need a new piano light) but when I was editing, I noticed this photo is something more about the awe of a younger sibling. Did you catch it? 10. Dance class! 11. Dinner with the boys (Jack was laughing) 12. I have decided in an attempt to get more photos of me, I will be included every month (blurry and all...VERY small bathroom) I was all ready to go out to my first MOMS Night Out in Ohio.

So yeah, this was a very busy day! (Oh and dear spellcheck, I believe it is officially time for Muppets to be included in the dictionary...)

12 Goals for 2012

Normally I am not much for New Year's resolutions. I am more of a lets pick a fairly simple goal and just stick to it. I am talking one year I made my bed. Every day. Simple. Did I do it every day? No, there were a few times I skipped, and perhaps a few days that I may have made it approximately 30 seconds before I got in bed (yes, I AM a little crazy) but I feel like I now make my bed more than I don't. So progress. This year though I am jumping on the 12 bandwagon. Cause 12 months, 12 goals for 2012 just seems way to perfect. Here they are...in no particular order.

1. Blog more (this is my big one for this year.) This will also include finally editing and getting the rest of 365 up on the blog from 2011. I think I can I think I can...
2. Take 12 photos on the 12th for 2012 (I am doing this with the help of a kit from Ella Publishing. Super excited to see that a few of my internet girlies are jumping on this bandwagon too. Won't you join me too?
3. Scrap more
4. Cook more. Waste less. I have not had a problem with cooking more for a long time, but sad to say, this kitchen (which we are hopefully redoing in the next year or so) has put a serious crimp into my cooking. I am determined to use up all those leftovers with other meals too-not just reheating things.
5. Join MOMS Club around here.
6. More organization. When we moved in, I was on a get us functioning as quickly as possible quest. Thus, things are thrown in random drawers, still in boxes, and just not helpful to my super busy three children life. 7. Less stuff. Goes with #6. I cannot keep everything. Tough choices, but it has to be done. Although finding gems like a note from someone named Chris in HS (no clue who this is) who wrote "Poke poke poke poke poke poke" over and over on the side of his note was pretty funny. So Facebook didn't invent poking, random Chris did.
8. Get more haircuts. Really. When it looks like it does right now, it is time.
9. Build my photography business and expand to taking pre-school photos. I want to take the fun personality ones in the Spring. Hope I can make this happen this year, but may just prepare this year and do it next.
10. More family time. Not just all of my family hanging out and me doing laundry, cleaning, etc. But actually sitting down all together at non dinner times.
11. Visit far away friends. I miss them so.
12. Lose the baby weight. Again, not really for January I'm going to lose weight promises, but for better or worse, there it is.

And just like that, he was one.

Doesn't it seem like just yesterday when Bean looked like this?
It certainly does to me. Or perhaps you remember him like this.
However you look at it, he has grown up and changed a lot this year.
He still has his gorgeous blue eyes that crinkle when he smiles and his Daddy's long forever long lashes.

And a super sweet smile.

And personality?


Yes. He has a lot of personality.

No seriously, a LOT of personality.

He loves pretty much any food I put in front of him sans avocado (which I haven't tried again because wow they have been expensive) and twice now has been very tentative about cake (video soon.) Still goes to bed at 7:00pm and still nursing although I can see that he will be done with that soon. I will be very sad when that is over as I have nursed him longer than the other two and that is just my favorite time to play with him. He is super ticklious under his arm pit, and I love hearing him giggle. He is nearly impossible to change thus we give him non-baby, and well, let's face it, semi dangerous objects to keep him occupied during diaper changes. I am talking thermometers, big kid toys, and Vick's containers. He now can say Mama, Daddy, ball, and yesterday said Yakson in a whisper. He loves to wrestle with Charlie, loves to pull Lillian's hair, and LOVES to be chased. He can totally get past our toy barricade and although still has the oddest crawl I have ever seen, still is not trying to climb steps or walk. We enjoyed his first Christmas a pull here or there on the tree, but he is a very good listener when we say "No touch."
I can't believe it was a year ago that I came home from the hospital with him. Still sore from the SPD and the worst decision I have EVER made in my entire life, getting a stinking tetnus shot. I forgot how much those hurt.
I still kick myself for not getting a single photo of Jess
who answered my call at 2:30AM!! and drove all the way from DE to help me through the delivery, or DADDY who of course is his DADDY until much later.
But don't worry Bean, Daddy held you all the time. So there you have it. Bean, Jack, Jackson is one. ONE. Or, as we said at his party, Uno.
Love you so much Bean

love, Mama

Hello, goodbye; More or less.

This was a year of hellos and goodbyes.

Bj: Goodbye to being gone every week. Hello to going to an office everyday. Goodbye to car allowance. Hello to best friends, game nights, family and old friends. Goodbye to Football on the computer. Hello to games on TV.

Marie: Goodbye to dear friends in PA and more distance between the friend in DE. Hello to dear friends in Ohio, family, trips to see brand new babies, and familiar streets. Goodbye to photography business in PA with families I have watched grow through the years. Hello to growing a business here.

Lillian: Goodbye to dear friend I, Uga, and a bedroom in a tower. Hello dear friend Maya, fabulous school, dance and piano, family and new friends.

Charlie: Goodbye to Logan and London and Hank. Hello to Laney and all the trouble I'm sure the two of you will get into together. Goodbye to the only place you knew as home. Hello to a place that will become your home.

Jack: Hello world. Jack will be one tomorrow. I will not have a baby. A toddler. A toddler with personality. One starting to stand. With FOUR teeth-a record for my babies. An eater. A laugher. A Houdini. I am trying hard to look forward to the new toddler-dome, trying not to be sad that my babies are not going to be my babies for much longer. But that doesn't mean I didn't hold him extra tight and give him a few extra kisses as I put him in bed tonight, on the eve of the New Year and the eve of his birth. My baby...

This year my word(s) are more and less. I will be saying to myself all year, Do we need more of this or less. More reading, less stuff. More activities? Less time committements? We may have to make some tough decisions, but I think more or less will help us in our crazy three children busy lives. More...or less.

Christmas Day

Today may be considered nearly perfect. No, there was no snow (boo hoo) and yes we got up very early (5am, ahem, Jackson) but we spent the day together. Wishes came true (one package to arrive in June) and many memories were made. Presents cherished (train whistle from Uncle Justin and Fawn and Vidia from Santa...whew) and handmade gifts given from the heart. Today was a wonderful magical day. Merry Christmas 2011. Now to get ready for Jack's first birthday...in a week!

'Twas the night before Christmas

Tonight was pretty wonderful. Pizza Hut for the 32nd? 33rd? time, church where there was a very funny impromptu Christmas pageant complete with Lillian the donkey and Charlie the sheep (BAAAH!) and Lillian singing a wonderful solo of Silent Night (video to come) followed by a speedy return home and quick jammy change for the reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. This remains my favorite thing about Christmas. I love this story. I love that Lillian gets a new version each year so she will have a special collection from her Mama. I love that I get to quietly take pictures, and I even love that Jackson decided he had enough and I sat down, holding him, and got to listen to the rest of the story. I love the anticipation. I love the looks in my children's eyes as they listen. I love that there are three children in this house. (I love that I am not pregnant this year) and I love my family. So very much.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

On the 3rd day {Before} Christmas

Today was our second annual Christmas Cookie taste test. Again, best idea ever Daddy. We chose from gingerbread with white chocolate center, peanut butter with chocolate kiss, and sugar cookies which I for the first time in my life, managed not to destroy. Oh the gingerbread men may have club feet and the trees may be crooked, but, they taste like sugar cookies and that makes me very happy. The winners were the gingerbread and sugar cookies but we decided to leave one of Charlie's candy canes and Lily's angels, so Santa gets a bonus. 
Daddy also decorated his own cookie, making a Santa on vacation. Charlie said it didn't look like Santa, but a beast man. Well. Later Lillian cleared that up and said she thought he probably said "BEACH" man. Yes, that makes a lot more sense.

On the 4th day {Before} Christmas

Today was a very busy and fun day. Somehow we managed to not have a single Christmas cookie in the house and as our cookie tasting is scheduled for tomorrow, the bigs and I got to work. We made gingerbread with white chocolate filling and peanut butter with chocolate. Tomorrow will be pretzels with peppermint chocolate and (going to see if for the first time ever I can do this without messing them up) sugar cookies. While I may not make very sturdy houses, I can make a mean gingerbread cookie. Not that it has anything at all to do with cookie making, but today in 12 days I will have my Christmas card and a pocket for all of the cards that I received this year. As Katherine and Ben may not actually receive a card from me as I once again accidentally sent something to their old house, here is this years version :)
We topped today off with a dinner at Texas Road house (with two free kids meals, yea) then some very impromptu caroling, another trip over to the dancing light house, and carol singing all the way home. Very Merry indeed.

On the 5th day {Before} Christmas

Today we saw Santa. He "Ho! Ho! Ho'd" and he jingled his bells, and he made the coolest train whistle sound I have ever heard. Lillian was thrilled. Charlie was thrilled. Jackson, was not. 
But it's ok...I think Santa knows how good you all have been this year :)