Iron Chef Thanksgiving

Steve is our Iron Chef. He made a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner.



Taking a moment to pose together.
















Enjoying dinner in our new dining room.

We had the best Thanksgiving this year! I don’t know if it was being in our house for our first Thanksgiving, or having the peace of just my immediate family around me, or just an attitude of gratitude, but I felt very happy.

Steve always prepares a great meal when he creates in the kitchen, and our Thanksgiving feast didn’t let us down! The turkey was moist and delicious, our side dishes were our favorites, and the drink (7 Up mixed with homemade grape juice - that I made [a tradition for Steve’s family]) was extra yummy this year. Tyler always enjoys a great dinner and Thanksgiving was no exception. (Did I mention that Ethan's plate remained empty and he ate nothing. Maybe he filled up on Hors D’oeuvres.)

Around 3:30, we traveled down to Steve's parent's house for dessert. We brought a cheescake with us. It was fun to see the family there and the boys didn't want to return home. We managed to fill up our weekend with swimming, christmas decorating, naps, and just being together. It was a great weekend.



My cutie pie, Ethan and me.



A rare cuddle from Tyler.

Oh, no!!!! Is that Laney's tongue showing in her smile? It's such a quirky thing to do. I wonder if she will have the same habit?

Recent Scrappin' Success

Hey everyone. Here are some scrapbook examples for you. I just printed about 126 pictures from Costco this past Friday and was very excited to scrap this weekend. My goal was to get 10 pages done, I was able to mostly complete 7 because our printer isn't working, and I need Steve's help to get it printing again. So, these are minus journaling, but hey, they are scrapped!! I also posted these so you can enlarge them Paige. I love you. Only one more day for you to go, hang in there!















The bottom right embellishment is really just a placeholder. I want to find something more "Christmasy."
















I can't decide if this one is perfect as is, or should I add a title on the right hand side on pink paper? Also, I realized I forgot to add to pink ribbon tags on the bottom left-hand side of the bottom picture.













The middle tag will have "8 months" on it. I can't decide if there is too much "white space" on either side of the bottom photo.


















This one actually isn't finsihed. Somehow I lost one of the pictures. But this is close to what the finished product will look like.

















I think this one is my favorite. Maybe it's the story that goes along with the pictures! The blue color is unusual for me, but it matched her shirt. Also, the white strips are there in the place of journaling. I placed them there so you could get an idea of what the finished page will look like.

Our First Princess Sighting

Alayna is always up for adventure! And she was a good sport when Ethan asked if we could dress her in one of her princess outfits. She hasn't worn either and they are just her size, so I completely agreed. Besides, I wanted to see how cute she would be too. Alayna LOVES shoes and didn't complain, but sat still, while I buckled the matching princess shoes on her feet. The shoes are too cute and have a little heel on them. I was absolutely amazed that she was running in no time. Ethan absolutely loved seeing her in the "Little Mermaid" costume.

Laney went from Princess to...Lion Tamer in a matter of minutes.
















My mom sent this adorable lion to Laney for her birthday. All 3 of my children have taken turns rolling with him on the floor and sleeping with "Leo" in their beds.

Alayna's Morning at the Hospital

Okay, another morning at the hospital has come and gone, and we made it through! I have to admit, seeing my 6 year-old wheeled away was hard, but he was still laughing at the doctors; having my 1 year-old taken from my arms, alternating between screaming and hollering "Mom" down the hall is even worse.

Alayna alternated between being clingy and playing while we were waiting for her turn. She also insisted on wearing her shoes with the glamourous hospital gown. She can make anything look cute right?

Again, the doctor comfirmed that we did the right thing. She said Alayna's right ear was full of gunk and the left full of fluid. She said Alayna no doubt would have had yet another ear infection in a few days.

"Thoroughly" Enjoying My Night

Last night a dear friend and I went to see Thoroughly Modern Millie. It was the cutest musical I have ever seen. It was such a nice evening for me because it included: time to myself, adult conversation, and spending time with one of the sweetest people I know. I didn't want the evening to end (there are still tons of things I could talk about with my friend), but I was completely exhausted. And even though I was so tired, I came home on a high. I am so thankful that my husband supports and encouages things like this for me.

Birthday Week

Before I was married, I had some great roommates! I learned tons from them. I don't even remember the story anymore, but one dear roommate introduced me to birthday week. And, since our birthdays were 5 days apart, she decided to carry on that tradition for me. I think she made this darling snake creature, and tied it off in 5 sections, each section containing a present I was to open for each day respectively. It was a great experience and really prolonged the birthday and that special feeling you get when it's your birthday.

Well, my beloved husband, has unwittingly stumbled onto this "tradition." Monday was my 37th birthday. Wow! So, I had presents on Monday. On Tuesday, I opened our front door to find a box that contained a dozen, beautiful, red roses. Boy am I loved. On Wednesday, I opened our front door to find a box of delicious, chocolate covered strawberries. Yummy! On Thursday, I walked upstairs to my bedroom to find a cookie bouquet on my bed for me. Yahoo. Friday was our culiminating event. We went on a date, arranged by my husband. We enjoyed being with each other. I didn't want the night to end.

I truly have the best husband who spoils me!!! He is soooo good at it, that sometimes I feel inadequate to be able to return the feeling to him. I can't think of anything to say that isn't cheesy; but I love cheese, so, my life is truly blessed by Steve. He is my everything!!!! I am glad that the Lord brought us together. I only hope I can be as good for him as he is for me.

Tagged - 7 Things You Don't Know About Me

Okay, here's my caveat: I hope none of these are too shocking.

Victoria's Secret Favorites. I used to love wearing matching bras and panties. And, they were always purchased from Victoria Secret. I used to coordinate them with my outfits.
Dancing on a Table. To earn money while I was attending the University of Maryland, I was a waitress. The first restaurant at which I worked, was partial restaurant and partial bar. After waiting on tables for awhile, I discovered the true money was in working in the bar area. I usually worked the happy "hour" crowd. I loved it because I always had regulars that would come to see me. One time there was a large group of regulars and they stayed for quite awhile. Their boss asked for the check and as I was allowed to, I added the gratuity. After he left, as I was closing out the check I noticed he had also added a $100 tip. So, when I went to ask the group for another credit card to run through, they said I could keep it if I was willing to dance on a table. Never one to be shy, I went and asked my boss, he said sure. So, I did it.
No Broken Skeletons in My Closet. Should I knock on wood now? I have been fortunate enough not too experience any broken bones. After watching my son in his cast when he was 1 1/2 I am really glad that I haven't ever had to be.
A Little Water is Torture. I can not stand, do not like, it is torture for me to get partially wet, as if shot with a water gun or hit with a water balloon. I have to be totally immersed, as in a pool, or completely dry.
The Gold Chair Story. Once when I was little 4 or 5, I was silly and placed tape on the arm ends of our "gold chair." (We called it that because it was obviously gold.) Anyway, my mom lined us up from oldest to youngest and began the inquisition. Robin and Blair both denied any involvement with the tape. Appropriately so, as I was the culprit. However, when my mom questioned Paige and Todd for some reason they both said yes. They were both in turn spanked and sent to their rooms. Seeing my fate laid out before me, it really wasn't hard to say no when my mom asked me the same question. So, if you ask Paige and Todd their sides of this story, I got them in trouble. But, in adamant denial, I always say they got themselves in trouble.
A Sorority Girl. Yes, that's right, I went through Rush my freshman year of college at ECU and joined the ADPis (Alpha Delta Pi). I met a lot of fun girls and loved it as I was doing it. In the end, I was still completely homesick and transferred to the University of Maryland. I didn't "join" at U of M because each chapter is so different at different schools. I also didn't need it the way I did when I was in school in North Carolina.
To Tickle the Ebony and Ivory.I would love one day to be able to play the piano. I took lessons for about a year and a half when I was 26. I absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, what I lacked in talent, I made up for with lots of practice. (My roommate even snatched a picture of me practicing the piano in my bathing suit.) I would practice every chance I could. Steve and I both want to own a piano one day...so maybe that is what I will do to fill up my spare time when Alayna gets to school too.

Too Cute to Spook

Halloween was really fun for our family this year. All the children got into it and even insisted that mom dress up too. (After yesterday, I choose to be a doctor.) Tyler and Ethan were really into and came home with loads of candy. (Isn't that the purpose?) I had so much fun walking around the neighborhood with them. I love to see the costumes that the kids are wearing, and how the pumpkins are carved and the other Halloween decorations.

Alayna's, aka Pebbles Flintstone, costume was so much fun to make. And, I think she looked adorable in it! After I started and had cut out the material in roughly the shape I wanted, I was a little intimidated. How was I suppose to do arms? So the project sat for almost a month, but when the deadline was looming, I didn't have a chioce, so I pushed on. I am so glad I did.