Christmas

We had a very low key, but wonderful Christmas this year.  We had all our Christmas decorations up on Thanksgiving.  (The weather was so nice, we couldn't resist putting up the lights in short sleeves.  It was good foresight on our part!)  We enjoyed making goodies for friends, getting Christmas cards in the mail, playing with the nativity set and counting down the days until the magic arrived.
We took a trip downtown to look at the giant tree and ice skating rink set up in the square.  We also checked out the multitude of gingerbread houses created by Pittsburghers.  The kids LOVED it.

 On Christmas Eve, we went out to dinner with some friends, and followed it up by looking at Christmas lights.  Then we went home and read/acted out the Christmas Story with the kids.  Brooke was Mary, Peter was Joseph, and they insisted that Heath be baby Jesus. 

Christmas morning was magical for the kids.  I just loved seeing their faces around the tree in the morning when they saw what Santa had left for them.  I didn't take many pictures.  I just wanted to enjoy the moment.  Merry Christmas to all my family and friends! 

Pictures of Ems

Check out my pictures of Emily and Ryan here

8 great things

Tomorrow Bryan and I will celebrate 8 years of marriage.  I still can't believe I was lucky enough to snag such a great guy!  I love him so much.
 Here are 8 things I love about our marriage.
1. I love that he cooks on Sunday.  Every Sunday he makes the family homemade waffles for breakfast and some form of random awesomeness for lunch.
2. I love that he plays basketball 1 night a week and I go to ballet 1 night a week.
3. I love that he loves me enough to work out with me.  We are doing "Insanity" together.  We are starting week 3.  We are getting our butts kicked together.
4. I love our evenings together after the kids go to bed.  (especially the nights this semester- No STUDYING!)
5. I love that he gives the kids a bath every night.
6. I love that he likes to take me on dates.  (I don't care where!)
7. I love that he will 'dress up' to take me on a date.  (meaning that he wears something other basketball shorts to go out in!)
8. I love that we have an eternity in front us!  I can't wait to spend the rest of forever with him.

Bryan Gets Crafty

Bryan decided a while ago that he really wanted to make the kids their own growth charts.  He did it all with minimal help.  I am super impressed.  We don't own a silhouette or anything of the sort.  These awesome letters were drawn and cut by hand, the old fashioned way.  Who knew Bryan would love vinyl and modge podge so much?!

 (I may have influenced Brooke's font and colors slightly...)

Bryan gets old(er)

Happy Birthday to the best husband and friend I could ever ask for!

I made and ice-cream cake, er, pie.  It was easy peasy.  I think he loved it.  We celebrated by going to dinner at Texas Roadhouse with the kids.  I love that our kids are so good at restaurants.  They love the peanuts and bread, so we don't really need to order them dinner!

In Heath news, he has found a favorite toy.  (Why do kids ALWAYS love electronics?)

We found him an extra remote, took the batteries out and wha-la! Heath and the remote are almost inseparable.  Its like having a tracking device on him. Or an alarm.  He hangs onto it while he crawls and I hear a 'thump-slap', 'thump-slap' against the floor letting me know exactly where he is at all times.  Did I mention this little guy just melts my heart?  He is so happy and easy going.  I just LOVE him!

Romney siting

I had the chance to go to a GOP rally and see Paul Ryan the day before elections.  It was so fun!  We left the kids with some friends, drove 2 hours to Ohio and got to meet some really nice people!

  If that isn't cool enough, I got a phone call from a friend who got word of Mitt Romney coming to Pittsburgh on election day!  She and I loaded the kids up in her Tahoe and headed out to the airport to check it out. 

 We waited for about 2 hours in the 'crisp' November air.  The kids did great.  (I brought the portable DVD player and they watched Aladdin)

 I know you can't see us, but Alex and I (and our 5 kids combined) are on the top level of the parking structure.  When we got here there was only about 25 people.  By the time we left there was over 1000.  This wasn't even an official 'rally'.  Don't let the media fool you.  Even though he didn't win, he had so much support. 

Thanks Governor Romney!  It was a good campaign. 

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for so many things.  I am so blessed with a wonderful family.  Here are a couple pictures of some of my favorite little people.

 This next one is such a classic- Brooke is trying to get Heath to smile...and failing miserably! 

 I gave Heath his first hair cut a couple weeks ago.  He really needed it.  I should have done it before we took all the pictures with the three of them!
Before:

 After:
 Two more pictures of my little cuties!

 Have a very Happy Turkey Day! 

 Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count you many blessings, see what God has done!