A quick moment on Christmas Morning...

As I watched my babes this morning....I was filled with excitement, joy, satisfaction, gratitude...I will post so much more about our Christmas day....

I am truly cherishing the present....

But, it is also very important for me to mention.....

I can not stop thinking about my future....

Where they are right at this moment, I don't know

What they are doing at this moment, I don't know

But this morning, I am thanking God for them, even though, I don't know them....

I am praying for them, praying for their family...

I love them, and yes...I don't even know them....

Merry Christmas my special little ones...I am thinking of you today!

Love, Mommy

DAY 1 OF CHRISTMAS FUN

CHEERS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY....

DAY 1 OF CHRISTMAS FUN!

December 23,2010

Today my parents and brother made the trip here for our Christmas weekend celebration. Garyn and Gigi were both so excited....they were both napping when they arrived, but were pleasantly awakened by "Unc" and GaGa.

Garyn immediately started wrestling with "Unc" and GiGi didn't leave my mom's side for a while...

We had pizza, salad, beer and wine....

Then we started on our Gingerbread houses....and let's just say....Martha Stewart would be disgusted....

It was a fun night....dinner, gingbread houses, 1 present for each of them from LaLa and Dave, a little sparkly for everyone, and Pro Musica playing in the background....

Regardless of howthe Gingerbread houses turned out, it was a great night.

(next year we are making our own Gingerbread and icing....so be prepared for an awesome house...)

Authors write better than bloggers....

So I am reading a new book called "Things Good Mother's Know," By: Alexandra Stoddard

A few weeks ago one of my blogs said this:

Yes, they test my patience, but I am learning how awesome little people are....and how it's a whole lot more fun and a lot less frustrating if you stop, really listen and acknowledge that their little minds are very smart!!

I think, sometimes, my schedule was too rigid, I expected too much....which in return caused them stress, made my day stressful, and they lost a whole lot of time to be creative, to show me their personality ....time is so much more fun when you let them express their personality (both good and bad.) I have learned my days are more fun if I am a kid right along with them....

Well, I think I got my basic point across...however, Alexandra Stoddard makes it sound sooo much better. Of course, I mean,she is an author....I hope her's sounds better than mine.....I am just a blogger, who most of the time, doesn't make any sense at all.....

Anyways, here is exactly what I was trying to say....but in her words:

"When we accept the challenge of personal growth, we will be less demanding of our children, because we will be more understanding of both their limitations and their great, varied gifts. Our children are not perfect, either, but they have great potential. By concentrating on our potential more than on perfection, we see that our capacity for growth is vast."

She also notes,"When we focus on things that are significant, that brings us joy and satisfaction, we become one with our pursuits and feel relaxed and content rather than frustrated and stressed. Let's raise the bar higher, always trying to experience excellence- not perfection- now."

I think this is such an important life concept....one that I have been working on daily. And WOW!! It is making a huge impact on my life....I am so happy, and truly, TRULY, enjoying my little people!

Peewinkle's Puppets

'Tis the season for fun activities....

Yesterday, we visited the Peewinkle's Puppet studio for a fun Christmas show. The kids loved the puppets....and even I must say, the show was fun.

While there I learned Gigi might have a future on "stage." She volunteered twice to go on stage....she was the Lords of Leaping for the 12 days of Christmas,

and then she stood still while an 'angel' sang to her. She also LOVED the little ballerina in the show (the little ballerina was real, which makes me excited...will she be ready for the Nutcracker next year??) She loved her so much she asked after the show if she could hug her and take a picture with her. (I think she thought she was a princess.)

Garyn enjoyed the show too, if I had to take a guess...the little mice puppets were his favorite! He volunteered for the stage once, and when he didn't get picked, he decided it wasn't for him. He wasn't pouting, I think once he realized you had to be on stage, he changed his mind.

They both made their own paper mouse puppets and made them dance on the stage.

It was a great morning....it definitely a unique activity.....

Yogi Bear and BooBoo

Last night we took the kids to the movies to see Yogi Bear and BooBoo. Although Garyn has been to the theater many times before, this was Gianna's first time!

She LOVED it!!!!

We brought her pink booster (which she reminded us we needed as we walked into the movies.) They each got the classic kids popcorn snack; popcorn, tootsie roll, and sprite.

As the previews started, she looked at Ryan and said "this is so much fun!" And I think she said that about 68 times throughout the movie.

She was reminded a lot to be quiet...she is a talker.....she asked Ryan a ton of questions. One question she asked too many times was, "where is 'Ogi' bear and BooBoo, Daddy." Ryan tried to explain to her that they were only in the movie, but she insisted they had to be in the theater. So in order to quiet her, he told her they were behind the exit door. Therefore, when the movie was over, she wanted to go behind the door to see them. She wimpered the WHOLE way home because she didn't get to meet 'Ogi' bear and BooBoo.

Garyn loved the movie, he laughed out loud on several occasions, enjoyed his snack, and was so tired when he got home...

What an awesome way to spend a family night together (it's just too bad the movies are so expensive, otherwise, I think we would go more often....)

Papers....

First round of papers completed, copied, and sent....

...two of the packets were VERY detailed (if we laid them all out, it would look much more impressive.)

Ryan and I had to answer several questions about our childhood, education, children, parents, marriage, etc. Each of our essay's ended in more than 7500 words/ 15+ pages. (ironically, there was only a 45 word difference between the two...)

So excited....we are one step closer to meeting our future babes!!!!

The Match for Africa

Most of everyone who knows me knows.... I love tennis and I love Roger Federer.

As if I am not a big enough fan already.....he goes and does this....WOW! And...so.... now, I must love him even more!

I usually sit and watch match after match hoping Roger and Nadal end up on the court together....Well, tomorrow night I will get to watch the two most talented tennis players, play for fun, and play for a VERY VERY important cause....one that has a special spot in my heart....

check this out, you are guaranteed to love these guys!

www.rogerfedererfoundation.org/