Land of Nod Sale

I don't know about you but I love Land of Nod. I have never had the pleasure of visiting the stores, but once in awhile I splurge on some must have purchases. I got both of the boys their Nod chairs and they love them, and I have bought some toys and books from there as well.

Recently, in my preparation for the onslaught of gifts that Santa and Grandma Santas are bringing, I bought their storagepalooza 2 bin with shelves. I love it.

It was super easy to put together...I did it myself, and it is totally kid friendly without looking dwarfish. I love how easily Matt and Z can get their toys in, and how they can even help put they away.

Anyways, I wanted to share the news that tomorrow, for one day only, Land of Nod will have 15% off of everything but Baby Gear. This means that all of their storage, bedroom sets, big items, toys, books and other lovely gifts are on sale. All you need to do is pick what you want/need add it to your cart and type in CAKE in the promo code area. Happy 15th birthday Land of Nod, and have fun shopping readers!

Calling all Griswolds...

I don't know what it is but my new neighborhood is lacking in the Christmas decor. I mean seriously it is pretty weak around here. Maybe it's just me, but when I was a kid I remember most houses filled with lights in the windows, wreaths on the door and plastic Santas. I do have to say I am a little pleased that the plastic Santa's have seen a decline in the last few years since I find the lighted lawn decor so much more pleasant. I will not lie though I did love climbing out of my Mom's bedroom window to put our platic reindeer and Santa set on the roof. It just always felt so realistic!

Lights twinkling in the night...there is nothing so pretty to me. It just makes this season feel special and magical. So imagine my disappointment that only 5 or so other houses on the block have any significant lights up. I mean seriously people...no candles in the windows, no lights in the trees, not one iota of Christmas?

In the lone darkness of my street, my house feels like it looks like this:

My neighbors must think of me as a little bit eccentric, a little bit over the top. In reality, or my reality, my house is tastefully Griswold. There are so many more lights Iwould have loved to put up. I would love to run the lights along the roofline, add them to the wreath on the door, hang a lit wreath in wach window, find a way to put lights in the arched window in my foyer(and closet), run lit garland up the front staircase...you know do it big! Instead I ended up with this:
See...I could use more lights don't you think? If you are a Griswold, let me know. Is it just my neighborhood this year that looks like the Grinch visited early and stole all the decorations, or are you all in the same boat? Where did all the Christmas spirit go? Talk to me people!

Just checking in and an annoucement!

The last week has flown by. The days seem longer now that the weather is officially cold and snowy, and the kids and I aren't getting out as often. We are holding down the fort so to speak and I haven't really mustered up pics or words that seem all together fascinating. I did want to write though about a really great event that is happening in our family.

NO I AM NOT PREGNANT...

BUT...

After three years together, and a lot of ups and downs my brother in law and sister in law are adopting a little boy who has been family in all of our hearts for a long time. It is just so exciting knowing that this child, who came from a difficult situation, has found a home forever, and that no one is going to take him away from the only two people he has ever known as Mom and Dad. I am so excited for the three of them, that tomorrow they will finally...legally...be a family. Congrats you guys!

(Sorry for the lack of specifics and pictures, but I just want to make sure that legally I am not overstepping boundaries for them)

The sweet life and my little helpers...

I love Christmas...oh yeah we covered that already. What I am loving more and more is how as my boys grow they just keep making life sweeter and sweeter.

I've always loved looking at the first snow fall. The ground is so pure and untouched and timeless. But I loved this snowfall more than any other because it captivated my sons which totally captivates me:

Putting up the tree was even enriched this year because I had a very special "Little helper". He just loved hanging the ornaments and telling me we needed more!:

And every year I love adding a new ornament to capture our family for the year. This one makes me laugh because Zach loves pretending he's a frog in his bath towel(a frog). Recently we watched The Frog Princess so he's taken to kissing us and telling us all we've turned into frogs! Here we are as Zach sees us:Zach's been very proud of his accomplishments. Here he is showing off his decorated tree:Recently while I was baking, my little helper struck again. He wanted to do everything. So I let him do a lot! Even though I can whip up chocolate chip cookie batter in 5 minutes on my own and this batch took me 20 minutes, I enjoyed every minute of watching this little boy create. It's amazing how children open our eyes and hearts! Here is Zach and I smiling for the camera:

And Zach showed off his mixing skills:

And of course his tasting skills:

And even though I insisted on doing the actual baking, Zach wanted to stay close by to make sure things turned out according to his standards:

Life is pretty sweet around here these days. Matt is practically walking primarily, and doing so well at it. He's also starting to "talk" more and more. Yesterday at his one year check up he was off the charts in height. Apparently being 32 1/2 inches at one makes you in the 105th percentile. He is also weighing in at nearly 27 pounds. People always tell me he is going to be a linebacker. I've always says he's the bigger little brother, but no matter how tall or strong he gets I know he will always have the biggest heart. I am sure it helps that he loves to eat everything, and I just had to share a picture of him on his birthday packing in not only the cake I made, but the ice cream cupcakes Grandma Alice brought to enjoy:
Between the cookies and cake, and these two little boys smiles, my life has never been sweeter.

I'm most thankful for...

These two little faces:

and the personalities that go with them!

I am also most thankful to the man who gave me his heart, gave me my family, and shares his life with me in our beautiful new home.

I am also most thankful for the family I was born into(and has grown into), the family I married into, and all of the friends I've gathered along the way.

I am also very thankful for the health of those I love, and for the happiness I experience every day.

This year, like many of you, I am just thankful to have the life I've been given.

Happy Thanksgiving readers!

Visiting with Santa...

On Sunday, we went back to the mall to do some retakes. Needless to say picture day Friday did not go well. My boys were a mess. I would love to say that they were sick or tired, or hungry, but the truth is they just weren't having it. Matt refused to smile, and Z was all over the place. If he wasn't scampering around, he was zoned out and expressionless. The results were definitely not the dream shot I hoped to see hanging on the wall for years to come. I actually told the photographer that there really were no pictures I wanted to pay for. Fortunately, Lisa got some adorable shots of her kids from that day, so it wasn't a total wash.

My sister could sense my frustration so when the photographer suggested we come back on Sunday, I agreed. So Sunday morning I convinced Wayne to come along hoping his presence would help keep Zach focused, and Matt entertained. Well picture time came, and the results were not really that much better. The pictures were pretty much a 50/50 split. Only two out of the four kids smiled at one time, no matter how many faces, stern warnings, or pleas we issued. in the end, we will have a picture. A perfect picture, hell no, but a shot of the 4 grand kids at this time in their life, and all the drama that goes into it.

At the end of the photo shoot I was beaten, Wayne was astonished at how obstinate the kids had been, but we let them go see Santa. I let Zach go because there was no line, and he was super excited to see him. Plus I had promised if he smiled in his pictures he could see Santa and about 1/2 of the time he complied.

Zach was such a chatterbox, talking away with Santa. He even climbed up onto his lap to tell him what he wanted. He talked for a good few minutes with Old St Nick about his reindeer and about his sleigh. It was all going so splendid so I threw Matt into the mix.

You see, last year I wanted a picture of the boys together with Santa, but Matt was asleep in his stroller when we finally got our chance, and Zach was terrified, so I was glad to get one shot at a picture. This year Zach was so thrilled to see Santa, I'm sure he would have been content to sit on his lap for the photo or the rest of the day chattering on about Rudolph. Unfortunately, the moment Matt met Santa I knew he wasn't thrilled and that little bugger is strong, so I had Santa hold him tight, and moved Z to the rocking horse. My efforts to get a nice picture sort of paid off, because Zach is gleefully saying "Cheese" so nicely while Matt makes his "Popeye" face. I figure from far away it might look like Matt is smiling instead of grimacing! Who knows, if the proofs from Sunday turn out terribly, this little beauty might just end up on our Christmas card this year.

It's official...

This little man:
Is now officially ONE years old!

Happy Birthday to my baby Matthew! I can't believe how quickly this year has flown by. Matt is walking and trying to talk more and more everyday. So far he can say Mama, Dada, Ball, Bye, Hi, Baba, and likes to sing and dance. He loves to wave bye bye and he absolutely loves getting into everything. These days Matt is opening doors, climbing stairs, scaling furniture. He loves exploring his limitations. Generally Matt is easy going and smiley, but when he's teething or tired, he miserable. Matt is definitely going to keep me on my toes in his teen years, because every time I tell him NO, he just looks at me and smiles, and then turns back and tries to do it again. Oh how stubborn he can be! There is no greater smile in all the world, and when he laughs Matt just makes your heart melt. I couldn't ask for a more loving and wonderful son, and lucky me, I have two of them!

Here are a few photos from our low key day. This morning Matt spent some time in his very own chair, Zach has one, and now that Matt is officially a big boy, he has one too. Here he is chillin on his chair:

laughing for Daddy:

And doing what he does best...getting into EVERYTHING!

I just love this little man so much. I can't believe a year ago today I met him for the first time. A part of me feels like my children have been in my heart forever...and now they always will be. Happy first birthday Matthew, Mommy loves you very much and can't wait to see what our next year together holds. I take comfort in knowing that no matter how big you and Z get, you will always be my babies, and I will always cherish these early days when I got to cradle you, literally. We love you Mattie, and I think I speak for all who know you, that you have made our lives so much sweeter!