Game on!

Isabel and Ben spent quite a bit of time playing Air Hockey before they even noticed the other gifts under the tree.

Christmas Hugs

Isabel and Ben used their own money from their piggy banks to get each other a gift. Isabel made the wrapping paper and starting next year, they will make gifts instead of buying for one another.

Fancy Nancy Cookie Soiree

A twist to making cookies for Santa? Make them the Fancy Nancy way and add sparkle and glitter.

Wrap it up Martha

I was woken by a toddler at 4:30. She is back to sleep but I am not. What to do now? How about wrap the gifts?! I am loving some of the Martha wraps at Michael's.

Our Attempt

Isabel and I could not possible wait for the boys to finish resting before we played in the snow. Here is our attempt at a 'Mommy and Isabel' Snow Angels.

Snow Angels

Tomorrow will be magical: Daddy off from work, snowstorm coming with promises of my little angel's bundled up so tight they can barely move, sledding down our hill, making a family of snowmen and cups of hot cocoa. My entire body will be warmed by the joy in my heart.

MY Mug

A lovely friend gave me a wonderful gift from Anthro this weekend:
the perfect monogrammed mug with the letter 'J'. I wonder
how long until a child breaks it?

12 Days of Giveaways

Did you see what is going on at Design Mom? Go quickly!

Christmas Mustaches

I received some great little mustaches from Jordan from Oh Happy Day as part of the Pretty Little Things Club and had a great time with them.

Princess Promenade (named by Isabel)

Isabel spent her morning drawing all the princesses
she could name. Please admire each lovingly. From left to right:
Row 1: Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Ariel
Row 2: Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas
Row 3: Mulan

Save Handmade Children Products

All,

I have found a post on Design Mom who links back to Cool Mom Picks describing legislation that will result in the ban of all handmade children's items. Please read and act.

My Magazine Fantasy

Have you heard of this new service? Checkout Maghound.

A day of Gifts

Here is what a wonderful birthday I had: Our day began by meeting a wonderful family that we shared a Holiday Hayride with, we choose our tree (artificial for 4 years), enjoyed lunch and began stringing lights. As expected, some of the lights were no good and we accepted that it we needed some new ones. Then I received many phone calls and the aforementioned family came by with a gift and sweet cards made by the children. During their visit, I was serenaded and presented with the cake that my hubby and children made to celebrate. To top it all off, I went to my sweet (and amazingly talented photographer) friend's house where she hosted a lovely intimate evening with a few ladies. I walked into the house to my waiting husband and off to bed.

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Silly Reindeer

Isabel and I were enjoying a meal at the Detroit Airport when she suddenly decided to get silly with a wet-nap and asked me to photograph her.

Santa Clause came to Town

Every year, the Friday after Thanksgiving, we stroll downtown

and await Santa's arrival (via Firetruck) followed by a trip to the

old fashioned Candy Store. Then a gathering for Hot Chocolate and

Apple Pie followed that! Hello sugar high.

What (IF)?

Support Worlds Aids Day at Starbucks!
Come on, you know you want a coffee drink!

Santa Mobile

What before my eyes appear? Santa riding around with no deer!
While waiting at the Charlotte airport Monday, Santa
was riding around the airport bringing cheer. Isabel was too intimidated
to jump into the car for a pic so Mom did. Please excuse the photo,
but we only had disposable (remember, Isabel broke the camera? now fixed)

Isabel is Thankful for...

'I love my mommy, my daddy and Ben-Ben. My Barbies
and Ponies and thank you for making Turkey. I am thankful for food.'

Ben is Thankful for...

'Ben, are you thankful for Mommy, Daddy and Isabel?' 'Yeah'
'Are you thankful for Nana and Grandpa?' 'Yeah'
'Are you thankful for Vovo, Vava and Manny?' 'Yeah, but Manny not there'
'Are you thankful for the kitties?' 'Yeah'.....'I like my roll'

Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving and guess what? Our camera is fixed. The kids are showing off their crafts. Ben made his in class last week and Isabel insisted that we make a Turkey Table Topper. While in S.C., their daughter was making one for the big day so Isabel has been talking about it since we got home. Her topper held our biscuits. Yum.

Here we come S.C.

We made the sudden decision for me & Isabel to fly to S.C. to visit some friends. We will be back Monday night.

Funny Faces at Santa's Village

We were just was going through New Hampshire photos

from this summer and when we ran across these, we had a few

good laughs and wanted to share. Hope these bring some joy to

your day.

Me want badly

Could I even make anything similar to this? Me likely lots.

Anthro Tree Trim

If I could only have them all: Click below watch the lovely display come to life.

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/category.jsp?popId=HOLIDAYHOME&fromDisplayPage=fromDisplayPage&navAction=jump&navCount=1&pushId=DECOR_HOLIDAY&id=DECOR_HOLIDAY

The First Time

The time has finally come: after 4 years, 6 months and 20 days, Isabel is having her first sleepover with her buddy Maddie who is 3 days older. My baby is growing up.

Going Green Gala

I am running around preparing for the Going Green Gala tomorrow! I promise to fill you in and update with more family pictures as well. Please check out www.DPNC.org to learn more about the Gala and Nature Center.

Into the air

After surviving a tough 24 hours of Isabel reacting to the Flu vaccine, we spent time outside 'raking' the leaves. Doesn't running into a pile of leaves make you feel like a child again?

Spooktacular

Happy Halloween! We are planning on having a fun day in our costumes then marching in the town parade and dropping by the businesses for treats (leave the tricks to daddy), dropping by all of our neighbors and then attending a bonfire. Between all the activity and sugar crash, the kids should sleep until noon Saturday.

Flashback

This scanned photo is my mom (age 19!) changing me. I love how hip she was dressed as a young mom. My grandma had those fantastic curtains and painting (she did) up for many years. The changing table was eventually replaced with a vanity that I have in our home now.

Photo Shoot

We had an exciting day at a photo shoot.....the shocker is that Ben was much more interested than Isabel was.

Stickers and Ghouls

What a fun day yesterday! In the first photo is Ben in the early stages of being 'stickered' by his sister. The second photo shows the kids near a display before we began the spooky trail--the funny part is that 2 seconds later it moved and made noise and all of us jumped....and Ben cried.

Coffee Crisp love from Germany

Who knew such a tasty treat existed? My friend from Germany

sent two of these to me (the only evidence of the second one is the tiny crumb) and I think I am already an addict. I must find a local supplier.

Fancy Nancy and Funny Faces

Isabel discovered Fancy Nancy at the libray and requested some pretty flowers and butterflies for her hair....while taking some photos of her hair for daddy, we started playing on the bed and taking photos of our 'funny faces'

How do I choose?

Favorite moments and it is only 1:00: Listening to Ben sing ‘My Little Pony’ in his bed at 7:00 a.m.? Playing ‘eat the blocks’ at 7:30 am? Being silly with Ben at the grocery store while Isabel is at Gymnastics? Listening to them sing on the way home at 10:00 a.m.? Decorating pumpkins and watching them? Or when Dom came downstairs excited to show them a glorious red tree next door and we had to rush outside to look? Oh, wait, what about when they tore the skeleton off the door and then chased each other around with its' head?

Dam Building

Daddy used a part of our yard to teach the kids about building a dam and about the mechanics of flowing water.

Adoration

The talented Mr. Domingos: walks in the door at 6:15, eats his dinner quickly (as we did not wait as kids grouchy), changes his clothes while children hanging off his pant legs going upstairs....comes down to listen to me vent about hard day while the dishwasher begins to leak....plays with kids for 30 minutes, fixes dishwasher while I start bathing process...comes up to complete bathing process....gets kids into bed, reads to and lies with Ben then enters Bel's room as I depart...comes downstairs at 8, cleans up counter, then as he enters family room to rest, listens attentively while I explain how I am too tired to get eggs, milk and toner....puts on his shoes, grabs my list and off he went...I need to show my appreciation more often. You are a loving soul Mr. Leal. XO

Pure Joy

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All,
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Playing in the Cave

While cleaning the garage, Dom found a small flashlight so I made a 'cave' under the kitchen table and they are looking at books-priceless.

Checking for freshness

Ben decided it was time to clean out he spice drawer and sniff for freshness. He voluntarily threw some in the garbage.

The Family at Sunset

Before the Show

Last night, Dom and Isabel went to see "Disney on Ice' while Mommy and Ben had a date for diner. This photo was taken just before Bel went to the show. It was a great night.

The Lovely Snow White

Sit-n-spin...with attitude

Prima Ballerina

A new school year and a year of Gymnastics begins. Isabel loves her new leotard that she chose.