Thanksgiving to Now

My sister posted about our Thanksgiving on her blog, so here are just a few of my pictures.

Erika spent most of her first T-day asleep on her Daddy. He's got the special touch. He's holding up 3 fingers in this picture because this is the 3rd time that day she had fallen asleep on him. Cute.

Tim and his mom took the kids to a Candy Land party at the library. They had a great time... except for a slight fear of Lord Licorice.

I celebrated my 29th birthday on December 9. My very sweet husband sent me these very beautiful flowers.

Sometimes Daddy's are too comfortable for even themselves to resist a little happy nappy.

Thanksgiving Cookies

Ryan and I made the dough while the twins were at pre-school. Then after lunch we rolled out the dough and cut the shapes. I should have taken a picture then. They were completely covered in powdered sugar!

Erika really wasn't much help with the cookies, but she was quite excited about the frosting I let her lick off of the spoon!

1st Day of Pre-School

Things went well! They had a great time, and Tim and I weren't complete basket cases, so all things considered, it was a success.

It hasn't take Ryan long to adjust to being king of the castle at home while they're in school. His biggest concern is that I'm going to make him go to school too, which does not interest him in the least.

Erika is always eager for their return home.

The beginning of a new era...

I've always prided myself in being a mom who didn't want to hold her kids back, who let them grow up in the timing that they ought... I've changed my mind. They must stop now. Tonight, as a matter of fact.

Bekah & Joey start preschool tomorrow. I have no idea how this happened. I swear - this was them just yesterday.

But alas, all good things must come to an end, so it is with a heavy heart that I send my kids into the real world... Sure, it's just preschool, but to me, it seems like the rest of their lives are out of my hands. It certainly is good to know that they're held in God's hands (which I do realize that they've never been in my hands, but it feels even less so now).

They, of course, couldn't be more thrilled, or any less sensitive. Bekah just told me today, "Mom, I know you're sad that we're going to school because you'll hardly see us anymore." Yeah. Thanks. Just what I needed.

It seems hard to believe that these memories even ever happened.

I'm not sure who came up with the phrase that for those with little kids the days are slow, but the years are fast, but I'm finding that so very poignant right now.

Seriously, I must just be the most blessed mom in the entire world.

Update - Vacation

We spent some time at my aunt's shore house in Ocean City, NJ. While the weather wasn't fantastic, we still had a great time.

Update - September

It's been a while. We've been busy!

Tim turned 30 on September 12. We had a very fun party to celebrate.

I'd like to introduce you to Lord Stanley of Cake.

I based the sausage choices on some of my favorite characteristics of Tim: hot & sweet. hehe

Here is Tim showing off some of his cornhole skills.

I went away in September for a ladies retreat with my church. Tim took the oldest 3 mini-golfing. Cute.

Glasses

These glasses are from the doctor's kit we have. It's actually Bekah's, but Ryan is obsessed with the glasses. He wears them for hours at a time. Tim and I put them on Erika a few nights ago. She didn't mind, and probably enjoyed watching Tim & me laugh about it.

Summer has been going quickly. Here's a nice family picture from the last game we attended. It was give-away day - kids got a Ryan Doumit jersey. They were "adult small" size, so I got to wear Erika's.

Those Pirate games sure are exhausting. Even Tim fell asleep on the walk back to the car.

Haircut

I just got back from a major chop & highlight. The husband likes it, so I guess it's all good. :-) In the background you can see the cherry pie that I baked this afternoon. I should have also taken a picture of my very stained fingernails (I don't own a cherry pitter, so my fingers & a paring knife pitted 4 cups). I hope it tastes good.

A weekend of fun

Last weekend we attended a wedding of a family friend in New Jersey. This allowed us to have the chance to stay at Andrea's house. The cousins always have such a fantastic time together. When I was a kid, we always took pictures at my Uncle Gary's house with all of my cousins on the steps, so I always like to try to get pictures of all of my kids & their cousins on the steps too. Surprisingly enough, we got a couple with all of the kids looking & smiling! We also got a few that looked like this...

Erika just wouldn't cooperate and make a silly face. :-P

Erika also got to spend some really enjoyable time with her Grammy.

Erika will be 4 months this week. Where has the time gone? She is a wonderfully pleasant and easy-going baby. She's generally very happy & smiley. And in case you were wondering if her eyes would stay blue, we're gonna go with a definite "yes"!

New Erika pictures

for those who have been asking...

Who is happy?!

And getting a little pudgy?!

All that smiling really can wear a girl out! Good thing Wendell is sympathetic to her being tired.