happy new year

happy new year 2011

enjoying some sparkling apple cider

the awesome folks we rang in the new year with

you know me, it's not a post without a random picture...


well, another year has come and gone.

and what do we have to show for it?

some would say: a few more pounds, a few more wrinkles, and maybe a few more grey hairs {not me, mark- i'm grey free! just saying}

i would however say it was another year of:

love from one another
time spent with those we cherish
great meals {that might explain those "few pounds"}
travels to near and far
adventures in our own backyard
pictures to capture all that life has to offer
life
death
birthdays {37 x 2, 14, 9 & 5}
milestones {awards, grades, boyfriends, starting school}
opportunities to do the things we love
friendships {new and old}
understanding
patience, either learning to have some or never having enough
flaws that you don't like others to see
life lessons
thankfulness for the life we live
forgiveness for ourselves and for others

the list could go on and on for sure.

i am thankful for another year as a mom, wife, and friend.

and thankful to have friends and family in MY life that make life complete.

so, here's to another great year of:
love
food
adventures
birthdays
milestone
opportunities
friendships
life lessons
friends
and many more...

gotta love these peeps

jessica in her way too small scooby doo costume on christmas day. i tell you some of the things this kid of mine does make me laugh so hard! where she comes up with these things i'll never know. i personally like to blame it on mark's brother michael, she acts just like him. well, at least that's my story and i'm sticking to it!

jordan and the keegan spending a little time together on christmas. as i've previously mentioned... these two are inseparable. always together somewhere, somehow. mark laughs and says, " i have no idea how in the world they can spend that much time together." guess he doesn't remember being 14... either way, we love him dearly and his is surely part of our family!

oh my little josie jade. as cute as you are, you are surely testing your limits. some days more than others. i guess it's because you are the youngest of 3 and your two older sisters, well, they are just as stubborn and smart as you are. or is it that you are as smart as them? who knows, all i do know is that i love you to pieces even on the days i want to return you to..... {where is it you return kids at?} ha ha

christmas

can you believe that i would only take one, yep one picture on christmas?

i'm not too sure what is wrong with me, but this is all you're getting folks!

it was a quiet morning spent opening gifts and enjoying each other's company.

then it was time to feast that evening with to die for prime rib with all the fixing...

yeah, i'm still enjoying our christmas meal each and everyday i try to zip my pants,

gotta love the holidays!

award winning writer in family

yep, you guessed it. the red head is giving me a run for my money on being famous.

she went ahead and won herself an award. a writing award. who knew she could do that, you know write?

just so happened that the awards assembly just happen to be on jammie day.

come on folks, i'm not that bad of a parent.

i was worried that my less than outgoing 3rd one would freeze up when it came time to read her "writing" but nope, she went ahead and did i like a champ!

after the assembly was the classroom holiday party where the kids feasted on cookies, hot chocolate and marshmallows.

hence the picture of josie eating..

so proud of you josie jade!

birthday girl

okay, okay so we all know i am a complete loser.

not the girl shown above, me- her mother.

so i get all high and mighty and post tons of postings and then......

NOTHING!

wow, really is all i can say.

well, maybe that and sorry.

okay, on with the show, umm i mean post.

see this girl? yep, that one at the top of this post?

she turned 14 on the 20th of december.

14 really?

i know. i ask myself that often. mostly because i can't imagine that i am old enough to have a kid that age. but whatever...

all you need to know is that we love her very much and are so very proud of her and who she is becoming.

we ended up going to olive garden for her big day, ate way too much and had a blast.

so happy 14th birthday jordan michele.... WE LOVE YOU!

on your mark, get set, overload

all i can do is say "i'm sorry" for which you are about to be forced to do.

i am sooooo far behind on this here blog.

so i decided to update it, with several {and i use that word loosely} post.

so, sorry.

i'll understand if you turn back now.

actually, i'll never know, so it's okay.

love, me

festival of trees

believe it or not, i'm kinda famous around these parts.

got ya! only kidding. i mean who am i kidding. i'm a nobody.

well, not a complete nobody. i am shara to most or mom the three sponges that live in our house.

okay, back to the original post:

this was the second year i was asked by the festival of trees committee to photograph the trees that were decorated and auctioned off for a good cause.

you know me, i never pass up an opportunity to spend sometime with my boyfriend, mr. nikon and take some pictures. especially of beautifully decorated trees.

also a plus i get to use the images for my own personal use. like the one in my new updated banner.

see, being famous has it perks.

so kidding.

stop laughing.

didn't your mother tell you it's not nice to laugh at people?

i guess my mother told me to never lie and i just did, you know the part about being famous..... :)

basketball

no, your not on the wrong blog.

yes, you just read a post entitled "basketball"

yes, you are seeing a tall boy and you are saying to yourself, doesn't this crazy lady have all girls?

just thought i would share with you a couple of the "tall boy" as he is kindly referred to in our house.

i'm gonna be honest, he is an awesome basketball player.

i'm pretty darn proud of him and he's not even my kid!

well, i guess he kinda is, i mean he is at my house almost as much a my own. i'm still negotiating for half the tax credit. HA

anyhoo, at 6'1 he is the tallest on the team and an all around awesome player and i'll be honest, kid.

okay, we now return you to your regularly scheduled blog post about girls and their drama!

christmas program

josie and jordan

josie jade

jessica in the marimba band

my girlies home from the concert

the other day {well, last week to be exact} the ladies, minus jordan had their christmas program.

it's 2 fun filled hours {enter sarcasm here} of christmas music and kids singing out of tune.

nah, it's all good. it was awesome to watch jessica play in the marimba band AND sing a solo.

she totally rocked it. did i mention she was awesome? are you sure? if not, i"ll proudly tell you again, jp ROCKED the house.

josie was a little nervous to be up on that "big"stage and having to sing in front of so many people {she's a whole lot like her dad} but she too did awesome.

love living in a small town and the life we life. honestly couldn't get much better!

jordan and keegan

okay, so hold on to your pants.

my jordy and keegan are still going out.

can you believe it?

it's been like 4 whole months. that is eternity in middle school years.

actually, i'm not shocked at all.

they are a good match for one another.

as mentioned in previous post {not that i expect you to remember} this is her first boyfriend {just the second time around}.

i swear they are like an old married couple.

i know judgment is probably being passed on me as we speak {or you read this} that we would let her have a boyfriend, and a pretty serious one at that at her age. but to be honest, she is old for her age and mature beyond her years.

it is a good relationship, a positive one and one that does both of them good.

plus, i mean come on, how cute are they? nothing better than tall boys..... {well not in my case, i prefer them a "husky petite"} ha ha