The Time Inbetween

It is the time between Christmas and New Years. The time to reflect on last year, and look ahead to next year. And I still need to unpack my clothes from the last trip. I got my super duper planner in the mail last week and was just updating the birthdays and address from my old planner, what a great time to reflect on all that has happened, and how quickly the time really has flown! We have been so blessed with Noah, two growing healthy young kids, and an excellent marriage. We have great friends and family who love and support us, and it is just humbling to see where God has taken us. I am just very thankful right now.

Here are some picture of the time in Mexico, NY. The snow was fun, the kids played with sleds and snow tunnels, and the food was excellent.

That is not a tree dragging Rachel, that is my dad in some nice tree looking outerwear.

Kevin's parents have been here for the past day and a half, and we were able to get Noah's 6 month pictures taken. He did so well! I'll post some of them when I have the time to post next, so check back soon!

Merry Christmas

We finally got our van back, just in time to drive it to NY tomorrow to spend Christmas with NY family, and return the "rental" from my sister. Thanks Beau for letting us use your car for the last few weeks! Here are some pictures from the last few days. We did some Christmas on Sunday morning while we were snowed in, combing some of Kevin and my traditions growing up, and got some time outside in the snow.

Hope you all enjoy the season, and make some good memories along the way.

Another week

So there is a little bit of a lull between holidays, before things pick up again next week. We have been low key with Kevin getting ready for the GMAT and with the varying winter weather. Here are some fun shots of the kids from this week. I guess that Noah is sitting up officially by himself....I need to write that one down. That happened too quick. And he is getting on his knees and trying to crawl. Oh boy.

Bath time!

Here is our attempt at getting a picture together, I even tried to coordinate their outfits that day. Noah was too interested in the lolli-pop,
Here he is doing a push up. It amazes me every time I see that belly get off the floor. Like that drool hanging down too?
A nice french braid for the little lady
And another group shot. Rachel seems a little formal for a Monday, but the only way to get her out of her Dora nightgown, was to put a Dora dress on.
I am waiting for my planner for next year to come in, there are already things to remember and write down.

Next week we are heading to NY for Christmas, and there are a few work related parties to go to, and we will get to see Kevin's parents as they are up to New Bedford for the holidays as well. The Christmas cards coming in from everyone are beautiful, and it is fun to see where everyone is at this time of year.

Noah and the Snow-ah or (SNoah)

Ok, these pictures are mostly of Noah, but I am officially home for the first time because of the snow. The kids seem pretty excited about the snow, and I think I can get them out there today. Just as a side note, I did fix the pictures on my last blog...I got so excited about having time to post, but I posted on my mom's blog, and then tried just to copy and paste...and there you have it.

Quiet Time

All kids are napping, so I shall blog! We are all catching up from our trip last week. We broke the trip up stopping in Delaware with Kevin's brother on the way back, and it was good to spend some more time with them.

Here's Noah with Renee, I think they both look great in orange and maroon.

I throw this in because Kevin said he looked like this He-Man character with his beard. Hmmm...

So now I am thru with the laundry and putting away of the clothes and all the nice things we generously received from Kevin's family. We got the van looked at today, and on Tuesday my mom and brother drove in a extra vehicle for us while the van is being looked at. I am very thankful that we have a car to drive around and thankful for family!!

I tried Noah in this chair, and he seemed to do well with it. He is growing up too quickly! I just need to figure out how to transition Rachel out of it now.

It's December and Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer was on last night. We let the kids stay up and watch it while Kevin decorated. This is our look this year. Rachel was pretty excited to see her ornaments hung up, and it was fun to watch Daniel enjoy the show I enjoyed watching growing up. It's nice to have the additional lighting now that it is getting so dark so early.

Oh Deer...Time to be Thankful!

We've had a lot happen in the past few days while here in VA, I wanted to share before we got back to MA. We left Friday night to drive the 12 hours to Kevin's folk's home in Roanoke, and it was a good trip...until we hit a deer! We were driving down 81 and it was 4 in the morning, and Kevin was driving, when the three deer stepped out into the road. We only hit one, but it was scary for me. This was the damage on our car, but we were safe, but it will take a few weeks to fix our car although it is still driveable right now...so we need to figure that out when we get back.


Here are the cousins...

Rachel got some cute clothes, and is showing off her Dora outfit.

So Kevin has been working on a beard for the past few months, because of the beard competition between his brother Ryan and him. How do you think they did? I just can't wait until the beard comes off.

While we have been down here we were able to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary! We went to a winery in the area and had a great dinner out, and the kids were well taken care of. I keep laughing at myself, there is so much VT stuff down here, and I seem to point everytime I see someone where something Hokie. In other news while we were down here we found out our renter has left the house in NH and won't be returning...so that is another thing on our list to take care of when we get back to MA. Until then, we had a great Thanksgiving meal, got to see my grandmother and aunt while here, and will eat some more great food. There is truly a lot to be thankful for this year!

Thumbs Up

Still have to finish packing, but the kids had a few cute moments to share this week. Have a happy Thanksgiving, there's a lot to be thankful for!

"I Love Dirt"

When Daniel starts getting tired he starts naming off everything he loves. A few of the things mentioned this past weekend was dirt, trees, dogs, cats, Michael's house, tractors, just to name a few. We had a good time in NY celebrating Michael's birthday a little longer, going to my Aunt and Uncle's barn, playing in the woods and with tractors.

I had to start off with a picture of Noah, since he is not in any of the actions shots. He does well on trips, but he tends to get fussy after long trips in the car, and is getting very heavy, so it is hard to hold him for a long time.

Here are the kids ready to go over to the barn.
The kids are playing in some sawdust here.

We fit all the kids in the wheelbarrow. Hadessa, my cousins daughter, was showing the kids around the barn.
Saturday night we did a little pinata with the kids and Kevin organized a bonfire.

So another lovely weekend flew by, and now we are catching our breath before the next trip comes on Saturday, were we take the trip to Virginia. On Wednesday our back door is getting fixed....I am not quite sure if I should stay in the house with three kids for that one or not, and I will slowly start packing for the next trip. We just got a roof rack on our van, so that should be fun to use, and I am all done with my Christmas shopping now!

Friends coming and going

I need to catch up on my pictures from last weekend, so here it goes. The kids had fun walking around the neighborhood for Halloween. We got a few pictures of them playing in the leaves earlier that day.

Noah fell asleep on his bouncy...these pictures are slightly out of order..sorry...

Here are the kids looking for more kids coming to our door.
Here we all are...Rachel is whatever princess sparkly thing we could find, and Daniel is a pirate. Once Rachel realized we were going to folks homes to get candy, she was practically running to each door. We walked around, and then handed them out, so the kids received and gave.
My friend from college came the next day to spend a few days with us. She found a great deal on Jetblue from the DC area. We had fun with the kids during the day, we took them to the Zoo and to the Boston Children's museum, changed diapers, played and fed them in all it's glory. At night went out shopping, ate sushi, and painted some pottery, while Kevin was on kid duty.
Here was Daniel having fun...we don't try to torment all our visitors....
And as I mentioned friends coming and going, Jenny left yesterday, and tomorrow my sister is coming in with Michael. We are going to have fun celebrating his birthday both here, and when we travel back with him, I just love birthday weeks.

Food and Fall and Rolling like a Ball

Noah reached a few milestones this week, he rolled over for the first time, and we tried some solid food with him. He liked both! Every time now we lay him down he rolls right over, and gets very frustrated, but it won't be long until he's moving.

Rachel got really excited about bath night one night, and dumped in all the bubbles while we were getting ready to come upstairs, hence the very bubbly bath.
Fun with leaves. Daniel was looking out the window very sad the other day that the leaves had fallen. Stephanie was here at the time and trying to explain to him how they do fall, but they come back after the winter time.

Conner, our neighbor, with Daniel and Rachel.
So both Kevin and I were getting ready to get out the door Tuesday morning, and were slightly frantic. We looked down and watched the very moment Noah rolled over, and got his picture and gushed all over him. I am very thankful for the milestones we get to experience with every child. Here is Noah right after he rolled over the first time.

I will post more pictures from the weekend with them dressing up. Kevin was home with the kids today and took them to Target, I am very proud of him, so we have candy to pass out, and already the neighbors are asking if the kids are coming out because they usually have something special for them. I am not exactly sure what they will be wearing, but it will be fun either way.