our first card

Now that our Christmas cards, or at least MOST of them, are mailed, I thought I'd reveal some of those family pictures that we had taken awhile back. I didn't want to spoil them before our Christmas cards went out.

I haven't done a card at all since we've been married...so this is a first.
I was so excited to do one this year now that our family is more complete!

This is also our first REAL family photos! Thanks to Meg D (love, love love her blog and her photography!) for the amazing photos! There are lots more shots to share...but I'll wait till all of our family gets their Christmas gifts before I do!

A couple of things I will do differently next year....

1. We will NOT get our pictures taken when it is 40 degrees outside (I know that sounds warm now compared to the zero degree weather we are having, but it was NOT then!)

2. I will not expect to get a single family picture with everyone looking at the camera...because it obviously won't happen. Candid is better anyway, right?

3. And oops...I won't ever do a 5x5 card again...did you know they cost 62cents to mail??? I didn't know that until after the fact. I know that doesn't seem like so much, but it sure adds up. I waited till the last possible moment to share this news with Dave.

I DO love the design job that Amanda with PitterPatter Cards did for me. You can connect with her at her etsy shop too. She worked so well with me, making every last detailed change that I wanted! Until I can become a photoshop pro, I might just have this done again for me next year!

More family pictures to come....AFTER Christmas!

trade off

hmmm, this is a tough one...

a husband putting in 10 hour days, 4 days a week, ALWAYS having Fridays off.

or

a husband putting in 8 hour days, 5 days a week...no long weekends...just the normal Sat. and Sunday like everyone else.

what would you prefer?

I used to think this was a hard one...not really knowing which would be better. Yet always thinking that having him home Fridays was pretty nice.

That is, until kids, and especially until having 2 of them!

You know those hours after nap time until daddy gets home? Surely I'm not the only mom who struggles during these hours! Oh my...I think those are the toughest hours of our day! The rest of the day flies by (most of the time)...but most days from 3:00 on, I watch the clock. I can't help it. I try to keep the kids busy, I try to pass the time away by doing fun things. But those are also the hours I'm usually scrambling to pick up the house, cook dinner, feed hungry kids, get myself ready for a jewelry show, etc.

And those hours just so happen to be the hours where my kiddos are most needy....and probably just plain sick of me. And they get even MORE needier when they see me trying to do all those things that need done.

If I was super mom, I would get dinner completely prepared and pick up the house along with the other hundreds of things on my to do list ALL while my children were sleeping. I'm SURE some of you are thinking this is the answer! And sometimes, a few of these things MIGHT get accomplished then. But seriously, who are we kidding...some days I need that time JUST for myself...just a break, a quick nap for myself, some blogging time, lunch that I didn't get to eat earlier, whatever...just ME time! Is anyone with me on this one???

So back to the tradeoff.

Having Dave off on Fridays vs. being home earlier every evening?

That's a no brainer to me now!

You would never think that the difference in him being home at 4:00 and 6:00 makes ALL the difference in the world! It makes for a happier ME, happier kids...because they aren't as sick of me as they are at 6! THUS, makes for a happier husband and a happier, less stressful evening. Just happiness all around!

So why am I talking like this is even an option....let alone something that I have the control over.


Well, because it is official! This week...his crew will start 8 hour days! Last night he told me he'd be home today at 4:15, and that's after driving home from Hutch! Their next job may be back in Newton, that means he'll be home at 3:30!!! Did I hear him correctly? THREE THIRTY!??!?!? We both just smiled when he said this.

No, I didn't have anything to do with this decision. I don't have that kind of pull. I guess the guys wanted it themselves. Funny, after doing it this way for so long, they just wanted change. Maybe it's because they don't want those extra 2 hours a day in the cold. I don't know, I don't care...I just know this is going to be a GREAT week! I hope it lasts!

Sidenote: After writing this, I realized that I really shouldn't be complaining at all. I know there are so many moms (and dads) who take care of their little ones, day in and day out, with no help, and no one to relieve them. I am thankful, very thankful, although I know I take it for granted most days, that I CAN be home with my kids, and that I have a wonderful husband who comes home and helps me every single night. I'm thankful that he has a great job and that his job does not take him away from us for more hours than it does. We all get accustomed to what we are used to....but we make changes and learn to survive through all of life's challenges, little and big. I am blessed that FOR NOW, my challenges, in the whole scheme of things, are really not that big at all.

the stockings were hung

Last night, we finally finished all of our Christmas decorating...we had lots done, but then things came to big halt due to last Monday's dinner. So our tree was unfinished until last night.

I apologize for the blurry pictures, I was trying so hard to adjust my settings and get some good shots without the flash. I am so not good at all this photography stuff...but trying to learn!

oops, maybe someone should stop him....


Taylor had such a good time decorating our tree.Our finished product...


I tried so hard for the perfect pictures...what was I thinking?

This one just makes me laugh...it should be been deleted, but I was laughing too hard to delete it.

Hope you are all enjoying your holiday season!

candy cane sweetness

Do you remember these....I know some of you were very curious to find out how Mason's photo shoot would turn out...

So here ya go...

The leg warmers were PERFECT! Thanks to Kim Stahly at http://www.xpressionsbykim.com/! She is SOOO wonderful and has done such an awesome job capturing our little guy every 3 months!

I'm loving this cute little ornery face!

Don't worry...Mason won't be sporting the leg warmers out and about...but for this purpose, they are so stinkin cute...as I predicted!

Thanks Kim, for releasing these pictures so I could show him and your wonderful talent off!

If anyone is looking for someone to capture your little ones or your family....I HIGHLY recommend her...283-6171 or fotok@cox.net.

Merry Christmas from our cute little man!

little angels

Last Sunday was Taylor's first debut in a Christmas Program!



Can you seriously think of anything cuter than a stage full of 2 year olds, standing on risers (impressive), wearing halos (well, some of them) and singing Away in the Manger!

We've prepared for a month, practicing all the motions at home and wondering what she would REALLY do come time to perform. Of course fearing the worst....tears, screaming, spotting mommy and running off the stage.

We were all waiting in anticipation....Papa and Nana, Great Aunt Barb and Uncle Jim, Aunt Rebekah, Dave and Mason and I....

waiting for our angel...She did GREAT! She didn't sing and she didn't do a single action, although she knows ALL of them....but she stayed on stage, just looking around at all the other kids...I'm sure wondering what in the world was going on.

The 2nd song they all got to ring little bells. She did do this!

We were so proud...just to see her up there! Even if she did just stand there. She didn't cry till the end when all the kids started getting off the risers and going to their parents. She just stood there with a very worried look on her face and then tears poured once she saw me...I guess tears of relief!

Of course, once we got home she wanted to sing and do the motions over and over again....so enjoy her very own Christmas program from home... (please don't mind my horrible singing...and you may have to pause the music on my blog so you can hear her sweet little voice whispering some of the words)

finally

If you've been following my blog for awhile, you know that I got really crafty back in June and made some hair bows for my niece's birthday.

In all the busyness of life, I failed to continue to get my money's worth of the supplies and make some for Taylor.

Sometimes I just need the push from someone else to help me get motivated and crafty again...

So last night, my sister (who has been staying with us the last few days) and I made these.... So, FINALLY Taylor has some new bows!

It may be 6 months before I make more...but seeing as we buy the bow for $3 a piece, and I have about $30-40 in supplies....I think I have gotten my money's worth out of them.

I have lots of supplies left...so if someone else wants to be that person who gets me going again, you can come anytime and we can make bows together!

appreciation

Today is definitely a day of rest. I think my whole body is crashing...not to mention I've been fighting off some crud that I could NOT let get the best of me before this big event was over!

Last night was my FIRST annual Premier Designs Hostess Appreciation Dinner for my 2008 hostesses! After hours and hours of prep...the fire was going, my christmas playlist from my ipod playing, coffee, hot tea, cocoa and cider waiting, the room all set up...and the yummy food ready.

The Fireside Room at our church was seriously the perfect place to do this (the location was a debate for months...at one point, it was going to be at my house, that's when I predicted I'd have 15-20 max! Good thing I decided differently!)....and a full service kitchen was the handiest thing ever!

I intended to get pictures AFTER the guests arrived...that didn't happen. So you just get the BEFORE pics.

There is absolutely NO WAY I could have pulled this off myself....no way, Hosea!

My mother-in-law did the fantastic center pieces....THANKS JACQUIE!!

My sister came from Texas, and helped with EVERYTHING....mostly the dinner! She was a TOTAL lifesaver! I pretty much told her she has to come back EVERY year for this!

My friend Alisha, who also does Premier with me, came and let me boss her around all night...seriously, Alisha, thank you for EVERYTHING....you guys totally helped me keep my head on straight!

And of course, my dear husband....mostly there for moral support...but did SO much to help too!

After months of planning, food to feed 40, awards, decorations, gifts, and quite possibly one of the longest days of my life yesterday....I am HOPING my dear hostesses left feeling honored and appreciated....and with full bellies!

I couldn't feel my feet by the end of the night...not sure I've ever worn heels for that long. But it was ALL worth it!

Now countdown to my SECOND annual dinner begins!

here he comes!

Taylor was 10 -11 months before she was taking steps holding our hands or pushing a toy...

Mason has been doing it for almost a month now...so between 8 and 9 months.

This little guy is SO ready to take off all over the place!

Big change for a BIG girl

We've been meaning to do this for awhile now and last night was finally the night.Taylor's crib is now a BIG GIRL bed!

If only you could have seen her face as the front of her crib was being taken off.....PURE excitement, as I'm sure you can tell from the pictures.

We were very excited about this too...not sure why.

I guess it's the "sweet" part of the "bittersweet" moments of watching our little girl grow up!

I'm sure we are kicking ourselves soon and wondering what in the world we were so excited about making that change for!

It had to happen sometime.

Thanksgiving Recap

On Thanksgiving Day...dinner with Dave's side of the family...

We can't keep Taylor out of the kitchen when it comes to helping...

or eating...
and of course, fun with cousins!

Grandma always has such good ideas for the kids...this time it was BINGO...I'm pretty sure Taylor was just making a design on her board.It's always so much fun at Papa and Nana's house for the holidays! Good food, crazy kids and time together....thanks Jacquie, for always making the holidays so special for us all!On Friday, it was off to Irving, TX where my sister and her husband Steve live. The drive that should have taken 5 1/2 hours took us 8. And no, the weather was fine. The joys of traveling with 2 little ones!

It was beautiful weather there, so a walk down the path behind there house was a must!

And of course, GREAT for pictures....so I just snapped away.She kept running ahead to walk by herself.It was so good to see my parents too! Taylor started referring to them as "Dippa" (gma and gpa Dippel) in pictures that she has been looking at. I didn't realize it stuck...until she started calling them that when she saw them. We tried hard to get her to say "Papa Dippa" but she reverted back to "Dippa" most of the time. Thanks Rebekah and Steve for having us! The turkey was the BEST ever!! We will miss you at Christmas!