Another vacation come and gone...

Ever feel like time goes by so fast that you might look back at a week, a month, or a year and have no idea what you did with it! That is how this past week felt for me. This past week was full of not a whole lot, yet the days seemed to tick by just as fast as the others, if not faster and I will go back to work tomorrow with a heavy heart as I will miss hearing the word, "mommy," a million times throughout the day. Although at the end of each school vacation, the return to work seems even harder... it is a reminder of the blessings that our family has being able to spend so much time together.

So, I don't want this vacation to just be a blur gone by. There is not one big event of the week that we can look back on, but yet little tid-bits of activities, celebrations, cuddles and hugs.
Sat.2/14 - Nick's birthday and a great visit and dinner with friends and their families.
Sun.2/15 - Nick had to work at school - kids and me relaxed around at home!
Mon.2/16 - Visit from Nick's mom. Yummy dinner together.
Tues. 2/17 - My mom took all THREE kids overnight! Nick and I had a pre-kid "lazy Sunday at home" and went out to dinner.
Wed. 2/18 - Winter fun at my parents house and visit with my brother and his girlfriend.
Thurs. 2/19 - Dinner with our friends and neighbors.
Fri. 2/20 - Took kids swimming at the Y. Colin's 1st dip in the pool... he loved it!
Sat. 2/21 - Visit with my family and then shipped Sadie off to her 1st sleepover!
Sun. 2/22 - snow storm, relaxed at home. Swimming at the Y in the afternoon...

See... there. Now, I can't forget this week!

10 months and standing!

Today my baby boy is 10 months old... just a couple months shy of hitting the big year! He continues to be much fun and if you ask us (or really any of our relatives) he is the cutest baby boy ever! His smile is contagious and his laughter is so sweet. His big milestone of the month is standing by himself. He has been able to pull himself up, although I think he often forgets that he knows how to do that. He will stand holding onto things very well and has also stood holding on to nothing for a minute of two! Unfortunately, he is not anywhere close to crawling or moving. I think this is frustrating him as he will get very cranky just sitting in front of his toys. I think he wants to move... but his laziness is just getting in the way! I know from talking to other mothers, I shouldn't be in a rush to get him moving and walking... as I will never be able to sit still. On the other hand, I don't want summer to come and he still be immobile. We spend so much time in our driveway and outside that I think it will be real bummer to have him just sitting and scooting in our dirty, chalk filled driveway. So... we will be working together over the next couple months to help him gain his confidence and get moving!

This is Colin's new toy! Most of his things are hand me downs... but this was just for him. He loves to stand by it and check it all out!

Super sweet smile full of teeth!

I am a sucker for overalls... the girls were in them all the time and Colin hasn't really had a pair. Aren't these just adorable (they better be... I paid full price for them from the GAP!!)

Our Captain Sully! Off on another adventure.

We love you Colin!

Happy Birthday Nick!

From a Halloween baby to a valentine... Happy Birthday to my darling husband!

I love you... my forever 36 year old!

Last days make new beginnings!

Thursday was Sadie's last day of Pre-school. We had decided to not sign her up for the next "session" of preschool. (At least that is what we told her!). I just couldn't rationalize sending her to preschool when she didn't like going, but on the other hand... the teacher side of me, couldn't let her give up on school or quit, so this seemed to be a compromise that I was comfortable with. Ironically, as soon as we made this decision, she seemed to like school more. She talked more about it and even told us that she had a friend at school (things she had never said before!). Once again, Sadie seems to keep us guessing at all points. I told myself this was because she could enjoy school once she knew that there was an end to it... but who knows?! Anyway, she was not sad that her last day came, but can look back on the experience as a good one. I guess that means that we made a good decision!

This is Sadie and her teacher, Mrs. Fordyce!

Tagged!

I've been tagged to post the 4th picture in the 4th album of the pictures on my computer. This is Sadie when she was 12 weeks old. Super cute and super chubby! If you are reading this and have a blog yourself... consider yourself tagged!

Sadie Baby is FOUR!

Sadie ... our daughter that makes us smile, laugh and always keeps us guessing is 4 years old today! She has LOVED celebrating her birthday... just another reason that she is so much like me. This past year, Sadie has gone from the youngest in our family to being a big sister. The only one in our family that will have the joy of being a big sister and a little sister! Her favorite thing in the world to do is to play dress up and to constantly change her clothes. She is very aware of what she is wearing and is always trying to figure out how to be in a dress for every occasion. She loves to cuddle and is always up for taking a nap (although we have had to force her to give these up this year...). Just recently, she has learned how to write her name and now she'd write it all day long. She is bold and beautiful, yet shy and reserved. She truly gives us constant joy and happiness. We love you Sadie.

Sadie, Daddy and Natalie at the Bowling ally. Notice Sadie's earrings, necklace, crown and birthday hat... not to mention the formal dress that she thought was appropriate for bowling!

Singing Happy Birthday to Sadie. Sadie asked for a "Wedding Cake" as her birthday cake. I did my best... but I don't think my future is in cake decorating! Thankfully she loved it. When she first saw it she said to me.... "Mommy, you are the best mommy ever!" At this point, she has even agreed to have me make her wedding cake when she gets married!

Our Birthday Bowler!

Sadie and her very bestest friend, Caliegh.

My Sadie baby!

Skiing with Uncle Chris, Nannie and Poppy

My parents are awesome! They are just hands down, super awesome grandparents to my kids. Sometimes I find myself watching my mom interact with my kids and almost feel jealous of the patience she can show them and the time she gives them. She does activities with my kids that I want to do, hope to do, and plan to do... but somehow don't seem to do.
On Saturday, while I was working Arbonne and Nick was stuck home with the babe, my parents met up with Chris at Garrett Hill Lodge for some winter fun. The plan was to have lunch together, try out snowshoeing (which we all expected would last only a couple minutes) and then visit for a bit before everyone headed home. Well, the girls saw the cc skis and wanted to try the fun. From what I heard, my brother had patience of steel and taught them to cross county ski! Natalie LOVED it and is so proud that she gave it a shot. My mom was there the whole time cheering them on and taking pictures so that I could feel like I was right along with them. Here are some of the highlights.

Uncle Chris and my goofball (otherwise known as Sadie).
My girls with their very favorite Uncle. My mom told me that Sadie is holding up her ski in this picture because she wanted to be sure that we would all know that she was skiing!

Natalie.

Sadie having lots of fun.

Living in the northeast, winter is long. VERY long. I know that we, as a family, have to find some winter activity that we like doing. Currently, we get through winter just waiting for it to be over... but that gets long and old. It is still very hard to plan any big outing, as when will Colin need to nap, how many bags to I need to pack, will it be a success or a fight. However, this adventure with Nannie and Poppy gave me hope that soon we will be able to do this together. Winter fun!