Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009 Revisited...

  • Mike & I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary.
    Ryann became a teenager.
  • Life got complicated.
  • Mike got happy.
  • I blogged.
  • Skylar rode a 2-wheeler, lost her 2 front teeth, and learned to swim - all in one summer.
  • I cut my hair.
  • Bayli discovered monsters and princesses.
  • The girls got to know their grandparents.
  • Ryann kept on dancing and became the youngest member of the Senior Ensemble.
  • Madi fell in love with reading, wizards, werewolves and vampires.
  • Bayli got crazy independent.
  • I went to lunch with my Momma.
  • Madi joined the Pre-Jr. Ensemble & went to her 1st overnight dance convention.
  • Our family grew (by a guinea pig and a dog).
  • Ryann was forced to get braces against her will.
  • Mike worked really hard.
  • Bayli loved on her Uncle Jeff as often as possible.
  • We were visited by a brand-new niece, a brother and some favorite aunts.
  • I had a lot of lunches at Little Nepal, board games & fun with my Squeester.
  • Madi participated in the Young Author's Tea.
  • We contracted & overcame H1N1.
  • Madi got a cell phone & became our most prolific texter.
  • We got a car that doesn't squeak.
  • I put up a 2nd Christmas tree.
This year, my knowledge that you create your own happiness was reinforced, along with the knowledge that I am incredibly blessed in so many ways. I'm so looking forward to a new chapter of this journey, the adventure that is my life, with my family to share it with.
Happy 2010! I hope it's filled with Love, Laughter, Health & Happiness. :)

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Sleepover at Grandma's!!

Skye has been asking to have a sleepover at Grandma's house, so my sweet Momma & Dad invited her to spend the night on Monday. Ryann wanted to come too.
Grandma got the little purple guest room all ready for them. They were both so excited.


Madi, Bay & I showed up just in time Tuesday morning for pancakes!


The girls had so much fun spending special time with Grandma & Grandpa - eating tacos, playing Apples to Apples, watching Aliens in the Attic and making Rice Krispie Treats.

Thanks Mom & Dad! What a special day!

Christmas Dinner

Christmas dinner is always something to look forward to, but especially when Grandma & Grandpa come!


I cooked Thanksgiving dinner all over again and it was way delicious if I say so myself! :)

After dinner, we had so much fun playing Apples to Apples before Grandma & Grandpa gave everyone fun presents.


We are so blessed to be surrounded by loving family.


A wonderful, fun, beautiful Christmas Day.



Sunday, December 27, 2009

Christmas Morning

There's just nothing like Christmas morning...



Things I want to remember:

  • the way Bayli tried to wear her stocking
  • Ryann jumping up & down, then hugging her Dad when she discovered her ipod touch
  • Cooper running around for 15 minutes with his bone still inside the package
  • Skye breaking the rules to run downstairs and peek at the tree!
  • Madi so excited about her ipod
  • Ryann & Madi spending most of the day together, on the computer, loading up their new ipods
  • Bayli taking all day to open her presents and insisting on wearing every new outfit as soon as she opened it
  • Being so thrilled to surprise Mike with his jacket (he loved it!)
  • Skye's giant smile
  • Mike trying out his jacket to take Cooper on a walk, then giving him a bath afterwards
  • knowing that we are so, so blessed

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas Eve


Our Family Christmas Eve was doubly fun this year!

This was the first year that my Mom & Dad were here for Christmas, & knowing we usually have a Christmas Eve dinner with Mike's family, my Mom invited us to a Christmas Eve brunch.

The food was yummy but for me, the company was the real treat. I loved being able to spend the day with my Mom & Dad. The girls loved eating as many crepes as they could, Bayli had a nap and loved on the doggies, we exchanged presents and just enjoyed relaxing with family.


After a couple of hours at home to digest, we were off to Christmas Eve party #2 - our traditional Lebanese Christmas Eve dinner at Grandma Bess'!

Like any family get-together, the highlight for Bayli was Uncle Jeff, who spent lots of time with her - snuggling, playing and reading. The Lebanese food was awesome, but a highlight for me was the super-cute family pictures we took downstairs.

It was a really fun night...


It was late by the time we finally got home -Bayli was exhausted and so not cooperative with the rest of the Christmas Eve traditions...

The girls opened their Christmas Eve gifts - new pjs.



After they changed into jammies, we put some baklava out for Santa and Daddy read "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Then it was off to bed, visons of sugarplums and all...


What a Merry Family Christmas Eve!

Christmas Princess

Bayli looked like a Christmas Princess in her gorgeous Christmas dress.

It's so nice to have one girl who will still wear the cute clothes I pick out. :)

Friday, December 18, 2009

Bayli Under the Tree

This is always the busiest (& most fun!) week of the year for me!
The last week of dance, the last week of school - parents invited to every dance class, school Christmas parties, school concerts, lots of baking for all the teachers, not to mention last-minute shopping and getting everything ready for Christmas before the kids are home for Christmas Break.
It's so crazy!!

I'm lucky to have such an easy-going girl that can roll with my crazy schedule most of the time.
I took these cute pictures of her in her little Christmasy outfit on Wednesday, before we went Christmas shopping with Aunt Corey.



Today's the last day of school before Christmas Break!!

More pics of our crazy week to follow...