Top 10

My top 10 of 2010

10. I made it to (survived) 8 years with my company and still love the people I work with
9. We survived moving 3 times in the last year, that's not including the temporary 2 moves to my mom's and in-laws.
8. I heard Daniel's first words this year and they still keep coming and I love it.
7. I gained strength from God through some tough times this past year.
6. I gained perspective on what life is really about.
5. I love living so close to family. It scared me at first but I love when the door bell rings unexpectedly and I see a familiar face holding a plate of goodies and asks to have tea or coffee.
4. I have grown as a woman, a wife and mom this past year like never before.
3. I have stopped to enjoy little moments in life that no amount of dirty dishes or laundry can steal.
2. I am learning to take time out for myself. Hard to believe I have to teach myself that. It's amazing what a pedicure, night out with girls can do for your soul.
1. I have never loved or appreciated our family more than I have this past year! I love every single one of them with my whole heart.

This year I have no New Year's resolution except to do it all again and learn a lesson here and there so when I'm old and gray I can tell D "relax you'll survive, God doesn't give you more than you can handle".

What fun it is

After all the stress of running around, purchasing just the right gifts, all at the last minute, of course, it all came together, and I couldn't have pictured it better.
The emotions were high and the memories in my head are filled with happy thoughts.
Some of them captured in pictures but most of them will be forever in my heart.

The anticipation of family as we got ready to head out to my mom's for dinner.
Someone not needing mommy's help this year with opening his presents.
Watching surprised faces as they open up a gift they didn't think they were going to get
Watching a little boy get so loved on and bring smiles to all that looked at him.
My mom trying hard to get her beloved picture with her three, umm 4 babies
Watching my little handsome guy run around with his big cousins like a big boy playing hide and seek.
Daddy preparing Santa's left over cookies and milk and me trying to write the perfect letter from Santa to a boy that can't even read yet. I tried to turn this photo and it refuses to cooperate.
Preparing the gifts so when our angel woke up he would get the perfect view.
Watching him as he enjoyed every single thing that he got.
Seeing him love on his cousins
Trying to take about 100 pictures of family with 4 self timed cameras
Hearing that little voice squeal with delight
and maybe even see career aspirations, for about 5 seconds
Watching as daddy looked on with pride and joy as his only son whacked that light-saber like a pro
Looking at my first born with pride and joy as he sang "hepy bidday Jezzus"
Oh what fun it was to ride the holiday high!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Caught up

One of the biggest things on my to-do list for the past month was to get D's scrap book caught up. With moving 3 times in the last year I fell a year behind! I can say it's done...but I have ideas for 2 more pages after the holidays.
Here are some of the pages I was able to finish.
D's 2nd birthday
Easter

Annual zoo trip
Apple picking
D started daycare part time
Our photo shoot
Halloween
Our first Thanksgiving at our new house
X-Mas card 2010
Santa visit
It's a great feeling to get this off my to-do list.

It is over already?

It was one busy weekend, so busy that I started hating the holidays.
Saturday, we had a play date scheduled at my friend's house, she is still on maternity leave with her second daughter and I miss her terribly at work. 3 more weeks before she comes back.
D and A played well, except when they fought over the doll house. D was a gentleman and kept sneaking in to play when A would abandon it for a few seconds.
When my friend asked if I would rather bake cookies or dip pretzels in chocolate I didn't hesitate to answer.
D and A lost interest quickly. It was a perfect activity where the shapes of the output don't matter as much as our fiasco with cookies.
Daddy helped himself to the pretzels and we'll be adding this to his birthday treat list.
The kids got lollipops as a treat and posed, somewhat, in front of the tree.
They wouldn't stand too close to each other.
After chasing A down for a hug, Daniel was tired. He passed out in the car on our way to the Dr. He had some blood work done to see if his cough was caused by an infection. It wasn't. His red, white cell blood count was perfect. His chest xray also did not show anything.
This only leaves us with thinking his persistent cough is allergies. We have an appointment scheduled to see what he is allergic to.
By the time we got home I couldn't keep my eyes open, D on the other hand had plenty of energy.
At night we went to Ry's aunt's house. D was the youngest but behaved himself. He scored on gifts and we all had a good time. We left with a pajamad, belly filled with milk baby who couldn't wait to get home. I passed out quickly myself, as I was rocking D.
Sunday, started with church, ended with a 3 hour nap for D and mommy exhausted from X-Mas shopping.
This morning D gave the teachers at school their gifts. He was too cute handing out the little bags.
Only 5 days left!!

Not enough time

Why does it feel like I need a 35 hour day to get things accomplished?!
I have so many errands to run and some gifts to get and my energy level in this cold is pretty low, especially after work.
The biggest thing now that is making me crazy is giving Ry my X-Mas gift list/idea.
This year we decided to have a budget and get each other gifts.
Now that I think about it, we tell each other pretty much what we want and the other person gets it. Why not just get it yourself?
My family was never big into X-Mas gifts. The kids (niece and nephew) got one or two gifts and that was it.
Forget about my stories in Poland as a kid, because you were lucky to get candy that was tied on to the tree. There were no gifts, when you had to stand in line for 2 hours for toilet paper parents could not spend money on toys. We enjoyed putting up the tree on X-Mas Eve and running around with cousins.
We're trying to teach D the meaning of X-Mas but slowly losing the battle since he is the only grandchild on one side and the baby on the other. Telling everyone less is more is not working.
My side usually gets 2 big gifts and that it is. We have a budget for the kids and stick to it.
The Marron side should invest in Toys R Us stock because they pretty have purchased the entire store for D. He will be one overwhelmed child on X-Mas morning so hopefully opening presents from my family on X-Mas Eve will help things. He does need some new toys and maybe we can put things away and take them out so it will be X-Mas until his birthday. :) He will be one happy boy!

Is it weird that I'm thinking of Daniel's 3rd birthday already?
He got screwed last year when we were moving around (although we did celebrate) so this year I'm hopeful we can do something special.

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday morning we went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the North Pole. Wouldn't you know that the North Pole is at our church?!
It was so well organized that I think the mall Santa will be history.
The food was delicious. D had 2 pancakes, 2 sausages and 4 donut holes. Yikes! Poor Mrs. Claus had to lift that hefty elf.
We enjoyed some company with my friend and her two cute kiddos.
Here is Josh giving D hints and telling him "You have to tell Santa you want 1000 cars". It was too cute. Daniel was given a lollipop to keep him calm. He only gets it at church and this was close enough.
Everyone asked me where D got that cute shirt. It was from Grandma M and she got it at Gymboree.
We had a good time.

Daniel's Holiday Show 2010

Daniel's Holiday show was Friday and let's just say he performed just as mommy predicted.

The shaking of the camera at the end is Daniel running off the stage towards mommy after daddy tried to get closer to him to no avail. The Marron Clan is a bunch of criers I tell you.

Notice, the beginning he stormed in like a trooper (last kid) and it was down hill after that. Mommy makes it all better. :) He smiled and did all the hand motions AFTER but refused to move his buns off my lap.
I did hear from his teacher the words "Mama's Boy". Music to my ears.
He did great with Santa yesterday morning (video coming)! 1 out of 2 isn't bad.
Enjoy!

Countdown

We have 15 days left till Christmas and we've been getting ready.

A fresh haircut with 2 weeks left to have it look just right.

Two versions of an Advent Calendar to count down the days till X-Mas.

What would I do if I had a stainless steel fridge with all this "art" that's on there now? I'd have an updated kitchen that's what.

We have a busy weekend ahead of us. Full update coming!

Check

Our X-Mas Card is done and mailed. I can't wait to frame it and display all of our X-Mas cards from each year. Yeah, I still need frames..

2010

2009

2008

It's been a great 3 years, full of new magic, that lost its way along the years.
Welcome back Magical Holiday Season!