Love, just Love!!!!

And then there are those days.... I had one today! You know the one that NEVER seems to end!! I worked! For those of you who don't know me, I work in a dental office two days a week! A great office w/ great people, but today was a busy one ( which is good) but it never was gonna end(which is not good) I came home... LATE to a home that was a mess, nothing to cook for dinner, 4 people needing me all at once, and a neighbor kid to boot! Then Jack's sister came by and then a friend called w/ a minor emergency(which I won't talk about because they already make fun of my blog) in a good way! I scrounged up dinner. Ra men noodle soup and hot dogs... uhhgggg! What have I become? then we finished home work, had a 10 minute family clean-up time( I swear they think I am the effing maid) a few tears along the way... then the magic words! Yep that's right "BED TIME" Ahhhhhhhh! Then I went to put on my jammies and finally take off my scrubs from work, and when I came out, this is what I saw.......

Yep my little sweet, perfect, loving children bonding! Jackson reading a book to his sisters! They were all under a blanket(except Abby, she wanted to go read her own book, but couldn't tear herself away) He read 3 books before they were done! Every once in a while I would hear him say " do you know this word Olivia?" "say this Olivia" and sound it out! Then all of the day went away! (I know I am on the cheesy side here Fro) but come on this is good stuff!!! Little reminders that they are here to fill my house w/ love and laughter and fighting and screaming and all of the stuff that goes with having kids! They can erase a bad day in one swift move, they fill my "love bucket" I am so glad they love each other, I am so glad they are them!!!! This is the stuff I can't get enough of!

He is back.....!!!!!! That's right our friendly little helper elf "Buddy" is back!!!!!!! He actually came last year and boy did we have fun with him, but to our surprise he came back this year!!!! His book tells the story of a helper elf who is sent here by Santa to watch us and report back to the "big guy" nightly!!!!! We are not allowed to touch him or he could loose his "magical" powers! We CAN talk to him and he can go whisper in Santa's ear, but he is NOT allowed to talk to us... per Santa!!!!!! The excitement in our house tonight is the kind that sends giggles all the way thru it!!!!! This is why I love this season... the wonder and the magic of it all... thru them is so great!!!! I wish I could go whisper to Buddy the elf... that they never grow up. That they always believe in Santa. That the pressure and reality of adulthood is soooooooo far off that they don't even feel the economic hard times we are against!!!!!!! On that note, I was gonna blog about being grateful so Here is my TOP 10!!!

1--- I am greatful for God and my faith!!!!

2--- " " " for healthy Kids

3---" " ' for my Man!!!!!!

4--- " " ' for Thanksgivimg w/ a BIG obnoxious Italian family that I adore!!!

5--- " " " a mother who taught me everything I know!!!!!

6--- " " " sisters in laws... cuz I never had a sister!!!!!!

7----" friends who live back to back and feel like family!!!!!!

8----" " " all my girlfriends... who love me for being CRAZY ME!!!!!!!

9--- " " " the wonder of Christmas thru my Kids eyes!!!!

10---" " " Hope.......

oh and as I write this I have a little one w/ strep throat, high fever and all that goes w/ that! I am still grateful.... Yep Life is good... The season is among us and I can feel the spirit of Christmas all around us!!!!!!!!!! Oh and Jack's brother Chet just stopped by and the girls are telling him all about the elf!! I am soooo grateful for Aunts and Uncles who Love my kids as much as me!!!!!! They ROCK!!!!!!

I have been waiting a long time to say this!!!!!!! My best friend is having a baby!!!!! This girl is my soul sista, I mean it! God put us together at 16 for some reason... and it just stuck! We have watched each other thru boyfriends, parent drama, weddings births of babies(mine) loss of parents, loss of friends and thru it all we have only gotten better! Probably because we both hit the lottery with husbands! They actually not only put up with us, they put up with us together... which is a completely different story! So I can not even put into words how excited I am that she is about to step into this crazy journey of motherhood! She will make not only the most beautiful mother, but honestly I can just see it! Her there in a rocker, feeding her baby, Hyden seeing if he can get them anything! Her burping, changing diapers, folding little baby clothes that smell like "dreft" detergent! I know this is just rambling to some, but I could just explode I am so excited for them! She is a natural nurturer, she is compassionate, fun and loving, but to call her a "mama" soon brings tears to my eyes and butterflies to my tummy! Oh boy... It's gonna be a long time till July!!!!!!!! Until then, I can just close my eyes and picture that sweet little bundle!!!!!

Showering Trina

How cute are these two preggo sisters!
Just a few close friends w/ their girls!

Lots of help from the little girls

Yummy Cupcakes!!!!!!

Today I am writing about the baby shower for our friend Trina! It is so much more than that! This girl is so great! She is the beautiful mother of four children, 1 girl and 3 boys!!!! This was the day to honor her! Natalie thought it would be neat to include all of our daughters this time! So glad we did that! The little girls all played and giggled and went swimming, while the moms enjoyed great food, and lots of laughs while we all caught up w/ each others busy lives!!! On that note, I have to say what an amazing group of women this group of girls is! Just the few of us that got together on this day have 27 children between all of us! To say that we really need to schedule time to catch up is an understatement!!!!! But friends ... let me tell you! These girls are golden! I know everyone loves their girlfriends...blah, blah, blah! But mine are amazing! I mean it, I almost burst sometimes when I think about the growing bellies and growing fa miles! To think most of us met, when not one of us had even had our first baby! Well here we are now, running between soccer, hockey,baseball, football,girl scouts, piano lessons, PTA meetings etc. we found a little window of time , on a Sunday afternoon to slow down and "shower" this amazing mother and wonderful friend! "Congrats Trina"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well We are home from our little mini- vacation... and it was good! We took a mini road trip to Augusta to visit my friend Amy and her husband Hyden! We had a ball seeing all of the fall leaves, and the cool crisp weather! We went to a farm, saw lots of different animals and wild life, took a tour of the Savanna rapids, went to a street festival, ate lots of awesome food, drank lots and lots of wine, and had a blast! Amy was the ever gracious host, and truly showed us a great time! We want to go back, but until then, we have these awesome pictures! Thanks Amy & Hyden!!!!!!

more Georgia!!!!!

Fall trip