Our Christmas

Merry the day after Christmas, isn't it sad that the day has come and gone? We had a wonderful Christmas and made the most of the day as a family.  

On Christmas Eve, Rowen spent much of his day running his choo choo.  My dad built a train table at his level, and since we have been here he has been obsessed with this table. I'm pretty sure he will miss it when when we go back home. 

One of my favorite things about Christmas at home is all of the decorations around the house.  I could write an entire post on each room filled with Christmas cheer, and its definitely one of the things that helps make everything 'feel' like Christmas.

Everyone that joins the family gets their own stocking, and over the years the entire mantle has been filled up. I also took a picture to capture my sweet little family of four's stockings this year, with the newest addition being Mr. Finnegan's stocking!

That night my mom surprised us with matching pajamas and we herded the cats to try to get a picture or two!  Finnegan was sleeping, and we were hoping for a little sleep through the night so we didn't wake him to join the picture.

Before bed Row enjoyed a little train time with Aunt Regan.

On Christmas morning we were woken by this little angel. Everyone else got an extra hour of much needed sleep and we enjoyed cuddles with Mr. Finn.

Once everyone was up we started opening up gifts...

Rowen loved his mini trains so much that he pretty much couldn't be bothered to play with any other toy for the rest of the day...

We spent the rest of the day hanging out, laughing, and eating way too much delicious food.  All in all Christmas 2012 was a wonderful day, spent with all of the people I love most in this world!

~Frankenstorm~

Since FEMA is telling us we should update our social media outlets, I guess I should update my blog.  I have a few things I 'need' to blog for the ol' memory book, and maybe this surprise day off will be the day I tackle those.

The last few weeks have been great.  We have spent lots of time playing with Rowen,  and enjoying these last few slow weeks. I don't think I would trade this time for anything. We have visited the zoo, and a pumpkin patch or two, all things I need to blog.  We have spent time throwing the ball to these two crazies, which Rowen loves....

We carved pumpkins, or rather Rudy carved pumpkins.  I'm not the biggest fan of pumpkins, the guts, or the smell, so I was responsible for printing out the templates for the designs.  Its a good thing he decided to carve them early since it remains to be seen if we will actually have a Halloween this year....

I think Rudy is pretty talented with his pumpkin carvings!

We have started listening to Christmas music, and I may have a video or two of Rowen that I need to upload.  Rudy was pretty excited to see that Macy's already had their Christmas trees up last week, and we are already busy making plans for our home decor.  Come November 1st the tree is going up and hopefully by the end of this coming weekend my house will look like Christmas threw up on it.  

Rowen got another hair cut, which will hopefully last us until Christmas.  I think he looks soo old with his hair shorter...

And his model face, I have no idea what he is doing but it was pretty funny to find this amongst the pictures of him....

On Friday my cousin, who was due the same day as me, gave birth to her sweet 8lb little girl.  While I would LOVE to have Mr. Finn make an arrival before Thanksgiving, right about now I'm pretty grateful that he is still sitting safely in my belly during this hurricane.  We are expected to be hit pretty hard, and the last thing I would want right now is to be in labor or just home with a newborn.  Plus I have grown pretty fond of the November birthstone in the last few months, so hold out for a few more days (but not too long) Mr. Finn.  

Slow days can be the best days, and I'm grateful today for another one! 

~4th of July Weekend~

4th of July weekend this year just didn't feel like a holiday, in a lot of ways it felt like a normal weekend, in the slow lazy way summer weekends tend to go.  For most of the weekend we didn't do much of anything and again it was wonderful.

On Sunday we went over to B & Gs.  I honestly don't know what we would do without them, they are our family here.  It was hot enough that we wanted to float with them, so in the pool we went.  Rowen was able to go in for a little while, and he absolutely loves the water.  Swim lessons can't start soon enough, only three more months!

On Monday we went to the mall.  Yes on 4th of July we were in a mall, so American of us.  But when its so hot out that we really shouldn't have little man out thats a great place to be.  I picked him up a 4th onesie at old navy for half off and it was the inspiration for his 4th photo shoot.  I think he has discovered the purpose of the camera and has decided that every time he sees it he doesn't want to smile.  The only smiles I get these days are when he smiles at Rudy and I can snap it real fast.  Such is life.  

I think the only thing we missed about a 'normal' 4th this year was the fireworks.  Watching them on tv wasn't the same, but its something we can look forward to for next year when hopefully Rowen will get to enjoy them with us!

~Happy Father's Day

Any man can be a father.  It takes someone special to be a Dad ~ Author Unknown

Today is father's day, and while I have two father's in my life now, this post celebrates my Dad.  No one knows how to push my buttons as well as my dad, but no one ever pushes me as hard as he does to do better and never just settle for ok.  He is a voice of reason whenever I need one but at the same time always good with a joke.  He has taught me to look at the glass half full, and never to 'assume' anything (these are just two small lessons that I have heard soooo many times).  Happy Father's Day Dad and happy First Grandfather's Day!!

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day to all those who have served and those who are serving, especially those serving far away...(My DALLAS loves :))

Happy Mother's Day

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.  

~Washington Irving

Apparently Rowen didn't realize that Mother's Day is supposed to be for sleeping in, but I don't think I ever really understood that concept when I was little.  As I have my first Mother's Day I have to celebrate my mother, whom I likely wouldn't of been able to survive this first month without.  

Words cannot express what my mother means to me.  She is the smartest, kindest, most caring person I know and she is my best friend, most loyal advocate, and always believes in me.  There has never been a day in my life that I have questioned how much my mother loves me, and I hope that one day when Rowen grows up he will be able to say the same thing about me.  

Happy Mother's Day Marmie, love me, and your grandchildren Rowen, Jack, and Lola!