Happy 3rd Birthday Ellia!

so the 5th Christmas wasn't exactly the last of our celebrating! three years ago on Christmas morning, I went into labor and the next morning I had a beautiful & sweet little girl. So yesterday, the day after Christmas wasn't a day for resting or clean-up... it was a day to celebrate Ellia - her 3rd birthday! We promised her we'd take her to see the zoo lights again because its what she reallllly wanted to do. We opted out of any sort of party this year and decided to have our own little celebration. With little preparation because of all the Christmas craziness, I just made-do with whatever I could find around the house. I tried setting up the room like a party and making it special for her. Instead of a cake, I made a huge chocolate chip cookie pizza and decorated it with little to no tools on hand :/ When the girls got up from their naps I showed Ellia her little party and all the work was worth that little smiling excited face.
We realized yet another reason you make things a surprise for kids and don't promise things too much in advance: It was 25 degrees with a wind chill around 10 - YIKES. not the best stroll-around-the-zoo weather. but we had committed...so we BUNDLED and BUNDLED and went off to the zoo. As we pulled in the lot we realized we left the double stroller in our garage - DOUBLE YIKES! now what??? I mean you are talkin Parents-of-the-Year-award here. So peter held remae and I slathered blankets all over them, and I carried Ellia. We made a run for it - stopping at the first store inside the gate to warm up, then running to the reptiles (trying to point out all the lights on the way there), then running back to the car. Fun. Relaxing. Comfortable. But let me just say - she LOVED it. She had so much fun AND couldn't wait to get back home to her "party."
Anyway, we made it a pizza party! picked up pizza for dinner then had a cookie pizza for dessert. Then present time. By this time Remae was already in bed so it was just the three of us - it was a special time to just be with her.
So I certainly didn't "have it all together" for this one - BUT she was none the wiser and no less thrilled so I guess I'd dub it a success!
















Ellia, I couldn’t love you more. Although you weren’t planned by mommy and daddy, God knew your days before time. He has a PERFECT plan for you and I am so thankful you are here with us and we can watch that plan unfold.
I love your cautious Spirit and pray it stays with you as you age.
I pray your incredible memory and smarts will be used for HIS glory someday.
I pray your gentle independence will be an opportunity for you to stand for Truth.
I pray that someday your unbelievable beauty would be nothing compared to the beauty of your heart.
And that smile and laugh are a contagious joy. I LOVE being with you and I LOVE being your mommy. Thank you Jesus for the wonderful blessing of my 3 year old little Ellia.

the holiday baking continues

so the baking continues.... of course! after a break from the homemade marshmallows and hot cocoa, here's whats been on the menu the last two days:
-peanut butter fudge
-eggnog fudge
-vanilla peppermint cupcakes w. chocolate buttercream

They made great little gifts and I must say, I was thoroughly pleased with how they all turned out... but most especially the eggnog fudge! Eggnog Eggnog: I know, most people either love or loathe the stuff... but I LOVE it (only about once a year though). So I wasn't sure how it would go over... but so far, its gotten rave reviews!

another busy christmas weekend

yet another whirlwind weekend! Saturday was jammed packed - met with some girlfriends for a little Christmas breakfast/gift exchange (one of my only relaxing minutes of the day!). after the gathering, i headed home, only to walk right back out the door. we drove to Hilliard to visit with Pete's grandparents. I just have to say, they are absolutely the cutest two people EVER! They are 93 and 94 and sharp as tacks - next year they will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary!!! Our world certainly needs more of those couples around. What a joy to spend time with them. By the time we made it home from the visit we had less than an hour to get ready for the Messana Christmas/welcome home Joe party! Aunt Lex and uncle john came to watch the girls... BLESS THEM! :)
Sunday we celebrated dads retirement with a lunch at Roadhouse - YUM! Then we headed back to nana & papa's house to celebrate ellia's birthday with them (since they'll be in fl when her bday rolls around). spent the rest of the evening at home wrapping away!
At this pace.... well... lets just say my body doesn't handle the stress real well so I think its time to take it down a notch - try to RELAX and ENJOY this week.
Christmas shopping is done. Christmas wrapping is almost done. Christmas baking is almost done.... I think we're on the right track :)

p.s. best part of the whole weekend: sitting on the floor wrapping presents while Pete and BOTH girls were cracking up watching kung-fu panda. i LOVE hearing them laugh... all 3 of them. :)

ohhhh yea! and how can i forget. amongst all the craziness was TONs of baking and gift-prep. This year we did lots of my homemade butter cookies with icing AND i tried my hand at making HOMEMADE marshmallows & hot cocoa mix. Both of which, I think, turned out marvelously! I've never done marshmallows before, but they were surprisingly easy to make and taste wonderful in the cocoa! We packaged things up for some neighbors and friends and of course, the postman :) check it out...

Remae turns one!

CAN NOT BELIEVE my little girl is already one. Where does the time go? please STOP - sit back down, get back in that little car seat, snuggled in with your hospital hat on!
What a year though! we've been through a lot with Remae and her eyes and you'd never know it - she is the greatest JOY ever (well besides ellia :) She is truly the happiest baby, the most wonderful smile and temperament. And if I could, I would STOP, stop time and everything right now - because this has GOT to be my favorite time. Ellia is almost three and Remae is now one... not quite talking, but laughing, making sounds and trying to communicate. not quite walking, but moving around, standing and exploring. not quite eating, but learning how to chew and enjoy the wonderment of experiencing new foods. not quite out of the "baby" stage, but no longer a newborn. Just trying to take it all in and enjoy every moment, because I'm realizing all too well how fleeting they are. Although, the one thing I'm banking on: my dad used to tell me that each stage I went through, he wished I would stop because it was his favorite and he didn't want me to change... but each stage i inevitable changed into, he enjoyed even more. I have a feeling that's exactly the way I'll be. Once again, I sit and look at all I've been given and am totally overwhelmed with thanks to my God.
So here we are, celebrating her! although Remae turns one on the 30th, we had her 1st birthday party on Sunday the 28th. We rented out a room at a local community center and it worked out great! There was space and toys for the older kids to play & we had a good spread of snacks and treats for our 30ish guests. I fully enjoyed whippin up all the goodies for the party! My friend Ashley stopped by the party (who is an amazing photographer) and she ever-so-kindly snapped some shots of the day too so here are some of our pics from the party (ok so more than just some - i couldn't resist)! HAPPY BIRTHDAY my sweet little one year old REMAE! couldn't love you more & although I wish I could stop time, i can't wait to see what you're like in the next stage.