Sarah's first Christmas Concert

We have been attending Katies preschool concerts for a few years now but this year it was finally Sarah's turn. The kids all did an awesome job. Below are some pics. One is with Sarah and her BFF Gabrielle. Down at the bottom is one of Katie and her best bud Aidan. Sorry for the red eye on these, I have not cleaned them up. I wanted to get them posted...

Thankfulness

I have been taking mental notes the last few days and realizing that I have a lot to be thankful for. First and foremost, I am thankful for such a wonderful husband and two beautiful and healthy girls. I am thankful for a wonderful father in law and two wonderful parents. I am thankful for our families and our friends. I am thankful that we have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. I am thankful for the opportunity to go back to school and start a new career. I just have been taking note of things around me and cant help but feel really blessed and thankful for all that we have.

I hope whereever you are this year that you have a wonderful and blessed thanksgiving.

A thanksgiving funny

Sarah went to school today and came home very excited. She kept telling me we made pig worms today. I kept asking her what??? Knowing that the letter of the week is only around L or so.....I finally dug her sheet from her teacher that tells about her day our of her backpack.... Yeah, those pig worms- they are known as pilgrims to the rest of us......

Sneak Peek

This weekend, my niece had me do some shots of her for senior portraits. Because her mom and her are both impatient. Here are some unedited pics. These are some of my favorites from the session but they still need to be edited. enjoy your sneak peek.

Maybe we are doing something right???

Our kids are growing up.... I just recently noticed it in the way they do things, the way they look and the way they talk..... And I am starting to see things we have taught them or tried to teach them coming through..... We go to the store and they get excited for FRUIT... We come home from the store and they beg for the grapes or apples or whatever fruit we just bought for snack.... It makes me smile. I have issues with weight and that is my most heartfelt wish that they dont have to struggle with weight like I have. Dont get me wrong - they both love sweets too but they ask for FRUIT!

Then on Sunday we got the ultimate compliment. We had gone to 8am mass and both our girls were so well behaved. They got a little antsy but then Jim and I were both feeling the same way towards the end of mass as well so who could blame them. Our neighbors came over later that afternoon and she is the head of the music ministry and had cantored the 8am mass. The first thing she said to me- I am so jealous of how well behaved your kids were during mass!. My heart swelled. Dont get me wrong we have suffered through some very rough masses where Sarah would bellow our GET ME OUT OF HERE! I DONT LIKE THIS PLACE. But it seems we are finally coming through the tunnel and out into the light.......

So while I lament that my babies are growing up , I am proud to see some of what we are teaching them is paying off......

All I need to know ... I learned in Kindergarten????

Ok, I try to be a realistic parent. I realized that with Katie going to Kindergarten that she would pick up some undesirable behaviors or sayings from other kids. I had even seen it to some degree in preschool. But I have to confess, I never thought she would come home saying what she did the other day..... Here is the backstory. Last week they had a field trip to the Fire station. And the nice fireman sent every kid home with a packet - it had a smoke alarm, coloring book., stickers and a a little set of temporary tattoos. You know the ones, you cut out and put on your arm and then hold a wet cloth to them for them to take. She asked if she could put them on and I said sure. NEver thought a thing about it.....

Till Monday when she came home from school saying her friend M told her she needed to wash them off immediately or she would get sick because they were probably made in China. My mouth hit the floor. Never did I expect that. Now because she is a worrier, we told her she was fine and she would not get sick.......

I know there are some people who have issues with stuff from China but I just never thought to hear it out of a 5/6 year old..........

Lions and Tigers and BEARS! OH MY!

We have a bear in our neighborhood. There could even be more than one, I am not really sure as I am not really looking to meet and get to know that particular neighbor..... However they must really be getting ready for hibernation because they have "sampled" several neighbors garbage over the the last few days. Ours was on their dining menu last nite. Interestingly enough they do not seem to like pepperoni or tomatoes.... Who knew!