New Year's Eve (married w/kids style)

How do we spend the night????



We play games. We snack. The kids get crazy with dancing and being silly.... and then....

Who are all these kids????

Well they are my sisters and mine!!!!

In order left to right starting in the back....
Holly Ann, (11), Allison Taylor, (13), Georgia Brianne, (7), Adam James, (13), Austin John, (8), Jocob Jeffery, (2), Anna Josephine, (5), Foster McCay (5), and Amber Nicole (11).

Yes if you look and their ages you will see that Deb and I seem to like to have kids at the same time.
What is even more amazing is that Amber and Holly are 17 1/2 hours apart. That was the weekend that almost killed my poor Mother. Their birthdays are the 8th and 9th, of the month. Austin and Georgia's birthdays are the 7th and 8th of another month.

The kids all get along and have a great time when they are together.
It is loud but fun!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

I hope you all had a great Christmas. We did. The kids are all off playing with their new toys. I got to take a nap!!!



All the work was worth it to see my kids smiling and so excited. Anna was the most excited taking joy in everything she got. I know that everyone looking at our tree is wondering why there are so many gifts since I said that they only get three gifts each. They still only get three but for the fun of opening things I have been wrapping up snacks and stuff for them I know it is a strange thing to do but they love getting their favorite cereals and drinks and snacks! I know that they like them and I know they wont go to waste.








After they see what Santa brought them in their stockings we sat down and Amber read the family the Christmas story from the bible and the we opened the gifts under the tree. I alway save the best gift for last and I enjoy seeing their faces waiting to see if they are going to get what they wanted. Amber looked so depressed when she thought she didn't get what she wanted. It is funny! Her mood changed very quickly after she opened her favorite gift.(a nintendo DS) They boys did really well not getting what the really hoped for. Not for lack of trying. I was even out Christmas Eve for one last try but no luck. The WII was not for US. We did manage to find the a great replacement gift that made the happy. They each got an electric scooter!














While the kids and I cleaned up paper and put things away Papa makes us breakfast. It is yummy! He even cleans it all up.

You know that you did a great job shopping when Mom can lay down on the couch for a nap and not hear a sound from the kids since they are off playing with their new toys!

After my nap I got ready for dinner. I put out snacks and our friends came over. We had a great meal and we were so stuffed! I think the Eagles even won. We ate at halftime to keep the men happy. Cleanup was a breeze and I really enjoyed the time with everyone.

I am so thankful for my wonderful family and great friends. Thank you all for making this a a very merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas....

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.


Now I will tell you how it really happened...

Twas the night before Christmas, when all throught the house
I was up stirring (spaghetti sauce) not my sleepy spouse.
The stockings were stuffed (at 3 a.m.) gifts wrapped with care,
I hopes that I might get to retire to my lair

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While I started to have visions and pains in my head.
I was in my jammies,(my special pink sweat pants) with tape stuck to my lap
I just settled that I was not sleeping tonight, tomorrow I will nap


(YES I STILL HAVE THEM)

Even with the late long night I still have to say that this is my favorite time of the year.
I enjoy being the first one to be up on Christmas morning. It is so quiet. It is the calm before the storm.

I make sure everything is in its place.. Jesus has to arrive in our nativity set and the wise men have to move a bit closer.
I get the cinnimon buns ready to go into the oven and then I sit down to look at everything as the sun comes up.




I know I could try to get more things done before this night but I am not sure if it would feel like Christmas without it.





I am now getting sleepy and will take a cat nap until the kids wake me up waiting for their picture to be taken on the steps!

Talk to you all later today


MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and to all a GOOD MORNING!

Tis the season....

Here are the kids all full of Christmas cheer as we start to decorate the tree....

What we will do for our children....

Ok I know some of you already think that I am crazy. After reading this everyone will know I am. In my defense I did it for the CHILDREN!

There is one gift that my boys want for Christmas. It is the elusive Nintendo WII. I cannot find it anywhere. The only place that seems to have it is EBay. They want people to pay double for it. (I am not that crazy)... So one day while I was in Target I was speaking with an employee. He said that they already have them in but cannot sell them until the 17th on Dec. He went on to say that if I came at 5 a.m. and waited in line that I would probably get one. So what does one think I would do?

I recruited some other crazy people to go with me and wait in line in the freezing cold! I am still not sure who is crazier?!!!

We decided that to be sure that we would get one that we would get there are 4 a.m. So we packed up quilts, sleeping bags,
a few down comforters and some air mattresses and of course hot cocoa. We drove to the Exton Target. We could not believe our eyes....there were already 20+ people in line!! We took our places and set our stuff up and snuggled in for the long wait until 8 a.m.

After chatting for a bit and finally getting comfy I started to fall asleep around 5:30. Just then we heard an employee (a very grumpy one) snap, "You know we only have 15!" Everyone in line was in shock! The have been collecting this shipments for who knows how long and they only have 15! And why is it that they know that all these people are outside their store waiting for one and they cannot come out and tell us that or post it in the store window! No, what do they do... They just let 75 people just freeze for nothing! I can tell you that was my last trip to TARGET!!!!!!!!

As we sat in shock for a few moments we then heard that Toys R Us has a bigger shipment of 35 at the store with a possibility of 50. So Kathy left with the son of the lady in front of us to go get a space in that line and Gina and I waited for confirmation from Target that they really only had 15. We got a call from Kathy that they were 30 something in line and we should come over. So totally ticked at Target we packed up and left for Toys R Us with the lady in front of us.

We get there about 7 and wait.... and wait.... and wait.... Thanking that at any moment they will come out to tell us how many and hand out the tickets for them. It was not until 7:45 does someone come out and say that they only have 24!!!!!

If I hadn't been frozen my blood would have been boiling! Why do that make you wait all night to tell you anything.
As you probably guessed I am not shopping at TOY R US ever again either!

I just cannot believe that other store told people how many they had by posting it on the door or the night shift workers told them! I also cannot believe the small number of these they are getting. I also want to know where everyone selling them on Ebay is getting them. I feel safe to assume that they are TARGET AND TOYS R US EMPLOYEES!!!!

Well I have to say that I tried to get the boys what the wanted but no luck! Sorry guys. Maybe after Christmas Nintendo will figure out how to manufacture and ship things!

ALL FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD!!!!

December 7th 1941..A Day that will live in infamy

DECEMBER 7TH 1993...A DAY HE BEGAN INFANCY


HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM JAMES!!!!!!


I cannot believe that I have a teenager! I still remember every detail of carrying him in my belly and the day you were born. Oh what an exciting time for us. Seeing and holding you for the first time was such a an experience I cannot even express all the feelings I had at that moment.





I can remember how fast you grew and changed soon you were walking and talking. Your first word was night-night! and we had to "rubber back, rubber back " every night to settle you down for sleep (rub your back). You liked to eat mitmeal (oatmeal) and read books. Then you passed into the thomas the tank engine phase. You took those trains everywhere with you. You even slept with them! After that phase was the T-Rex! That one was a little loud! You were so funny walking on your toes and holding your hands like a T-rex!
As time flew by you were growing like a weed! Soon you were a big brother and starting school. I cried when you went to Kindergarten. You were fine! It feels just like yesterday that you were 5 and now is just 5 more years you will be an adult!



WOW what a difference a year makes! You are almost as tall as me now. Your feet are still huge! I am now buying a size 10 mens for you! You now like long hair and wear contacts and no more braces. I have to say that you are becoming quite the stud!!!! Even if you are still a geek!














I am so thankful for the privilege for being your mom!
We Love You so much and we are very proud of the man you are becoming. Keep up the great work!
Hope you have a great day!!!!!!!! I love you! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY