Baby, it's cold outside!

I had to pick up some last minute groceries earlier, and it's cold outside. The wind was blowing, and my hands and face were very cold by the time I got in the store. The girls and I actually got in and out pretty quickly, but I have no desire to go out again today! Some lady almost backed into me, then glared at me as though it were my fault.

Because of the cold, it finally feels like winter, and hopefully it'll feel like Christmas tonight when the girls open their stockings.

I won't be posting again before tomorrow, so I hope you all have a wonderful and merry Christmas!!

How is Christmas only two days away? This December has flown past! Jon's brother, Evan, is coming down from NH tomorrow, and I'm actually mostly prepared! I have to sweep and mop, clean the bathrooms, and clean the bathrooms, but then I'll be done. I'd like to be able to mostly relax tomorrow, and I think I'll be able to!

I'm also hoping to get outside later. Yesterday was a gorgeous day, and I hope that today is nice as well. I love taking the girls on walks, and even though the weather's nice now, it won't be for too much longer.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

When we joined our church, Jon was excited about jumping in the music program. The choir director didn't do a very good job because he had no training, which was fine, but as Jon majored in music and took a choir directing class back in college, he was happy to be able to take over the choir. It has grown by leaps and bounds (and our pastor had Mac Lynch come earlier this year which was a great learning experience for Jon and for us as a choir), and this year, we did a cantata.

We practiced long and hard (and Jill did a solo--so sweet!), and I feel we did a really good job. The church was packed (I didn't expect that--it was a nice surprise!), and I feel the message came across clearly. I don't know if anyone got saved, but I hope we planted a seed in many peoples' hearts.

Jill in her dress. I loved her in it, because she looked like a little girl (I was kind of shocked by some of the fancy dresses out this year).



Beth had cute hair, but it doesn't translate very well to this picture. It was a sideways french braid and I thought it was adorable. :)



Poor Kate. She slept until half an hour before we left, so she wasn't exactly willing to get dressed. I left her hair for the church since I'd have time to french braid it there.



Unrelated, a friend of Ginny's gave her a bunch of stuff (which she in turn gave to me). One of the things in the boxes was a 3D corkboard gingerbread house puzzle, and we had fun putting it together.

Jill and Beth have each been to Build-a-Bear a few times, but Kate's never been, so we decided that'd be our present to her. She hadn't taken a nap the day before, and would be skipping her nap that day as well, so she wasn't as enthusiastic as we thought she'd be, but she still loved going.

stuffing the bear and putting the heart in the bear





putting a sticker on the wall, cleaning her bear, and entering the bear's info







She named her bear Star. :)

Kate's birthday, part 2.

Kate told me for weeks on end that she wanted a pink monkey cake. Here's what I came up with.





Yummy frosting!

Kate's birthday.

I meant to do a birthday update when Kate turned 3 (a month ago) and never got around to it. So I'll split it into three since it's mostly pictures.

Kate came in time for Christmas pictures, yay! ;)



a one-year-old Kate (with socks on her hands because I forgot her gloves)



I loved the little curls Kate had when she was two.



And here's my big three-year-old. These years have flown.

Now that winter is only a day away, it's starting to be cold. But we've had a long and warm fall, even into November. So we've had lots of chances to be outside, but we also had a freak snowstorm in late October. The day it struck, I had planned to take the girls with me to a tea at the church, but the snow kept me home. So when Kate had her birthday, Ginny planned a tea for her.

Kate always dresses up in as much as she possibly can; here, she has a leotard and two tutus on.



Jill picked out slippers for me, and the girls love to wear them.



enjoying a beautiful day at the park





throwing leaves on Daddy



the tea party



You know the phrase "less is more"? For Kate, it's "more is more."



resting during our walk on a lovely fall day



If one spoon doesn't work, grab another!

I realize it's been quite a while since my last post, but I've been busy! Plus, I sometimes forget about this blog. So I'm going to play a little catch-up today.

Back in November, we had to drive over to Farmington. Jon kept Jill, but I had the other two for about an hour, and let me tell you, we walked a lot. We also went in the Disney store several times, and a toy store once. But what got us through all the walking (and boredom for the girls) was the promise of The Rainforest Cafe. The food was yummy, and the thunderstorms and animals really made it an exciting experience.

















One other thing from this day: Jon at one point left me with Kate to try on some clothes, and he took the older two. Since this was after Halloween, he found this hat for the girls to try on:

Days of thankfulness, days 29 and 30.

I totally forgot about this!

29. My town. Don't laugh, but we have very mild weather here. We don't always get the rain or snow that neighboring towns get, and we're often warmer. I love any time it's sunny and warm, so I'm glad we live in this weird bubble. ;)

30. Storytime. My girls all love interacting with kids their ages, and learning more about books. For Jill, there are book discussions, and for Beth and Kate, reading and painting and dancing. I want my girls to love reading, so I love the chance to introduce them to books I may not otherwise know of.

30 days of thankfulness, day 18-28.

18. Friends. I've got some really good friends here in CT (though most of them don't live near me), and I'm so thankful for them. No one ever mentions how much harder it can be to make friends as an adult. And I have many wonderful friends online, as well. I've only met a couple of them, but I'm very thankful for them.

19. The internet. This may seems silly to be thankful for, but some days, it's my sanity! I can read blogs, catch up with friends, waste time, and lose myself for a time there.

20. Chai tea. I have a friend who recently introduced me to this delicious beverage. It's so nice to watch TV in the afternoon with a cup of hot tea warming my hands.

21. Netflix. I don't have cable or an antenna, so the only TV we watch is what's on Netflix. I've been able to watch shows that I haven't seen in years, and I've fallen in love with a bunch of new things.

22. The different seasons. While summer's definitely my favorite, I love watching them change. They all have their different beauties: the new green of spring, the vibrant colors of summer, the yellows and reds of autumn, and the cold beauty of winter.

23. Slippers. I hate having cold feet, so I wear slippers all the time. Jill just picked out a new pair for me and I laugh every time I wear them because they're leopard print. ;)

24. Zales. As much as Jon might hate his job some days, he's been employed there for six years, and it's been a good job. Plus, he buys me jewelry, so what's not to love? ;)

25. Homeschooling. I really do enjoy being able to teach my girls about so many things, from school-related things, to field trips to learn more about the world. I may not be able to teach them forever, but I love that for now, they look to me to learn about the world around them.

26. Letters. I'm not the best penpal, but I do love getting letters! And I'm better at writing them than I used to be.

27. Ice cream. Jon and I have it several nights a week. My tummy's not as flat as it used to be, but it's a nice way to connect with Jon and relax after long days at work or at home.

28. My phone. It takes great pictures, and I'm so thankful for it. It's actually replaced my digital camera!

Happy birthday, Katie!

My baby turned three yesterday. I wonder (as I do with her sisters) where the time went. I'm so blessed to have her in my life. I may not have been eager for a baby when I got pregnant with her, but she is such a joy.

She's very different from her sisters. She loves dress up (often wearing two or three or four different outfits), baby dolls, counting, singing, dancing, playing outside, cooking and baking, and trying to be just like her sisters.

Kate's not even a month old in this picture. She came just in time to do Christmas pictures. :)



Here she is about a year old at the park. I actually had socks on her hands because I forgot mittens for her!



Here's a two-year-old Kate. I loved her curling hair!



And here's my birthday girl yesterday. :D

30 days of thankfulness, day 15-17.

15. Thrift stores. Jon and I don't have a lot of money, so having thrift stores nearby helps so much. I can usually find nice, name brand clothing at a mere fraction of the cost, and it's great for finding clothes for the girls, too.

16. Library. I'm SO thankful that I have such an excellent library. It's connected to many, many others, so that if they don't carry the book or DVD I want, it's as simple as requesting what I want.

17. Halfiversaries. ;) Today's my eight and a half anniversary of being married to Jon. I hope I get many, many more of them. :)

30 days of thankfulness, days 1-14.

I kept saying I wanted to do the 30 Days of Thankfulness, but it's almost halfway over, so I'll do a quick catch up!

1. God. I don't know where I'd be without Him, but I know it wouldn't be good. I've gone through some dark valleys in my life, and I know it was only through dependance on Him that I came back out. He really is my Rock.

2. My husband. I love him so much, and I'm so blessed to have him as mine. He makes me whole in a way no others can; he's my friend, my defender, and I fall in love with him more all the time.

3. My girls. Even on the worst day, my heart is full of love for them. They brighten my life so much. They've taught me a lot about life, and I love watching them grow and develop.

4. My church. We hunted for a long time for a church, and are very happy with the one we're members of. We're able to be really involved with it, and I'm very close to many members there.

5. My kitties. Pickles has been with us since we got married, and Bunny joined us earlier this year. They're good for cuddling and laughing at. ;)

6. My brother. I wish he didn't live in CA, but I'm so grateful for him. We not only share our past, but we're so alike in so many ways. Now if only I could convince him to move out here! ;)

7. My growing wardrobe. As a teenager, I had hideous hand-me-downs, and when I think back over my time in college when I had no money, I shudder at some of the things I wore. It took a long time, but I'm finally realizing that if I buy clothes, they should be ones I'm in love with. My closet and drawers are slowly filling with clothes I love.

8. My house. We have a huge backyard, lots of room for the girls to play inside, and even room for Ginny to live with us. We can tear down walls, build new ones, paint, do whatever we want to transform this house from a house into our house.

9. Ginny. My mother-in-law lives with us, and while life isn't always roses, I'm grateful my girls can know her so intimately and that she loves them. She also helps with babysitting occasionally, and that's always a plus!

10. Piano-playing. Jill and Beth are learning how to play (as am I), and Jon plays very well. I love having music in my house, and I hope the girls continue to love playing as they grow up.

11. Books. I have always been a bookworm, and Jill's becoming one. I love that you can dive into a good book and get lost in the story, carried off to new worlds and experiences that you might not otherwise get to have.

12. Writing. I've wanted to be a writer since I was in first grade. I love creating new worlds, seeing where my pen will lead me. I need to get back into writing, though. I do have an idea or two steeping in my brain. Now I just need to sit down and type them out.

13. Music. I've always loved listing to music, and I like many different kinds. Sometimes certain music will bring back memories of another time, or set the mood. You can say so much through music.

14. Crafts. I've always been crafty, and now with three kids, sometimes I let my creativity really come alive. I love making things for and with them. :)

And now I'm where I'm supposed to be. :)

At the fair, part 2.

Blogger's being so weird! If I move my mouse, everything works fine, but as soon as it sits still, my curser stops blinking and my pictures won't upload.

Anyway, here are the pictures of some of the fun things we saw and did.

Here are some creepy cute veggies that the girls, especially Kate, loved. The doors would slide open and they'd all sing and different parts of different veggies would move.



on the Ferris Wheel



(I had to laugh--the swings behind Jon's head look like a hat. ;))





the girls on the carousel







Katie loved riding this little train by herself!



And she rode in a dragon with me. :)



By the time I decided to ride these, it was raining and they'd closed it. Next year!



Jon fell in love with this and wants one. ;)



I'll end this post, but there are probably two more coming. You've been warned! ;)