For the fam...

Okay, this one really is pretty much only for the family. I mean, anyone is welcome to watch, but I don't know how fascinating 4 minutes of Addie parroting me is for anyone that isn't related to her. :)

So the story behind the video... Addie wakes up each morning super happy and talking to herself. I wanted to get that on tape and the only way I could think to do it was to film her, but I knew if she knew I was there that she would stop talking her cute jibberish. So I tried to stay at the door and record, but she must have heard me because she stopped talking right away. But then when I went in she was willing to have a full conversation with me so I kept recording, never meaning to film for 4 minutes! If I knew I was gonna film that long I would have opened the blinds because her room was super dark!

My favorite part of the video is at the end. She used to say "Bye!" clear as day, but for the past few months she's been saying "Be!" instead. I think it's so funny! And I love how she moves her head all matter-of-fact like!

My least favorite part, the whole first minute where Addie just stood there and I waited hoping she would do something cute. Oh well.

Anyways, enjoy if you dare. :)

The roller coaster that is December

My month has been a little bit like a roller coaster. At the beginning of December I was all energized, knowing all I needed to do but feeling like I could definitely get it all done, you know I usually work best when there's lots to do. But then I started to get overwhelmed. And huge. And tired. And then I started slowing down. And stressing out.

So I stopped and regrouped. And had a few meltdowns. I made my lists and started trying to tackle first things first. And then things started getting a little better. I do have to admit, I wasn't much in the Christmas mood though. 

Anyways, slowly but surely it all started getting done. And I started getting excited. I do love Christmas! But whew, it's a lot of work!

I am so thankful for Christmas. I am thankful to know the deeper, true meaning, and that I have been taught to remember our Saviour not just on Christmas but everyday, all year long. 

All of that being said, I'm ready to put away the decorations and lights, get rid of the tree, and ring in the new year with some new resolutions and resolve to be better!

***********Next up: Our Christmas!***********

Complete with lots of pictures!!!

(just as soon as I get the energy to go downstairs and upload all of them!)

Fun Friday night with the Fischetti's

I've been trying to get this posted for 2 weeks now! December started off as a strong blogging month but as my stress level has increased, my desire to blog has decreased. :0

Two Friday afternoons ago, Mindy, Addie's BFF's Izzy's mom, called and invited us to Flat Iron Farm for their awesome Christmas light display. 

(that's a weird sentence, but I just really want to post this so I can catch up!)

We said "Of course!"

We packed up the kids and coats, scarves, and hats, it was a cold one! Alexis had a slumber party to go to, so she stayed behind. :( It's sad for me every time we don't have one of the big kids with us, but I think as they get older it's gonna be happening more and more. Unless we get a whole lot cooler, and I don't see that happening anytime soon. :(

The farm was awesome! They have lights everywhere and the two main houses have the lights coordinated to music played on their special radio station.

I didn't get any good pictures because I still don't know how to use my camera when it's dark. But here's a sampling of what we got. They have lots of little exhibits set up and fun things for kids to do. They also had a petting zoo and marshmallow roasting. 

Very cute!

After all the fun we hung out and had hot chocolate. Look at Addie, so ready to be a big kid!

We haven't done this in awhile!

We've been looking back through our old posts and noticed that we used to post videos all the time but we haven't lately.

So here ya go.

Just because it's Monday.

This is a familiar scene at our house. It would have been better and more what I wanted if the doorbell hadn't rung. But everybody is nosy around here and has to know what's going on!

Oh and please disregard the mess and Christian's undies. We're trying to teach the importance of belts.
It's not working.

And one more so you can see Addie's awesome faces.
And Alexis and Christian's awesome conversations.

Christmas is coming...

And I am getting anxious!

Christmas cards. Cookies. Cookie exchanges. Presents. Food. Concerts. Fun experiences. Traditions. Post Office.

All of this and I have this obsession with finding the best deal for everything! 

And it's starting to consume me a little too much.

I just need to get going.

SOON.

A year and a half! - By Addison

Last month November 3 came and went. And my mom and I forgot to blog about all my accomplishments. :( So I think this will be my last installment. Don't worry, my little sister will pick up right where I left off in a few months. :)

I'm a really big girl now. I always like to take my purse, phone, and babies with me wherever I go.

I'm working on going potty on the big girl potty a lot lately. My mom will ask if I have to go potty and I run to the bathroom. Then I squeeze my little belly and try to go. Sometimes I get away before my mom has a chance to put my diaper or big girl panties back on. And sometimes my brother gets the camera and catches me being silly. :)

I'm still a really good helper. Just last night my mom was cleaning the floors. So when she went upstairs I decided to help. I sprayed the wood floor cleaner everywhere and when my mom came down she found little wet footprints and puddles all over because I'd been cleaning the whole floor! She loves my help!

I just love, love, love when my brother and sister come home from school! They feed me all sorts of stuff my mom doesn't! One of my favorites is Top Ramen! Like brother, like sister!

The only problem is when they decide to go outside and play.
That is not okay with me!

I really like to eat yogurt. My mom gives me these cool ones I can drink. At first she would just give me the bottle and I'd put the whole thing in my mouth. Then I'd keep it there for about half an hour. Doesn't that just make you want some right now!
(my mom started poking a straw in the top foil now, much less messy!)

Speaking of messy, I will only feed myself! I'm not a baby so no one needs to help me eat!
Oh, and no bib for me! I yank bibs off all Incredible Hulk style.
It's awesome.

One day my dad got me dressed. That's all I'm gonna say about that.

I'm working hard on learning how to read.
And type.

You know how much I love my big brother! Sometimes he even lets me borrow his cool accessories!

Before Halloween everyone kept trying to dress me up in old costumes.
I hated it so much!

I'm learning how to say my prayers. Every night I try to be so reverent...

...but that usually only lasts about 5 seconds. Then I'm ready to laugh with everyone about what a good job I did during the prayer!
Maybe it has something to do with my awesome alfalfa sprout hair!

Okay, I'm done. Little sister, I'm passing the monthly update torch to you.
So hurry up and get here.

Love,

Addie

Visitors

I hate when we have visitors or we do something cool and when it's all over I realize I didn't take any pictures! That's what happened when Grandpa and Bonnie came to visit. I only got pictures on Monday when Addie and I went sightseeing with them. :(We went to Arlington National Cemetery, Lincolns Memorial, and Mount Vernon.

I can't believe I still haven't blogged about when Grandpa and Bonnie came to visit! They flew in on Halloween and were able to stay for a week. The weather was perfect and they were able to do tons of sightseeing. Addie and I were able to go out with them a few days, but we're not always the best travel companions. :)

Here we are at Arlington Cemetery waiting for the changing of the guard. I let Addie climb around the huge amphitheater and she was in heaven!

She thought she was Queen of the Castle!

As we were walking back to the car we heard a band and stopped to listen. It turned out to be a funeral procession. It was amazing, a very solemn experience.

The only picture I took of Grandpa!
And Bonnie doesn't like pictures.
Ugh!

By Mount Vernon Addie had had enough of sightseeing. I tried to go on the home tour but she was being noisy and wanting to get down so I took her out back. She loved running up and down the hill. And it's beautiful there so I didn't mind. :)

Here she's sitting on a short wall with a small drop on the other side. I was trying and trying to get a cute picture but she kept trying to get down and I didn't want her to fall. So this is what I got.

We played some fun games and had some yummy meals and a fun visit. And if Addie hadn't cried for a full hour of the hour-and-a-half ride home from Mount Vernon we would have been able to do more sight-seeing with them.

Maybe next time. :)

In 2 minutes...

She went from being a baby...

...to a big girl.

Here's how it all went down. Here's the prep work.

Here's the bribe.

So squirmy!

Let's try again...

Ugh!

And waaaaaaaay too short!

The end.

Preggy shots

These are from 24 weeks, a couple weeks ago, but we don't get belly shots that often. :)

Addie not playing with the baby belly, but my necklace.

Getting some love!

Lex showing her skills with the self portrait.

Thanksgiving 2009

I was so sad to send everyone back to school and work today! We had a wonderful 5 days off together. And a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. And a lot to be thankful for!

Last year Thanksgiving was... a learning experience. It started with Matt and I taking a loooong walk and then relaxing and watching the parade. I didn't even start cooking till 1:00! And then I thought I would make a real "home cooked" spread that everyone would love... ha! I made everything from scratch, from the cranberries to the cornbread for my cornbread stuffing! Needless to say we ate very late, no one, especially not the children, was too impressed by all of my home made endeavors, and I was exhausted (and maybe a little bit cranky).

Christmas dinner cooking was better. I enlisted more help and started earlier.

But this year, this year, I figured it out! I organized and had written down all my dishes and how long they needed the stove, oven, and prep. I did what my mama always did and baked my pies on Wednesday. I also made my Pink Fluff - that I realized the kids don't like because as Christian put it "It has that chunky sour cream stuff in it!" (cottage cheese!) - and my super cute cheeseball that Lana taught us to make, which were the only other things I could prep early.


I casually worked on dinner all day. Matt fried our turkey again, he's getting to be a pro! We realized that he has fried turkeys in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, California, Washington, and now Maryland. We're such globe trotters! ;)

That's some hot oil!

That morning the ward had a Turkey Bowl at the park down the street from us, so we went and checked that out. I took some pictures and then Addie and I came home. Matt and the big kids had fun playing football and getting some exercise.

The kid game.

Isn't that fog awesome?!

My manly man!

Addie was such a good girl while everyone was out! She loves to sit on her little bench and read to all her babies. She's such a little mama!

We had invited friends to come over for pies at 6:00, so we had a goal to eat by 3:00. After some last minute puttering around we sat down to eat at exactly 3:10. :) Everyone pitched in and everything was put away and clean by 5:00. No naps were to be had (except little Addie), but it was still a lovely day!

By 6:30 we had a house full of wonderful friends. Of course I didn't think to get the camera out! We had at least 15 pies, it was wonderful and delicious! Everyone left by 8:30, the kids disappeared, Christian to spend the night at Ryans house, Alexis and Robin to our basement, Matt put Addie to bed and I tidied one more time, and then it was time to rest and watch Matt Lauers special. Such a wonderful day!