Merry Christmas 2011

Christmas Eve Mass... (abby refused to having her picture taken)

Abby stole Santa's cookie...

The loot.... (The LED lights are giving off a weird glare..)

Mommy trying to get Abby interested in opening the gifts...

excited Mary

happy Gabby

really happy Mary.. (she loves Aurora!)

anything Star Wars works for Toe

Gabby loved her Ariel doll

Abby loved stealing everyone's candy

grand finale!

pre-k christmas party

The trio's pre-k class had a christmas program party which we all enjoyed!

Mary was a reindeer in one of the skits... (this was her walking in)

Gabby was a stocking in one of the skits... again, her walking in.

Mateo was obviously happy to be a sugar plum...

still giving us that award winning smile!

(I wish someone would have told me to brush my hair!)

winter fun

It was the perfect scenario... one day we had about 5-6" of snow (and lots of fun in it!)... and even on the 2nd day, most of it was left (insert pictures below). But by the third day, most had melted...

smarty pants

Little Miss Abby is too smart for her own good. As the days and weeks go by, I notice her "thinking" and making changes in her behavior to correspond with what she has learned. Just to name a few:

Sippy cup no more. Abby refuses to drink out of a sippy (which alleviates spills and messes) unless she is really tired, or really, really thirsty and not up for a fight. But normally, she insists upon drinking out a regular kid cup, or even Mommy's cup!

I have also noticed that she recognizes when I "count" the number of time we can rock in her chair before nap/bedtime. She would rock all night, if I let her. So I had started to count the rocks to ten...giving her a deadline. By the third night, when I started to count, she started yelling "no!" and dug her legs into me as I neared the number 7. There went that idea... (Guess who is back to rocking her for 15min ?)

She also knows when she is going potty in her diaper... and depending on her mood, will either run away from me when I try to change her... or run to me, so that I can help her get clean!

toe & lucy

As I mentioned before, Toe has found a few friend... Lucy, his caterpillar. On this particular morning, Toe wanted to dress Lucy in matching shirts.

(Since the picture was taken, Lucy isn't making as many appearances... she has been replaced by Star Wars, Batman, and nerf guns.. (Ahem, thank you, Miss Katie... for the guns!))

I just don't want to forget....

Just some short recent stories/tidbits that I don't want to forget...

Tonight, the girls were picking out soft animals to take up to bed - Christmas reindeer and bears and snowmen. Mateo was upset that he didn't have one (and that he didn't like the remaining choices) but I was holding the very hungry Caterpillar in my arms and he conceded. As we were getting ready for bed, he told me that he had named his Caterpillar, "Lucy." For the rest of the bedtime routine, Lucy participated. I think he (yes, he) will be around for a while.

Two nights ago, when we were doing our shower routine, the news was on tv. I wasn't paying much attention as I was trying to lotion them up and dry the girls hair, but Mateo approached me and told me that he had seen someone on tv. I stopped at his insistence to find out that he had spotted a picture of "Abraham Lincoln"... who was a "president." Amazed, since I know he didn't learn this from me.. I asked him how he knew... he paused, and said, "I used my brain."

Abby has taken a liking to singing. Her favorites are "Rudolph" and "happy birthday." Be careful, though... when she sings happy birthday, she likes to blow out the candles. Well, rather, she likes to thoroughly spit on the pretend candle. "Brpt!!!!!!!"

Right now, the trend is for Gabby to help Mateo in whatever he is doing "no, Mateo... it is like this!!! and for Mary to encourage Abby to follow her around. "Come on, Abby!."

kringle's inventionasium

Tower City has a Christmas Feature called "kringle's inventionasium." It is a 35min tour where children get to help brainstorm and invent toys, make snow, and have their own personal meeting with Mr. Kringle... quite the fun experience for a child!

While we were downtown, we also spoke with Bruce the Spruce (a talking Christmas tree). (Mateo is still trying to figure out that one!) And enjoyed a train ride around the mall.

It was a special holiday treat!



waiting to go in....


waiting to go in...


watching snow grow!


think, Mary, think!


let's get creative...




Waiting to see Mr. Kringle...


woo hoo!


train ride in tower city

who doesn't want to be santa?

oh Abby... what a sweetheart!


This was hysterical... Mateo was dressed as "santa" and would yell- "Full power rudolph"...at which Gabby and Mary (and Abby) would wave their arms faster and faster while pretending to be the reindeer!

#5 is alive!

visit with santa

special birthday cakes

Miss Katie made our birthday cakes... only to out-do last year's! We loved them!

happy 5th birthday!

I may be a little biased, but I think I have some pretty darn good-looking kids!




Mary, you are our passionate "Mare-Bear." Your big, beautiful brown eyes, along with that dimple, light up a room. You are so animated and full of expression when you are telling a story. You will always have a special place in my heart because you are my first born.



Gabrielle, you are our inquisitive one- nothing gets by you. Your heart is bigger than life and you try so, so hard to be good and to always do the "right thing." I love to listen to you reason out answers to questions and to watch you try so hard. You are my itty bitty, but as fierce as a lion. You will always have a special place in my heart because of how much you love.



Ahhh, my boy Mateo. Your sweetness is stronger than candy. You never give up trying...no matter how frustrated you may become. You are strong, and brave- yet caring and gentle with your sisters. Being my son, you will always have a special place in my heart.

remembering Grammy

Not a day usually goes by that I don't think about Grammy. Either I want to ask her about a recipe, or for advice, or to share a funny story about the kiddo's. And it pains me that Abby will never meet her or get to feel her love. (Pa has some big shoes to fill!)

But on the anniversary of her death, I keep trying to force myself to celebrate her life and the love she had for everyone - instead of remembering how sad I am to have lost her so early.


Grammy with Gabby, at 8mo old.