Thursday, December 3, 2015

Writing to Santa

It's a tradition that the girls can only ask Santa for three things.  Because, after all Jesus only received three gifts on the day he was born.

Our 'real' tree for our living room is not yet up but all of the others are up and welcoming.

So the girls wrote their letters in front of 'their tree' in the family room in front of the fire.

1

2

3

I kind of already know what they are going to write but sometimes I'm surprised.

6

Of course it's only once a year so there is a lot of thought that goes into that one letter.

4

5

It took Abigail more than one night to finish but Anna knew just what to say.

7

Abigail finished the next day during Anna's viola lesson.

8

And then we mailed them that very night. (so they can't change their minds)

9

10

And off they go. Next stop, North Pole!

11

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Simple Things in November

Although all of my 'simple things' pictures are from my phone this one I took with the camera. This is how November looks in our backyard. The sunsets can be astounding.

0A6A8133

This song.

1

I know this sounds weird. But we 'said goodbye' to this table. A sweet young couple took it. When I saw the baby in the backseat of their car I ran upstairs and grabbed my prettiest round table cloth for them too.

2

I read to her every night in bed.

3

They wore this to Mass quite often in November.

4

5

(phone pic)

Hitchcock ~ the quintessential table for a kitchen in Connecticut. (and someone... please wash those windows)

7

We saw this adorable movie

8

Scott has a 'never give up attitude' about his health (concerning his back and all he's dealt with for over 12 years) He's been biking like crazy lately. He 'won't let the pain in his back win'. (funny because I skipped my workout today because I had a very slight headache)

10

This should have been in 'simple things October' but I just found it. This note was pinned to a bag on Halloween to help Abigail remember to carefully pack all of the parts to her costume after school.

11

Children's literature is beautiful

12

And the smell of new books is better than the smell of coffee in the morning.

13

She's working on multiplication. Math is a challenge for her but we won't let those thoughts win either.

14

My Mother gave these to me. They were my Grandfathers. Oh man, someday soon I have to do a post on my journey to Mary and the rosary and all that I've been learning lately.

15

Some nights Daddy reads a book while she's eating her bedtime snack.

16

Math is not a challenge for her but she sure does get a lot of homework in it.

17

Riley, this one is for you... can you figure it out?

(I found it in Abigail's writing binder during her parent/teacher conference)

18

This one too. (Billie Jo... see the state she wrote?)

19

We sit in waiting rooms a lot. And I love knee socks.

20

Don't remember what this was all about but I love it anyway.

21

The week before Thanksgiving I was complaining to Scott that I was too busy to pick up something to wear on Thanksgiving and (awful) "the girls have new dresses..." So he stopped at the mall (I don't do the mall) and couldn't decide between these two dresses for me. So he had the guy hold them up and the texted me a picture. "Which one" he asked!!! (BTW... I ended up with a $14.99 dress from Marshalls)

22

At Anna's middle school (where Scott taught Social Studies years ago when Anna was a baby on my hip) This was student led conference night. She was so nervous she was sweating. Even though I don't know how you could be nervous about straight A's.

23

Her sister was mighty impressed with her locker.

24

On our way to Grandma's house on Thanksgiving.

25

These pearls are special. From a special teacher... she is sure she's going to wear them at her wedding. I say "absolutely"!

26

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving the girls helped me set up our hot chocolate and tea cart.

27

Thanksgiving weekend we decorated a lot.

28

One Anna captured when we were in NYC

29

Mass at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in November. Right after Mass there was a baptism. Ohhhhh.... how wonderful!

30

Dinner overlooking Times Square

31

Rosy cheeks in Central Park

32

I'm more of the 1940's hotels in NYC but this lobby was really cool!

33

No words necessary

34

A little bit of shopping at a sweet garden store

35

36

We came home with a few new ornaments.

37

Because they are too adorable.

38

Found this on her desk. "It's a pain chart" she tells me. (sigh)

chart

November was a good good month. Although December feels more like a flurry I know that there will be simple moments throughout. And those mean the most.




Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Black Friday

I don't do Black Friday.  I just don't.  I like home and the 'fragrance' of Thanksgiving still in my heart.
We didn't exactly stay home though.  Anna slept over Grandma and Grandpa's house while Abigail, Scott and I headed to the hospital early in the morning for a routine endoscopy.  

There isn't much to say about it. The truth is, they are routine for us.  For her.  

And we "didn't get her favorite nurse... but that's okay."  It just would have been nice and cheery and happy.  And the IV procedure would have gone a bit more smooth.  

Routine doesn't mean that it still doesn't exhaust me emotionally.  It does.  But it's done and now we wait for wonderful biopsy results on Tuesday.  

IMG_4330

IMG_4331

IMG_4332

IMG_4333

IMG_4335

After Scott picked up Anna at my parents we snuggled in for a perfect day. We relaxed, decorated a bit more, watched our first Christmas movie, popped popcorn, made hot chocolate. I think I even had my jammies back on as soon as we were home from the hospital. My kinda black friday for sure.