Happy Birthday Madelyn!

Well, today was my girl's third birthday. I truly can not believe three years has past since I had her; it seems like just yesterday. I know that is very cliche, but it is so true. I will never forget what it was like to have her, and bringing her home for the first time. She is so grown now... so helpful with Lauren --- a wonderful sense of humor and her mommy's clumsiness --- her Daddy's eyes -- and oh, that curly hair!

I know I am so lucky to have Madelyn -- I don't remember too much of what life was like without her. I know I was a totally different person, and she has changed me for the better. Anyway, I know she was given to me for a number of reasons.

A little story, when we found out that my Gram had cancer... I prayed and prayed. I am typically not an overly religious person, but I do pray. I prayed that my Gram would live long enough to see me graduate and to have a baby. Now, at this time having babies was actually the furthest thing from my mind. I was in college, working a few jobs to get by and just really focused on 'my' future career.

A few months later, I got pregnant with Madelyn. It was unexpected, and I really didn't know how this would affect my schooling - yes, that was my first thought. Once it all sunk in, both Mike and I were super ecstatic and very eager to move on to this phase in our lives together.

Unbelieveably it fit in perfect time-wise with my schooling. I ended up having my last final on a Friday afternoon, and giving birth to Madelyn the following Wednesday. We had set up 'back up plans', but it ended up working out perfectly.

So, when I had Madelyn my Gram was undergoing treatments so she was unable to come to the hospital to see us. We left the hospital and drove directly to her house. She met little Madelyn, and I will never forget how she held her and just talked about how 'perfect' she was. She stared at her for a long time, and just fell in love with her instantly.

That was in May, and my Gram passed away in September.

She didn't get to see me graduate the following May -- a difference of a mere few months.

I didn't understand why I had made that wish; that prayer for my Gram to see me graduate. I mean, I was proud of myself and I knew she was proud of me. But this wasn't my first degree, and it was never really a topic of conversation other than in passing. So, why was it so important to me that my Gram be there.

Well, I didn't realize a few things until after they were over.

First, my prayers really WERE answered in a way. God knew my Gram wasn't going to make it to my graduation -- that is why I got pregnant. It was His way of saying, ok then -- we are going to have to mix things up here.

Secondly, it was important to me that my Gram see me graduate because I was selected to be the speaker, although I didn't know it yet when I made the wish/prayer.

So, she didn't make it to see me graduate but, see, I know she was there. I am sure of this, and only 'some' could see -- she was actually standing behind me with her hand on my shoulder the whole time. Otherwise, I am not sure I would have made it through my speech with how scared I really was.

So, Madelyn may not remember her Great Gram but BOY oh BOY do I have stories for her ;)

Some cousins

My mom has a very large family. She has five sisters and four brothers - and so that leaves me with a lot of cousins. Some are closer than others, some I rarely see, some I never see! Some were more like sisters and friends while I was growing up, still are, and some I even babysat! But, here is a layout I did with some of the cousins. One of the cousins in the picture is my little sister! These pictures were taken on Easter ! What fun we have together!!!

Credits: Walking on Sunshine Mega by the Sunshine Girls (and guy)!!

Lauren on Easter

Maddie put these bunny ears on Lauren and I kept waiting for the wailing to come - but it didn't. She actually liked having them on.

You know I have a camera permanently attached to my hand, so check out the faces!

Credits: Beckie Wallace's Burst of Spring kit. Font: CK Toehead

For my peeps!

Happy Valentine's Day !

Happy Valentine's Day to the readers of my blog :) I hope you had a marvelous day.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Here is a picture of Madelyn enjoying her Valentine's Day cookie from Eat n Park!

And one of Lauren, although she can't enjoy the cookie she received, she was all bundled up to go to Eat n Park! But doesn't she look adorable in her Future Steeler's Cheerleader hat!

Damn skippy

A new post to thank Cheryl for her incredible birthday gift in my pyzam widget at the top of my blog. She left me a lawn chair and referenced the best game ever! Now, you didn't think I was really NOT going to post this picture did you.

Aero and Smarties from Canada

Recently, I received my 'secret santa' present from my pal in Canada. Every year my May mommy buds do an exchange and while typically it is 'all about the kids', for Christmas the mommies exchange presents and we put an ornament or small toy in the package for the kids.

I always get the most amazing gifts in this exchange! I also put alot of thought into the gift I send for this exchange. This year I had Ally.

Ally is one of the mommies who came for the outlet shopping-fest in November, which was AWESOME! It was the first time we had met in person! I had a blast shopping for her. She is so hardworking! She is a trauma-care nurse in her hometown and she puts in some LONG ASS hours. She is a great mommy and wife, and still finds time to be a great friend to alot of people!

I got her some 'time for her' stuff including a creme brulee set with cookbook, torch and ramacans. A few 'ahem' cocktail mixes! I got her son a toy for the bathtub! I hope she loves them! It just so happens that Ally is from Canada. So, I was praying it would get there on time.

My Secret Santa was also from Canada! Her name is Erin, and she is also a nurse, hardworker, great mommy, and so funny! She sent me an amazing gift! A super, soft blanket that is creme colored and is quite possibly the softest thing I have ever felt, a Christmas candle that smells like a vanilla wafer, a book by my favorite author Jodi Picoult called "Keeping Faith" and two board books for Maddie. Here is the thing, she stuck some candy in the bottom of the box for me.

Ok, I didn't realize how different things were between the US and CANADA! I mean we do share a border, various lakes and rivers, the Falls and other things too! But how is it that we do not have these candies here in the States!

Smarties here in the States are little sweet/sour pill-type candies sold in little skinny packs with plastic twisted at its edges. Smarties in Canada are similar to M&M's and are made by NESTLE! What the piss! They are good, thats for sure! Different than M&M's but still yummy just the same.

BUT I AM AMAZED BY THE FOLLOWING REVELATION! We do not have the other type of candy that Erin put in my bag here ! They are called Aero's. OMG, talk about a little piece of frothy chocolate heaven ! It tastes SO good, and it is similar to chocolate puffed with air. WOW!

Seriously, I am considering writing a congressman about why we do not have this in the States. I mean, what is up! Nestle makes both of these so why do we not have it! I am pissed, and am thinking I will have to send money to Erin so she can send me an entire bag of these. I could stick them in my freezer and take them out only in case of emergency!

Catch up

Well, it has been awhile (by my standards) since I last posted a blog. There is a lot to catch up on, but I will try to keep my stories short and sweet.


Christmas was incredible, beyond my expectations. Madelyn was amazed, dumbfounded and overjoyed to find Santa had left her presents under our tree. Santa was pretty damn good to her this year, let me say!


I find, and this is just my opinion, that the earlier I start shopping for Christmas, the more I buy. So, since I started early, there was WAY too much stuff for her. And of course, she wanted to play with everything the second she opened it. So that made for a difficult time. I had to tell her no, and that we were going to open all the presents before we played with anything, and she didn't dig that at all. Understandably, and that is one thing I do hate, but we are so busy running around all day on all the holidays. It often makes for a very long, tiring day.


Lauren, poor little Lauren. She hadn't a clue what was going on. She was happy, as she usually is! It was thrilling to watch her just smiling away as Maddie opened all the presents.

Madelyn and Lauren both got alot of awesome toys and clothes from Santa! But they do have some favorites! Madelyn loves her Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Lucky Ducks Game, Baby dolls, Dress up trunk and Alice doll. Lauren loves her Jack in the box, and her gummy rattles that are finally light enough for her to hold and chew on (poor baby's gums!).

Maddie got a marching band set from her Cousin Allen! HOW KIND OF HIM (yes, I was shouting!). She does love it! She also got the Rose Petal Cottage from Mimi, but it hasn't been assembled yet, so she doesn't know really about it yet. From Cheryl she got a Care Bear which she sleeps with and a really cool Elephant game.

Cheryl also got Lauren little baby UGGS, and an outfit to match them! OMG, they are the cutest! Aunt Bee got Lauren little tiny stuffed Pooh characters that she can grasp. They are so soft, she just hugs them and loves them!

Overall, we had an incredible Christmas. The kids got so much stuff!

Oh, Mike got an XBOX, in case you missed that in an earlier post. I gave it to him early so he could play it during his vacation time in early December. He also got a blanket and a Steelers AFC Champions t-shirt from me. My parents got him Madden 08, and my sister and Brett got him Scrubs season 2 on DVD. That is just as much a gift for me as it is for him!

Here is an overview of what I got: beautiful diamond earrings, aromatherapy, slippers, jammies, season six of Scrubs on DVD, a CSI computer game, clothes and best of all A BELGIAN WAFFLE MAKER that flips! That is what I asked for, not sarcasm.

Mikes parents got us an awesome digital photo frame. It plays music, videos, slideshows of your pictures, IT IS SOOO NEAT!

Ok, that is the Christmas wrap up - hmm, no pun intended there!

A long two days.....

Wow, I don't have time to post really, but I had to come on and wish everyone
A VERY, VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

From my little piece of Heaven on Earth to yours, I hope it was a good one.

Here is a picture of my best present this year!

Friends

Everyone has them, everyone wants them, everyone needs them! They are your friends! I happen to be so lucky to have a group of women who are my friends and they are just incredible.

The crew I have went through our last three years of college together.
Every SINGLE day, every SINGLE project, every single minute I was in class... I was with my crew!

We went through everything together: every psycho teacher, every ridiculous project, every lesson plan, every nail biting test (especially Briscoe!), the dreaded, blasted PRAXIS exams, student teaching, successes, failures, babies, weddings and then, who can forget, graduation !

Well since graduation, we rarely get to see each other. Most of us talk on the phone, or try to, at least once a week or two. We do try to get together more often, but it is hard with such a large group of people. Not to mention, we all have VASTLY different lives. Some of us have been married for awhile, some are just now newly engaged (YEA EMILY and JASON!), some of us had babies in college (whoops!), some of us have GRANDCHILDREN! Some are subbing, some are working two and three jobs, some are contracted with schools, some are in grad school.

We are so diverse, yet what we share is so powerful and grand. Having gone through such major events with one another has connected us on such a deep scale it is hard to imagine life without them. Although we don't see each other as much as we would like, none is more than a phone call or desperation cry away.

We just love each other and cherish the time we spend together. We know how lucky we are to have such a large group of closeness, and we know its rare so we hold it with both hands very, very tightly.

Since college for us ended I, for one, have felt some growing pains being seperated from this group. It was such a strong force in my life for three years, and now that we are AS TOGETHER as we once we were, I definitely felt a loss of sorts. But I have grown into the now, and that makes me so grateful for the times we do have.

And so, to my Ladies, I raise my glass to you and thank you for being such an awesome group of women! I love and admire each of you for different things: loyalty, devotion, committment, energy, sassyness (is that a word?), humor, realism, dedication and most of all faith.

Faith in many things, but mostly each other. Merry Christmas CCAC - - EYE YOU PEE !

So busy - well, what do you expect? It is Christmas!

I just love Christmas time. But I hate being so busy that I can't tell which end is up. I am desperately trying to keep the house clean, get all the cookies baked, presents bought and wrapped, keep the kids excited, and make sure all the t's are crossed and i's dotted!

All in all, it will be worth all the running, fussing, stressing and being busy. I don't mean to get all sappy on you guys here, but I can't wait for MJ to open her presents. She is excited, but I am even more excited for her. I can't wait to see her face when she sees the presents under our Christmas tree! It should be pretty spectacular to see! I just can't wait.

Tomorrow is my father in law's official birthday - so we will be them for dinner. Then to my moms for a little while.

Christmas day, Mike is off so we will do the run around like we always do!

I probably won't be on much in the next two days, although I may try to squeeze another cookie's post in tomorrow since we will be baking part of the day.

Here is a layout that I did with a kit from Karla's Kaleidoscope Designs called Christmas Cheer.

Merry Christmas to you and your family from mine here in Pittsburgh! Have a wonderful holiday!

I got RAK'd

Yesterday, I received a private message in my inbox at go digital scrapbooking (which rarely happens), so I logged on to see what was up.

I was so excited, elated and just plain tickled to find I had been RAK'd by Crops!

RAK (random acts of kindness)

She is on Kim B's Creative team (lucky devil that she is!) and Kim B gave her creative team a little Christmas gift in the way of an INCREDIBLE kit called Old Festive Cheer! So, to pass along the merriness (yea, it is a word!) the creative team were selecting people to receive it as a RAK!

How awesome, and I got selected! I made a page today using the kit, and an alphabet from the Christmas Around the World girls (I tried to find who it was from, but all I can tell you is that I downloaded it from Hummie's World).

I shared the layout I did with anyone and everyone who I would think of who cared! I just love this kit, and everything that Kim B. does. She just embodies a presence (even over the net) that makes you want to have fun! The bond that she has with her internet friends all over the world is amazing, and I am just so inspired by her!

Maybe it's Christmas that is making me all sappy!

Ok, enough of that. Here is the layout I did with her kit!

Baking Christmas Cookies - my favorites

So, last night Maddie and I talked and decided it was time to bake the Christmas cookies. Typically every year in our house, we don't eat them, so they end up going to waste. I try to give them away, but everyone I know bakes too.

Regardless of whether or not they go to waste, we are baking every year. It is just a tradition, and I am going to keep it.

I will post pics or a scrapbook page of the bake-fest later! For now, I have to clean and clean and clean some more. Plus, there is laundry, naps and all that goes along with having two youngins.

So here are my favorite Christmas cookies to bake.

Buckeyes

Combine in a bowl:

1/2 c. butter melted

1-1/2 c. creamy peanut butter

4 c. confectioners sugar (powdered)

1 tsp. vanilla

(consistency will be grainy)

Roll into balls and place on wax paper in the fridge for 30 minutes.

In a double boiler (or you can use a metal bowl over a pot of water), you combine:

2-1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

and 2 tbsp. shortening.

Over medium heat, mix with a fork until smooth

Remove balls from fridge and use a toothpick to pick up them up, and dunk them into the melted chocolate. Leave a spot, so they look like a real buckeye!

Re-place on wax paper.

Continue and then re-refridgerate overnight.

My mom's EASY CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Combine in a bowl,

1/2 c. oil

2 eggs

1 tbsp. water

1 box of yellow cake mix

1 bag of chocolate chips

Use a baller to place dobs on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 325º for 10-12 minutes.

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 c. peanut butter

1 c. butter

1 c. sugar

1 c. brown sugar

2-1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

2 eggs

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and roll into balls and place on a cookie sheet.

Bake at 350º for 12-15 minutes.

Press hersheys kiss or m&m in the center of the cookie while still warm.

Pumpkin Roll

3 eggs

1 c. sugar

2/3 c. pumpkin

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 c. flour

Combine above ingredients. Grease pan with shortening. Press into pan a piece of greased wax paper. Pour cake ingredients onto wax paper and Bake 15 minutes at 375º. While still hot flip it onto a dish towel covered with powdered sugar and roll it up. Let it cool that way (this is how it will stay closed later!)

Make the filing.

8 oz. cream cheese

3 tbsp. margarine

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. powdered sugar

When cake has cooled completely, unroll it, take out the towel, put in the filing evenly and roll it back up. Refridgerate!

Soft Sugar Cookies

3 c. flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

2 eggs

1 c. margarine (two sticks)

1 c. sugar

Mix flour, baking powder and baking soda. Separately combine the butter, eggs and sugar.

Now add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and fold together.

Roll with flourered rolling pin out onto a floured board. Cut with cutters and bake at 375º for about 7 minutes.

Decorate individual cookies with frosting, colored sugar or candies.

Christmas to me

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Both- i like to wrap for the girls, but for others mostly bags!

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial...we had dogs and now its just easier.

3. When do you put up the tree?
I shoot for the day after Thanksgiving, and usually finish in the first week of December.

4. When do you take the tree down?
New Years Day or the day after.

5. Do you like egg nog?
As a child, a neighbors mom made us what she SAID was homemade EGG NOG, and I LOVED IT. Now I have tried egg nog and that was SOOOO not egg nog.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Barbies Townhouse - it had an elevator! Or Cabbage Patch kids, or colecovision

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
No, but I am looking for just the right one.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
My mother in law or my sister Becky.

9. Easiest person to buy for?
The girls!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail them! I have 83 going out today!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I don't think I have ever gotten anything very bad. But last year Mike bought me crocs that were two sizes off!

12. Favorite Christmas movie?
A Christmas Story or ELF

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
I try to start the beginning of November!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Well, I think I am guilty of an occassional regift.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Ham, dessert, and Sarris candy! Christmas cookies - especially the peanut butter ones with the hershey kisses in the middle :)

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
clear

17. Favorite Christmas song?
O holy night and Snoopy & the Red Baron

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Well, we stay in Pittsburgh, but visit a few places.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
oh yea... but I am not going to.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?Actually we have a bow up there.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Psycho drivers who have no clue where they are going. Rude people at the malls and crowds.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I love all of them.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Honey ham or deep fried turkey :)

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Diamond earrings, a belgian waffle maker, boots.

26. What was the one Christmas gift you wanted as a child but never received?
I think I got everything I wanted.

27. Who are you tagging?
Anyone !

Professional pictures of the family

I got our actual pictures back from JCP today, not the crappy online ones. I know they CAN use a higher resolution, they just choose not to, so rude! Anyway, so I can officially upload them to you and show you what they really look like instead of the blurred version you got a week ago.

Here they are... drumroll please!

More Maddie and Santa

I am so happy that Maddie is 'into' Christmas this year. I am so glad she 'gets it' now, that I can't get enough of her talking about it. I took her today to the best Santa in the world at the Robinson Mall. Even I believe this guy is really Santa. He lives in Texas during the 'off' months and builds wooden toys for children - no shit... he really does.

I told him we were 'potty training' so he gave Maddie a little talking to, about how important it is to be a big girl and get big girl underwear and that he would bring her some for Christmas if she was good and went on the potty (LOL!). Inside I was going ' THANK YOU SANTA '!

She was so excited, and this time was able to rattle her little list off to him, "My Friends Tigger and Pooh, babies, dollies and Cinderella". How adorable! It was extra special because just her and I went, as I left Lauren at home with Daddy. We hadn't had a just Maddie and Mommy day for awhile, so it was great to spend time with just her giving her my undivided attention!

Here are two pics of the big day!

Drats... no camera?

Tonite Mike and I took the girls to Hartwood Acres which is a really cool drive through park with a beautiful Christmas light show. They put up probably sixty to seventy different scenes built with Christmas lights. The suggested price is $12.00 per car load and the proceeds go to Project Bundle Up which provides needy kids with warm winter coats each winter.

Talk about amazing. We have been to different light shows before, but this one really is beautiful. And, drats... I didnt take my camera. I was kicking myself the first five minutes through the park for not having it. It would have been worth it just to get Maddie Jo's reaction to some of the scenes.

I am working on our Christmas cards, and some layouts for Karla right now. It will be busy the next few days getting those done and out.

Mike has been off work all week on vacation, and he goes back to work on Saturday (BOO.. but it does pay the mortgage ). So, I know I have been scarce but we have doing the traditional family Christmas time stuff and it has me getting the warm and fuzzies about the holidays!

Our characature from the Christmas party!!

I had to share the picture that was drawn of Maddie and I at the Christmas party on Saturday. Her little face is so adorable in it... and I think it really looks like her ! Me, well... I should have tipped the girl more! I wish that is what I looked like that early in the morning. on the Saturday after the biggest sha-bang surprise birthday bash! She made me look like a news anchor or some shit... but I ain't complainin!

WOW - or should I say WAW!

W hat A W eekend !

The party went off without a hitch! I can now blab that for a few months now my sister in law and I have been planning a surprise 60th birthday party for my father in law! He was shocked, and everyone came and it was amazing. We had his senior picture from high school put on the cake (which was awesome - whipped cream icing kicks ass in a big time way). The food was great (and there was enough, which was a worry of ours). People came who haven't seen my father in law in years, and he was just tickled.

I spent the last three weeks or so making a scrapbook of his life. It ended up being two entire 20 page books (plus a refill kit for the book - so, about 50 pages or so!) Everyone loved it, and I was so happy. I worked SO freakin hard on this thing for ENTIRE DAYS and filled ENTIRE WEEKS! It is so nice to feel like they understood the hard work, and thoughtfullness that went into. Truly, there aren't too many people I would do that for, my father in law is just one of them. He is just a hell of a guy, and there aren't too many words in the English dictionary that can describe him. You just have to know him. He, my mother in law and my sister in law loved the scrapbook so much, they cried- which made me feel great! That was the reaction I was looking for.

Today was the Mike's work Christmas party which is mostly for kids (but it is INCREDIBLE!)... I should mention that my father in law works there as well, so we went to this party even before Mike started there. Santa Claus comes and there are jugglers, clowns, magicians, balloon animal makers, face painters, spin art, mimes, marionettes... just about everything a kid could want to do ! For adults, they have a free chair massage on each floor of the building, so there is never more than one person in front of you. They have handwriting analysis, a craft show, an amazing lunch and characture artists . I just can't begin to describe it!

So, Maddie gets her first shot at Santa Claus, who she finally understands this year. He came around the corner, and her face just lit up like a Christmas tree and she screams "Merry Christmas!" So adorable. She sat on his lap, and said, "nice a meet you!". He asked her what she wanted for Christmas, and even though she is able to rattle off a list to me, she goes, "toys!". He said, "Oh, ok, anything in particular?" ... she says, "no... just toys". I cracked up, poor thing just froze. I imagined in my head A CHRISTMAS STORY where the kid just nods and says 'Yea, a football" when he really wants the bb gun! Thank goodness there was no slide!

I will post some more pictures tomorrow. But here are a few of my favorites from the weekend!

Fond holiday memories from my childhood.......

I was chatting with a childhood friend on myspace for a few minutes today, but I have to say that anytime I talk with old buds, I am flooded with memories of them.

So, today, I was remembering the very elaborate haunted houses we used stage in Faye's parents basement. I was only able to do this a few years, but her and her brother did it every year religiously, if I remember correctly.

When I say elaborate, I mean various rooms were created using string and sheets, costumes were made and with the haunted house was equipped with strobe lighting and us forcing people to put their hands in bowls with jello and bouncy balls and telling them they were eyeballs, LOL!

I can only imagine the clean up required when all was said and done !

Another memory that has been lingering close lately was the things we did with the girl scouts. I remember at Christmas time, we used to go carolling at nursing homes. I really can't wait for my girls to be old enough to do this kind of thing. I remember how good it felt afterwards, and seeing the little old ladies and making them smile.