Merry Christmas...

It's late, I should be sleeping...but I noticed I've not posted a blog in a while. I hope anyone who cares to read this is resting tonight with great plans to celebrate with family this joyous holiday, or whatever holiday they so choose. Looking forward to the New Year...I hope to begin the year much better than I am ending this one, hopefully re-evaluating that goal that I set for myself last year -- life simplified. Not done it yet, but getting there.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH TO ALL OF YOU....

xoxo

Some cuties

Tough to blog lately, hope all are well! Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas from the Browns!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

So it's been a while...

But I had to post this morning..... today is Mr. B's 5th birthday. I can't believe that my baby boy is 5! We woke him up with a big Happy Birthday song and let him open his gifts this morning because I have to be somewhere this evening. He was so excited!

When we arrived at school this morning, he looked disappointed and said, "Mama, where are all the decorations and my birthday presents?" We did have to have a little talk about how we don't expect birthday presents, that they are gifts and that makes them special. Hopefully he's forgotten all of that by now -- he ought to be tearing into the cookie cake I sent for Snack this morning!! Mmmmmm....

If only I could bottle up this zest for life and learning and always keep it around to remind him as he gets older what its like to be excited about everything. He's a joy and I am such a lucky mom. I can't wait to watch him grow, even if it does mean he becomes 6....and 7....and 15....and 30. Ahhhhhh, what joy the future holds too. Kindergarten is just around the corner....I can't believe it.

Happy Birthday big boy....

GET OUT AND VOTE

Because if you do, you too can have this.....

OH Yeah, and a new President!! That's just a little important! But this is good too. Free STARBUCKS Tall Coffee when you tell 'em you voted! And to beat it all you get a RED CUP! Do you know how excited I am about the red cups! It makes me want to sing "Christmastime is here...." but I won't because then I might scare people!

Favorite passtime

Roll Tide...maybe

Something was screwy with this post...so I will add some pics and repost later. :)

I don't think she realizes anyone is watching.

Alright people, I hear you. Yes the car is moving, but in my defense, I held the phone over my shoulder in here general direction. In hopes for a CHANCE that she might be centered and thought maybe I would get something cute...well check her out. There is nothing better than dancing with reckless abandon!

This is the BG and Mr. B playing outside in the beautiful fall sun yesterday! I thought she was gonna plow me down!

Check them out racing!

Wordless Wednesday

BG sure knows how to pick 'em...

Everyone loves a blue eyed girl...

So before BG was born, my co-coworker & BG's Diva Coach gave her a tee that said "everyone loves a brown eyed girl," because you know, brown is the dominant color right....except in my house. And after 14 months, my fave color on BG is blue...you can see why:

And you can't forget Mr. B, his blue eyes were piercing too. Beautiful I must say. So even though he looks like me, his Daddy can claim his eyes...he's sort of grown into a gray color, but when they both put blue on...killer!

Happy Fall

Here are some pics of the weekend. We visited a local Fall Fest today with one of my friends. We had to wait forever to get food, but had a great time just being outside under the trees. Thought I would share some photos. ....OK, and looking closely as the photo of Mr. B is lined up with his other photo on the page it makes me very very sad. Look at what a big boy he has become. Where did the time go?

My "I'm so excited Daddy's coming home today" face

Yes folks...this is a DADDY's GIRL to the highest power! Can't wait for dad to come home today after a long week away for work! YEA!

Cutie Pie

Carleigh's first updo. She pulled it out within the hour.

Girlfriend Getaway...

So I have been in Beantown this weekend with my girl KP. We've had such a fab time...and yes, we DID got to the NKOTB concert on Friday night. OMG! It was so much fun. We laughed all night and decided that we felt like we were 15 again! It was a blast.

Although the rain hasn't stopped, we've been all over town enjoying this great city. My legs are aching from walking up and down the city streets but it has been wonderful...I should have been a city girl. However, I spot moms and their kidlets walking the streets, or catching the bus or T, decked in their rain coats, umbrellas and boots and think, could my kids do this? Probably not! KP's apartment is in Southie and is super nice, and the funny thing, her monthly payment is as much as my house payment! The unit below us is selling now, oh for about $100,000 more than what we paid for our house! So different!

We went to Hah-vahd yesterday, late, in the rain. Harvard Square is amazing and I found this wonderful Curious George store with all kinds of fabulous books for kids. All the favorites that I read when I was little were there: Ramona the Pest, SuperFudge, Neverending Story...plus all of my kids favorites GoodNight Moon, the Mr. Men series, and more. What a great place. Check out www.Curiousg.com. OH! And we so brought the IQ down while in Hah-vahd! Just like at home! HA HA.

I've learned the bus system and the T here, learned that in Boston, you just cross the street...because cars WILL stop for you, I've learned that everyone here is friendly...really they are!!! And I have also learned that there is nothing better than spending the weekend with an old friend...talking, laughing, learning her life here and meeting her friends, going to the places that she's always telling me about and enjoying the moments! It has been wonderful and I am so glad that I came.


So, I'm getting ready to get my stuff together and get to the airport. Can't wait til next time! KP - you have been a gracious host and I love you to pieces!!! COME VISIT SOON!

Where has the weekend gone?

Well here we are creeping on Monday and I barely feel like the weekend has started. But...it has been a fun one. I had to work on Saturday, and really after a horribly sick week, it was nice to be in the office alone to focus a little. Had a fun outing with family Saturday night, dinner at Calhouns and Dairy Queen -- yum! Then drove up to Johnson City with the kidlets to go to the biggest and best 1st birthday party that I have EVER been to. Bounce house, balloon artist, DJ, Mickey Mouse...SOOOO MUCH FUN! What an exciting day for little Cash. Happy Birthday big guy! I am so glad that we finally got to meet you...and of course that we got to go to Pal's afterwards...he he!

BG is changing every day

This morning as I contemplated my need for morning coffee, BG made the world seem a little less vicious. We have this ritual at our house. Mr. B crawls in bed with us, BG has her morning Bottle (Ba-bee) with us in bed too until Mommy and Daddy can quit using the toothpicks to hold our eyes open. So, before mr. B got up BG decided to discuss the ways of the world with us...she's quite the chatterbox. She always pats Dad on the his face (nose, shoulder, whatevs) and smiles and says "Dah-tee". K...so she's not mastered the whole Mah-mee thing yet, which is a bit disappointing for me, but I AM a major Daddy's girl myself and wouldn't have it any other way for her...so it really is kinda cute. So...on to other vocal attributes:

Shuuuuuz - shoes (I had on a very girlie pair yesterday and she went straight to them and said shuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuz....go imelda!)
Ba-bee - Bottle
BEE - blanket -- which she has to point to and grab, while giggling
Doh - Dog
Wuh Wuh - Woof woof

Oh and the best part today is that every time she said Dah-tee she had to blow him a kiss. And even leaned down at one point to give him a big sloppy one on the mouth! SUPER ADORABLE~~

So sorry for not posting in a while, we are up to our eyeballs in sickness. Kids had strep, gave me strep, I went out of town, kids got sick with virus, i got back, i got virus...they feel great, i am kinda crappy feeling still. Getting better. So for about the last month or six weeks, we've been yuck o! I am ready for FALL and hopefully some rest!

HAVE A FAB WEEKEND!

My crazy kids.....

Soccer practice 2008

Mr. B has started soccer this year. It's not Upward Soccer so apparantly things are a bit more "serious." As serious as a bunch of 4 year olds can be I guess. I never really thought about it, because we are doing it for the fun of it, but man there were some very very persistant parents out there, insisting that their kids do this and that. And one was even a bit disgusted with mr. B doing his foward rolls in the field. He also scored on his own team after he switched to the white team, but I screamed loud for him!! I figure if his attention span lasts a full hour, he deserves a cheer!!! So enjoy the pics! There are also some pics from Labor Day. Mr. B had to try on BG's halloween costume. And he's also taken up vacuuming! YEAH FOR ME!

Couple of videos of BG...

Finally some photos....

I will post more, these are just huge files....

Testing mobile posting!

Giddiness at giddygiddy.com

Check out Carleigh on the top row, second from the right (not left as originally posted-- I'm tired people). Not the best photo, but the best I could find with her giddygiddy clip in!

How we found BG at naptime....

pretty funny huh? She obviously didn't sleep well...

Have you ever heard of e-mealz? We have started it...it's $15.00 for 3 months (1.25 a week), and plans your meals for each week, both time efficient and cost effective. So far my kids and MB have gobbled up everything! It has helped me keep my sanity too, because I know what I need to prepare when I get home and I don't have to waste time on figuring that out. I can also plan accordingly to what MB's schedule is with crock pot dishes on his work days and so forth..... definitely check it out if you need a solution!!! Be sure to go through this link, because I get some credit when you do! I wish I had this five years ago when Mr. B was a little guy. It has saved me! I am on Weight Watchers and the plan I chose was the points plan, that has allowed me to make yummy stuff the whole fam will eat. But overall they have all kinds of plans for all kinds of families and grocery stores etc. So far so good! I will keep you posted.

We've been crazed, organizing fools this weekend ( I know...you don't believe me!). I spent 6 hours in Mr. B's room and in the "toy closet" sorting through all of the toys that we have accumulated over his short life and I can't believe the difference! We've not had the TV on at all for the last 48 hours...well maybe for two. It's been great. MB's closet caved in last week and it was a mess, so we knew we had to get something done or else it was going to be a long road ahead. I am ebaying a ton of baby stuff and getting ready for the big fall consignment sale that I do every season, so I am in clean out mode. We finally picked a tile for the basement and MB is going to give the go ahead to the restoration company this week! WE MIGHT HAVE OUR BASEMENT BACK BEFORE FALL!!!! YEA! I never really knew how much I would miss that extra space, but it allowed us to expand just enough to spread out and give Mr. B room to roam! It's going to be like living in a new house! I can't wait! As much as I am not a football fan, there's not a better spot to watch a fall football game than in our basement, well except sidelines, under the lights with a stadium hot dog, a warm coat and a pair of warm gloves....but really now, wouldn't you rather see the instant replay? So YIPPEE!!!

Check back soon...and are you on Facebook? HELLLO? Can anyone say ADDICTION? WOW! I am so addicted to it, and there are so many n ew people popping up each day it's just crazy...social networking! I love it!

The festivities continue....

OK folks....the fun hasn't stopped! Here are some photos from the most recent celebration!!! ENJOY -- check back soon for her birthday party pics - its tomorrow! We will post more soon.

More fun photos....

It was Circus day at school and Mr. b was a lion. Check out the

cute photos below! MB and I attended, along with like two other parents...but it was great fun and he was really a good lion. MB overheard Mr. B's teachers cracking up because Mr. B had some good moves in the back row. I have a video too...gonna post it. It's horrible. But you can see in the back this big lion head. It is short only a few seconds....

Birthday festivities!

Well, I would say BG has had a pretty great birthday! She got a cupcake at school yesterday and they said that she was very dainty with it and got just a wee bit upset when she licked all the icing off!!! Funny girl!

Gram was in town and she stopped by for a visit and to deliver BG's birthday gifts (a great loot of Eric Carle books) and took us Chick Fil A where BG was sung to, got a balloon and a cow! HA!! Funny! We had a great time! Here are some photos....

Not sure why this was a big deal to Mr. B last night, but he wanted me to take his photo with his Mickey ears on!!!!