The Happenings of January ...

We've been home from our 10 day stay in Ohio a while now...

Just getting back into the swing of things.

We had a little sledding adventure a few weeks ago.

 

Andrew loved it more than Samantha..

Maybe because he doesn't have to pull his sled up the hill.. or she was super overtired that morning..

Or he's our little daredevil, and nothing will scare him off.

He kept saying "again.. again"... 

 

He'll be two in 2 weeks ... I can hardly believe it.

Im eager though to see the huge change from 2-3 that is upon us.

He's learned so much in the last year, and it seems that he's grasping things so fast .. even daily.

He plays by himself, shares better than Big Sis most of the time.. has a heart of gold and just melts me with tight hugs and the best kisses ever...

 

On the weather...

Its been the coldest winter I can remember since we relocated back to Buffalo in 2009.

School has already been cancelled 3 times not due to snow, but extreme cold temperatures.

The next polar vortex is scheduled to arrive this week, and I'm banking that Samantha's school gets cancelled at least 1-2 times more IF the weather predicted is correct.

 

We've been trying to do things to keep the kids busy, we've been spending time at the Y swimming a lot, which again, Mr. Fearless... he's scary...but Im thankful he's not afraid of the water.

Samantha is very close to swimming on her own, I bet she gets it this summer.

 

Last weekend, Sam and Daddy made a homemade batch of sauerkraut.

She loved squeezing and pressing and adding the cabbage..

 

My Music Men

Samantha enjoys music... dancing and singing...

But this kid loves playing... especially the piano... 

 

Im working on a few crafty things.

My sister's baby shower is at my Mom's in a few weeks, and so is Andrew's 2nd Birthday..

And as I type... the whole house except myself is sleeping.

We've all got bad colds, & coughs....It was only a matter of time I guess.

So we're holed up in the house, making the best of it.. and hoping we can go swimming tomorrow if everyone is feeling better...

Im dreaming of Spring...

Thats enough winter mother nature.... no, really....

Happy New Year from Ohio

New Year's Eve in Ohio

 

One resolution I hope this little guy is making ... is to drop this bottle habit.

He was hooked after he kicked my boobs out around 10 months and went right to drinking whole milk from one of these... Here's to 2014 and a bottle free Andrew.... I HOPE!



 

This lil girl was ready for a new year....

 

We stayed in since the weather was absolutely freezing...

 

My father in law had a cozy fire going.

And we sent 2013 away with a little pigging out

Fried Chicken Wings & Popper Dip for dinner... mmmm

 

We had BOTH children in bed by 8pm... BOTH... Maybe this is a sign of more sleep for all in 2014??? I surely hope so.

 

The four of us played UNO and drank wine until just after Midnight.

We hadn't done anything like this since before I was pregnant with Samantha, probably around 2008!

It was so much fun, and we made it till after midnight, which I never thought I would..

 

 

The rest of our time in Ohio was great.

There was a snowstorm heading for NY the day after new years.. so we decided to extent our stay through January 4th.

 

The kids didn't mind

 

More time for crafts..

More time for painting....

 

More time for stashing half-naked women in Papa's bed...

 

More cousin time.

 

More ice cream eating,.

 

And the night before we left, even Mama & Dad got out for a little Ohio State/drinks with friends.

It was a great end to a long vacation

Hot Cocoa Party

A few days before Christmas we hosted a

Hot Cocoa Party for some close friends and family 

I had so much fun decorating for the party.. of course.

I made bunting, ball fringe and recycled some book page garland from the mantle.

 I just had some treats and sweets

a few snacks, pretzels and bison dip

 

I had big plans for jalapeno dip, chips, and one more baked dessert.

But the party almost didn't happen at all.

We woke up to our sub pump going crazy, and a flooded basement.

Thank goodness it was only around the walls of the basement .. so thankfully, no Christmas presents, or anything else was harmed...just a few paper boxes..

 

But the flow of water coming from underneath the basement floor into the pump ... was scary.

So fast, and the pump was filling to the top and turning on every 2-3 minutes..

Thankfully it never broke down...

 

So I texted everyone ... cancelling the party..

Then the water slightly let up, .... and I had prepared and baked... so we ultimately decided.... Lets just have the party.. and if the pump breaks and floods the basement... then we kick everyone out.. ha!

So on with the re-texting and the party was on....

 

Samantha was so excited.. Her two friends from school last year were coming, and she was literally in tears when I told her we couldn't have it...

 

So I did the best I could with running around like a crazy person, and got everything ready and cooking.

We had such a great time with our friends & family.

I wanted to take time out to see people who we werent going to get together with before and after Christmas, since we'd be in Ohio for a long time.

Blakely & Andrew.

She just the cutest thing! She went right up on the couch next to him & they sat there for almost 25 minutes watching Max & Ruby. We kept telling him to give her kisses.

Samantha & Allie

They came down to model a fashion show for us.



I made some delicious Hot Cocoa in the slow cooker, and set up a little Hot Cocoa Bar ... what I could get set up ...

 

Of course I made cupcakes.... cant let a party happen without em!

Hot Cocoa with Marshmellow Buttercream

So the party prep & food got cut short...

But it was a nice party ... full of friends, laughter, and good memories

Merry Christmas 2013

Christmas for us started on Monday, December 23rd.

We headed over to my Mom's house to exchange gifts with she and Uncle.

Samantha and Andew got some VERY cool presents.. as you can see..

A Karaoke Machine, Their own digital cameras, a basketball hoop, teeter totter, clothes, socks, shoes, and even Mama and Daddy scored a dinner to Cheesecake Factory...

Love Uncle

 

 

Christmas Eve

I was busy all day wrapping and getting ready for dinner and church

I made these awesome vanilla funfetti cookies with peppermint buttercream frosting... OMG.. If you follow me on pinterest, I pinned it under Christmas I think

I think I will be doing more Funfetti cookie experimenting...

They are so easy, and come out so moist and delicious.. and you can frost them and decorate them with anything...Oh and they keep good too... I brought some to Ohio with us, and  they lasted well after Christmas Day...

Samantha and I headed to church, while Andrew napped, and then we all headed to Aunt Maureen & Uncle John's for Christmas Eve dinner...

 

 

The older kids were tracking Santa on the iphone..

 

Our sad attempted Family Picture

 

Christmas 2013

This is as good as its gonna get.

It sure was a White Christmas

Perfect for Santa...

We headed home & took quick baths & got ready 

Milk & Cookies & Carrots were out.... 

And Santa Came.

All this little girl wanted was a stand up microphone... 

And a guitar...

Her Christmas was made.

The kids played with their new toys, and then we hit the road.

Good thing about traveling on Christmas Day.. was this

Clear open roads...

I don't know what was up with my iphone, but these pics are so fuzzy....

 

Samantha was jammin on her new headphones ... while Andrew fell asleep first this time.

Mama got spoiled..

Daddy said I had a "good year"... haha..

New sewing machine, spa gift certificate, cashmere sweater from Brooks Brothers, and new Kate Spade wallet! YES, it was a good year...

 

We arrived in Ohio & did the Christmas thing... ate good food, unpacked... and we were all in bed by 9.. We've decided to stay here til after New Years now.. and into the weekend, Thus the reason for all the blogging.... I have time!

 



 

The Saturday after Christmas, we went to visit the cousins for a yummy Pizza party.

I told them to all smile... yea right.

Everyone was very very well behaved....usually its fights, and tattling, and meltdowns..

It was so nice.. maybe they are finally learning how to all 3 get along...

 

This guy was in good spirits too...

My little angel face..

 

The two younger ones.

Julia and Andrew..

They have sort of similar personalities.. second children ... little bit mischevious..

I think they're gonna be trouble together... 

Andrew has been enjoying all his toys ...

Especially his new Dyson he got from my brother and sis in law

I keep forgetting that we have all our own Christmas toys waiting for us at home



I think this is the longest we've spent in Ohio.

We are loving it, the kids are behaving, and sleeping good, napping good.. Andrew even asks to go to bed when he's had enough at night.

 

We've gotten to visit friends and family, and its been an amazing little getaway.

Since we're not in our own home, its so much easier for me to not be distracted with our daily life, and I have been spending a lot of time with Samantha just one on one .. doing what she loves.. Painting. The girl is constantly asking me if she can paint... and I can never sit with her hardly and paint too. So Im loving playing with paints and watercolors too..

Apple doesn't fall far.... at all with this one...

 

And I've been running & baking, organizing, blogging, making lists... (of course)

and just taking in the amazing wintry beauty