A great place to be...

This morning, I am still taken back by the beautifully touching birthday my family planned for me this year. Not only was it 11/11/11 but it was also a birthday for which I was more aware of how grateful I was for having it, being here and having the opportunity to embrace a healthier, more full life going forward. Since my heart attack...few moments seem to escape me as I am hell bent on seeing them, living them, embracing them and making them. Before I arrived in that hopeful emotional place, I struggled trying to figure out why, what for and why me! I am glad I am no longer in that place. I am thankful for my patient and loving family who helped me work through my fears, struggles, stresses and emotions during that time. I have the greatest friends and family who have continually been checking in on me to keep me close, and show me their love, support and encouragement. My mother was home with me for two weeks, and barely left my side ensuring that things were easier for me, seamless, on track and adaptable before she could even leave to go back home, and even then had a hard time doing it.  She is such a rock, and she always steps in when I really need her to make sure I can again be my own rock before she will leave my side. 

This year...I had the most beautiful and touching birthday I have ever had in my entire life! First...my Mom gave me a Pandora bracelet with charms that She, Tara, Beth, Todd, Emily, Molly, and Ron had a part in picking out. My Mom gave me a heart charm (that she actually got BEFORE my heart attack) that has two hearts on it. She said the bigger heart was hers, and the small heart inside was mine because my heart would forever be in hers. {tissues please).  She also gave me a charm with Braydens birthstones on it, one with my own birthstone, a guardian angel, and a snowman.  I will forever cherish this piece of jewelry as I continue to build a mini-life story on it of my experiences and life.  What a perfectly thoughtful gift.

I took Friday (bday) off of work to relax, take it easy, recoup after my first week back at work, and to enjoy this beautiful birthday my family had been planning for me.
So...my husband and family have been secretly planning my birthday for awhile now. Ron was making plans, then changing them, or making them just to keep me off track...but either way...they made my birthday so wonderfully beautiful this year I can hardly find words to describe how happy this day made my heart. That is a great place to be.

First thing in the morning, Brayden snuggled up to my back and reached his chubby little arm around my neck while patting my face as he sweetly said "you gotta wake up now Mommy, it's your birthday today".  I woke up with an instant smile on face, while feeling SO so grateful that I was being loved by this beautiful little guy that means the world to me!!!  That made my top moments in life list. So, we got up and moving since we knew that Todd, Beth and Emily and Molly were on the way over to deliver a homemade breakfast to my house!!!  They brought a healthy, low cholesterol Egg Beaters quiche over with toast, smart butter, and orange juice!!!  They quiche was DELICIOUS!!!  The girls even picked out snowflake plates and napkins for me since it was also the first snow of the season that day!  Everything was perfect, and special-especially my purple princess tiara they gave me to wear for the day!!! I loved enjoying the morning.  I loved watching Brayden play with everyone.  I loved that he was so happy too!  I loved that they thought of every little detail to make my morning that much more special.  They didn't miss a thing.  It was perfect.

Shortly after Todd and the girls left, Beth agreed to be my shopping buddy for the afternoon!  She awesomely took Brayden in her cart for the trip for me.  It was bliss shopping without having to concentrate on anything but shopping.  I haven't had the opportunity to do that in a long time, so it was very very nice.  Beth and I had so much fun digging for treasures at Mr. Salvages going out of business sale!!!  We stayed for quite a while.  Probably longer than most normal people...but you seriously have to DIG for the good stuff and that takes time!!!  I know this all sounds as fun as going gun shopping with a husband, but trust me...when everything is 75% off in the entire store...what could not be fun about that!!!  I spent $30 bucks and had tons of great things at the end of our excursion!  Not surprisingly...Beth had more than I did...and I say not surprisingly because every time I shop with Brayden, I tend to put more in the cart than I had planned too because its easier to just keep that cart moving to keep him happy and I take far much less time contemplating purchases.  Sorry Bether! 

After arriving back home later in the afternoon, it was time to just relax for awhile, play with my peanut who was oh so tolerant shopping all day, and just chill out.  Since the house was all clean, I got on facebook!  I was overwhelmed with the amount of friends and family that had wished me a Happy Birthday!  It was a sweet moment of amazement.  My Mom wrote a great post to me that I will never forget!  For years she has teased me because of my lucky birth numbers-and my lack of luck!!!  She has always questioned that irony and with every new un-lucky life event of mine...she tends to come back to wondering why I was born with such interesting birth statistics, and such a high storage of un-luck!  Well...she wrote all of these sweet comments about me and then wrote..."For years I wondered why you have been so unlucky,  but today it dawned on me that since the day you were born...I am the lucky one!".  What a beautiful thing to say to me!  I am so grateful to have a mother like her.  She is amazingly kind, smart and loving.  She is fiercely devoted to her family, and is one of those women who is full of genuine kindness and moxy!  She is a true lady! There isn't one quality about her that I don't adore. I am so so grateful. I have some of the very best friends and family out there. 

Soon, Ron got home from work, and we chatted about my day so far!  He acted pleased that I was having such a great day, but also like he knew all along what kind of day I was going to have long before it arrived!  I knew he had been scheming with my family for awhile now, but I really had NO idea how special this whole day would turn out!!!

Later, Ron's sister came over with my nephew, and my brother in law to see me on my birthday! Little Marion and Brayden had a "drum off" together, and Bray was following Marions every move on the drums (with his tongue out the entire time!). We watched Jeff Dunham and peanut (my fav comedian) and laughed in hysterics!!!  Brayden loves them too! They all gave me a gift certificate to Panache Salon to get pampered with a pedicure. Oh, how I can't wait to use that!

After they left, it was time to start getting ready for dinner.  Ron made dinner reservations at Forte' with Todd, Beth, Emily, Molly, and Brayden. We parked about a block away and as we were walking turning the corner onto 3rd street I was just enjoying taking in the snow touched town all lit up with Christmas lights when out of nowhere Kyle Gustafson (friend of the family who is a great musician) was at the top of the parking ramp playing Happy Birthday on his trumpet for me! My family turned around to look at me and their smiles were beautiful. They were giggling, clapping, hugging me as I smiled, giggled and cried...then cheers ensued. People passing by stopped in their tracks to listen. The trumpet was crisp and spot on tune and the sound just echoed off of the buildings. It was beautiful.  Every sense I have was working to take in this moment.  The smell of the crisp cold air, seeing the emotions on my families faces, hearing the trumpet play, and hugging people I love with all of my heart...it was an amazing and {poorly defined by words} feeling. I was totally serenaded with love.  What a great place to be!
Just when I thought the night was almost over...we walked into Forte.  What a great restaurant.  The smell was tempting, the lighting and atmosphere was intimate, and our table was private and in the perfect spot in the restaurant.  Not to mention that I knew the food there was DELICIOUS!!! The anticipation was killing me...I was starving. We begged Kyle to stay and have dinner with us and thankfully he happily obliged. We all talked, giggled, and just enjoyed each other. It felt warm. Todd, Beth and the girls then showed me what they had been up too this afternoon while Beth and I were on our bargain sabbatical!  They had all driven up to Chautauqua Institution to video tape the bell tower (my favorite place) ringing at exactly 1:00pm...my birth time. Right after the one tone for 1:00, the gloomy sky at the beginning of the video amazingly lit up with sunshine. It could not have been more perfect. I loved how thoughtful that video and the planning of doing that for me was! I was awestruck. It gave me goosebumps.  It made me teary. I loved it.  At that point in the night, I sat back quietly observing my family sitting around me.  I was taking mental pictures in my head so I would never forget this night, this feeling, and this moment.  I am so blessed.  I am so happy I have the family I have, the friends I have and the life I have.  It was again...perfect. Soon we got our bills and when my brother looked at his Forte bill, the amount on the receipt was $117. 71 which was awesome because I was born 11/11/77 at 1:00 and weighed 7lbs, 7 oz. and on 11/11/11 that was very cool. After we all took pictures of the bill we all prepared to leave to go back to the house for cake!

As they arrived at the house, they came in with arms full of gifts, gift bags, and energy!  Right when I thought the night was over...there were more surprises coming!  I could not believe it! I was overwhelmed with the feeling that they devoted a whole day to my birthday, being with me, and showering me with more love than I could believe I deserved!!! Todd, Beth and the girls made me a beautiful cake with flowers on it. Just before they handed me the cake, they gave me a lotto ticket they got for me!!! Let's face it...some gambling had to take place on this day with those birth numbers!!! Beth made my cake with only the white of eggs for me, and they remembered that my favorite cake is funfetti too! They all didn't miss a thing. They sang happy birthday to me again, and Brayden helped Mommy blow out the 7 candles.  We all sat at the table and again I was able to watch my family around me having fun, smiling, loving each other and being together, with me!  I got to open all of my gifts, and was taken back by the thoughtfulness of how perfect each and every gift was that I was given.  I was humbled by the cards that I was given...the words within will forever resonate in my mind and in my heart.  What a gift those were in an of themselves.

Soon...Todd asked what time it was...and it was 11:11, so everyone sang Happy Birthday to me again! I could not help but feeling throughout the entire day that I was so lucky, so blessed, and so loved. We finished the night off by watching another hysterical comedian with lots of giggles,  laughter and smiles as we were all comfy and together in my own very living room.  I felt this way all day long.  That feeling of overwhelming appreciation and love for my life, my family, and my friends. I love those kinds of moments.  The kind that become memories etched in your heart forever!  The kind of moments that never escape your memory.  The kind that motivate the genuine gratefulness for life that sometimes slips by.  I am the luckiest woman alive! It made my home and heart feel perfect and... That is a great place to be.

Our dear sweet Shadow...

Our dear Shadow of 15 years passed away the second week of March. She peacefully went in her sleep and we buried her at Stateline along with all of the other family dogs. It was very heartbreaking for Ron and I and our family and friends that loved her as well. Bacca and Brayden actually handled it very well.
Brayden asked me {about a week later}..."Mommy, where's Shadow?" I was honest and told him that sometimes when animals get sick, their isnt enough medicine to make them better and that animals dont live as long as poeple do, and that she passed away and went to heaven". He said "Well...when Shadow comes back Bacca will be happy!" I then had to really explain that going to Heaven meant she would not be coming back , and that she was dead, and she is no longer in pain, and is with God and our other family in heaven with our guardian angels" {he knows this from our prayers at night, so I went with that}. He walked away and started playing again with his play phone when I breathed a sigh of relief until I heard him say to his caller "Hi Shadow, its me...Brayden...how are you? Oh, really? Wow, yeah, uh huh, ok...bye!!!! He came running up to me and said very excitedly "Mommy!!!!!!!! I talked to Shadow and she is happy in heaven, and they gave her a band aid, and she is jumping on the trampoline and bounce house!!!" I got all excited with him, and when he walked away....I sobbed! It's amazing though that he embraced something I thought would devastate him.

Shadow {Pretty girl}...was a part of our family since 1997.  We got Bacca  a year later.  She was our little escape artist..she would dig under or climb over any fence we had.  She would "sass" you when you talked to her, and she loved whip cream, peanut butter and ice chips.  She never growled, never nipped, she was the sweetest happiest dog ever!  She would constantly give kisses and loved to play and run and frolic as many dogs do.  She had such an adventurous life, and loved riding in the car on our many road trips with her.  She would swim in our pool and hop around like a frog when we played rough with her...she would have me in stitches half the time.  She was such a wonderful part of our family.  Burying her was emotional, but in a good way.  The last few years arthritis plagued her and she slowly became miserable.  She would just sleep, eat and go potty. I felt relieved that is now in Heaven and no longer in pain.  There is true solice in that.  I hope her soul is still with us, and that she knows just how much we loved her!!!

We will greatly miss her!!! So...we are giving Bacca lots of love and attention right now! We love you pretty girl!

Update...long overdue

Well, I'll admit it...I feel like the long lost blogger these days.  I keep thinking "Oooh, Ill need to blog about that", except, I typically don't have time to do it these days anymore. 

This Momma has gone from Stay at home Mommy Status to back to work Mommy.  I received an offer for a career I just could not say no too.  I am now an Assistant Executive Director for Emeritus Senior Living.  I love it!  It does require a lot of my time and concentration, but it is also pushing me to go back to school this year as well to pursue my Bachelors in Business, then I plan to work on a Maters after that.  Needless to say, my home decor and furniture rehab projects have gone by the wayside {as well as cleaning my house lately!} lol.  The only I dislike about the whole thing is when I get home from work Brayden says to me "Mommy, are you done with work so you can spend time with me now?"  It breaks my heart, but it also motivates me to get on the floor and play when all I want to do is sleep for an hour or two! lol.

Brayden is growing as fast ever!  He is definitely going to be taller than me...and maybe Ron too!  He is counting, learning all of his letters, numbers, and is slowly working on reading right now.  He speaks so well for his age, and is constantly making us giggle with his remarks and personality.  He loves being home during the day with Daddy, and is learning everything he can about dinosaurs right now...{c/o: Dino Dan}.  I must say I am quite impressed with the names of the ones he knows currently...half of them I CANT pronounce...and he can!  All in all, he is a wonderful little guy.  I need to make an effort to document everything I can so Ill never forget these moments in his life.

Daddy is still at that Fire Department.  He loves it.  He was awarded First Responder this year at the banquet, received his EMT state certification, and just had his 1 year anniversary there last week.  During that week he was privileged enough to be able to assist in the delivery of a baby on the ambulance and received his first EMT First Responder Stork pin, and an article in the local newspaper!!!  He is also getting ready to start coaching Babe Ruth Baseball again this year and is gearing up for a whole summer full of all that it will entail!

I promise to get everyone caught up here in the next coming weeks.  Stay tuned!!!

My little flying monkey...

For the last few years, I have really been wanting to make Brayden a Flying Monkey costume from the Wizard of Oz.  I wasn't quite sure how I would pull it off exactly, but knew I wanted to try making this for him.  This year, this Momma was on a mission to get it done.  I searched everywhere for grayish/blue furry fabric so I could match the monkey exactly to the old movie.  I could not find it anywhere.  {sigh}

I finally settled on some white furry fabric and decided it would still look cute even so!  Next, I searched for really cool feathers so I could hand make the wings for the costume.  I bought 6 bags of feathers, ended up only needing two of them...so I'll just hope that I need them for something else soon!!!

I started making his costume on Saturday, October 30th...yes I am a huge procrastinator.  I cut, and sewed and cut {ran and bought another yard of fur}, and continued sewing for most of the day!  I finished Halloween Day at about 2pm...phew!

I will add that although Brayden DID end up liking his costume, that on Saturday he was trying on the suit before it was finished and got fur in his mouth.  He immediately started dry heaving, and yelling "get it off me, I don't like it anymore...fur is not my favorite snack!"  I'm not even kidding...this dramatic little child of mine ;-)

Thankfully by Sunday, he was ready and raring to go putting his costume on.  He was so excited, and looked like such a soft little monkey, I just wanted to pet him!  ha!

I added some fishing wire to his tail so it would wag as he walked, and the wings turned out so cute...even if they did require me sitting gluing each one on one by one for over 4 hours!!! Gotta love hot glue gun burns though right?  Well...they were totally worth it, he looked adorable.  I am so happy with how this whole costume turned out!  Most importantly...he had a blast trick or treating.  He kept telling people "thank you" and "Happy Halloween", and even knocked on one door screaming "Hello, Lakewood Fire Department!!!"  He's a hoot!

Happy Halloween 2010 Brayden...or....Flying Monkey I should say!



GPS...

Last weekend Ron was in his best friends wedding.  It was beautiful and special.  I will post more on that later...but that meant that we had to drive to Erie to pick up his tuxedo.  At the tux place they had a ping pong table, and Brayden had so much fun playing it the few times we were there in the last few weeks before the wedding. 

Today we drove back to Erie to pick up Grandma from the airport.  As soon as we headed down the main strip to the mall Brayden asked us if we were going to the "Ping Pong place".  Ron and I giggled that he knew and recognized where we were.

As we passed the "ping pong place" headed toward the airport, our GPS started telling us which way to go.  From the backseat Braydens says "what?"  to the female voice on the GPS.  Ha ha I know.  I started to explain to him that its just a voice on a machine that tells Mommy and Daddy which way to go in the car so we don't get lost.  I didn't get an immediate response, and I figured I wouldn't because that's alot to understand for a two year old right?  Brayden then says.."Um...well....Ma'am...where is the ping pong place?"...."Ping pong place where are you?". 

We were doubled over in hysterics at that point.  What a funny little guy.

Our baby will soon be 3!!!

Brayden is turning 3 this weekend.  I cannot believe how fast the last 3 years have gone.  I told Ron the other night that I remember saying, "I can't wait until he can smile, laugh, crawl, walk, talk, sing, dance, hug, kiss, snuggle, being potty trained, his big boy bed...everything"....but now that he has done, and he doing all of those things...I am craving just wanting my baby baby back ;-( 

It makes you realize very quickly that you need to embrace every single moment in their lives.  Take time to enjoy the simplest of moments.  Those moments when he wants to snuggle on the couch and watch cartoons on a lazy non busy day.  Moments when we are blowing bubbles, playing with him in the tubby, combing his hair, or snuggling with him at bedtime.  We never get those moments back, so we should inhale them every second we can. 

Right now Brayden is growing like a weed.  He is 3ft. 3 inches tall already, and 46 pounds!!!  He is a tank.  I can barely lift him up anymore.  He loves baseball and is actually quite good at it.  He loves singing songs, shaking his tooshy while saying "uh oh"...and talking with Mommy and Daddy.  He is very sociable, and not shy at all!!!  He loves to make people laugh with his one liners he knows he will get a reaction from...like "Are you kidding me" or "Pee-U Good Night" or "Oh my shucks"...."Jeeze Louise"..."you're making me crazy nuts"..."Im mad and I quit {care of Ni Hao Kailan}"..."Im runnin away {care of Little Bill}"..."Hey Dude, come here"..."seriously!"..."Hey babe!" or "Honey, babe...Honey!"  {Thats usually what I say to Ron so Brayden naturally copies that}...yes yes I know those are all things that make him appear as quite the stinkbutt, but really he isnt.  He is polite, well mannered and very sweet in nature.  He always says please and thank you and your welcome.  He calls ladies Miss, or Ma'am, tells Mommy "You're beautiful Mommy", and says "I love it" whenever he is truly excited about something!!!  He is just a trip.  He makes me giggle when I least expect it.  He is intuitive and gentle.  He doesn't bite, or kick or hit.  He takes turns with toys at play dates, and loves to give hugs.  Ok...Ill stop gushing over my peanut, but I am proud of the little guy is growing up to be. 

I am constantly reminded there is a God when I look at my son.  I am reminded that I have more in life than I could ever hoped for, and am grateful and happy that we are all happy and healthy. 

Brayden has recently started saying prayers every night before bed.  He sounds so precious...I need to tape record it some evening so I will never forget how adorable he sounds while saying this every night before bedtime: "Dear Lord, thank you for everything.  Thank you for my family,  my friends, and my pets.  Please Guardian Angels...always watch over me and my family and pets...keep us safe, and happy and healthy.  Tell my family in heaven I said hello.  I love you God...Amen."  Occasionally he will add names like..."thank you for my brookey {his cousin} or Grandma, or Shadow and Chewbacca, or Mommy and Daddy.  It is soooo sweet.  We read Playful Puppies every night before bed at his request....then he tried to read it to us.  He ALMOST has the entire book memorized...and copies the same voice inflection.  Its too adorable.

Although I am excited to celebrate his 3rd birthday and grateful to God for this beautiful little boy he gave us...I am sad he is growing up so fast.  Its breaking my heart a little bit. 

Happy Birthday baby....we love you so much!

Comedy of Errors...Year 2009

This year has completely been a comedy of errors for us.  Live and learn is the cliche' for that one though right?  First...let's review what I mean by comedy of errors.

{and grab your coffee and get comfy because this is a long one}...

First:  Ron and I anticipated and had been planning on moving to Georgia since October of 2008.  So he set up numerous interviews with Police departments in GA, and traveled back and forth a few times interviewing, but did not have any luck.  Thanks to his age, and a poor economy.  So...on a whim-he applied for a driving job in Florida and after a few interviews...got hired!  We did not expect this to come through, and it totally threw us out of our plans to go to Georgia and redirected us back to Florida...so we went {and quickly}.

Ron had to start within two weeks of being hired...which meant he left and I stayed in NY getting the house packed, while he worked {stayed with wonderful and gracious} friends of ours in Florida, and searched for a new house for us.  In May Brayden and I drove to Orlando for our big move.  A move without our things since Ron's uncle decided at the last minute he could not do it for us. {the start of our demise}.

That's not to say it was not a TON of fun though.  We hung out with wonderful old friends we had in Florida, ate up all of the sunshine, went to Disney, flea markets, garage sales, went side of the road digging for furniture we could use until we got our things, dreamed about our futures, and really had a fun Florida sabbatical.  Reality eventually hit though as we realized this was not going to work long term, and we decided to head back to NY and start over. 

So we did just that.  It was harder than we thought it was going to be.  So...we played with the thought of going back to original plan of moving to Georgia.  So...I went with Brayden and myself packed into the van-and drive solo to Georgia to find work, a house, a life....etc.  I stayed with family and Ron stayed with his family in NY with our dogs while looking for work here.  We said whoever got a job first-that's where we would go.  I looked and searched for work, interviewed, and had NO LUCK.  Feeling totally exhausted and defeated {and missing my hubby}....we drove back to NY for a few weeks to visit and try to work on Plan B, or C, or was that D at this point???  I've lost track.  Ron found work first....so this is where we decided to plant roots...again ;-)

I then drove solo again to GA with Brayden to get all of our things that we had brought there!  After my last {and 7th roadtrip this year} back to NY...I have sworn off driving any long distance again for AWHILE.  I did manage to surprise myself though-traveling over 800 miles with a 2 year old alone is scary, and hard.  I feel strong for having accomplished it so many times this year.  Accomplished or stupid...I still don't know...but it feels kind of empowering if I say so myself. 

It was a hard 7 months to say the least.  Those 7 months though taught me so many things.  I found an inner peace and strength I never knew I had before.  The unfortunate time away from Ron was hard, but showed us that we are a team and can pull through even the hardest of times with eachother.  We pressed on when we both felt defeated and scared.  We found a higher appreciation for simple things we took for granted just 7 months earlier.  Thank God for the family and friends that helped us pull through all of this-we are forever indebted and grateful to you.

So...we found a new house in NY and moved in early December.  However-it is in mid remodel mode, and as of right now we have NO kitchen.  Drywall is up-and cabinets are ready to be installed, but as of right now we are using a make shift kitchen in our diningroom.  First we go from having a kitchen and new home with none of our things to having no home, to having a home with our things, and no kitchen!  It's quite funny and ironic though huh?  We perservere ahead.

We are happy and grateful to have our lives back.  Not that we ever lost our lives, but it sure felt very difficult at times throughout the last 7 months.  We are still on the road to recovery though.  Financially-all of this moving killed us, and it is going to be a long time before we feel settled and secure again.  I am not complaining though, I am just trying to clear the road for us to have some peace again. 

This new year brings with it many exicting opportunites for us.  Ron and I are both going back to school this year.  Ron is planning on coaching city rec baseball again this summer {which is always fun}.  I have a whole new place to decorate and do all the fun projects to that I have been dreaming of for months now.  We have our health insurance back finally-which means positive strides for me and all of my needed medications and health.  We are toying with the thought of baby #2 perhaps health permitting.  So many good things to come and so far it looks as though things will go well for us in the coming year.

This year I am going to do a few things differently.  I am not one for resolutions, never have been, but this year there are changes that need to be made.  I am making a concious effort to find happiness in days even when I don't feel like being happy.  I am going to savor the simple things, because now I realize when they are gone-you have nothing.  I am going to be more creative, and spend more time with my friends and family.  I am going to try and show the people in my life just how much I love and appreciate them.  I am going to thank God more and more for everything in my life, the good and the bad.  I have found peace in things I never saw before I experienced this last year of events.  I am grateful for them. 

2010 should be a year of growth and contentment.  May it also be for you!  Hugs!

A Happy & {Grateful} Christmas...

{Please click directly on photos for enlarged view}

I should preface this by saying that Brayden was ALL the fun we had anticipated he would be this Christmas.  We prepped him prior to Christmas about Santa Claus, and continued to ask and probe him about what he wanted from Santa.  He seemed clueless about all of it at times, as we naturally expected from our little two year old.  We pressed ahead anyway ;-)

We told him Santa would bring him presents if he was a good boy, and all that Christmas jive.  A few times he told me he wanted "boots and dora" known better to Bray as "Boots and Bora"...but that is beside the point.  That was his normal response to us after he got used to the questions about what he wanted. 

Moving on...

Following my family tradition {and probably a million others tradition as well}...I did not put ANY gifts under the tree until after Bray was fast asleep.  Naturally the next morning...he was more than impressed with all the newfound things under the tree.  Yes, I know he did not know Santa actually brought them to him, but I DO know he KNEW they were NOT there the night before when he went to bed!

 I appreciate those little things-yes I do!

Christmas morning his first reaction was pure curiosity.  Then he looked at us and said "wow....presents!"  {woot woot!}  Yes baby-presents!!!  He was so excited unwrapping his toys, playing, pointing, giggling, stomping and unwrapping some more.  It took him over two hours to navigate through it all.  That was fine with us though.  We relished in the simple moment of happiness he was having.  We relished in our family time in our own home again.  We just sucked it all in.  It was really nice. 

He recieved some really neat gifts from everyone in our families.  Everyone knows him so well and picked out just the perfect gifts for him.  Thank you.

He spent much of his time lining up and categorizing his gifts.  He likes to do this.  He is quite good at it.  He is soooo type A and obsessive compulsive...poor kid.  He had a blast though. ;-)

He also lined up, and played with all of the bows from the presents.  Here he is as we dropped bows on him while telling him it was raining bows.

One very special gift was his Christmas ornament from Grandma Strong.  She always gets an ornament for each of her 7 Grandbabies every Christmas...and this year sent Brayden a neat little ornament that she said she HAD to get because it was so perfect for him, {among the many other awesome gifts she sent}...  A little drum, with metal drumsticks.  Here is a photo of Brayden and Daddy hanging it on the tree Christmas morning.  Beautiful.

I should mention that these jammies were C/o Grandma as well as the plaid little chair in the background too ;-)  Thank you Mom he loved everything! {so did we}.

It was a beautiful Christmas.  We spent time with family and friends, and felt very blessed, and loved.  What more can you ask for?

Well....perhaps some quiet in the near future... but since he recieved these for Christmas...I don't know that we will get that anytime soon. ;-)

He jammed out for hours Christmas Day, and has continued to do so.  This coupled with his guitar, microphone, tamborines, flute, and many other musical instruments he was given this year...it is going to be QUITE noisy around this Snow house.  That's okay though because that means we have the joy of seeing him react like this everyday...and who could'nt LOVE that?

Hope you and yours had a great Christmas, and that you have an even better New year! 

-The Snow Family.

This Christmas...

The other night we got Brayden dressed all snug and comfy in his new jammies he got for Christmas from Grandma Strong.  We took him upstairs and snuggled in our bed with him watching cartoons.  He giggled and played under the blankets and pillows...offered hugs and kisses {several of them}, and enjoyed our undivided attention.

It was beautiful.

It's that same feeling you have as child when you recieve that gift for Christmas you so longed for, and you endlessly play with it and enjoy it to no end. 

Brayden-we longed for you.  So many nights we would dream about having you, what it would be like to give you tubbies, take you to baseball games, and play with you....endlessly.

We longed for our time to share our home and love with our child, decorating the tree, baking cookies, playing in the snow, and reading to you.  We prayed for you so many times.  We pray for you still.

You are that big shiny present on Christmas morning.  You my child...are a gift from God...plain and simple.

We are so blessed.

Christmas is different for me now that I am a Mommy.  I am no longer wondering what gifts I am going to get...yet spend so much time wondering what I should get you.  I wonder if you will understand what Christmas is all about as you get older.  I wonder if you will be motivated to help others, be kind and caring and selfless.  I hope you give more than you want or recieve in life.  I hope you feel God's presence in your life like I know he is in mine.  I hope you understand the true meaning of Christmas.

God, love, family and giving to those less fortunate. 

This Christmas you are two years old.  You ask me to turn the lights on the tree.  You know it's too pretty to touch {which I think is adorable}.  You love the way the cozy house feels.  You love the snowman that shakes his booty and you keep trying to steal his poor glued on candy cane.  YOU love candy canes. 

Tonight, on Christmas Eve...we will decorate the tree with candy canes with you, set cookies out for Santa with a glass of milk, get you snug as a bug in your jammies and tuck you into bed...together. 

THAT in and of itself makes my life full.  So full that gifts seem silly to me now.  YOU are my gift Bray.  Your happiness, your hugs, buzzers, kisses, snuggles and smiles are my gift. 

We love you Brayden.  Merry Christmas.

-Mommy and Daddy

Turkey Day 2009

I thought I would share some photos of our Thanksgiving this year. My brother Scott and  SIL Tara hosted the holidays at thier place.  We were able to visit with family we don't get to see very often.  It was nice.  Earlier the day before my mother actually let me cut her hair!  She has naturally curly hair and can NEVER get a stylist to cut her hair the exact way she wants it.  She is a bit picky.  She was also a tad demanding before I began the cut, and as I stood behind her staring at my brother Scott laughing at me shaking his head {as she was giving me "directions" on how to do this the RIGHT way}, I gently raised the scissors behind her head while looking at my brother and "pretend stabbed" her a few times.  Ha ha!  Yes I know...sick-but I had to share it.  A true Strong family fashionista holiday story. Thankfully...I KNOW how insanely picky my mother is about her hair so I took her advice, and cut it the way she demanded wanted. It turned out so well she is bummed that I cannot be there to do her hair ALL the time from now on.  

Who knew I could cut hair!

Here is the Momma below pictured with my SIL Tara {far left} and my cousin Candy.

Another fun moment of the day was picture time.  I am always the one running around with the camera taking photos.  We decided to do a girls photo shoot on the stairs.  We had some funny other photos I cannot post or I will be a dead woman, but needless to say-this one was a keeper. 

{Mom, Aunt Jo, myself, Candy and Tara}

I then chased the kiddos around and was able to wrangle them for a few short moments in this picture.  Brayden had so much fun playing with his cousins, and second cousins...he did not know what to do with himself.

 The attention and love he gets from all of them is just too precious.

{Casey, Kaiti and Brayden, Bailey & Nathan}

We all then spent some time on Skype with my cousin PJ and his wife Violaine {Vi} who live in Belgium.  She is from Belgium, so after they married-they headed there for awhile to live.  They are expecting their first baby, so it was nice to talk with them and discuss the up and coming Belgium-American Baby Brady!  They finally announced it to friends, so I can blog about it now...that wait felt like forever!

 Congrats Peej and Vi!

{PJ and Vi-photo taken a few months ago while they were in the states for a wedding}.

At this point Brayden was getting anxious for dinner.  Why I don't know because he refused to try the turkey, and ended up feasting on rolls dipped in ketchup.  He did take one bite of Tara's famous sweet potato casserole, but did not eat anymore of it.  He totally missed out, so I ate his serving for him....along with {two additional helpings} of it after that-but who's counting?

 Here is Brayden naturally being a ham...on turkey day.

The night ended with Brayden insisting on helping Grandma pack away the rest of the turkey.  He got to sit on the big boy stool at the island in the kitchen.  He thought this was very cool.  He requested "rackers" and happily ate a million crackers while observing "gamma".  It was very cute.

 I just loved the way his little chunky butt looked sitting on this stool all independent like.

All in all, it was a very nice Thanksgiving.  We rested, relaxed, and spent time with family eating some great food.  We browsed Black Friday ads, drank coffee, ate pie, got caught up on our life happenings, and just vegged.

 It was nice. 

Hoping you had a wonderful holiday as well!

-The Snow Family

The Producers

My other niece Emily plays the lead Ulla in The Producers at the college.  I was able to go see 3 of her shows this last weekend {I am such a lucky and blessed Aunt this week}.  Between her and Molly {the post about her artwork is below}...I am feeling pretty darn special to be related to them!  I always feel that way, but this week I get to brag about them, and that is always fun.  HERE is a photo of Emily in the paper the other day, and the link to her very first review!  They said, "Emily Strong was a show-stopping beauty as Ulla, the Swedish receptionist the boys hire to decorate their office, and she danced with real style, as well."

She has been a performer since her early childhood...and is oh.so.talented.  She always continues to amaze me with her acting, dancing, and singing abilities-she is truly gifted.  She is the cutie little blonde in the red dress:  We are so proud of you Emily-you did a great job, and hopefully I will be coming to a few more shows over the next few weeks.  Love you and am so proud of you.

A Humble Artist...

My beautiful and very humbly talented niece Molly created a unique piece of artwork for a contest online.  She visualized the concept and made it happen! 
Well...it paid off-she won first place!
 Molly has had a knack for art since her early childhood.  She is full of so many ideas, and creations! What's even better is that she is so humble about it.  She is last person to tell you she is an artist.  {when if I were her I would be proclaiming it to the world!}  I know, I sound like a very overly proud and bias Aunt.  I am proud of her, but bias I am not-this chicky has some SERIOUS talent.  If only I could show you all of the things she has painted, drawn, created, molded and so forth I would...but that would require me breaking into their house and all...and I do try to respect their privacy ;-) 

I'm just sayin'. 
The Neon Hive {a multi-disciplined creative agency based on the south coast of lil' auld Great Britain} wrote this about her peice, "Molly’s entry entitled “The Flip Side” stole our hearts and the competition for several reasons: an original “spin” on interpreting the brief, unique handcrafted art (true DIY indeed) and for introducing an element of fun and vivid colour which really depicts the spirit of Damien Hirst’s “spin painted” skulls."
Did you see that part "stole our hearts"? 
All I could think when I read that was that if they could only see her, meet her or get a chance to talk even five seconds with her in person---
SHE would steal their hearts. 
She is just a doll, genuine, real, funny as hell and just...well...a total doll.
She is just artistically brilliant, and I had to show off the article that was written about her piece of artwork.
 I am so so proud of you Molly.  We are so proud of you.
I love you & Congratulations!!! 

You can read the original article on why she won by clicking HERE.

Here is the piece she created for the contest:

Sixpence...

A sixpence will soon be in her shoe.  I am so excited for her and her fiance' Blair.  My beautiful cousin Leah is engaged!!!  They will get married in California in April...just a few months away.  I am hoping we can attend. I am so excited for them.  Here are some of their gorgeous engagement photos.  Congratulations Leah and Blair.  We love you and are so very happy and excited for you both.  Much love.

Aren't these photos just to die for?  They are more than beautiful.  I love them!!!

{I want it....please}...

I have been telling Brayden to ask for "help" if he needs something, or to say "I want this-or that" to encourage communicating and not whining, or getting frustrated.  So...for the last few months he would get frustrated with something, whine a bit, throw a little tantrum, and eventually say..."ummm-help me, help me".  Progress right?  Well today he figured it all out.  He wanted a piece of Candy Corn.  I told him to tell me what he wanted and he replied, "ummm, I wann it-pees" {I want it please} while pointing at the candy corn.  I happily gave him one, and he told me "hankooo, elcome".  I was so ticked he told me he wanted it, and so politely, then followed it up with thank you AND welcome!!!  That is until I realized later on that it's all over now.  He is now going to WANT everything. 

Uncle Todd and Molly were laughing AT with me tonight about this.

 Ha ha! :-)

Brookey's Birthday Party...

This last weekend we went to Brooke's 8th Birthday party.  She is our niece, and one of Brayden's 16  first cousins.  We have a big family-yes we do.  Brayden adores Brookey {as he calls her}, and was pretty much glued to her side for much of the party.  He had so much fun running around and playing with everyone, and everything.  He even took off running into the kitchen at Friendly's-so fast that even Mommy and Daddy could not grab him fast enough.  All you could hear were waiters and waitresses yelling "oh my God-there's a baby in the kitchen".  Yeah, yeah-laugh all you want...{it was actually quite embarassing-and funny too!}.
Here is Brayden and Brooke { how cute is this?}

Here Brayden is loving on Uncle Marion and his other cousin, little Marion while they were hugging.  He got a little jealous they were giving out hugs, and had to join in on the fun I guess.  Too funny.

This photo makes me laugh it's so precious.
{Brayden usually does not give Uncle Marion huggies because he is scared of his beard and mustache...so it's cute to see this photo of him latching onto his leg-all smiles}.

News, news, news...

I have lots of news to share with everyone this week {when I'm allowed}.  We have had a busy last few days, weeks, & months here in the Snow Family, but we have tons of fun things happening in our family and in our extended families as well.  This year is looking promising for our future, and I am encouraged by things on the horizon.  Stay tuned ;o)

Pumpkin Time...

We went on the hunt this weekend to have Brayden pick out his very own pumpkin {or punkin as he calls it}.  We had a nice day with family, and Brayden managed to get three pumpkins of his very own.  He even got to see real cows, pigs, lambs, and chickens.  He lovingly referred to the pig as ilbur {i.e. Wilbur}, and then later called him bacon....{no joke}.  He has been watching Charlotte's Web quite a bit lately, I'm thinking he picked it up from there perhaps...who knows.  Poor kid is never gonna want bacon again once he figures out it comes from sweet poor little Wilbur.  Moving on...he was scared of the cows and all of thier "mooing" very loudly, and he was not all that amused with anything other than the pigs.  He did seem to enjoy licking the pumpkins though!

{click directly on image to enlarge}

Alakazam!!!

So, recently...my cousin Michelle went to see a psychic.  My Uncle Gary who has since passed had some really beautiful and sentimental things to say to her.  Her story is touching and special.  My mother and I were discussing this, and decided we needed to make a pact.  I suggested we come up with a mother-daughter password of sorts, so if something should ever happen to either one of us, and we go to a psychic-this password would let us know we were really there!  My Mom blurts out quickly... "what about Alakazam?"  I snorted with laughter!  "Alakazam Mom, really?"  We both giggled...to the point I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard.  I told her I feared I might forget that word and think it was something like Alakazoo!  She laughed at my ditziness-saying I would get up from the psychic and say..."no no-that was NOT our password".  She is so funny. I adore my mother.  I adore our conversations, our laughter, and the fact that I can literally discuss anything with her. 

So, Alakazam it is Mom....Alakazam.

Austin's Birthday ...

Sunday we went to my brother Sean's house to celebrate my nephew Austin's birthday. We had so much fun catching up with everyone and visiting. Brayden had tons of fun. He also got to open some belated birthday gifts himself...so of course-he thought that was very cool.

What a beautiful family day everyone had together.

I love days like these...

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Nostalgia time...

My Aunt Jo sent me these photos the other night of my family.  I love old photos of my family, they are just beautiful to me.  I love that I can look at them and find resemblances in everyone.  I love that when my mother looks at them-she gets all excited when explaining to me who they are, and what they were like when they were alive and well.  It brings with it a nostalgic undertone of heartfelt emotions that words cannot simply define in any way.  Below are photos of my Grandmother Delphine Oneill {oh how I love that name}, and my mother when she was Brayden's age.  She was such a little chunk of love-just like the Bray.

  Enjoy!

{click directly on photos to enlarge}

Grandma Delphine {far right}

   Grandma Delphine {far left}

                            My mother Patricia                           

Grandma Delphine