Princess Ana

You can ask my husband and he will tell you that my favorite room in the house is Baby Ana's!
I was putting her in her crib the other evening and became a bit saddened to realize that sometime sooner than later it will be replaced with a "big girl bed"..The lump in my throat is all too familiar..I just remember us creating this castle fit for a princess. I used to just sit in the room before she was born imagining how she would look curled up in her crib, even imagined her as a toddler playing house, kitchen, and yes the tea parties! For a brief moment,I was taken back about 25 years.. Perphaps it's the time Jim and I spent going over colors (trying to choose soothing), patterns, and then Pottery Barn Kids. I waited and waited for this bedding to go on sale!! We finally went with a butterfly/dressup theme so that she could grow into it over the years. We put a chair rail in the room and painted Southern Beauty (Behr) pink on top and Celery Sprig Green on bottom half. I know there are clever marketing opportunities with those names.. Southern Beauty had me hook, line, and sinker. To finish, a subtle butterfly mural was painted throughout and a dress up theme (mural) surrounded the little window in her closet. The curtains around her windows are actually painted! i couldn't have been happier with the finished product thanks to having a handy, sometimes patient (sometimes not) husband it was a ll done rather reasonably.

Sacrifice

"No matter how small, God will honor your sacrifice as a loving father honors the crown drawing of his children. Whether you scribble or paint a masterpiece, God will look with love on your efforts. That said, try for the masterpiece..." Dr. Scott Hahn had this posted on the 40 days for Life blog. How beautiful, now I must see what little or big sacrifice I can make in my own life.

Pumpkin Time

Ok- anyone who know me knows that Fall is one of my absolute favorite times of the year--LOVE the cozy fall weather, pumpkin spice candles, colored leave shows on the lawn, and even the big frumpy sweaters! I came across the cutest pumpkin pans I just had to share..I think I will try this when (if) I make pumpkin bread. May be good with some hot chocolate or hot apple cider...YUMMY!!! These are Sur la Table pumpkin pans by Wilton..www.surlatable.com

My player!

I am so proud of my 1st born, my son Tristan. He is so well rounded! In addition to school and athletics, he has taken piano lessons for 4 years. Recently we were blessed with a wonderful opportunity to obtain this great piano. I think he's happy to be able to practice in our home.

Baby Shoes

I broke down this past weekend and bought Ana her first pair of real baby shoes (actually sandals) . Browsing the Gymboree sale rack (as I often do) can be a good thing!! They are the cutest brown sandals you have ever seen and she LOVES them! It is priceless to see her walk in them. She often carries them over to me or Jimmy so that we will put them on for her and it's not uncommon for her to launch off only in a diaper and these sandals! She feels like a BIG GIRL, I guess the shoe obsession gene will not be skipping a generation! I was the worst after I had Ana. Shoes,..glorious shoes called out to me everywhere I went! It was as if suddenly I was not restricted to flat "mom shoes", "ked" like models, and others typical for pregger women..heels were suddenly a good thing again!

Chicken marsala and Aunt Sweetie

My husband received a very welcome and deserved promotion at work last week. He has been wanting to go to Carabba's so we went out last night to celebrate! My parents joined us with my aunt who is also in town for 19 days! I am so excited because she is my very favorite aunt. We have many great memories together,I just adore her! Anyways, the food was ok. I have to say the pizza was a bit mediocre but the bread and the dipping sauce superb. I actually already knew this as I found their olive oil recipe for their bread dipping sauce online once and was able to re create. Sometimes, when you try to duplicate those recipes, there is something notably missing and everyone at the dinner table just politely smiles as if to thank you for at least trying! That was the case with the Alice Springs Chicken (from Outback) I tried to duplicate. My huband still says he loved it. Back to last night though, the fellowship was warm and we shared many laughs with Aunt Sweetie as usual. The evening was cut short thanks to little Baby Ana, Jimmy had to box his chicken marsala..ahhh, the many joys of parenthood!

A day in the park

We were up north for a short family visit recently and walked through this awesome park.

Ana and I were relaxing in front of this beautiful waterfall. It's a joy to see her amazement!

This is Glen Falls Park in Williamsville, New York.

Aunt Dana

I am very fortunate to be "Aunt Dana" to three beautiful children who I love dearly. Two of them live in Lousiana but one niece lives here in Texas. This past weekend was her 4th Birthday Party. When I figure out how to post pictures, I will upload some of her cake. It is a gorgeous Barbie doll cake. I think that in one of many fantasy jobs I am a cake decorator. I have actually dabbled in it before and like to think I'm halfway decent at it. Anyways, I adore my little niece..

"Nobody has ever measured, even poets, how much a heart can hold" Zelda Fitzgerald

This quote is so very true, isn't it?? I woke up today with this quote on my mind and had to Google it to get the exact words. I immediately think of my children and family when I ponder this. I love them so much that it sometimes physically hurts. There is no possible way for me to put into words how I feel about them.They are so incredibly dear to me..
Tristan, Jimmy, and I spent last evening perfecting his "Kickapoo Indian" project due today. Of course, he managed to choose the most obscure of tribes that even the Internet couldn't be the most helpful with..so we looked and worked, and laughed, laughed some more..and after a few oatmeal cookies and about a million q-tips we were done.! I stayed up a little later just to enjoy the silence that is so often absent in our house. I began to hear our baby daughter cry. I quietly crept up the stairs to listen to be sure she was okay. I was suprised to hear the sweetest voice of an "angel" comforting her..It was Tristan. "It's okay sweetie, just go back to sleep...here's your blanky..."And then suddenly, there was silence again..

Chuckles!

My favorite best friend here at work Tina is such a great encourager. She is the friendly sounding board to my day to day struggles, achievements, and opportunities. She really has motivated in many ways but most recently to become a true BLOGGER!

Why?

Today was a day of "whys" for me..I found myself offering it all up..Why did I live so far from work?? Why did I have to work in the first place? Why did Ana's poo end up all over my white work pants I'm not even sure I should be fashionably wearing after Labor Day anyways?? Why did my dad's car say "empty" and make a new tinkering noise when I first revved it up this morning? Why? Why? Why??..and then I turned on Father Frank Pavone on the Catholic radio. He is often challenged with the why question. "Father, why is my son a drug addict?".."Why did my husband die so young and leave me to raise all 5 children alone?" Father Pavone challenges us to see the redemptive grace that can be obtained from trial and even mundane daily challenges such as baby poo on pants. He reminded us that noone will espace this life without suffering and tribulations.There is always grace in suffering if you are open to it..Sometimes I forget how truly blessed I am...