Time Marches On

Wow. Has it really been five month? Five months! Yikes! So much has happened, I don’t even know where to begin. Since my last post we have celebrated many birthdays (Joe, Teresa, Lauren, Mom, me and Dad). We have celebrated Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas too. The weeks just keep flying by. A little part of me wishes time could just stand still. I have to keep reminding myself to slow down, take a deep breath and enjoy all the simple pleasures life has to offer (oh my, how cliche). I struggle on a daily basis to find some sort of balance. It is sooooo hard to give 100% at work and still have 110% at home.

October was a crazy busy month. This is a family picture I took myself with my camera on the tripod. I do not know how professionals do it. This is what I ended up with after many, many, many takes. I liked it well enough to use on our Christmas Cards. This was Lauren's back-up Halloween costume. She needed to dress up for pre-school, but I did not want her to ruin her fancy Cinderella costume. Took this pic with Lauren on her Birthday. Love that little princess! I took Lauren and two of her little friends for a spa day at Pig Tails and Crew Cuts. They each had a mini mani, got to dress up like a princess, had their hair done, and made a souvenir picture frame to help remember the day. Lauren wanted to have her hair straightened. Honestly, it did not even look like Lauren. Her daddy did a double take. She loved running her fingers through her hair, but mommy loves her curls. Lauren and her "boyfriend" Luke. They are so cute together. I can say that now, but when she is 16..... look out. Miss Sassy at the Pumpkin Patch in Ozark. We had a great day at the patch with Grandma Susan. I gave this lovely little present to myself for my Birthday. Despite what everyone says, I was not talking or texting while driving. Not really the present I was hoping for :( Lauren and "Bass Pro" Santa - he sure was a good listener. He brought her exactly what she wanted. Tinkerbell's Talking Cafe, Zhu Zhu pets and Polly Pocket dolls were on Lauren's wish list this year. We tried to scale back, but the kids still got tons of stuff. You know it is bad when your five-year-old say, "Mom, Santa sure did spoil me!"
Hunter and his typical "cheese" smile. He smiles so big it closes his eyes.
(****that is Joe's, sister, Teresa in the background with the Christmas headband )

I have started and stopped the post a million times - Finally going to publish it just so I feel like I accomplished something!