I couldn't help myself

This was the first thing I saw when my mother-in-law and I were shopping at antique stores. "We need to buy this for Abby!" we were both thinking the same thing. But I wasn't shopping for cute furniture for my kids, so I left this and moved onto the next store. I was on a mission to find a unique antique to put our new tv on. Found exactly what I needed for my tv at the store next door and it was less than I was planning on spending. Everyone should shop with my mother-in-law. She's good luck. You will find what you are looking for and get a good deal. She's just that lucky.

So then I wanted to go back and get the little kitchen hutch for "Abby." When I brought it home, Joey saw right through me and knew the kitchen hutch wasn't just for "Abby." He could tell when I was more excited about it than the tv stand. I couldn't help myself. It was just so cute and I even put it in my kitchen. Then my mom came to visit and brought the cupcakes and red plates because she also thought it was so adorable. (See. It's in my genes) The girls play with it all the time and I get to look at it. I love little things. Little dolls, dollhouses, Santa Villages...I also love my tv stand. It's pretty awesome and I'll have to post that later, because I really love this little red hutch.

Psssst...And it even has a silverware drawer.

Confidence

Olivia looked a bit "Punky Brewster-ish" when she dressed herself this morning. She was so thrilled with her ensemble when she showed it to me. "Do you like my outfit mom? I'm wearing this sweater and then my pink coat over it for when it's cold in the morning." She looked too happy for me to say anything about it. I told her "mmmm...I love it!", gave her a hug and she ran downstairs. Her shirt had flower embroidery. Her leggings were flashy. Her socks had hearts and her skirt had a different flower embellishment. Each piece is a part of a different outfit that "goes together." But she looked so sweet and confident. Maybe I should be more that way.

Sammie...playing the wii

She gets a bit dramatic.

Piggies

I put Abby's hair in pigtails today. She looks so grown up...How old is she now anyway? Almost 20 months? This little girl is a sweetheart who also thinks that she doesn't need to nap anymore. She has always gone down so easily just smiling up at me and then she falls asleep after I leave the room. Now she just wants to play and play. Yesterday she was playing in her crib for 2 hours and never fell asleep. Ummmm....I really need nap time. Hopefully this is just a phase.

A Morning Jump

Nothing like jumping in your nightgown when it's 43 degrees outside.

Afterwords she said she was cold and needed to sit by the fire.

A Good Year

(Abby eating a snack and watching me take down Christmas decorations)

I feel like I have grown a lot this year. I'm sure being not 100% has had something to do with it. It was probably the hardest year of my life, but also the best year. I loved this Christmas season. The entire month of December was filled with joy and hope. When December first rolled around, I felt a bit depressed. Last year I was extremely sick and couldn't do anything. The only thing that got me through it was a hope that next Christmas things would be better. So when December came around this year and I realized I wasn't all the way better yet, I felt a little down. I didn't want to go through another Christmas not being able to do anything. I was blessed. I was able to do more than I thought I would be able to do and I enjoyed every bit of it. I even baked treats for our neighbors. I still don't feel all the way better. I still have pains and fatigue and my body just won't do the things that I want to do. But I continue to have hope that someday I will be back and then I won't know what to do with myself. Life is such a wonderful gift and I enjoy each day and I look forward to the new year with hope, faith and trust that things will always work out if we keep doing what we are supposed to be doing.