An Easter Recap

What's that you say?  Easter was almost two weeks ago?  Oops!

Get it, get it!

 

Parker was all about the grass.

 

Easter socks.

(Probably the only blogger that didn't snap a picture of the kids' baskets...)

Both kiddos got bubbles, bath toys, socks, books, and two little (age-appropriate) toys.  The baskets were pretty light this year, since Lu's birthday was the week before and Parker is still too young to care.  We had a quiet morning at home, just the four of us - which I loved - and then the running around began; we had lunch with Casey's family and dinner with mine.  We had great weather and yummy food-- overall, it was a great day!     

We also colored eggs the day before...

And went to Eggstravaganza the weekend before...

3 out of 4 Sheltons looking...I'll take it!

There was a pancake breakfast, bounce houses, cookie decorating, pictures with the Easter Bunny and some random chicken, and, of course, an egg hunt.  We arrived early enough that we thought we had time to partake in the pancake breakfast, but it was mobbed.
 

Hahaha, fools!

We ended up having to run the length of the park, with pancakes in hand, to the field where the hunt was being held.  My mom was way too optimistic about our timing, and (very awkwardly) brought a handful of empty eggs for Lu to "practice" with before the hunt.

Haha.

Needless to say, Lucy did not get a chance to practice her egg gathering skills.  She still did awesome, though!  Hopefully we'll make it there a little earlier next year...

If you squint, you can kind of see the eggs scattered on the field behind us.

 

Lu didn't quite grasp the urgency of egg collecting, like the older kids did.  (Hence my and my mom's fingers in this picture.)

Soooo proud of herself after the hunt!

I am so over you, 2012.

I've written three different posts today in an attempt to bid farewell to 2012...  The first was a painfully long over-share, and the second was just a list of popular posts.  Here is my third and final attempt, since there are approximately 2 minutes left of 2012.

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Dear 2012,

You were a challenging year.  You were by far the most stressful, emotional, and draining year that I have ever encountered; BUT I refuse to remember the bad.  And, instead...

I will remember you as the year that Parker was born.  (By VBAC!  Booyah!!)  I will remember the first time we were a family of four.  I will remember the first time Parker laughed-- when Casey was undressing him for bathtime and Parker let out the weirdest squeal.  (I actually thought he was upset at first, but soon realized that the boy has very ticklish armpits).  I will remember Parker's hysterical jumperoo dance and the sweet humming sound he makes while nursing.  And I will remember how Sissy so lovingly dubbed him Car Car.

I will remember Lulu's first birthday, first steps, and first words (bye-bye).  I will remember being utterly amazed by her crazy huge, endless vocabulary-- the girl is practically a parrot.  I will remember the first time Lucy met her little brother, as she ran across the hospital bed and dove into our arms.  I will remember all the hugs and kisses she gave (continues to give) him, and how she always says Hi, Bye, and Ny-Ny to him.  I will remember her obsession with Barney and Orphan Annie.  I will remember how much fun she had this holiday season.

I will remember this as the year my dreams came true. 

I will remember this as the best, most constructive, appreciative year for our marriage.

2012, you tested me.  You showed me how much I am capable of handling, and for that I am thankful.  But, 2012, I am in dire need of a break.  So I am asking, please, please for the love of God, let 2013 be a little easier.

Best,

The Momma

Christmas 2012

Here's a little recap of the past 48 hours...

Casey had to work on Christmas Eve, so I packed up the kids and headed over to Fort Russo for some major grubbin' and Christmas pajamas.  My mom made Baccala, which I love, and about a dozen other appetizers, entrees, pastas and sides-- all seafood oriented.  Mmmm! 

((Will never be able to emphasize enough how much Italians love to feed people.))

Once Casey was home, we headed over to his parent's house.  Lucy thoroughly enjoyed hanging with her older cousin, Corbin, and I thoroughly enjoyed my mother-in-law's pumpkin cheesecake.

After the kids went down, Casey and I began wrapping presents.  We went to bed around 1:30...

And just a few hours later, we watched our silly girl tear through all of our hard work.  We loved every second of it.

Before:

After:

Interim:

Christmas kisses and polar bear jammies!

Parker was sort of indifferent about Christmas...

...until he got this sweet hat. Then he loved it!

The slide captivated her morning.  Favorite present, hands down.

It was so nice to spend the morning in our home, just us.  That's one tradition I will look forward to for years to come.

The running around began again shortly after.  A quick stop at the in-laws, and then to Grammy and Grampy's!  (Thank God we're within 10 minutes of our families.))

All the cousins with Great Grandma

Best looking boy in the whole world!

Nap fail.

BFFs since 1992.  (Way to miss the photo opp, Fallon.)

Best looking family EVER.

 

New recliner from Grammy and Grampy!

Lucy like.

Christmas was awesome this year!  Lucy recognized "Danta" (not necessarily his purpose, though), she yelled "Mo mo pwees" (pretties)  ((pretties = Christmas lights)) every time we drove around town at night, and she LOVED opening presents.  We fully expect next year to be twice as much fun.  For now, the kiddos are really loving all their gifts.  We are so blessed!

Car Car sitting in his new highchair at the big kids table.

Lulu watching Annie at her new table and chairs.  Her life is complete.

Breakfast with Santa

Lucy wasn't feelin' it.  Parker was indifferent.

Lulu: "Wahhhhhhhh!"

Me:  "Honey, come on, it's ok.  Just look at the camera and pretend not to be miserable."

She didn't care too much for Rudolph or Frosty either.

Lulu:  "OMG, Mom, who are these creeps?  They look nothing like the cartoon."

Fortunately, there were pancakes and balloons to smooth the whole thing over.

Lulu:  "I don't really do forks, Mom.  I prefer to dive right in."

Parker slept for the majority of the event (surprise, surprise); but he was his usual, happy self when he woke up!

Maybe next year?  ::eyeroll::

Thankful

((I know, I know, it's been awhile.  Mucho catching up to do.))

Just before Thanksgiving dinner, my mom asked each of us to share what we are thankful for.  (Since I was insanely hungry, I decided to condense my thanks to the first 5 items below.)  And, well, here it is...

1.  I am thankful for my babies.  The amount of happiness they bring to my life is immeasurable.  They are the greatest gift I have ever received, from itty bitty belly babe(s) to chubby, cuddly infant(s), to hilarious and brilliant toddler.  

2.  I am thankful for the health of my babies.  I thank God everyday that the only time our babies have seen the inside of a hospital was at birth.

3.  I am thankful for my husband.  He works so hard for our family.  He provides for us financially, he strives to better our home, and gets the kids ready for bed like it's his job.  He gets me out the door when I'm running late, pipes ruffle cakes with me, and lets me sleep in every Sunday.  He is the one person I could ever spend this much time with.  

4.  I am thankful for my mom.  There is nothing she won't do for her children; she is the definition of a "yes man".  I call her at least 3 times each day.  She is the rock of our family and has inspired me to be the best mother I can be.

5.  I am thankful for my dad, brother, and sister.  I have such an absurdly close and unique relationship with every member of my family.  (Does that make me a true Italian or an introvert?)  We are a team, a hilarious, hairy, food-loving team-- coloring Easter eggs, covering "Lucy Duty", and throwing the best garage sales Fountain Thrills has ever seen..

 

6.  I am thankful for our guardian angel.  (I know it's you, Nona.)  Even though you never got to formally meet Casey, Lucy, or Parker, you have always watched over our family.  You have saved us so many times-- when money is tight or when we're driving next to some lunatic on the highway.

7.  I am thankful for the new and improved relationship with my in-laws; the dynamic has changed drastically and for the better over the past year.  And, additionally, Lucy and Parker's cousins on the Shelton side; they are so close in age.  Lucy and Corbin are already best friends.

8.  I am thankful for the friends I have made in the last three years.  They have been so kind, supportive, and FUN!  I never had many friends growing up, and I certainly never had many friendships last this long.  Being able to ask advice, bitch about the laundry and everything else, or just grabbing dinner has literally saved my sanity.

Yep, that's a penis name tag on muh shirt.

 

9.  I am thankful for our (tiny, messy, forever work-in-progress) house.  It wasn't until recently that I really appreciated it.  It's not the biggest or the newest, but it is our space.  It is where we spend most of our time, where we make yummy cookies and cakes, where we laugh, play, and love.

10.  I am thankful for our jobs.  I still cannot believe that I am able to say that I have my dream job(s):  stay at home mom AND baker.  I can genuinely say that I love my jobs, even though both can be very demanding.  And Casey's job provides for almost 70% of our monthly expenses and health insurance.

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Hope everyone had a fun and delicious Thanksgiving weekend!