Chestnuts roasting on an open fire....

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Have you ever really thought about that? How would one roast chestnuts? On an open fire? Wouldn't they fall in? Do you roast them on a stick like you do a marshmallow? Too...much....thinking.....I really just wanted to do a quick post and let you know that we've officially started the Christmas season! We decorated the Christmas tree on Friday night and it was such fun! We all got in our pj's, made hot chocolate and eggnog, put on the movie, Elf, and decorated away!! I really love pulling out our ornaments every year and seeing my kids faces light up with the memories of years passed. I love talking about what the season is really all about....Jesus. And we all enjoyed Adiah being with us this year! Last year our hearts were ACHING for her. And now she is with us and I literally have to say at least 10 times a day...."Adiah, don't take the ornaments off the tree!". Music to my ears!! Enjoy the pictures!!

Look at all those stockings!! Craziness!! I never dreamed of having such a big family but thank God for HIS plans!!

My crew watching Elf...

Brian helping Adiah put her first ornament on the tree

Ornament hunting...

The finished product!

My baby boy!!!

Today is my sweet boy's 8th birthday!! I can NOT believe he is getting so big and how fast time is flying by. He is such a fun kid and just all together sweet. He is a wonderful big brother and adores his little sister. And even though he wouldn't admit it all the time...he adores his big sisters too! He is one of those kids who has a heart as big as the mountains. I think I said this last year but he is a TRUE believer! Anything that kid puts his mind to, he somehow gets it to happen or truly believes it WILL happen. Like one day a few years ago we were walking to school to pick up his sisters and he said "Mom, when am I going to get my super powers?". I said "What do you mean?" He says "When am I going to be able to fly?" I said "Ummm, Ridge, you know that the stuff you see on Star Wars or on cartoons isn't real, right? You aren't going to get super powers like that." He gets quiet for a while and then says "Oh yes I am." That's Ridge even now. You can probably understand why I feel nervous that he wants the Easy Button for Christmas!! I just love this boy and wanted to wish him a Happy Birthday!! WE LOVE YOU RIDGE!!!

When Ridge was a baby he did this cheesy smile thing every time the camera came out!

Still doing it today!

Ridge loves to play Star Wars! Here he recruited his dad and baby sister to play with him.


Sweet 8 year old!!!

Another one bites the dust...

So to speak I guess. Brian started with the stomach bug in the middle of the night last night. Please, Lord, let him be the last of us. My poor toilet handles, door knobs, light switches, remote controls, and telephones have seen enough Lysol to last a life time!!!

Sicky days....

It seems that the sick bugs keep coming around here. Now we've got a little stomach bug that I started with on Sunday night, Natalie had it yesterday, and Ridge has it today. Adiah's back on an antibiotic and doing better so that's good! I've just been praying and declaring that my family and my home will be healthy!! Enough with this stuff!!! But today was cleaning day so Adiah and I played in the office while Ridge stayed on the couch. Here are some pictures from our impromptu photo shoot. This girl LOVES wearing a tutu. She brings them to me after she gets ready in the morning and says "Oouuuunnn". That's "on" in Adiah talk.

Spinning around and around in daddy's chair...

She was very disturbed by me putting this stocking next to her. Truly. It was if I had just hurt her feelings so badly. Whatever, girl! I wanted to show her new stocking that came in. We can't wait to decorate for Christmas!!

Tutu girl

Trying to get her to say cheese. She loves to get on daddy's chair and eat her snack. Such a diva!

Trashy lady!!

Look who sneaks into my bed when Brian is gone

I seem to have people that like to sleep with me when Brian is out of town....I snuck in and saw these two sisters saying goodnight and settling in for the evening. I DON'T THINK SO!! I let the little one stay for awhile and the bigger one stayed the whole night. Sweet times!!




Natalie trying to pretend she is asleep....Unfortunately, Adiah is not feeling well again tonight. We can't seem to get her ears better after this last infection. Come home soon, Brian!!!

I can NOT believe I'm about to do this!

Ok peeps. This is serious. I really can't believe I'm about to post the pictures that I am but because I love you all and want to spread that love...I'll do it. So, I'm sure those of you who know me well (and by that I mean know me like up close and personal) know that I have had an issue with my face for a few years now. I've had some serious brown spots that have been becoming more and more obvious as time has gone on and on. Its been so bad that I would very rarely leave my house with out foundation on and even that wouldn't cover up the issue. I think what I have is called Melasma. I probably shouldn't have been but I was very embarrassed by my issue. It completely covered my forehead and was pretty much all over my cheeks and nose and lip area. I have had 2 different people recommend the Obagi system to me. One was the girl doing my facial back in July and one was a dermatologist. Both of them said that I would be a good candidate for it. BUT...its not cheap. MUCH cheaper that laser surgery but still not super cheap. So I put it off. One day my sweet husband told me that I could try it. AWESOME!!! I went to an appt. with the facial lady and she told me all about it. It is an 18-24 week system. You use it twice a day. She said for the first 4-6 weeks my face would be really red especially around my mouth and nose and would probably be really flaky. Yum! And then afterwards my skin would get used to the treatment and stop doing that. But the brown spots would lighten and my skin would have a glow by the end of it. So I decide to wait until Aug 30, 2008 to do it because I was in a wedding on that day and thought the bride would not appreciate my skin falling off of my face while walking down the aisle!! Today has been 9 weeks since starting the program and I absolutely love what is happening to my face. I can't believe how well its working!! And I'm only half way through!!! So here are some before and midway pictures. Please note....I took off all of my make up for this photo shoot!! And my husband was like 2 inches away from my face with the camera and I felt a bit awkward. Didn't know if I should smile or give some sexy look. I'm thinking just smile. People....I truly believe in the Obagi system!!! Can't wait to see what 18 weeks will do for me.......Yeah!!!

Before... with flash on camera

Before...no flash on camera.

Midway...with flash

Midway...no flash

We Hab Tolds *sniff*.....and Halloween!

Yep you read that right folks...our entire family has passed around a lovely cold to each other. I love how we share so well! Poor Adiah's has turned into a lovely ear infection so we've been a bit under the weather around here. We were still able to enjoy Halloween though (except without Brian. He was on call.) With this being Adiah's very first experience with dressing in a costume, knocking on doors, and having some stranger give her food she did quite well! Actually, she picked it up quickly. After the first house she was a pro at it! We don't live in a neighborhood so we went over to my sister's house and joined them. Emily wanted to be a taxi cab driver so she used my parents golf cart thing and decorated it up. Ridge was none other than a character from Star Wars. Jengo Fett...NOT Boba Fett! Sorry Ridge!!! I've been calling him the wrong thing the whole time. But seriously....can you blame me? I don't even know what a Fett is. Natalie went as a 50's girl and Miss Adiah was a little ladybug. So was Hannah but Hannah's costume was a bit 'puffier' than Adiah's. We had a great time minus the sniffling noses!

*Update: Apparently I can't spell it either. I've been told its JANGO FETT...not Jengo Fett. Seriously!*

TAXI!!!!!!!!

Emily did such a good job on the cart!

Jengo Fett *correction...JANGO FETT!!*

Beautiful 50's girl...with Noah's pirate earring.

Lovely Ladybug!!!

My sweet kids! I love this crew!!!

Puffy and Prissy....eating some of their loot!

Off they go!!

Ridge, Hollyn, and Natalie hanging on for dear life!!!

The ladybugs catching a ride between houses. They knew exactly what to do when the stroller stopped.