a few of my favorite things

I love every season in Maine
But fall into winter is my
very favorite
these are some of the things
i love about the winter and christmas season!

GOLDEN CHILD

This man was once my little baby boy. Before he came along I did not have any really have any plans or goals for my life ~ I pictured myself on the back of the motorcycle, traveling the countryside and basically having a good time (not sure where I would get the money or the guy to do this) but no children were in my future plans.. well plans or lack of plans change mostly due to the choices we make. Levi was the greatest thing to ever happen to me and I mean that with all my heart. He grounded me, made me change my mind about children and family and love. He made my heart grow so I could love my other 3 children just as much. He was the sweetest baby, never cried, was happy and loved having his aunts and grandparents around for the first few years of his life to help raise him with me what a joy! He had the nickname of golden child and prince charming because in the aunties eyes he could do no wrong :) He is handsome, funny, loyal, committed, clever, intelligent, great with people and the list could go on and on. I am proud of the hard work he has done with his job and the way he has basically lived his life, he is not perfect and i think anyone who reads this blog knows that levi has upset me with some of his choices at times :). I can not believe he is 21 and plans on getting married! I am not upset with this choice, I am dealing with it, it is hard as a mom to see them move on from you, but I am proud of Levis choice to commit to Lauren at a time when that is not the popular choice to make. Mark and I raised him to be a committed person, who looks at marraige as the next step in a loving relationship. I have faith that he has made the right choice for him and that he will be suprised and delighted by what is in store for him. I know that my life would not be even close to happy with out this amazing kid in my life!

congratulations to my son who i love with all my heart, and please all of you out there help me celebrate this time in his life with him, i need the help ;) I am sad to see my children growing up but happy they are making positive choices. And I hope that someday, he has a little person in his life who will change his life in the most amazing way, the way he did for me!

bagels

i like trying baking new things

i really like sucess :) they are good and got nice reviews from all who tasted

ethan, isaiah, scout, hunter, elijah, tammy, robin to be continued... as we made 72 bagels

white, white/whole wheat, cinnamon chip, and parmesan cheese

first day of school 2009

another first day of school... sadness everyone is gone from the house by 6:45

a side note after the first 2 weeks i decided i would drive the kids to school

the bus ride was long and very crowded and i figured 15 more minutes with them was worth the little extra gas and sleep i would have if i did not drive them and i am heading out anyway for delivery to pineland . i am sure that when isaiah or ethan gets their license i will not have that anymore but for now i have really enjoyed bringing them to school.

what does 40 look like?

Today I have been on this earth for 4o years. Wow. I am not really the type to have thought to much about an age. When I was 18, I liked it, when I was 21 i liked it, when i was 30 i liked it, so 40 is not that big of a deal except that things are so drastically different then they used to be.

I did not imagine that 40 would include a 21 year old son, and almost 18 year old son soon to graduate and head to college , a 16 year old son itching to drive and rebuild an old nova and an 11 year old daughter heading into middle school and a husband who still loves me and thinks I am the most beautiful woman alive. I am extremely blessed to have all of that, yet I still think of the days when they were small and we had no money and life was hectic and crazy and full of noise. I do not want to go back, but I realize that you must cherish those moments that bring you great joy because they are fleeting. I think the 40's will be a time for me to reflect on the small moments throughout my days and nights and enjoy them, and know that new things will come down the road and they will be good also. I thank God for my happy, fulfilled life as a mother and a wife and hope that I will find fulfillment beyond that as my family and my life changes. so forty looks Good but different in many many ways.

oh it also looks brunette with much bigger thighs....

birthday

scouts 11th birthday ~ she got everything she wished for except an outdoor party :( first time in 11 years we have had to have scouts party inside

it was hot and humid and the cake was a dripping mess, i had to go downstairs and get an airconditioner put it in and put the cake in the ac room so that it would dry out ~ the cake was a "sucess" in the fact that scout loved it, but i was disappointed with the results, better luck next time i suppose

scout and daddy

running out of school on last day of elementary school
i hope she is this excited when she is waiting for the bus
at 6:45 am next year.