AFTER MIDNIGHT

so... i am 39 weeks preggos and up most nights... not that far from the ordinary for this mama but it's different when you are uncomfy and waiting for those contractions to send you into the hospital... so... i think i'll look as good as i can when i get there... my toes are painted thanks to my sister~ i can't reach them... now the nails~ done!

i'm trying to enjoy feeling him move in these last days~ this is the last pregnancy

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i should pack the diaper bag but all the little stuff is too presh to look at & there is a part of me that is sad this is the last ritual to be done for the last baby...

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the last baby?...

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i can't imagine having any more... i don't think my body would condone another round & i feel like 4 is a good number... but everything feels so last...

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like when you finish a good book and close it ~ your life perspective changed forever... sad that it's over but love the ending...

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baby nasher... the last one... time for a new novel...

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Five Good Things

1. little newborn onesies... 5 to 8 lbs... presh
2. big brothers
3. His divine plan for this new life
4. bland food... soon no more heartburn!
5. pretty polish

ciao~alicia

LITTLE HANDS... BIG STUFF

the sweetness of the moment... the privilege of watching them learn... these busy little cooper hands have been trying to master cutting... his determination has been ~ well, for lack of a better word... inspiring... to practice is to grow...

i never want to forget this day...

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Five Good Things

1. that big box of crayons... loved putting them in their stockings and loved that i'm not so old that they had those when i was a kid... after all it was just a couple of weeks ago that christopher asked me if we still had donuts when i was a kid~ i am still smiling about that one!
2. awanas~ they come home so excited... i never tire of hearing all about it and seeing their little hearts grow
3. expanding... camera course in the near future? hopefully!!! or maybe just a lot of studying on line!
4. weekly donut dates with nate while the other boys are in school... to watch nate enjoy a donut will make you want 10!
5. my messy desk... lots of stuff going on with these little guys! neat can be over rated!!

ciao~alicia

MY YARN & ME

oh, sleep deprived!! late almost every night lately i have been a factory... crocheting stuff for baby nasher and some other special babies... here's some of nasher's stuff i've been working on... i'm thinking about starting the whole etsy thing~

next on the list... hanging baby cocoon, diaper covers & baby nesting pods!~ stay tuned!

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Five Good Things

1. sunny winter days for boys to run in the back yard = tired boys = peaceful evening
2. veritas press readers for little minds... i need to do a whole post on this curriculum... it's a m a z i n g!!
3. getting christmas down... house getting back to normal!
4. vinegar/water spray... disinfects and green
5. coffee from laos... sooo good... i have to say i love it more than my starbucks... did i just say that? i think that needs its' own post too!

ciao~alicia

BRING ON 2011!

my kids definitely know how to party it up for the

new year!!!!

we had silly glow in the dark masks, hats, poppers, confetti and lots of munchies!!

and of course, the funnest confetti cake!! coop is my official baking assistant and thank goodness mimi was there to help... even though it takes almost no effort to bake a box cake ~ i was sadly out of breath by the time it was over... oh my... and about to give birth? not a good sign!!

look at those chocolate chip eyes!

and my little blueberry's eyes... melt!!!

classic... i wish sometimes i could just lick something and get away with it!... oh, to be little!

Five Good Things

1. no new years resolutions this year!!
2. pics from 2010 with my tissue box and cracking up
3. packing diaper bags... or at least thinking about what's going in it;)
4. felt... the funnest banner to make ever with all the sheets christopher picked out... everything from zebra to puppies to tie die... cute
5. white tulips came 2 dozen this year from my sweet... gorge!!

ciao~alicia

THE GOOD STUFF

this christmas i was off my feet a lot... the challenge was to focus on what we did and not panic about what we didn't do... hard for this high standard girl! i have to say it felt balanced though... more family and less "stuff"~ stuff to do... places to go... things to see... we spent time together playing, drawing, creating, just being still. i did get some great pics of the boys in their christmas jammies... the week before chris took me on a date... I wore jeans and he told me i was overdressed... i was puzzled when we drove up to walmart and thought oh, well we do have some shopping left for the boys... then he goes to the camera section~ I still did not catch on... then he points to the nikon d3000... i have been wanting a big body camera since christopher was born. it's yours he says... i totally cried... yes, at walmart... with my huge belly... the woman behind the counter seemed to understand... she looked in the back for the last one... she found it covered in dust... meant to be mine she says...

christopher told everyone to be reindeer...

santa setting up the train after midnight... all i wanted was to see their faces when they got up...

the look of pure concentration... after months of practice bubble blowing! huge accomplishment around here... Nate picked it up the next day... life seems to smile at Nate in these special ways... 14 mos. behind big brother is not always easy...

the silver sleigh bells came on time after i ordered them late... LOVE these... when they leave home they will each have one for every year...

boys zoned out on star wars... i may never understand... the only thing that would have gotten their attention i'm sure would have been an announcement of something to do with food... i heart christmas sheets... my favorite decoration hanging from the ceiling... my favorite tradition... christmas eve night with chris wrapping and watching white christmas...

snow globe alley... i love to pick them each one out every year and watch them play with them...

advent was a sweet thing to add this year...

the only baking i did this year? christopher's birthday cake at 10:00 at night with my little night owl helper... yes, we pride ourselves on our eclectic jammy combos!

now on to the new year and new memories!... next christmas there will be 4 little ones to make memories with... i better start in february!

Five Good Things

1. bubble gum
2. hot tea
3. little boy imaginations
4. tradition
5. sisters

ciao~alicia

THE TRAIN

Would we ever make a gingerbread house? I don't think so... for these boys it was a train!... anything sitting down this Christmas is a good thing... I think I'm going to pop any minute!!

Little hands make me want to melt!

A good good day!

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Five good things

1. My new camera I'm playing with! yay for Chris... maybe the first time I cried in WalMart... Nikon D3000... worth the wait!
2. I can't be preggo forever
3. Mom to help with Christmas shopping, cleaning, and other stuff that is sooo tough right now
4. Christopher's home from school... it's LOUD around here!
5. Heartburn pills!

ciao~alicia

MAYAN MADNESS!

They were dancing in their traditional garb... The feathers alone were beautifully stunning! It was sooo crowded but we managed to have tons of fun ~ with this big belly we got off to a good start with a parking spot right by the door!

We made beaded necklaces with Mayan symbols, boats on sticks... sculpted clay and took in all the sights & sounds...

My favorite men... big and little...

I heart days with the fam!

Five Good Things

1. our wonderful cultural district here in Ft. Worth
2. amazing little imaginations that inspire me to create
3. green grass to sit with loved ones
4. Chris' days off!!!
5. the latest craving... Central Market veggie potato chips... YUM!!!

ciao~alicia

WORLD SERIES RANGERS?

We made it to the last game of the season~ Let's just say the boys are hard core

Ranger Fans!

We stuffed our faces with hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and cheese fries~ we went to the far end of the field so the boys could hit balls... waited in line forever~ totally worth it! Left with full tummies and happy boys with funny memories. My fave? Cooper feeding the ladies in front of us popcorn from out of his mouth~ & they were loving it!!

So it has started~ night games with boys up late ~ high fives and yells ~ yes, Coop is into it big!~ Claps his hands "Let's go Rangers!" Here we go... and yes they have been getting a thrill at ganging up on Yankee Mama Fan!~ Christopher says I should have learned my lesson!~ I almost want them to go to the series just for my boys!~ Now that's LOVE! . Five Good Things

1. black olives with homemade ranch dressing
2. mini cucumbers with homemade ranch dressing
3. pineapple lifesavers
4. black Tazo tea
5. sweet Baby Boy to give me such yumm cravings!

ciao~alicia

ME BACK ON THE LIST!

Sometimes I have a season where I forget to put ME on the list~ ever done that? So, I've been spending time picking back up things I love... photography, writing, blogging, now cooking~ shocking I know!... crocheting, and making this place a home~ a continual challenge for me on a budget, in a small house and with little boys that love to play ball in the house! But kid house no more!~ I'm taking back what should be... a home... the kind with lamps and pretty things around... the kind I was good at before kids. You see, when I had Christopher I was 30~ I was a little shocked as soon as he got into the highchair and insisted on throwing everything in the trash can. I convinced myself that everything and anything was going to get ruined by this little alien I knew nothing about. I was soooo wrong~ what ended up happening was I deprived myself of making a home... So... back to home making 101!~

Home school is full swing over here and so fun~ more about that another day~but here are some things I missed sharing with you!

Summer was full.... of things like...

sculptures... peaceful...

mini vacation... refreshing... reflecting... watching their wonder grow... and just plain time giggling!

I have missed this blog SO much!~ I LOVE taking pics of my boys and I love sharing our lives with you!

This summer was sooo full!~ The biggest news was finding out we are having a

baby boy!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Needless to say I was a bit intimidated by having 4 kiddos... this one was a little present! But, I cannot imagine our family without one of these little guys and I'm sure we will not know what to do without him~ Can't wait to meet him... yes, he is still nameless!

So... all name ideas are welcome here!!!

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Five Good Things

1. Protonix... the miracle heartburn pill!!
2. apple mango laundry soap~ finally yummy smelling clothes that causes no rashes!
3. The belly band~ so I don't feel like I'm going to have my tummy fall out!
4. Meyers Clean Day soy lavender candles... THE BEST SMELL EVER!
5. My loud house... life would be so boring without it!

ciao~alicia