Easter 2010

We had a wonderful, quiet Easter this year. We did not attend any church services at all. We hung out in the living room and then outside and enjoyed our beautiful weather we have been having the past few days. After a crazy and hectic week, it sure was nice to just relax... oh, and I did some cooking! I made a lemon pound cake and a Carrot cake. I also made a chili cheese dip and Tex Mex Chicken appetizer. We went over to our neighbor's house and had Easter dinner with them. They also had an egg hunt even though it was mostly for our kids to hunt because Josh (Ashley's "boyfriend") decided he just wanted to help them find them. He helped to hide them. All in all it was a WONDERFUL relaxing day with good friends and good food... Our family and the Banks Family (minus 2 teenagers)
It's almost as if we are walking in to the "sunset" of our time here in CT. All of us. Our neighbor will be retiring from the Navy at the same time that we transfer. So, this Easter Celebration is considered one of our "No-More" events. "No-More" Easters in CT. Off they all go... No-More

Ashley and Sydney in a mad dash around the empty lot looking for those hidden eggs! Thank you guys for doing that!

It must be the age. Ashley is ALWAYS making faces now for pictures. Makes me CRAZY!

One Legged Jump Roping Sydney... notice the writing on the pavement done by my hubby!

Ashley 10 Years

Daddy and Sydney enjoying the sunshine

What did you find Sydney

VERY happy little boy

The kiddos ready for the egg hunt!

Kiley and CJ planning what to do with the skateboard...

How about we do it like this?

Hope you all had a WONDERFUL Easter!

Christmas is Coming....

Tonite we dared to brave the crowd and the traffic at the mall and waited in line for about a total of 1 hour.... but we got to see :The Man:
live, in the flesh... it was THE REAL Santa Claus.... My 9 year old told me!
Awesome! He came ALL the way down here to Connecticut to see my kiddos.... awesome!
We waited in line behind this young lady and her 2 super adorable kiddos... one was named Kylie and she was 18 months old and had a little brother who was 8 weeks old. SUPER adorable and even more cute when they sat the little girl on Santas lap and she SCREAMED bloody blue murder. Setting an awesome example for my son as to how he should act! LOL!
We tried several different tactics for CJ to get him to be ok for a picture and we just ended up with Sydney holding him. NOT always the best choice! LOL! Ah well, I think the pic is OK!
Sydney asked for Furreal Friends Lulu the cat
Ashley asker for an electric guitar with an amp
Kiley asked for a big makeup kit and a chocolate calendar.
I dont know if CJ asked for anything! HAH! The girls might have said he wants some Robbie the talking truck or something like that!
We shall see what Santa brings in his satchel of toys!

Five Question Friday

I have not posted in a while so I figured I needed to get something up on here!!!! I always LOVE Five question fridays but always feel like I cant sit down for a minute to type anything out!
So, here it goes,.... Five Question Friday!!! Thank you Mama M.

1. Does Santa wrap the presents he leaves at your house?

Santa Wraps everything at our house! Although, this year there will be some super oddly shaped items so I need to figure out how Santa can get those wrapped up nicely! Santa does not do bows or anything like that. He fills the stockings with some goodies but mommy also throws little things in to the stockings for the kiddos too!

2. When is your "big" Christmas celebration...Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Tell us about it...

When I was growing up we would go to my paternal grandparent's house on Christmas Eve, have our gifts on Christmas morning (oh, and go to church for midnite mass on christmas eve) and then we would go to my maternal grandparents for a big christmas dinner and gifts on Christmas day night.
Now, things are different. We are a military family so we basically do things our own way. I am hoping to make a nice dinner for all of us and maybe invite another family over. I dont know yet though becuase I have not talked to my hubby and for some reason someone always seems to be puking on the holidays around here so I dont like to make plans. We do Christmas gifts in the morning after Santa drops them off. The kids open the stockings first, usually when we are getting up and moving. We dont usually have any money to buy gifts for one another (me and Chris) so the gifts is strictly about the kids. My parents gave us money for a trip to Florida and Disney so the gifts from them will also be less this year... because the trip was an awesome gift!
On Christmas Eve I give the kids brand new jammies to wear. We hope to make some cookies this year too! (minus peanuts/peanut products!)

3. Are you big on keeping tradition every year?

Once we are settled in a permanent place I am hoping to develop traditions, especially as the kiddos get older. Next year Chris will most likely be in Diego Garcia so I have NO clue what the holidays for next year will be like! SO NO TRADITIONS!

4. Do colored lights or white lights tickle your fancy?
I LOVE THEM ALL! We have a giant christmas tree that has been growing in our yard and the 1st 2 christmas' here it was all blue lights, last year and this year it is all red. Our inside tree is hideous but I wanted the kids to have what they wanted... maybe I will get some pics up! the more lights the better!!!! Mish mosh it if you want!

5. Do you decorate outside your house for Christmas?
HECK YEAH although this year we are very much behind because of our trip to Florida! The more the better for that too!!!!!!!!!!!

Attempting to get a Photo for Christmas cards...

Every year I assume that it is going to be a quick photo opportunity and I am going to get the picture worth a million bucks... every year I snap a whole bunch of pictures and come out at the other end with NOTHING worthy of a Christmas Card photo... I am hoping to get some more opportunities to take some pictures of the kids for a Christmas Card. IF my cards go out late, you know why! I am on a mission to get that perfect photo! I may end up having to settle for a minor disaster though... but hey, that shows their true personalities, right? OR I could do like Ali and make a collage of individual photos of the kids.... hmmm.... something to ponder!