It is that time again...2011 reflections & looking towards 2012

I am a little out of commission today.  I had my surgery on my right eye and am doing well but do not really feel like going out.  I think the Valium and codeine have made me pretty out of it and a bit nauseous. I can see a difference in my vision already but am a little blurry up close...so hopefully my typing is OK. I am avoiding looking at the screen.

This is my last post in 2011…so weird to think that tomorrow will be 2012. It sounds so futuristic. 2011 – was another great year. I feel so blessed to have a wonderful and healthy family, amazing friends, a great job that allows me to see beautiful places, and just overall happiness. This year has been a good one. What else can a girl ask for?


Let me see…this year...


I started the year off being pregnant. Waiting for our little girls arrival.

One of my biggest dreams came true when I stepped off the plane in Greece. This same trip I also got to go to Italy for the first time… Both were beautiful and had amazing food. A pregnant girls dream! Later in the year I made my first visit to Germany.  Another beautiful country.

We welcomed our precious little princess. Meli has been a great addition to our family.

My mom and younger brother came out for a visit. Colin had so much fun with Uncle Greggie.

We had a fantastic summer with our outdoor adventures, especially at the pool and water garden.

We celebrated birthdays and started introducing Meli to our holiday traditions.

We ended the year with an amazing Christmas. As I said, 2011 has been a great year filled with many memories that I will cherish forever.

Looking forward - I am excited to (fingers-crossed) be finishing up my Bachelor’s degree, exploring some new countries, spending time with my babies, watching them grow way too fast, and spending time with my sweet husband (who knows maybe this year we will get to take a trip together sans babies…maybe). My goals are to be a better student (no procrastination), get back into my shredding (Wendy got me started and it is a great workout), open a gym membership once I graduate, rekindle some old hobbies (reading, knitting, etc) and start some new ones (canning, gardening, etc), make even more time for kid crafts and family activities, and to just enjoy what comes.

"Drop by drop, a little at a time" - Homer

To my family, friends and readers of this blog – Happy New Year! May 2012 find you surrounded by love and happiness.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

One last Christmas get together

On Monday, we had our last Christmas dinner.  So sad that it is over.  I am excited for a new year to begin though.  So much to look forward to.  We had Bill, Patty and her sister Peggy over for some goulash and a whole bunch of leftovers.  I think everyone was worn out so no one had issues with using leftover side dishes.  We had a good time visiting and watchinig Colin entertain all with his new toys.  Even after 4 years his energy amazes me. 

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season...filled with many cherished memories with friends and loved-ones.  See you in the new year!! 2012...crazy!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

What a lovely Christmas Day

Grandma Liz, Uncle Michael and Liz's friend Janet came up Christmas day for dinner, drinks and of course presents!  We had such a great time and were glad that we could share it with Janet.  Such a sweet lady.  Colin kept her busy showing her all that Santa brought him and Meli.  Since I love recipes...I made Sweet Pepper Chicken with a few minor adjustments.  I can never just stick to a recipe.  That is why baking is not my strong suit. I also made (and had) green bean casserole for the first time.  Then we had had several other side dishes.  I love trying new things. 

Christmas was so much fun this year.  Colin just loved all of the activities we did to prepare for Christmas.  Will and I are excited to combine our traditions from our childhood and then create our own new ones. 

Colin was such a good helper.  He opened all of Meli's gifts for her and then explained what it was.  Then he gave her some wrapping paper to play with, which is really what she wanted!  He also picked out a turtle for her.  He thought she needed one.  He tried to get one for daddy too, but I talked him out of that.  Colin also decided that he wanted to give Mae some of his older toys that were too young for him.  It was so cute.  He put them under the tree and everything. Colin wrapped his first gift this year.  He actually did pretty well.  He picked out Will's gift all on his own (batman earphones for Will's iPhone). 

This year we did a lot of artsy gifts.  The grandparents in Oregon got a reindeer painting made from all of our thumbprints and the grandparents in Virginia got a Christmas tree made from Colin's handprints (with Meli's hand being the star on top of the tree).

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

 The B Family

Merry Christmas Cheer

I love this editorial piece. Such a perfect answer.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
VIRGINIA O'HANLON.

"VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, we had a great Christmas morning.  Colin did not wake up as early as I thought he would.  I turned out to be the one that was the excited little kid.  I woke up at 5:30 (not counting waking up at 1:30 because of Meli and having difficulties getting back to sleep)...I feel I was very patient.  I waited until 5:45 then bugged Will.  He grumbled something...so I waited longer.  6:00 AM and he was STILL not awake.  I think Will got annoyed with my constant moving around, so he went to make a noise that would wake Colin up.  Took over 3 tries!!  Actually, Meli woke up and then she and I went into Colin's bedroom and just woke him up.  So mean, I know.  He was SUPER excited once he woke up, so that makes it OK.  Colin thought the crumbs left behind from Santa were so cool.  Plus, Santa left the toy Colin has been asking for this whole time next to the plate.  Mr. Jolly also wrote a little message on Colin's note to him. 

Colin helped everyone with there stockings and then we went up and opened the packages left from Santa.  Colin thought it was so cool that even more gifts were under the tree in the morning.  It was so much fun watching him open his gifts.  He would get excited each time, whether it was a book or a toy.   We were going to have a special breakfast (waffles with fruit topping) but we had a lot to do so we had cinnamon rolls instead.

Oh, to explain the title.  Colin got to taste sparkling apple cider for the first time on Christmas Eve.  We all had some after dinner and did a toast.  Colin's grandpa taught him to do "cheers" one time with his cup.  So, when I asked what are toast should be, Colin said "Merry Christmas cheers" then he clinked my glass.  He is such a super cute kid.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Here comes Santa Claus

It is Christmas Eve and the kiddos are in bed.  We have spent all day preparing for the big guys visit.  We had our Christmas Eve breakfast (eggs, home-style potatoes, sausage links, bananas and Christmas applesauce).  I added cinnamon to Colin's applesauce and he asked what is this?  I told him it was special applesauce.  He was like "Christmas applesauce!" 

Colin got to open his Christmas Eve gift, which was The Muppet's Christmas Carol.  We took him to see the new Muppet movie and he loved it.  After we made our Christmas cookies and dinner was in the oven, we watched it as a family.  Then after we ate dinner we got ready for bed (Christmas pajamas), read our Christmas stories, and put out milk and cookies for Santa (plus a carrot for the reindeer) and wrote Santa a note.  I will have to share that later. So cute.

Now, I am tired and ready for bed.  I am so excited for tomorrow!!!  I will post more pictures from today later.  I hope everyone had/has a wonderful Christmas Eve. 

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Well not always sweetness

Now to be truthful...life is good and we have been blessed with amazingly good children. BUT every child has something that they need to work on. Colin is no exception. We were so lucky to have a boy who never went through a tantrum phase, did not have terrible two's, or three's, and has just been an all around super good kid...but starting at 3 1/2 or so his listening skills went to sh**!!

It is something we work on daily.  Some days he is better than others.  We know that most kids have this issue and we are probably less patient because it really is the only thing he has struggled with but sometimes he just makes us want to scream!!!!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~
The B Family

Sweetness all around

Yesterday morning I went thru the Starbucks drive-thru and the lady in the car in front of me paid for my whole order!  Is that not the sweetest thing?!?  It was first thing in the morning so it just made my day.

My conversation with Colin on the way home yesterday. 
   Colin: "Mom"
   Me: "yes"
   Colin: "Can I have a holly, harley Christmas"?
   Me: "Do you mean a holly, jolly Christmas"?
   Colin: "Yes, of course"
    Me: "Well, of course you can"

A video of Meli and her new favorite thing to do.

Ms. T took Colin into the post office today and first thing he does is says, "Hey! Who thinks my hat is cool"?  He was wearing his beanie with a cow on it.  Everyone started giggling.  Then he says, "Well?"

Meli is waving goodbye.  Little girl of course has a little princess wave.  She waves like she is sitting on a float. 

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

The first one was a success...two more to go!

We had our first Christmas gathering this past weekend.  It was a great time with family.  I love spending time with our nephews.  Colin just adores them.  Meli just stares at them.  I do not have any meal recipes to share with this one...we decided on a build your own deli sandwich idea with several different appetizers.  But we did end the night with a delicious Candycane Hot Cocoa.  I love Allrecipes.com.

Just some cute pictures of Meli's new winter hat.  I thought it was so cute and plus I thought it would make Will roll his eyes...it did!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Talk about Christmas spirit...

I know that I am an emotional mama and can still cry at a commercial with puppies...but this article made me tear up majorly.  What an amazing thing that is occuring across the country and at such an important time. 

Kmart Article

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

A Little Christmas Cheer

We decided to make cookies today.  We started our gingerbread cookies but they are chilling for the night.  Colin was really excited to make those type of cookies.  A while back he picked out the Gingerbread Man book and loved it.  He is funny, it was like April.  He always ends up picking a random book that really does not fit the time when we are reading it.  We are going to the library tomorrow and he will probably end up with an Easter book.  So, today we made oatmeal raisin and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.  A lot of them! We are set for a while, especially since I am not a big cookie person. 

Baker Colin

Colin was a knight protecting princess Meli, Queen mama, and daddy the King. He did think that the King should help him fight too.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Santa Baby!

Meli is 7 months today!  I am guessing that she is between 17.5 and 18 lbs.  I think she definitely added some length to her also.  Her onesies are getting too short again. She is making so many different noises now.  She does a cute one when she sees her ba-ba.  Will is thinking she is saying "da da".  I think she is but not quite sure it is directed at him yet, but maybe soon! Her bottom two teeth are in and it looks like her top two may be starting too.  Colin likes to point out her teeth to others.  She is a determined little thing when something is out of her reach.  She will reach until she her tummy is touching the floor. 

Our precious little princess let us take some Christmas photos of her today.  Here are my favorites.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

 The B Family

A Visit by Christmas Past

Here are some of my favorite Christmas moments...

2007: Colin's first Christmas tree

2008:

Colin discovering ornaments - a few years later he broke my Eeyore one that is in his hand...so sad

Colin being obsessed with the tree

2009:

Seeing the Christmas trees in D.C.

My adorable little Santa's helper

A very cool helper

Going to Oregon for Christmas and seeing one of my favorite places, the duck pond

2010:

Colin being super excited on Christmas morning and understanding Santa Clause a little more

Playing in the snow

And so far for Christmas Present

2011:

Christmas pajamas!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~
The B Family

Santa: All I want for Christmas is...

...to say "goodbye" to my glasses...please!!!

I am finally doing it!  I am getting iLasik!!!!  I am super excited...and nervous at the same time. I have wanted to do it for years. I hate spending so much money on contacts, solution, etc.  Especially since my contacts have been giving me trouble these past few years. Last year, I had an infection from my contacts where I had to go without them for a while (of course during a trip) and wear my glasses, which I hate!  I love the look of glasses but do not like wearing them.  They give me headaches and they are just a nuisance.  Before my Germany trip this year, I went to see if I was a candidate since my eyes were again giving me trouble.  The doctor took one look at my eyes and told me that I could no longer wear contacts. EVER again.  So, iLasik here I come!

I am doing my eyes on different days since I have to get two different procedures done.  My right eyes is perfect for iLasik and will be a quick procedure (and a day recovery).  My left eye, the bother, is proving to be a little more difficult.  I have a scar on my eye (from a severe case of conjunctivitis years ago).  The scar prevents me from being a candidate for iLasik but I get an older procedure done.  That works just as good but it is more painful and more recovery time. 5 days compared to 1! With my first eye they create the flap.  Do their thing.  Replace the flap.  The eye heals fairly quickly.  The second eye, they do not do a flap, they just take it OFF!!  Do their thing. Then put a contact like thing over it to protect my poor eye.  Then my amazing eye will create a new top layer.  5 days later (give or take) I am good to go!  No glasses! 

In between the surgeries I am going to look so cool with my glasses on with one lens popped out.  Oh, yeah!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Name Change...Again.

So, I changed the name of my blog...again.  I know, I know - how annoying, right??  Well, I had wanted to change "The World of Master Colin" when Meli came...so I went with "Dragons & Unicorns" but I just was not really feeling it.  Tonight, as we were driving home with May screaming the whole way, (It was past her bedtime and she was letting us know she was not thrilled about that fact) a new title just came to me - Playing in the Rain.  I think this is a good title because it sums it all up.  Parenthood is the most amazing thing, the most precious gift BUT it is tiring, and challenging and will push you to your limits...When you reach the point where you think you will have to scream - that is when you get a glimpse of a single smile or laugh that just reminds you why all of the good, the bad and the in-between times are worth it.  We are playing in the rain.  Making life work.  Pushing aside the stress of parenthood and realizing the blessing that it all is. 

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Feeling that wonderful Christmas spirit

I just love, love, LOVE this time of year.  There truly is a Christmas spirit.  Even if life is stressed, busy - la, la , la - it is just a happy time.  Colin is thrilled to the max about Christmas this year.  He wants to write Santa a letter and is already talking about leaving cookies & milk for him (and carrots for the reindeer - of course).  He also has a Star Wars Lego advent calendar that has been a very exciting item.  He loves opening the new window to see what he gets.  He recently watched some of a Star Wars movie with Will, which thrilled Will to death!  So, Colin knows the characters and is having a hay day with the legos.

Meli has been clapping after every bite of food.  So cute but it makes for a long meal.  She also has her first two teeth.  Colin thinks that is so cool.  Meli probably does not.  Colin got his teeth so easily.  You barely noticed anything was wrong.  He may have been a little more cranky but he was such a happy baby that it was nothing.  Meli is having a little more trouble.  Still not bad.  Definitely doable but poor baby.  May's face is getting a little chubbier. So cute.  I just want to pinch her little cheeks.  She still has a pretty small frame.

Meli is so lucky to have Colin as a big brother.  He is always ready to help make her happy.  I may have already mentioned this but there have been two times where he really shows this.  On our drive home on Thanksgiving he sang most of the ride home (over an hour) to make her happy.  She calms down whenever someone sings "Meli had a little lamb...".  Then the other morning he heard her crying, so he took his pillow and blanket in her room and laid down and sang to her again.  Such a sweet boy!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

The Parents' Corner

It is time for a parent update.  No baby talk (for the moment). I wrote this forever ago and forgot to post it.

BEWARE: Husband bragging session *Divert your eyes if needed*

My hubby is such an inspiration to me.  He is an amazing father, a wonderful husband, a caring friend, and just an overall great person.  With all that he does for our family he has been very busy with his career.  He recently received a PMP (Project Manager Professional). He is in a Project Manager position at work.

He has been looking at possible Master programs and he just finished his last class to receive a Masters Certificate in Project Management. So proud...*tear, tear.

He is also doing a lot with his band. I am so glad that he is able to enjoy a hobby of his.  His musical abilities just amaze me.  He can play the trumpet, piano, drums and bass guitar.  He wants to play something, he just picks it up and does it.  A little jealous over here in this corner where I cannot even sing on key.

I will hopefully be completing my bachelor's degree either this Spring term or Summer term, if all goes to plan.   I have been working on this degree for way longer than I would like to admit...but you do what you have to.  I was determined not to have student loans...and I do not!  Such a headache to deal with.  It also has taken me a bit longer than needed because I switched my major a few times.  I got an Associates in Psychology and then decided to pursue pre-Physical Therapy with a minor in Ancient Greek Civilization and Art History.  When I moved to D.C. I decided to switch again, and to a totally different type of subject.  Now I am working on Computer Information Systems with an emphasis in Database Management.  Several  credits transferred from Portland State University, but there were a lot of core classes that I needed to take fort this new major.  After this quarter, I only have 5 more!!  So excited!  I must enjoy a challenge. Not only am I working full-time, traveling around the world, and raising two kids - now I decided to double up on my classes so I can finish up sooner. Ca-razy!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Do you hear what I hear?

We like to get our Christmas decorations up the weekend of Thanksgiving.  It is easier because we know it is a long weekend and plus, we get to enjoy the Christmas spirit that much longer.  Colin was singing "Do you hear what I hear..." throughout the day.  It was super cute.  Probably more so since that is one of my faves. 

So we are having a bit of a Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas.  I brought back a lot of ornaments from my Germany trip this year.  Things like:

My Father Christmas ornament.  I love wood ornaments, especially ones that depict old fashion pictures.

You have to really look, but there is our pickle!  The German tradition is to hid the pickle within the tree and whomever finds it gets an extra gift.

I bought Meli and Colin their ornaments this year from the Käthe Wohlfahrt store.  This one is Meli's. 

My biggest find from Germany was something that Will and I have been looking for since our first Christmas 6 years ago...our Christmas Angel!  Will is a bit picky when it comes to tree toppers and we both wanted something super special.  So we have our own Käthe Wohlfahrt angel.  Is she not the most beautiful topper ever?!?

My cozy little Christmas baby! Probably dreaming of Christmas ba-bas

Colin enjoying his hot cocoa while we put up the tree.

May loving the lights!

Our tree!

A bonus picture of little May sleeping with a stuffed animal that Colin let her borrow.  She loves his Big Bird.

So excited for Christmas!!!!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Poor Gobble Gobbles

I enjoy this holiday because it brings family together and there is always good food.  I am, however, a strong believer in the fact that the victors write the history books and usually those individuals want to paint events a little nicer than they occured.  Thus, I have a hard time believing that the first Thanksgiving went the way we learn in grade school.  Maybe it did.  Even so, the times to follow were not so pleasant.  I am split with the event since my family was more than likely on both sides of that dinner.  But I never condone the idea of inhabitants being forced off their land and having religious views pushed on them.  I also feel for the poor turkeys.  How they must dread this month.  Besides all that I do plan on using the holiday to teach Colin and Meli about a group of people whose existense has been so diminished.   It will be a celebration of the natives of this country.

Enough of the seriousness...we did have a wonderful holiday spent with family.  We started the day at my father-in-laws to wish him a happy birthday.  Colin, as usual, had a blast at his house.  Always so many little trinkets to play with. Grandpa showed him all of his little bones he uses for school.  Like a rat, a turtle,etc.  As most boys probably would, Colin thought they were fascinating. 

Then we headed over to Grandma Liz's to have dinner.  It was a lovely dinner.  Michael made delicious holiday cookies and Liz made a turkey, corn pudding (a must for Will), sauerkraut, asparagus, stuffing, mashed potatoes and several other wonderful dishes.  Liz was so sweet and took care of everything.  All I had to do was make a winter salad.

Another aspect or tradition of this holiday that I like is the part of reflecting on what one is thankful for.  I have so much to be thankful for.  I am very blessed. I am so thankful for my loving husband, my two beautiful children, our jobs, being so close to being done with my degree, my wonderful mom & dad, my brothers, the sweetest mother-in-law a girl could ask for, my always entertaining father-in-law...all of my in-laws actually...life is good.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

A Chronicle

Our sweet, precious little baby boy turned 4 yesterday.  I cannot believe it.  Last year he understood that he would get presents but the concept that it was his birthday was still a little away from him.  This year he really seems to understand.  He had his party and he knows that yesterday was his special time with our family.  We went to the library to pick out some new books, opened his gifts from Grammie and us, and then had a cake with strawberries on it.  That was his special requests.  I asked him what he wanted for dinner and he squinted his eyes like he was really thinking and then he answered, "I do not need dinner, just a treat will be good".

I thought to celebrate my favorite little boy I would  post some of my favorite pictures of Colin.  A little chronicle of his first 4 years...

2007/2008

First Christmas

His introduction to Football Sunday

First Halloween

First birthday

First Thanksgiving...well second one but first out of the hospital

2009

Intro to Superheroes!

Pretty Little Blonde

More Pumpkins

2010

First Big Snow

First Bike

2011:

Love my baby boy!  Happy birthday, Colin!!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family