too soon?

YO!! I'm a blogger!!

 we didn't have a computer for months, and now have had a computer for months and I don't know how to use the darn thing.  But decided, what the heck - its been a whole freaking amazing year and not one blog. It pains me.. So I'm trying to figure this new blog out so bear with me. I think these are all old photos from old blogs but they were the only pictures I could find. But they are goodies!! And make me sooo EXCITED for this up coming holiday xoxo

 hoping we get loads and loads of snow this year to make up for last year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 SO looking forward to celebrating with family and making more warm oooey gooey memories

 now these next few photos just kill me. My little chubby bubbie. who loves to kiss our cat and call him muffin face or his little crispy walnut. He wanted to go to his friends house yesterday, who lives just a few doors down from us. And asked me if I could drive him. I, of course said no, just walk. But he said he couldn't because he was worried and afraid that someone would see him and think he was running away

 my babies.................................... where have they gone??????????????????

 Oey has never looked so good in tap shoes xoxo

 My baby is 5! and still a believer even though we don't push the whole Santa thing

 YAY!! so many parties to behold and so many loved ones to hug, love and dance with. Our first holiday party of the season is tonight. It makes me so happy because its one of those things that once you go to one party the ball just gets rolling and can't be stopped until somewhere in early January

I feel so blessed to have my little family. I feel as though my life always does have little twinkling lights around it. And just maybe my honey will see this sad blog and show me where he has stored the photos on the computer. But, until then!!!! Happy Friday!!!



p.s. I just went and re-read this and feel really bad that I only talk about one child!! but lets just remember these were random pictures I found and I love all my kids, not just my little toad stool xo

Home....

is where the heart is xoxo

This is our first year having our very own Thanksgiving at home...alone.

I'll be honest, I thought I was going to hate it and I was on the border of planning a last-minute trip to bask in the warm desert sun and forget about homesickness for the long weekend. But things were crazy busy and at the last moment instead I woke up at home and was GLAD, even EXCITED!!

I have been in some kind of funk for the last month, I'm sure you can tell from my lack of blogging. I got home from my trip and there has not been just one minute to sit, catch up, and breathe. As soon as I got off the plane I feel as though someone pushed the FF button on me (fast-forward) and I have been totally struggling. Little did I know the very thing I needed was to just stay home.

It has been the greatest breath of fresh air and we are now going in slow-motion.

Our few

and only decorations

The kids happy to be kids and keeping an ever-watchful eye on me in the kitchen, curious of the growing mess I was making.

They ended up with some elaborate cushion forts.

fueled by the veggie tray--guess they don't like peppers

my little sweet helper setting the table

Daddy harvesting some herbs

Our full warm delightful table, filled with steamed green beans, gravy, rolls, roasted carrots, Brussels sprouts, garden carrots, red potatoes, sweet potatoes and herbs, Tofurkey, a loaded green salad with candied nuts, craisins, feta, cucumber, tomatoes. Mashed potatoes and stuffing. Success, in my eyes. For someone who has had way too much bad luck in the kitchen I was feeling like a PRO! I did forget the fruit salad though, but no one noticed.

Slicing up the Tofurkey 

We all sat and enjoyed every bite and moment sharing our Thankfulness. I glowed hearing the kids' long, neverending lists of what they are thankful for. But in the end, dad was left clearing and stuffing his face from the kids plates.

We took a break and played, went to a great kids movie (Hugo), and we did loads of puzzles while the pie baked. Speaking of ... it was my first time making pie. We made apple and boy was it mouthwatering. 

I had forgotten that a sweet life is just taking it easy at home. I'm still beaming and still at home enjoying every slow-motion moment. We have been playing games and eating cake into the wee hours of the morning. And if I once again forget to slow down and be thankful, I just so happened to have taken a video of my kids long telling tales of thankfulness. xoxoxo

I hope you all had a warm, happy day filled with what really matters, and it's not in the presentation or the fruit salad, but making time to sit with the ones you love.

p.s. it's good to be back

Oh me, Oh my

little Indiana Jones

This time of year is my absolute favorite. I love how it is just packed full of excitement, pure and simple ones. The fall colors, leaf piles, dressing up, baking goodies, roasting pumpkin seeds, carving pumpkins, the endless parties, and squeezing in as much outdoor time before it turns bitterly cold. It is full to the brim with real quality family time.

I'm leaving today. And can't help be sad for all I'm going to miss. Yeah, call me spoiled. Who wouldn't want to celebrate turning 30 with their honey in paradise? Me, I guess. My kids love parties. Who else would I want to celebrate with? I'm going to miss dressing my kids up and seeing their faces glow when they look in the mirror, watching their faces turn sour as they reach their little hands into their pumpkins. The light in their eyes when they receive their first full candy bar while trick-or-treating. I LOVE running door to door with them. It is all so priceless. 

Who is going to take their pictures in the school Halloween Parade?

That is just one little thing that is haunting me.

I didn't start this post to cry and whine but to be glad for all I have already been able to do with them, continuing fall traditions and making new ones. xoxo

 

Snuggled up for the full moon lift ride at Sundance

 

decorating sugar cookies

making loads of apple chips with Jarom

finding a sleeping zombie

still harvesting a hearty bounty

Being adopted by a new little furry friend. Our very own Halloween cat, Link!

who can always be found cuddling

fall field trips

Getting lost in a corn maze

A new tradition. Hiking Donut Falls among the beautiful aspens.

It was colder in canyon than we thought. The boys were lucky enough to find little wraps and scarves in the car to keep them warm.

Brandon scooting his way up to the falls

Isn't she lovely?

 

Can't hike Donut Falls without actually eating a doughnut - just you try.

Our Nanie came to visit!!!!! It was her tradition to come visit us every fall but she missed the last two, we are so glad to have her back, and her new husband Jack. It was like CHRISTMAS!!!!

Spidey led the way 

Everyone else gladly followed

Finished with Halloween bedtime stories xoxoxo

How blessed am I?

I cannot count all the ways.

Rachel, Ade, and Dolly -

Thank you

For your love, time, and energy spent loving my kids while I'm gone,

it REALLY means the WORLD to me.

Coromandel

Day 11: Coromandel

Our last day was an exciting one for me, because in reading my travel books there were three things that jumped out at me immediately - the first was the doing the Tongariro Crossing, which we were able to do on Thanksgiving Day, and then the other two were saved for last.

Good thing we crashed the night before, because we needed to get up bright and early to make it to Hot Water Beach while the tide was still low.

walking down the beach to find the hot spots

GOLD 

here we are sitting in our very own little hot sandy bird bath

A better picture of it. As you can see we didn't need to dig too far. Even this much water was hard to bear because it was boiling hot. From this very spot I watched the cutest old man in a Speedo have to get into the ocean to cool down, and then he hit a hot spot in the ocean and had to run back to the beach. It is kind of a dangerous beach.

Matty relaxing. We took a couple videos of the water boiling.

bliss

Last on my to do list was a hike to Cathedral Cove. You might recognize it from one of the Narnia movies. It is the one where they watch a train rush by, and then they see glimpses of the most gorgeous beach EVER. And then magically they appear there.

The trail goes along the cliffs and is oh-so-scenic.

When we started this trail it was still early in the morning. It is a popular one and we didn't see anyone the whole time. When we got there, there were two other couples already lying out on the beach. But other than that, everyone else was coming in as we were leaving.

A little disappointing to get down there and see it roped off. We walked back and forth a few times and then just said, what the heck, we're going through.

on the other side!!

and all alone xoxo

And then the mad rush along the rest of the Coromandel highways to make it to Auckland in time to return our cute little rental car and hit the plane headed home. New Zealand, we will see you again soon.
--- ---

 -- more NZ 2010 --
Pre-trip preparation
Day 1: Auckland
Day 2: Orewa to Paihia
Day 3: Paihia to Kaitaia
Day 4: Ninety Mile Beach to Rawene
Day 5: Rawene to Hamilton
Day 6: Hamilton to National Park
Day 7: Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Day 8: Taupo to Rotorua
Day 9: Rotorua
Day 10: Thames to Hahei
Day 11: Coromandel