This Time Last Year - February Edition

I started working on this post mid-February.

I thought I was going to be soooo good and get this out before the end of February!

Guess not! ;o)

So, this time last year....

Emma was still utilizing her walker. (Er, maybe *I* was utilizing it!)
Lookit those baby blues.
Her lashes were starting to get TONS of compliments!

Emma was just starting to walk.
She loved this ball.

This time last year, Emma also loved Tucker's crate.

This is me last year - with straight hair...

... to curly. I am now back to straight, but don't care to share any pics!

This time last year, Emma as practicing for her birthday!

This is THE FIRST time she ever fell asleep on the floor!
She still had her paci this time last year, too.

Brenna was modeling my first beanies (I'm hoping they've come a long way) lol

Brooklyn was modeling the beanies, too!

... and Emma was still practicing for her birthday cake!

This is the picture that went out in Emma's b'day invites this time last year.

Brooklyn and Brenna was playin' in the mud last February!

These were my favorite girls last year! (Another has been added... hopefully I can share soon)!

And here we are, this year!
I've realized I need to pick up my camera a little more often!

Here's one of the pics that went out on Emma's invite
... she's STILL getting compliments on those lashes!

This year on Valentine's Day

Baby Red Taters with her Kindi class!

I can't believe she's going to be 2!!!!

Next month's post should be pretty good! We've got some stuff coming up that we'll be getting pics of!

This Time Last Year - January Edition

I've been wanting to do these posts for a long time!

This time last year, Brenna was posin' for the camera...

...Emma was using her newly acquired standing skills to attack her big Sis...

Emma was almost 1, but still taking naps in her swing... with her favorite red cup

This time last year, Emma wasn't very cooperative when Mommy tried to take pictures!

... and her hair was in the "crazy" phase.

Boy, how time flies and things change!

Emma is now almost 2! And hamming it up for the camera!

Brooklyn just picked out her very first 4-H market hog!

Emma is right in the thick of things... with pig... uh, stuff on her face!

Brenna started Kindergarten and isn't afraid to show her school spirit!

... and neither is Brooklyn!

Ok, is it me or do my girls look SO MUCH OLDER! Last year Brenna still had the baby face!
*sniffle*

I'm going to like this! Can't wait to see some changes in February... I think!

Leave me a comment if you do a similar post so I can check it out!

Around our home at Christmas time...

Merry Christmas, all! I hope you're having a great holiday season!

The chill has definitely been in the air... there have been "rumors" about white fluff falling from the skies, but so far we've just had rain!

I wanted to take a quick break from developing and fine-tuning my tendinitis (read: crocheting) to finish decorating the house this morning!

I took (quite) a few pictures to share!

I started collecting Santas a few years back and it is definitely getting bigger! I won't buy just *any* Santa. They have to be different. They have to have a little personality. There has to be something that sets them apart from the "generic, stereotypical Santas".

Here are a few several of my favorites!

Americana Santa

Woodland Santa
complete with pine needles on his head & a cardinal on his shoulder!

Cowboy Santa
ain't he cute?
Workshop Santa
see his slippers?!

... and his needle & thread?
I love his lil face!

What the -?!?! Santa or Tipsy Santa

lol... this is what happens when your Santas are stored in the attic and it gets too hot!
Chubbers Santa
probably the closest I'll get to the "generic Santas"
but I just loved his lil face!

Santa Longbeard

he is actually supposed to be a wine-bottle topper, but we don't drink wine, so he's my shelf-sitter Santa (try saying that about 5 times - I only got to 3 when "it" happened).

Scottish Santa
named because his robe reminds me of a kilt.

Our lil Family Santa... I painted a little of the ribbon in white and then just wrote our name on there... The Jeskas '05!

Purple Ice Santa
... because not all Santas have to be red & white

White Santa

Rockin' Chair Santa

Dopey Santa

I'm sorry, but doesn't he look a lil like Dopey?

And my favoritest so far
Huntin' Santa
.. complete with shotgun, shotgun shells, camo vest & ducks!

Here they all are on our toy room entertainment center. Maybe next year we'll have enough shelves to spread them out a bit.

My Santa Moon on the tree

One of my favorite picture ornaments... Brooklyn & Brenna 2004

Our living room display

And let's not forget the REAL meaning of Christmas...

Isaiah 9:6-7
(6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

It's a hard lesson...

... and I'm not sure I'll ever fully learn it. Ok, maybe I'll learn it... it's just the accepting and *remembering* it that I have the problem with. And here it is...

Mommies are heroes. Mommies are grand. Mommies can do anything... except have an off day!

The *one* day that you show the first sign of weakness or loftiness or just plain tiredness...

... they can sense it. They know you're tired and not paying as close attention as you should be! It doesn't matter that you heard their peels of laughter & giggling and naively thought, "Oh, they're having fun with each other today! How cute!!"

*sigh*

Yeah.... no.

There are no days off in Mommyland...

Look at lil Blake... you can just read the thoughts on his poor, troubled face.
"I didn't do it, Brooke! I promise! Look, I'm stuck in here. Emma made me do it! I told her not to do it.... you believe me.... right?"

And then there's Emma... "Mom, I promise I didn.... oh, who am I fooling. Shaw-y, Mom."

Awww, but I sure do love the heck outta them!

This Tired Mom Tip #187...

This Tired Mom's Tip #187...

Multitask!

Talk on the phone while you're doing the dishes....

... or let the puppies out to pee while hanging out laundry...

... or give your daughter the wipey container to "bathe" herself while you're vacuuming the floor...

...or, one of my favorites - the 3 R's - accomplished in the "throne room"...

1. Reading - book, magazine, bible, newspaper
2. Relief - lock the kiddos out while you tend to private matters
2. Relaxation - the alone mommy time is so, so important.... don't worry, you'll get used to their knocking and incessant "MOM! MOM! MOOOM!"
(... either that, or they'll eventually give up and walk away.)

And, if you're like me, you detest bath time with 3 messy, noisy girls and do not thoroughly enjoy the whole hair-drying business. I, however, have come up with a perfectly perfect solution!!!

Dry your kids *with* their laundry! Go on! Just throw 'em in there! They come out so soft and smooth and they smell heavenly! Not to mention how much money you'll save by not having to run that pesky hair dryer!