Thursday, December 25, 2008

On the 1st Day of Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Brenna, you were so excited to see all of the presents Santa left for you! You opened each present scrap by little scrap of ripped wrapping paper. We thought you might never finish. You loved your guitar and Wiggles microphone, books, and most of all your pink and purple tricycle. You can't quite reach the pedals enough to push them yet, but don't worry, your little legs will get there eventually. Our Christmas was magic through your 2 year old eyes.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

On the 2nd Day (Before) Christmas


Dear Brenna...
You were insistent that we leave 5 cookies for Santa on the "Cookies for Santa" plate. Not more, not less, just 5. You weren't too sure whether you really wanted Santa to come to our house but finally just before falling asleep you decided "yes Santa, Mommy, Santa bring presents." I love that you were so excited! I can't wait to see your face and watch you open your presents on Christmas morning...
It's hard for me to decide which picture to use for the 12 days scrapbook. The cookies or this ready for bed picture:

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

On the 3rd Day (Before) Christmas

We're almost done...well, done enough that we can host Christmas Eve. Thanks honey, for all your hard work and effort...thanks too to everyone who helped to make this project go as quickly as it did. We appreciate all of you!


Little Girl got to spend some time with Uncle Freddy. He came home for Christmas. While we don't get to see him often, I love that he loves her so much and wants to spend as much time with her as he can while he visits.

Monday, December 22, 2008

On the 4th Day (Before) Christmas

It's cookie baking time! Brenna got to help this year, she poured ingredients into the mixer and supervised as it went round and round. Somehow I didn't get a picture of her while this was going on but I did get this photo...
~Note - this is the 3,000th, yes there are 3 zeroes there, image taken on our current camera since we got it for Christmas last year. How is it that I can take 3,000 pictures in a year and not a have a photo from every day of the year...I am working on that this year. This is also not the photo going into my 12 days scrapbook. This one is...

Sunday, December 21, 2008

On the 5th Day (Before) Christmas

"Jack Frost nippin' at your nose"

The view from our kitchen window...it was so cold the storm window frosted over on the inside.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

On the 6th Day (Before) Christmas


To My Princess...Love Uncle George.

Brenna received a beautiful floral arrangement today. He loves her so much...

Friday, December 19, 2008

On the 7th Day (Before) Christmas


I love when our home is decorated for Christmas. It is so full (aka cluttered) with Christmas that it makes it feel cozy and full of the spirit of Christmas. We got this cool mirrored star from one of our "white elephant" Christmas Eve exchanges a few years ago. The reflections from the candles is so pretty.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

On the 8th Day (Before) Christmas...

When we arrived home this evening I took Brenna out of the car and put her down so I could carry things in from the car. She is certainly big enough to walk on her own and the driveway had a clear path to the house that wasn't covered in snow or ice. I'm getting things out of the back of the Jeep when this happens:

B: "my walka the no {snow} mom" (oh yeah...mom, not mommy, mom).

S: "please stay out of the snow Brenna, you don't have your boots on and I don't want your feet to get all wet"

B: giggling - walks immediately into the snow - "my walka the no!"

She then proceeds to take her little fingers and run them through the snow, grabbing as much as she can in her unmittened hands. She didn't have her mittens or gloves because she threw them in the car, it's not a far walk to the house, and it wasn't too terribly cold. I thought for sure she would start complaining immediately but she got this huge grin on her face and said "cooollldd"! She continued to play for another minute until I told her it was time to go in. Of course I didn't have the camera handy while this was going on...it's another one of those mental memories. I did manage to get a few shots of little fingerprints and shoe prints in the snow!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

On the 9th Day (Before) Christmas...



So many of our ornaments tell a story, like this shamrock tree from last year. My mom is the giver of ornaments in our family. Every year for as long as I can remember we have gotten an ornament in our stocking, and every year when we're decorating the tree I remember that specific Christmas. Last year the three of us received our Irish ornaments...appropriate for us Sullivans.

I don't remember the year that I got this ornament, but it reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas. In read aloud time with my 5th graders we read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. Imogene Herdman - the most unholy young lady - plays Mary in the pageant. She comes to a realization in the middle of performing about the true meaning of Christmas and that really got me thinking about Mary and all that she must have gone through. She was so young and unsure of herself and her role. Joseph did his best for her with the full knowledge that this child was not of him. I can only imagine.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

On the 10th Day (Before) Christmas...

A call to the doctor for me.


Better this week than next....

Monday, December 15, 2008

2009 Calendar - Check it out!

It's official! The 2009 Calendar is up and ready for purchase! The proceeds are going to one of the causes in the calendar...to be chosen soon!

Check it out here http://www.cafepress.com/marietaylor

I created February!

On the 11th Day (Before) Christmas

Hopefully this will work....I know I can't scrap a video but I may capture an image and journal about it!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

The Sunday Six aka The 12th Day (Before) Christmas

1. We're on the countdown to Christmas! The tree is up ~ with 5 decorations carefully placed by Brenna. The dog's crate is in the middle of the living room - she is currently sleeping in there all curled up, it's rather cute! Brenna is napping - although I am not sure how as her daddy, pa, and uncle are downstairs sawing and nailing up paneling so that we can have a relatively finished basement by Christmas Eve...it's our turn to host the party ~ we hope we can do it!



2. I have entered all of my grades for my students' interims...yea - something else I can check off the list.



3. I currently am not remotely close to having our shopping done but if we would like to have clean clothes, clean bathrooms, and a finished basement, then shopping is on the shelf until next weekend.



5. A story to top all previous crazy mom stories - Friday Brenna had a doctor's appt. so I had to take the morning off to take her. We decided she would spend the remainder of the day with Grandma instead of going to day care. We finished up at the doctor fairly early so I decided we would do a quick Target run before we went to Grandma's. Shopped quick, loaded B into the car, not remembering that I had bumped the lock button on my keys, threw the keys in the front seat with my phone, closed her door. Went to open up the back of the Jeep to put our purchases in and OMG!!! it won't open. Yes, I did the thing all mothers are terrified of doing...locked my daughter in the car with not only my keys, but my cell phone. Luckily a woman in the parking lot took pity on me - thank you whoever you were - and let me use her cell phone. I called the police because who else would I call? The longest 5 minutes of my entire life. Standing on the outside looking in at B...who's looking at me like I am absolutely crazy. I'm crying and playing games with her through the window to keep her occupied. She was oblivious to what was really going on thankfully. I know this because she said to me "no mommy, you no do that (tap on the window and make faces at her). Thank you Officer Young for saving the day. I do solemnly promise to never throw my keys in the front seat while placing my child or my packages in other locations of my car. The only true damage was to my motherly soul...may I never lock her in the car, in the cold, with no phone, or keys again. Thanks mom for making me feel better by sharing a similar story of woe when I was about B's age!



6. Here is my first photo for my 2008 - 12 Days of Christmas Scrapbook


Have a wonderful week everyone!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Tuesday 10 Spot

Ok so really it's Monday but it is close enough for me!

1. The basement is well on it's way to being a great place for playing and having family and friends over. Many of you know we had to un-finish our finished basement because we found mold and water damage. We think we have solved the water part and are now in the process of re-finishing...insulation is in and paneling is going up next...the ultimate goal is to have it ready so that we can host Christmas Eve. Sean is working so hard trying to get it done.

2. Still having a hard time trying to decide what to get the little girl for Christmas. She's at that age where she's to smart for the baby toys, but not really ready for big girl stuff. Her attention span is about a minute - ok maybe longer but she's 2 & 1/2 - it isn't very long! We want to find something that will keep her interested for more than the first 10 minutes she has it.

3. Speaking of Christmas, we started decorating but now we have to get the tree up. Unfortunately it is more than just pull it out and put it up. It is cleaning out whatever we need from the front closet - coats, vacuum cleaner, and any games we may want to play during our vacation, so we can move Bailey's crate. She doesn't ever get locked in the crate, but it is her safe place/house and she just doesn't do well when we take it down, especially when Sean is out of town. Then we move the crate into the area between the front door and closet door. Then we move the footstool into the crate spot, put a piece of wood on it, and then the tree goes up (up a little higher to keep dogs and little hands from touching things that they shouldn't causing said tree to become up-ended (my husband has rigged it so that we string the tree to the window and the magazine rack to keep it from coming down). Then we can think about decorating.

4. Sometimes I love when Thanksgiving is late because it means Christmas will be here sooner, but sometimes I just need more time!

5. We have started our shopping, but just for the little girl. I don't really know when that is going to happen either. Between work and school, the little girl, family time - as much as we can get, activities, and working on the basement there just isn't enough time in the day to do the normal house stuff, let alone extra stuff.

6. I have joined the world of facebook, not that I will ever do anything with it. Fun to think that I can find old friends if I put in a little effort.

7. It has been very, very cold...to cold to wash my car which is absolutely disgusting. I am embarrassed that it is so dirty - both inside and out. I need to make that a priority when the weather gets a little warmer, even if it is only clean for a few minutes!

8. I can't wait for a warmer snow day to take the little girl out and play in the snow! We went to the grocery store yesterday and all she wanted to do was walk in her boots in the snow. Who knew that 3 steps in a tiny patch of snow could make a little girl so happy!

9. Little girl is working on her potty training...she's getting the idea but just not interested in doing everything in the potty yet. We've tried panties but after an accident yesterday I think it is just time to let her be and get back to it during break.

10. Only 16 more days my friends...I can't wait, can you? Merry Christmas!

PS ~ pictures coming soon!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Paper Pin-Ups 2009 Coming Soon


Keep your eyes peeled! The 2009 "Paper Pin-Ups for a Cause" calendar will be ready for purchase very soon. As many of you know, I have joined with 11 other crafty women to create a 2009 calendar. It will be available for purchase soon and all proceeds will be donated to one of the causes in our calendar. Stay tuned for the release date!

Happy Birthday Husband

Dear husband:

It's your birthday...the 10th birthday that I'll spend with you. I hope you know how important you are to me and our sweet litte girl. I'm so proud of all that you have accomplished, of the wonderful daddy you are to Brenna, and the amazing husband you are to me. I love that little girl loves you so much, it's so sweet that she tells you to be careful when you are traveling and that she is a "mini-sully". Every time I look at her I see our love. I love that you are the calm in my storms and know just what to say to put a smile on my face. Thank you for all that you are and for all that you do for our family. I love you so much,

Happy Birthday!

Love, me