Unfailing Love: Tis the season.....

Vincent Gerard

This is my hubby. Also known as Vinny, Dowey, Dowebally, and (as of last night) Pickle Juice. (You may learn that I have an affinity for nicknames, comes from my daddy!) Unbelievably, the hubs and I have been married for 9 years! I can't believe it! Seems like just yesterday I was a freshman in college and my friend introduced me to this hunky senior with a hot red car! Vince is working hard to support our family and traveling here and there. Vince is a WONDERFUL father and his girls (all of us) are the most important things to him!

Barclay Kathryn

What to say? I'm Barclay, usually known as Barclay (not much you can do with Barclay). I was an elementary teacher for fours years until I had Bella. Now I am doing the job I have wanted to do ALL of my life, being a mom. I love these two girls more than I can possibly express and it is my joy and privilege to be able to spend each day with them. I recently entered the blog frontier, and although my blog followers will probably be able to be counted on one hand, I thought it would be exciting to be a part of something so neat. I love that there are many other moms out there facing the same joys, hardships, questions, surprises, and challenges that I am. I also hope to be a sort of medium to spread awareness for others that need prayers, help, or just someone to walk through life with!

Isabella Kathryn

Usually referred to as Bella. As well as Bells, Bellie, Belly Boo, Bellsie Bubs, Bubs, Bubba, Bells and Whistles.... Bella is our first born daughter. She is 6. Bella enjoys school, reading, riding her training-wheel free bike, she could color and write for hours, she loves singing to the Momma Mia soundtrack, anything princess or pink, having bows in her hair, playing dress up, and her little sisters! God blessed us with Bella a month early but she was perfectly healthy. In six years she has become such a bright, outgoing, sensitive, and fearless little girl. Bella really is the sweetest girl you will ever meet. She is eager to please. If she hurts or disappoints someone it literally crushes her to tears. This last year she asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior and we could not be more proud!! Love this sweet, blonde, blue eyed beauty!

Bryanna Karina

Usually known as Brynn. As well as Brynnie, Miley, Miley Moo, Geegs, Geegers, Brynnie Boo, and many more. Ten days before Bella turned 2 years old we were blessed with another beautiful, healthy girl by planned c-section. This time I was able to see my baby right after birth, watch her get weighed, bathed, etc. I couldn't wait for Bella to meet her. Brynn is now 4 and keeps me laughing all day long. Brynn, since she was about 2 months old has been the smiliest baby I have ever met. All you need to do is look at her and she will flash you a world class smile. Brynn is smiley, more shy and reserved about things than her big sis, can be quite the clown when she feels safe or gets in a silly mood, amazingly brilliant, she's been speaking full sentences since she was 19 months and continues to amaze us with what comes out of her mouth. She loves doing whatever her big sister is doing, dressing up, looking at books, her blankie, being held, twirling in her dresses, singing, and dancing whenever she hears music! Brynn is my compassionate baby, she hates to see people hurting. We just love this sweet, shy, snuggly, smiling little girl!

Brooklyn Blythe

Also known as Brookie, Brookie Cookie, Cookie Lu, Lulu B just to name a few. Sweet, sweet Brooklyn is our family's latest addition! We welcomed Brookie into our family on August 23rd 2010 at 12:23pm by planned c-section. I was nervous she would be a bit high maintenance since she came out screaming bloody murder and continued to wail anytime anyone touched her- get her footprints, take her temperature, etc. Amazingly, she would instantly stop the moment the Hubs touched her or began talking to her. And since her birthday, we have barely heard a peep out of her..... And fast forward 18 months, she definitely makes plenty of peeps now! :) We are full blown in the the terrible twos (which IMO last from 18-36 months) I believe. To make matters worse she's also cutting her 4 molars. She definitely knows what she wants but can't quite articulate it, so gets frustrated. Eating is also a hit or miss these days which is very foreign to me. Mixed with the crabby days though is the funniest personality ever. She is a riot! She LOVES chasing after her big sisters or having them chase and imitate her. She also has this adorable chubby face and will peek out of the corner of her eyes and just melt your heart! She is definitely shy at first but if you can get through to her she will keep you in stitches with her antics. We love you little BB and couldn't ask for a sweeter addition to our family!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Tis the season.....

I love, love, love the Christmas season, always have. My love has only grown since having children. Somehow the holiday season through their eyes makes it all the more merrier! Well the first week in November (I told you I'm behind in posting!) the hubs was away on business (this was when my lovely 3 year old informed her speech teacher that he had moved out), and although the hubs enjoys the holiday season, he DOES NOT enjoy decorating for the holiday season. Every year is usually spent with me hassling him to get our decorations out and him complaining and then me in tears that he doesn't enjoy it with me (call me a bit emotional). Well I thought, how nice would it be if I spare him the mess of having to lug the stuff out, clean, put up, put containers back, etc. (I know wife of the year ; ) ). So the girls and I did it all while he was away. Well I should clarify, all the decorations but the outdoor ones, those we leave to daddy. The hubs actually put them up the weekend before he left because it was 70 degrees and we wanted to take advantage of warm weather. Nothing like making the season last longer! Anywhoo, it was SO much fun decorating with the girlies. They were so excited about it all. Brynn loved seeing all the different things we had and Bella actually even remembered where some of the things went.

That evening when the hubs returned from his trip we decorated the tree together. Growing up, my family and the hubs' family would get us an ornament every year (which they gave us once we were married). Once we were married we got each other one every year. We also got the girls one every year, as well as grandma. So needless to say we have a lot of ornaments!! Every year Mormor Domier also gets us the moving/musical Hallmark collectible ornament. The girls love these ornaments. They have spent every day since turning them on a least twice a day. So we have a very full, bright, noisy tree! Here are some pics of our fun!

Is this how a stocking goes mom?

Our abundance of ornaments. My personal favorites: mine from my very first years and s'more ornaments!

Apparently it wasn't turning on the way she wanted. : )

Here's a couple of the Hallmark ornaments, all the parts move and they play music.

My very first ornament ever. Given to me while we were living in Vienna. I love it! Small, wooden, perfect (well almost, she's missing her drumsticks :) ).

2 comments:

Kelly said...: I love Christmastime too! Such a fun time of year. Bella and Brynn have such cute personalities! Loved the pictures of you helping them decorate the tree :); December 12, 2009 at 11:15 PM
HeatherOz said...: Looks like so much fun! Christmas is so much better with kiddos! I love your new header and all the new family photos!!; December 13, 2009 at 10:01 PM