Random pictures that make me smile

Like father like son

Mason's speech class, we loved going to it

My mom, snuggling Abbie 

My dad reading to the kids, Dani's attention only lasts so long

Grama with Abbie

Right before they flew away

All the toys in the world and this is what they play with

First black eye:( poor sweetheart

Play dough building.  Bunicu had quite the alligator built 

In Wonder

I've been thinking a lot about Christmas, the reason we celebrate and everything that goes along with that.  My mom's shortbread, stockings, family and of course the birth of Jesus.   How grateful I am for my own mother and the love and care she has shown me over the years.  I am grateful more than ever, now that I have three of my own,  the hard work, the love, the frustration, the unconditional love.  I am thankful for my mother-in-law and how she raised the man that I love, who is such a great husband and amazing father. As we have a little one in our house at this season (well a really little one, the 2 and 1 year old are little too) but having a baby sure makes me think of how I would have felt being Mary.  I am in no way comparing myself to this remarkable, gentle woman but I do feel a kinship with her as mothers.   I imagine she felt the same as we all do when about to give birth.  We want our babies to arrive on this side of the veil healthy, warm and into the hands that love them.  We are nervous of what lies ahead, we have dreams for our little ones and desire that they never know pain, hardship and loss.  Of course we know that is impossible but our instincts are to protect and love this little spirits and protect them.  I can imagine the love she felt for husband as he tried to make her as comfortable as possible in less then ideal circumstance.  How grateful I am for that mother and the guidance she showed her family and for the reason we celebrate at this time of year. I'm in awe and wonder as she held her sweet one, smelled his hair, counted his fingers and toes and held him close.  I wonder if her heart  swelled with joy and ached at the same time from the knowledge of what her son meant to the world. My goal this Christmas season is to keep Christ in Christmas and be a better mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend.

Three is "Glee"

UNCOMFORTABLE

To say I'm uncomfortable is quite the understatement, this pregnancy is kicking my tail... maybe it's because it's the 3rd one in 3 years, or that I have really active little ones, and that I'm HUGE and the fact that are other 2 are allergic to sleep (not kidding I think it really is possible) Like last night Miss D was up at 10 for an hour then starting at 1-4 am she was a bonafide turkey.  Then my night in shining armor came to rescue me (there were some tears involved) and then Mr. M decided it was his turn.  YIKES I'm super scared that I will be up 24/7 between new babe and the other darlings.... but this two shall pass I was looking at little videos and pictures of the crew and thinking I don't remember them like this and I really want to enjoy all the little things that will soon be gone and I will miss immensely.  So after listening to conference talks about the family, my goals are to think of 5 things everyday that I love about being a mom and to continue taking little pictures daily so I remember these sweet and not so sweet moments. 

And the horrible mother award goes to....

My poor kids this week, I win the awful mother award this week. Due to no patience, irritability, not being able to move as quickly and just plain monsterish. As I was doing dishes tonight after I put Miss D to bed and Alin is snuggled down with Mr. M I feel bad for my poor kids. Usually I have patience and don't sweat the small stuff but not this week. I'll spare you all the details because I really want to forget this week and start fresh. I have 2 beautiful children who are super busy which is a blessing. The third one due to make it's arrival soon so starting tomorrow, I will pray to have more patience and enjoy being a mom. I will not let things bother me, I will give hugs instead of being frustrated, I will kiss those chubby cheeks and hold hands and play (I'll pretend I'm the dad for the day) Here's to a new day of enjoying the possibilities. Love you Mr. M and Miss D

Our two yahoo's

Adventures all summer long, August long weekend consisted of us going to MT. Tremblant in Quebec, Alin did a little hiking to get ready for his adventure of a lifetime (Kilimanjaro) and I try to not let my green with envy self show. Then to the reptile museum for a morning of watching snakes, spiders, alligators and turtles. Many more adventures have happened but my time is short as I'm doing this while one is napping and the other is destroying the office.

Please press pause

So this little hurricane of ours is always on the move, and by that I mean you take her away from the dirt in the plant and she's crawling up the stairs, you move her from there she's into the cupboards with the glassware, to the pantry, to the bathroom to see if the toilet has been left up by a forgetful soul then on to torment her brother take a few of his cars...and so the day goes between the two of them it's crazy. So much for having kids that just sit there and look at picture books. So when she crashes she crashes fast and hard but only for a few minutes usually 20 at most. Had to snap this picture of her as she is trying to climb the couch, no doubt to crawl over the back of it but here she is catching some zzzzz's