peek!

can't you just hear her laughing?

:)

Lovelies, how were your holidays/holidaze? My December started with a most amazing and wonderful wedding, rolled into a Christmas with my family which included a visit from my big brother and his girlfriend and so far this week, I hung out with my Aunt and baby (ok, she is 22) cousin.  I can't complain.  S1 went to NY to visit his dad and stepmom.  I think he will be coming back a bit swagged (spelling?) out. LOL.  I am looking forward to making some changes in the coming year- I think some will be more challenging than others but I plan to write down goals this year.  I slacked on documenting these last couple of years and I really think it bit me in the butt because I've been feeling like I've kind of been rolling along, you know? Ready, set, bring on 2012!!

Lonnnnng overdue....

Lovelies, this year is whizzing by.  It's November already! October was hugely busy with my brother's wedding, catering jobs for chef and life!  We managed to finally get some family pictures taken.  The last time we took family pictures, S3 was less than a year old.  Terrible, I know.  My dear friend Kim (go like her on Facebook! KimmyBee Photography) and her friend Natalie took pictures of us in the park and we could not be more thrilled with the way they turned out! Sneak peek!

Some pics from the last month!

Wordless Weekend! ;)

Let's catch up!!

Lovelies, we have some catching up to do!  My younger brother got married and we schlepped the tribe all the way to the east coast.  It was an adventure! Everyone (including S4!!) traveled extremely well.  We had coloring books and snacks for the plane and everything went pretty well!  We got upgraded from a minivan to a Ford Expedition (yay!!), got lost from the airport to the hotel (we were turned around for a good 2 hours in the wee hours of the morning.  Not cool at all!).  We stayed in a big mansion with an amazing backyard but best of all, my brother looked happy.  He looked happy and relaxed.  I will admit that I was worried.  My big brother was able to make it and all was well with the world.  We were all together for a short while, but were happy to have shared in my little brother's day. 
As complainey (sp?) as he is, hubby told me that he really enjoyed himself, which caught me off guard because all he did was complain about the weather before we even left the airport after we landed! The Ss were in the wedding party and looked so awesome.  I was in the wedding party too, but after seeing the pictures, I know I have some work to do. (eek!).  The airplane we were on for the ride home was delayed, causing us to miss our connection and be put on standby, only to not make it onto the last flight out to AZ, thereby sending my entire family into semi freakout mode.  We got bumped to the next day's flight and were put up in a hotel and given food vouchers, courtesy of the airline.  Still plan on sending the airline a letter informing them of the inconvenience that we were made to deal with, with 4 children in tow!
Pics in a bit!  ;)

Wedding, marriage, little brothers.

Have I ever told you that I have two brothers?  I am the most blessed sister to be smack in the middle of my two brothers.  It's good to be a middle child with such awesome beings on either side.  Well, the youngest of our sib-set is getting married.  I'm trying not to freak out.  I'm not even sure if he can believe it! Of course, I have my big sister hat on, trying to get to know my future sister in law, which is cool. Plus I gave them both the 'plan your life, not just your wedding' speech while they had me on speaker phone a few weeks ago.  I am happy, worried, excited, all the feelings that go along with this type of occasion.  I'll probably bawl at the ceremony- just because my baby brother is officially grown.  He has been a grown man for awhile now, but jeez! lol

They are not planning on having babies right away, but you best believe that I will be educating/advocating for a midwife or doula and breastfeeding, co-sleeping, cloth diapering and all the other facets of natural parenting that society has been so slow to get back to.  My future sister in law seems to be open to try cloth diapering- she even sent me a cloth diaper after S4 arrived.
Lovelies, what advice would you give to a newly engaged/wedded couple? Is there any advice that you got and loved? Hated? Laughed at? Wished you had gotten?