Silent night

What a holiday weekend! Good food, family, laughter, shopping, and to top it all off- a "wintry mix" outside our windows as we decorated our Christmas tree today. Christmas movies, a delicious roast pork dinner, and a quiet night, thanks to early bedtimes for the littles and the big girls already curled up on their beds reading... a fabulous end to the beginning of our holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wordless Wednesday: All Shaye wants for Christmas is her...

merry mail

This Saturday's a surprise came from Tiffany, from 4under3 . With 4 kids now ages 4-1, I'm wondering where she finds the time- but I'm sure glad she does. Thanks Tiff!

PhotoHunt: reflection

Getting ready, originally uploaded by unpink.

And the winner is...

Congrats Jessica!!!

(Don't worry, I'll wait a couple of days to put together your package- so you don't get our germs along with the prize.)

But, wait!

That's not all!

Mackenna and Shaye wanted to switch "jobs" and this under the weather mom wasn't about to argue-

so we are adding a runner-up prize...

An Ordinary Mom.

How fitting.

Thanks to everyone who entered, and if you are interested in swapping a little holiday cheer through snail mail with me- send me an email and we can exchange addresses! I love "good" mail, especially this time of year.

Wordless Wednesday: Mackenna's bridge!

bridge!, originally uploaded by unpink.

Flu (round 2)

Despite the fact we rang in September with the flu, and then we all had our flu shots in October- we are coping with another round of it. Ugh. The good news may be that by the time "flu season" actually starts- we'll probably have already had all five of the strains rumored to be floating around. To cheer myself up, and make up for the lack of new posts, I'm going to host a mini giveaway- the prize will be a small, festive gift delivered to one lucky person's door. Just scroll around and leave a comment on any previous post(s) before Weds., Nov. 19th @ 12:07am EST.

MISSING:

ANOTHER TOOTH!

Last seen in this mouth-

Saturday, November 15, 2008.

We're pretty sure the two dollars under Shaye's pillow means the tooth fairy's got it. Word has it- two more might be gone before the week is out...

Flashback Friday

When "the bigs" were little.

Newport, RI

August 1999

thankful Thursday

Not counting my family, friends, health- all the givens.

Today I am thankful for...

1. dropping gas prices! (Now it's cost efficient to drive around for the bargains.)


2. free shipping both ways from Zappos.com! (What a headache that could have been.)


3. Daylight Savings Time! (Getting out of bed is a tad bit easier because of it.)


4. DELIAS.COM! (Where else was I going to find the umpteen yellow clothing items that Brielle wants for Christmas?!)


5. this song! (Her voice is such a pleasure to listen to!)

What are you thankful for today?

Wordless Wednesday: Last Sunday

Pinkalicous

Purplicious

{ paint sample notebooks }

honest answers to the tough- and not so tough- questions

1. I have just two tattoos (for now). A standard tribal armband on my right arm and my husband's initials camoflagued in a tribal design that I drew myself.



2. John has one on his right shoulder blade- an egyptian cross that means "circle of life".



3. No, if my daughters ever want to get a tattoo, I won't care. In fact, I would love it. I love people who are confident enough to express themselves however they choose to.



4. Yes, they are all mine. And yes, they are all girls.



5. Yes, we are all done. (The question used to be "Are you going to try again for a boy?" The last year or so- as Mackie has gotten older- it's been "So, are you guys all done. You're all set with the girls, huh?" I find it so odd that people actually ask those questions out loud, never mind in front of "the girls". )



6. Gianna's red hair comes from my maternal grandmother- and she was thrilled when Gianna was born with it.



7. The most common color in my wardrobe used to be black- now it's gray. grey. gray? Although, you will usually find at least one item in it that is lime green(usually in the winter or spring) and one item that is orange(summer). Much to my husband and daughters' dismay.



8. No, I am not wearing my gorgeous engagement ring. After I got married, I preferred the look of just my wedding band on my left hand. I still wore it sometimes, until last March, when I realized I had lost it. It could be anywhere, because when I did wear it, I was always taking it off to do things (I have OCD and can't stand the feel of wearing a ring while doing housework or wearing gloves, etc.). We are hoping it turns up when we empty this place out to move.



9. I am a dreamer/spender/impulsive buyer/must do everything yesterday type of person. John is a planner/saver/wait and see/we'll get it done eventually type of person. And therein lies our biggest challenge. Because I am also the scream and get it out and over with type of person, while John is the quiet/we'll talk about it when I 've calmed down type of person. My biggest growth as a woman has come from learning to live with someone so different and constructively solve our conflicts. I think while in this type of relationship you run the risk of bringing out the worst in each other; We have definitely learned (and continue to make an effort) to balance and compliment each other's approach to life instead.



10. Our favorite colors are:

me- red

john- blue or green

gianna- sky blue

brielle- yellow

shaye- purple

mackenna- (gasp) pink!

Feel free to leave your answers in the comments section. In fact, I'd love it if you would. Did I mention that I'm nosy curious like that?

PhotoHunt: together

This is how most of my girls spent Friday. Together, taking turns lying all over the furniture and floor- and passing the "pukey bowl" as needed. Despite their illness, or maybe because of, they all got along extremely well. It was a day of quiet conversations and occasional laughter. I actually found it to be one of the most relaxing and peaceful days in our household in quite a while.

The excitement of

talking to Grandpa & Nana.

The girls get so animated when they talk to their grandparents (who live in Florida) that I often wish I had a snapshot of it. Well, the other day I managed to take these pictures while Shaye chatted away. Her facial expressions say it all. So yes, Grandpa and Nana, they really are as excited as they sound.

HAPPY GIRL

I commissioned ArtMind to create two custom baby cards a short while back. Well, one of the perks of ordering from her shop is the acquisition of your very own HAPPY GIRL. You can't buy her, you can only receive her with a purchase, which makes her extra special. I love her because she's just so, well,

happy.




Mitsy was kind enough to include four custom mini HAPPY GIRLS for my four girls in my order- for free! The girls just love them and they have been taking them every where.

the making of a Christmas card

We spent Sunday morning taking pictures, in the hopes of getting one great shot we could use for our Christmas cards. This wasn't it.

Gianna Marie

gianna marie, originally uploaded by unpink.

Fourteen, honor roll student,

member of NJHS, all around great kid.

Sportin' a new nose ring.