Sunrise

So this weekend has been so busy! Quite exhausting to say the least.....it started with K*'s birthday on Friday including dinner at Benihana (which was delicious), to then be up and at church by 6:45am on Saturday for a prayer service for this weekends CRHP retreat, to then race home and fill goodie bags, to bathe the kids, pick up cake and balloons, to race to Bounce Planet, enjoy K*s party- which was enjoyed by all- especially me because our party coordinator was FABULOUS, to then race home to cook 3 batches of vodka sauce, to load everything in my car to then race to the church as my CRHP group was in charge of serving dinner for this retreat weekend, to finally get home a little after 8pm where we ate more cake for K*s birthday and by 9pm I had crashed and was asleep on the couch......finally waking at 12:30am to find K* and her friend(she had her friend K* sleepover) were still wide awake so then I had to get them off to bed before crawling into bed myself to only be awoken again by the alarm at 6:45am as I was going to church at 8am this morning to again support the women on their CRHP retreat this weekend! So after this exhausting weekend- I had this wonderful, quiet drive to church at 7:45am this morning......as I was driving I couldn't help but to notice this amazing sunrise(wow- I don't know that last time that I saw the sunrise)! The horizon looked as though is was in flames with these vibrant golden yellows, then oranges, then corals, pinks, reds, violets, and blues reaching into the clouds- I have realized that amidst the chaos that is my life I need to make more time to truly appreciate the many blessings that God has given me:) Really- I find that I often feel so overwhelmed and burdened by all of my obligations and over commitments(work/MOPS/motherhood/homemaker/etc.) that I fail to stop and enjoy life's smallest and simplist miracles.....so my homework assignment to all of you is to stop and listen and see- whether it's your child's laughter, a stranger's smile, or a beautiful sunrise- know that all of God's creations are put here for us to enjoy- so don't let your life get so busy that you forget to enjoy them!
By the way- I tried taking a pic of the sunrise using my new iphone only the camera's whitebalance must be off as it didn't do the colors of the sky justice! I desparately wanted to turn around and go home for my camera but I knew I'd be late- I know my Nikon would have captured the sky brilliantly....unfortunately- I can't say the same for my iphone:)

I'll post pics of my now EIGHT year old asap:)

Happy New Years!

I should be at the movies with the girls right now watching Marlee and Me but unfortunately we didn't make it home until 3:50pm and because the show started at 3:40pm I decided it wasn't worth racing to the theater to be really late:( I'm really bummed because I was really wanting to see this movie-the silver lining is that after a day of furniture shopping I think we have decided on a sectional and ottoman for the loft and it should arrive in couple weeks, which gives B* plenty of time to rewire the cable and get the tv mounted! I can't wait to have ample seating upstairs for our family Wii nights:)

Since, I'm not at the movie I decided I could post some funny pics I took of the kiddos this morning! Nothing like celebrating the New Year with a blog post and good laugh!

So this morning C* went peepee on the potty and when he picked out his new bumblebee big boy pants he was very excited! He then proceeded to run around the house sticking out his tushie showing off his bumblebee underpants! It was soo funny!

And Miss K* was just looking like her adorable self so I couldn't resist snapping a few of her too!

Christmas at the Doyles

Before......

During.....

After.....

A new look.....

So do you get tired of the same old thing as often as I do? I think I was ok with the boring blue for so long because it was such a rare occasion for me to post:) Well, I am trying to be better and look at that I have posted pics from both thanksgivings and it's not even Christmas yet! Enjoy the new look!

More to be thankful for......

My husband's family is so wonderful- it was really nice to spend the holiday with them! C* and T* really enjoyed playing together, K* adored C* and S*'s gerbils, the older boys threw the football around, Aunt C* and J* helped in the kitchen(I've said it before....but seriously- every family needs an Aunt C*), Uncle J* and Aunt K* along with their beautiful children J* and L* are were just as sweet as always, Nan and Papa are always so giving, C* is so thoughtful, Uncle M* is always so playful and his nieces and nephews adore him, and K* and D* are always gracious hosts- opening their home and serving a phenomenal meal to SOO many! I love that B* and I are both from large loving families! The holidays just wouldn't be the same without family:) So- I guess that I can just thank God to have been placed not in just one wonderful family.....but two:)

Things I'm thankful for.....

1. Parents- without them where would I be?

2. Wide angle lens- to handle my large family:)

3. Siblings- because you always have a shoulder(or 6) to lean on when you need a friend!

4. Children- they just make you smile!

YES!

I was hoping to post pics from Halloween before Thanksgiving and I DID IT!!!!

The D* Clan

Our ex-neighbors......The Four Seasons helped to celebrate the holiday with us! Meet- Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter!

The evening started with our Jack-O-Lantern Pizza......


We also had the privilege of displaying our beautifully hand carved creations on the front porch...


Although as you can see our wonderful friends "The Four Seasons" had to show us up by bringing along their creations(which inspired a few trick-or-treaters to ask if the one pumpkin had a little to much to drink the night before!)-


After dinner we headed out to beg for candy and of course I wanted a picture and C* was a little less than cooperative....actually I was a little worried that my threats of bodily harm(aka a spanking) would lead to neighbors calling DCFS.....but luckily that wasn't the case:)

While the kiddos were out getting goodies I decided to copy my genius sister's designs and made extra spooky treats waiting for their return!


I think their own bags of goodies trumped mine!

I had a session at the house the day before and more the next morning so I left my studio in place and snapped some pics of everyone in costume. Here are the kids and I in our tie-dyed t-shirts that we made at Aunt L's house- aren't they soo cute?


Our dear friends, K. and K. K. stopped by for pics (we have been getting group shots of the kiddos together since the older two were small)!


The penguin and bumblebee-


The witch with her meerkat-


And well- I couldn't help but include sweet Minnie Mouse(she's a neighbor and client and when she stopped by to trick-or-treat I couldn't resist getting a quick picture)!

.....onto my new goal- Thanksgiving post before Christmas! Do you think I can do it?