Yes, we are still alive.......

Clearly it has been a few weeks since my last post.....SORRY!! The thought of filling you in on the last year is too overwhelming so lets start with this week....

Last Saturday: Beautiful day, sun, blue skies, the last bit of snow what melting, spring was in the air...



This Saturday: not so much.....



14 inches on new snow, and 3 degrees outside. What is going on??

On a happier note.... this week marked the end of basketball practices and games for all 4 kids. Although it is fun to watch them and they love playing, I am so ready to have my evenings and weekends back.

Timing is everything....

Yesterday my husband dropped by my work just to bring me a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers, for no reason. He just wanted to brighten my day. The card read "Just because I think you are amazing! Love Brian" AAAWWWHHHH I know, so sweet right?? I was happy the whole day and even that night when I was picking up his dirty laundry of our bedroom floor. He woke me up the next morning (at 5am) with a kiss and whispered "Where are my blue pants?" I smiled sweetly and told him I had done all our laundry last night so they would be in the dryer. He sighed and said, "my I-pod was in the pocket of those pants". Whoops...good thing I got flowers yesterday because I am pretty sure I won't be getting any today!!

GoodBye 2009...Hello 2010

So December was a very busy month for us. Here is the re-cap:

Holiday fun with friends the Niska's






Sledding!!!







Shogun!!



Lake Coeur d' Alene





Christmas at last!!

Reason #657 why I love this guy......

So Sara Evans came to town. I had seen the advertisements for her Holiday Concert, and honestly, don't even think I mentioned wanting to go to Brian. Not to mention that the guy does not like country music or Christmas music enough to want to go to a concert. However, he knew I would want to go, so he got tickets (best seats in the place), arranged babysitting, and then surprised me with a very special date. It makes me smile even as I am typing this post because I am so crazy in love with him!!! Everyday he makes me feel special and loved. I love that our kids see that, because it is exactly what I want them to find in a spouse as well.
Anyways, we had a great time and it was a very special kick off for the Holidays!!

Didn't take many pictures because she was almost too close to get good ones. Here are a few from my camera.





Our seats....Front row center....AMAZING!

I am actually shocked I got a "postable" picture of my hubby as he is usually hamming it up for the camera.

I LOVE YOU BABE!!!!!

More Thanksgiving

The Spread...


Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars




Pumpkin Rolls (Haley's Favorite)



Silky smooth Chocolate Fountain....YUMMY!



As promised.....The Dessert Table



EVERTHING tastes better covered with CHOCOLATE.....


CHEERS!!!



Awesome day with the Family. So sweet to listen to the kids as we went around the table saying things we are thankful for. They really are grateful for so many things, and it puts a new perspective on what is actually important to them. Brian and I had a great time in the kitchen (all day) we make a great team if I do say so myself!!

Thankful

I LOVE THANKSGIVING!!! What a great time to slow down and enjoy life. Our family has so very much to be grateful for, healthy, happy kiddos, great parents and siblings, fantastic friends, wonderful, secure jobs Brian and I happen to love. Gosh, I sat down to write this post and spent the first 20 minutes listing each and everything that I am grateful for, but bottom line, I am grateful for it all. The good and the bad. Someone who I admire tremendously told me during a very difficult time in my life that "Happiness is a choice and no one can take that choice away from you" So True..... so I guess more than anything I am grateful I choose to be happy. If I can teach my kids anything, I hope this sticks with them....Life is what you make it, so make it a good one. Well that and CLEAN YOUR ROOM(wink) Its a work in progress
Hope you all are enjoying your Turkey Day and hope you know how much I love you all!!
Love and Hugs ~ Nici
P.S. Pictures to follow later. Wait until you see my desert table (that's right there is a table solely for the purpose of sugar induced comas at our house) LOVE IT

A week of Halloween

I LOVE Halloween, the costumes, the parties, the candy etc. However...after having 7 straight days of parties, I am done. You know its been too much Halloween when 2 of my kids didn't even want to wear their costumes to Trick-or-Treat last night because they were sick of them. (Don't worry I own about 30 costumes so I just had them pick out something else to wear!!) Seriously, I have way too much fun dressing up, and if anyone ever needs to dress as a pirate, call me, for some reason I have 6 different pirate outfits!!

The Girls (A.K.A. : Witch, Cat Woman, and Cheerleader)

...Yes, Sydnee is in my old Cat Woman costume. When they say "One size fits all" they are so not kidding!!!!

Trick~or~Treat


Kels and her "Flower Power"


Sydnee the purple witch


One of many events...


What?? We had to dress up to feed the kids dinner at the "Pirate Cafe"


The Menu...Bloody Brains (with some dandruff sprinkled on top), Mummy butt rolls, pumpkin juice and creepy corn (yah, we ran out of creative names by the time we got to the side dish!!)


And we can't forget Elyanna as she was our first Trick-or-Treater (only family comes by at 2 in the afternoon.) Cute little Giraffe huh.


And my adorable nephew Gabe...



Dear Gabe,
I still love you buddy, even though your Mom and Dad didn't feel like making the 5 hour drive over so I could see you in your costume. Even though your mom knows that Halloween is my favorite holiday EVER, even though our families have been together for 8 out of the last 10 Halloweens. It's no big deal...REALLY!! It's not your fault that I have not seen you for 3 MONTHS!! Don't worry, I am coming over to see you for Thanksgiving because I love YOU that much!!!
Love and Hugs,
Aunt Nici