Christmas and Sweet Smiles!

Christmas at Mom's is always fun and the kids love playing with all the cousins. While everyone was waiting to open presents I decided to snap a few pictures. I love all the smiles and joy on all these kids faces. Here's Caroline, Rachel and Lia (I see fashion model in Lia's future) ...


Lauren and Brady...And Lindsey, Alex and Michael.

Then, the opening began...
and we were visited by Batman...

then his trusty friend Superman showed up. (ha, ha...is was so cute to see them dressed up).

Lindsey with her Pop-Pop opening her present.



And Brady in his new shirt...he will need to go to some kind of Diego addiction counseling one of these days.
And Brady had to get some baby time in with cousin Madison...




look at all these sweet smiles! And speaking of smiles...





one of the sweetest I've seen!! We're anxiously waiting for you Lily Claire and we'll celebrate with you when you come home!!

Christmas Eve

Grandma Marsha came home with us for Christmas this year....it was so nice! The kids were thrilled and we all enjoyed having her here with us. She was busy while here, either playing trucks, wrapping presents, cooking or snuggling with someone. Thanks Grandma for all your help and we hope you come more often.


We decorated birthday cakes for Jesus. Rachel did a snowman...


and Brady and Lindsey a Christmas tree.


Then, out to the porch to feed the reindeer. Lindsey had to have apples and carrots, one for each deer. (You know how she loves her animals.)


And we can't forget cookies and milk...

Santa really enjoyed them, especially that the milk was chocolate!

OK....I need to catch up some Christmas pictures and blogging before this new year gets too far ahead of me....so here goes...

Here is our gingerbread train...and Brady's sweet smile. The kids had so much fun...


and Zachary enjoyed trying to eat it. Yes, he did push the kitchen chair up and climb into the sink all by himself and I was so surprised to find him like this I had to snap a picture before making him get down.

Lindsey had her first piano recital. She did such a good job, we were very proud of her. She played Good King Wenceles and Away in a Manger. She looked so little up there at that big piano. We love you sweetie, you were great!


Then off to PA for Christmas with Bruce's family. Brady and Jack had lots of fun playing together and we all enjoyed getting to spend some time with everyone.


Here's a look at all the McNulty kids, (Lindsey's peeking out behind Zach.)

I promise to post more, but thought I would try to go in some sort of order, so here's the first of them...see ya soon!

Our Tree Is Up!

Our Christmas tree is up....Yea!! Bruce and I got all the decorations up and the tree complete last weekend. This is our first year with an artificial tree, we're a little sad about not having the real thing....but, wow how easy it was....unfold and plug in....ta da!!


And you can't have a tree without a train. The kids all love it. I"ll be surprised if it survives Zach this year, and the train whistle is lovely....


...but the train whistle song of Jingle Bells was... well, lovely isn't quite the word that comes to mind. And speaking of firsts...


Zachary got his first haircut on Thursday. He was so good. But bless his heart, he had a fever of 103.5 when we got home and it lasted until today...poor baby!

Our friend Hermie has come back to visit us this year and the kids love him!! He is in a new spot each morning and the girls love getting up and looking for him each day. He "watches" the kids and reports to Santa at night...:). He is a good elf, nothing mischievous yet.

I took Lindsey and Rachel out to see The Nutcracker. We went to lunch and then on to the ballet. We had a great time, it was so nice to have a girls day out together. I was just as excited to see it as they were. They loved it!

We've had a great week, and now with the snow Brady keeps asking "Is it Christmas now?" It will be here soon!

Heart full of Thanks

I am blessed and thankful for so many things in my life...

...and yes, I'm thankful for finally having a solid green roof.

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and always thank The One that gave you so many things.

"On My Happy Birthday..."

"I will be 3!" He told everyone he met this and today he is finally 3. Happy Birthday Brady!! You are the most precious and sweetest little boy! We are so grateful for you and thankful we were blessed with you...we love you!

Our day always starts with breakfast, but on this day "Diego" in his blue jammies ("you know Diego wears blue jammies Mommy") with his rescue pack...


ate his "frosted snow flakes" with baby jaguar.


Then on to new adventures.....

like cake. Grandma Taylor made his special Diego cake just the way he wanted it.


And a happy birthday can't be complete with balloons and a party hat.


Thank you Grandma for my cake and my bubble mower...he loves it!!


And getting packages in the mail is great too...this one came from Grandma Marsha...see all the pieces and this cool drill. He loves his "crane truck". Thank you Grandma!

And after Bruce ran over the beloved motorcycle we thought he would enjoy another motorized vehicle...although guess who loves it too!!

At least he shares...sometimes!

Saturday is snowed a little and the kids wanted to try to sled ride. So the girls dased out and as I scrambled to find Brady snow clothes...I realized I didn't have any snow boots. So, I go to the bonus room and search through bins of clothes and find pink Barbie boots...just his size. I said "Brady this is all I could find" he replied with "that's ok Mommy, I like pink!" He's so sweet, plus he really wanted to play in that snow! Then I return to the kitchen to find Zach in the middle of the table eating a plate full of maple syrup....(sigh) but that's another story.

"On My Happy Birthday I will be 3"....I hope you have a wonderful year! I love you!

Happy Birthday Lindsey!

Happy Birthday to my sweet girl, I can't believe you are 7!! Not long ago I was at the hospital waiting for your Daddy to come to VA from PA, after being up all night at the hospital. What a wonderful surprise when you were born that night and we found out you were a beautiful baby girl. You are a delightful person and daughter and we love you very much! We are so blessed to have you as our daughter!

Lindsey chose L.P.S. as her birthday theme this year and Grandma made a beautiful cake for her, and she requested chocolate...good thinking Lindsey!


She had some friends over and we played games...


and opened presents. She finally received her long awaited DS and a couple of games.


Rachel picked out a new dog for her...Lindsey loves her animals!

Here is Lindsey with all her girls.

It was a fun night and Lindsey had a great time! Thanks to everyone that made her birthday so special!!