Sunday Snap Shot ~ Our Princesses!

Since we are headed out to Disney World in Florida in exactly 13 days (we leave on the 15th)...

and our girls are just super dooper EXCITED...

as we are too...

I found it only fitting to feature our two girls in a princess dress {of their choice} to be featured in this week's Sunday Snap Shot photo!



Oh how we can't wait!!!!

PS - after seeing Francesca in her Princess Aurora costume which she got last year as a Birthday gift from Aunt Molly...I am thinking she is going to be needing another one before we go! (this one is just way too small for her to be wearing) Do you know how hard it is to find any Disney Princess costume right after Christmas? I think I am going to have to wait to find one while at Disney {sigh}...

Our Christmas 2009!

This Christmas was truly wonderful! It was our first Christmas in our new home! And it was the first Christmas we got to spend with Papa & Grandma C (who came in from Virginia Beach on Christmas Eve)! We all had an amazing time and the girls were super excited over the fact that Santa would soon be visiting our new home with a few gifts to leave under the tree!



(Christmas Eve)


(Christmas Morning...)

Both girls loved the horse from Santa! Francesca has not stopped playing with her "Rain" (yes, that is what she named her horse...after Spirit's girlfriend) and as you can see from the photo above it was a hit!



Even Papa enjoyed some time with Rain! (I know Dad that you are probably going to kill me for posting this photo but you should know....that you are never safe around me when I have a camera in my hand!)

And here is Annabelle in her Snow White ballgown! I am thinking she is really loving the dress and red sparkle shoes because she hasn't taken them off since opening them up on Christmas morning!


We are once again headed out to Grandma's house in Pennsylvania this coming weekend for another Christmas Celebration! The girls are super excited as they truly miss Grandma so very much! I am hoping that once we are back home, I'll have a few photos to post to share with you all! OK ~ heading out to finish our packing and get some sleep!

Ginger Bread Men Making!

The day before Christmas Eve, the girls and I made some truly adorable Ginger Bread Men Cookies!

We all had a blast and the cookies came out wonderfully well!

(we ate them all before I could get a photo of the cookies, but just seeing our two girls faces in these photos shown above ~ in my opinion ~ it is the most important "part" of all!)

Twas The Night Before Christmas ~ for an orphan...

I found this on my one of my long time friend's blog (who I was so blessed to "meet" when waiting for Francesca back in 2005) Lisa at Loos Locos! Seeing how it is Christmas Eve and even though our Benjamin is not with us this season, I know that he will be home with us next year. Is it hard not to have your child at home, in your arm...oh ya it is, but I know in due time he will be.

The presents are all wrapped & under the tree, the girls are fast asleep just waiting to hear the reindeer's bells. The food is all prepared and ready to be served and Papa & Grandma C arrived safe & sound to enjoy our first Christmas in our new home and with their grandchildren!

There is only one last thing I want to say to each and every one of my family & friends who are not with us tonight...

"May your Christmas be merry & bright ~ we love you all so very much. Please say a pray for our Benjamin tonight...just to let him know that he does have a family who also loves him so very much and is {trying to} patiently waiting to come and get him ~ when the time is just right...and I'll be seeing you all really soon...with photos galore of our Holiday Delights!"

(now onto the real reason for this post...)



Twas the Night Before Christmas--for the Parentless.....


Twas the night before Christmas and all through the land
there are parentless children, with no toys in hand

No stockings to be hung by the chimney with care
no hopes for a family soon to be there

Their beds are not snug--but cold and quite bare
there are no goodnight kisses--no one to care

While we in our homes, laughing in delight
all settle down for a Merry Christmas Eve night

When in someone's heart--there arises a clatter
there are children in need--who's lives really DO matter!

Away to the computer please go in a flash
to see the sweet face with whom YOU could be matched!

While a child you see--their beautiful face all aglow
could this be MY child--could I already know??

When in the dreams of the orphan--what always appears
is a family to love them, to care and hold dear

As you stare at that child--your heart beats real quick--
for you know in your heart that sweet face will stick

More dreams sweet children have--to call parents by name-
come mama! come daddy! come family to claim!

To the ends of the earth--your heart seems to call
now child--I'm coming--I wish for you ALL!

So on a plane to your child--over rooftops you flew
to hold this dear soul--a wish did come true

And then in a twinkling-I saw through the door
this child of my heart-that was waiting no more

As I got my camera and was turning around-
into my arms did he come with a bound!

He was dressed in many layers from his head to his foot
and into my heart his life was just put

there was no round face--no plump little belly
just sad little eyes, and legs shaking like jelly

In a swirl of a pen, and a stamp and a seal
my world became brighter--like I could suddenly feel!

We spoke not a word--they weren't needed at all
and I knew in this moment where I got this call

God layed his hands on my heart--and to the occasion I rose
and He could do it for you--this question He'll pose.....

It won't be a shout--no not even a whistle
it won't be real clear--but faint like a whisper

Can you make room in your heart--if you try with your might?
And make a difference for one--help them see the light?

I can see you exclaim as you hold your child tight--
Thank you Lord for this gift--you got it EXACTLY right!

Francesca's GingerBread House!

Last week was Francesca's last days of school before a very ~ very ~ long Christmas break...

While she was super excited over her Christmas musical debut and her ginger bread house making day with Daddy...she was not happy about being off for the next two weeks...

Daddy took the day off from work ~ just to spend it with her at school making their very own ginger bread house...

She LOVED every minute of their one-on-one time together...

and

According to Keith, he had wonderful time too!

Christmas On The Farm...

The weekend of December 12th, my sister, my brother-in-law, my nephew and my mom (aka Grandma) came down to our house for a visit! What better way to spend a day with three little ones than on an actual farm!



OK - I tried to get the kiddos put down their cookies for a second while I snapped a photo of them in this amazing antique sled, but they wanted no part...of parting with their cookies!




Annabelle would NOT and I repeat WOULD NOT get on the hayride with out me! So since I tagged along, I got some cute photos of the kiddos. This one here is when the hayride first started. She did not know what to make of the whole thing and as you can see from the look on her face...she is a little nervous (who can blame her). Anyway, by the end of the ride, she was loving it!



Francesca & Scott Joe taking the "front seat" and loving every minute of it!




and last but not least...our FFAs!


We truly had an amazing weekend with my family here! In my opinion, it went by way too fast! So looking forward to seeing them all again over the New Year's holiday weekend! Love you all and so looking forward to seeing my family in two weeks...

Snap Shot Sunday ~ Record Breaking Snow Fall in Washington DC!

Can you believe it!

I finally make the move further south (where Keith has been working for the past 5 years) truly thinking I won't be seeing anymore major snow storms...

Boy - was I ever so wrong!

It started late Friday night and hasn't stopped! There are still snow flakes flying around here.

Here are a few photos taken on Saturday just to prove how much snow we got...


(this photo was taken from our front porch - just seeing those trees all covered in snow makes this season all that more special)


(oh our Annabelle - she just loved playing in the snow)


(and there they are - our two most precious gifts!)


(and while the kiddos were playing - poor Keith had all that shoveling to do...)

And I bet you are all wondering what I was doing (while everyone else was outside)...

Why I cooking!

Making one of the family's favorite dishes - Sausage & Peppers!

And having all this snow truly made it a day worth staying inside, enjoying a few good movies with some amazing cocktails & some home cooked Italian food!


(my sausage & peppers cooking in the crock pot)

and...

Seeing how the peppers at the market on Friday we just so big-ripe-and-beautiful, I just couldn't resist purchasing a few too many. So what's a girl to do with all those extra peppers...

why make some Home Made Sauce which not only included those so big-ripe-and-beautiful peppers but also some chopped onions, minced garlic, and a few dashes of salt & pepper...



(yummo!)

I guess you can say we have been eating very well since yesterday and I am just loving it! I am exactly where I want to be...in my beautiful home ~ with my blessing of a family ~ and some wonderful home cooked Italian food!