Bye Bye 2010.....Hello 2011!

Gotta say not that sad to see 2010 go. It hasn't been the easiest year. The worst of it was the passing of my Mamie. Still can't believe she's gone sometimes even though she's been gone for 6 mnths. Another not so good thing was at the same time Mamie was dying hubby was in the hospital. It's also been a really tough year financially for us, just can't seem to get ahead. My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. My nephew Gabriel was born w/some issues & had to have open heart surgery when he was just 6 weeks old.

It hasn't been all bad though, I don't want to sound ungrateful! The great part of this year is that we finally got our own house! My family & friends are healthy. 2 of my kids had "big" birthday's, the oldest became a teenager & my baby turned 1! That hubby & I are so lucky with how much all of our parents helped us out w/making sure we were able to get into the house!

2011 will be bringing a few big moments for me.
1. My baby girl (Lauren) will be graduating from 8th grade & will enter high school in the fall.
2. LuLu Bell will be making her 1st communion.
3. My little man (Braedon) will turn 5.
4. My mom turns 60.

There will be others I'm sure, just can't think of them at this moment.

So Here's to hoping you all have a safe & Happy New Year!!

Allison

Christmas Day!

Christmas Morning

What Santa left.
I always take a pic before I go to bed in case I forget to in the morning.
Some pretty lucky kids if I do say so myself!

The girls were up at 6:00 a.m. but I made them wait till 6:30, that was the longest I could hold them off for. So we dragged the boys out of bed & headed down the stairs. Of course I made them wait at the top of the stairs until I put the tree lights on & was camera ready. Then BOOM, they pounded down the stairs in about 2 seconds flat! Too cute! LuLu was the fastest at opening all her gifts. So, then she just helped Rylan with his.

Mickey's (hubby) father & step-mom came over at 7:30 to see what they got from Santa & give the kids their goodies. They gave Braedon a karaoke machine, he was so funny singing. He told me today, "Mom, Grandpa Dave gave me a karaoke machine because he thinks I should sing! So, I'm gonna!" I was cracking up!

Braedon all smiles about his new bike!

LuLu w/her webkinz she loves them, has about 25 of them!

Rylan spotted this & took off with it. It was so cute!

LuLu sooo excited she got the Bitty Boy Twins she asked for!

This was definitely a "Toy Story" Christmas for Braedon. Almost everything he received had to do w/Toy Story & he couldn't have been happier about that!

Lauren w/her new pan-digital. She was VERY happy!

I love this pic!

Grandma's house!
Yeah can you say Holy Crap!
My mom goes way overboard on us kids, spouses & grandkids!
She's the BEST!

Lauren's new Vera Bradley school bag! Can you tell she loved it!?

These are the stockings my mom fills for all 9 grandchildren! They are HUGE! This is probably the kids favorite part of Grandma's Christmas morning.

Back at our house later on that day w/Hubby's family. I'm sad to say we were so busy putting on dinner that I didn't get a chance to take many pics. Which if you know me at all I was not happy w/myself for not getting more! Here in this pic are all of hubby's mom's grandkids, there are 9 on this side as well.

Overall it was a great Christmas, crazy busy but really good!
Full of laughter, excitement, great food, wonderful gifts & time spent with family!
I feel very blessed!
Here's to hoping that everyone else had a wonderful Christmas!!

Christmas Eve!

I LOVE Christmas time!!

Our day started w/hubby & I having to take off in the morning to do some last minute shopping. The oldest needed another gift, which ended up being another pair of uggs. That's right plural, she received 2 pairs this year, 1 from us 1 from Santa. We also got Braedon's present from "us" & a few more stocking stuff. Then it was off to work for hubby. 12-6 for him that day.

Once I got home I just started getting all the kids & myself ready for 4 o'clock mass. I am actually pretty proud of my kids for being well behaved in church this year. I did have to speak to them a few times to whisper but overall they were good. I love going to church on Christmas Eve. It's dark when you get there and then once 4 o'clock hits, poof father hits the light switch & the whole church is lit up w/all the beautiful Christmas lights! All the children ohh & ahh. I was sitting there wondering why I didn't think to bring my camera to capture that moment! Hopefully I remember next year!

Once mass is over we went & got hubby from work & brought the kids home so they could open their presents from us. We do this every year, let them open 1 gift each on Christmas Eve. I love watching the excitement on their faces!

Braedon loving his new remote controlled car!

LuLu was super happy w/her new PURPLE scooter!

Even the 13 yr. old was happy! She didn't want me to take her pic as usual but I didn't listen.

Once hubby was all cleaned & changed we headed over to my Aunt Debbie's house for her annual Christmas Eve bash! She makes awesome food! One of my favorite parts of the night! Lots of fun spent w/all the extended family!

Here Rylan is playing w/my cousin Becky's little boy, Jonathan.

LuLu posing in her "party" dress!

Daddy w/Braedon.

Lauren w/Aunt Debbie

Wish I had been able to take more pics of the night, but i just get so busy chit chatting, eating & chasing the little one around!

After we left there we did go to hubby's aunts for a little bit also. We didn't stay long though, the kids were tired & wanted to hurry up & get home so they could go to bed! And let me tell you they must have been exausted because we all totally forgot to put cookies & milk out for Santa & to sprinkle the reindeer food out on the lawn like we had planned! The hubby & I on the other hand didn't get to bed until 3 am because of course I waited until the last minute to wrap everything! I never learn!