Christmas Time is Here!

Sunday night I decided to set the tree up w/the kids. I didn't
worn them, just started bringing the stuff in until they realized
what I was doing. And of course they were so excited!

Rylan even tried helping it was sooo cute!

The only pic of the 13 yr. old w/her back
to me!

The finished tree!

The stockings are hung.....

This is my tree, my favorite color
of course.

Of course the house was a disaster
area w/decorations everywhere but they
had fun & that's all that matters!

Let's hope Mickey & I make it through
the next month w/listening to the 4 musical
santa's & snowmen we have that get played

about 10 ten times a day!

I have to say I am kinda excited for Christmas
this year in our new home! And so are the kids.
We will definitely have much more room in this
livingroom compared to our old one!

I also can't wait to see how Rylan acts this year.
He'll probably be more entertained w/the bows
& wrapping paper then the gifts.

I love the holidays! All the wonderful food, time
spent w/family & friends, Christmas Eve mass,
presents, watching all the Christmas cartoons
w/the kids & the best is seeing the kids faces
when they see the tree w/all the presents
Christmas morning!

Thanksgiving

glitter-graphics.com


I wish everyone a healthy happy Thanksgiving! I'm so grateful & thankful for my hubby, 4 awesome kids, mom, dad, sister, brothers, extended family, hubby's family, friends, health, all the wonderful food we had today & our new home! There is one thing I ask for though & that is for all your prayers for my brother, his girlfriend & my nephew Gabriel. He's had many complications since he was born. He's now back at Children's Hospital in Boston because they found a small amount of bleeding in the brain! So even though we all had a nice dinner it wasn't the same because they weren't with us! And I do have to admit I kinda felt guilty that my poor brother & his family were stuck in the hospital while we were all having a big family meal. Please pray for baby Gabriel I would really appreciate it! Come home soon my little munchkin we miss you!

Cake Time Again......

My niece's 3rd birthday party was on Sat. My sister was making cupcakes for but I also wanted to make her a cake. I was dying to try another version of the whole "rainbow" cake thing. I only used 1 cake mix this time, separated into 3 dishes & colored them purple, pink & yellow. I then put the purple in the pan first.

Then I put the pink in the middle of that & spread it out a little.

And the same w/the yellow.

Here it is all done baking. Next time I won't spread the pink & yellow out so much.


I then decorated it. I used heart cookie cutters to hold the sprinkles, then outlined with the frosting. And yes I know I spelled birthday wrong!! haha oops...
The inside! It was yummy too! And it was a hit again!
The birthday girl, Isabella blowing out her candles! Happy Birthday sweetie!!

What Are You Thankful For?

With Thanksgiving so close I've been thinking a lot lately about the things in my life I am thankful for. And #1 is my beautiful family. Even when things aren't exactly going the way I would like them to sometimes, I just try & think of those who don't have as much as I do & it makes me very grateful! My husband & I are very lucky to have 4 healthy, beautiful children. They do drive us crazy at times but I wouldn't change it for anything!



So tell me, what are you thankful for?

LuLu's Birthday Party

Our LuLu Bell on her "real" birthday yesterday.

I had decided I was going to make Laci's cake this year. I saw the rainbow cake over at the blog CCBELLA. (I would highlight so you could click on it but I haven't figured out how to do that yet) Jess did it for her daughter's 6th b-day & I thought it was so cool. So about a month ago I showed it to Laci & she loved it! I also googled rainbow cakes & it is more popular than you think. It was definitely a time consuming project but totally worth it when you see the end result! LuLu was so excited to help, I didn't get to start the cake until 8 so she could only help with a little of it. She loved mixing the colors into the cake batter. Lauren helped as well.






2 boxes of cake mix, 4 cans of frosting, 6 egg whites, 6 colors/layers & about 5 hrs. later this is the result before I frosted the outside. I actually took this picture so I could show the girls in the morning what it looked like because they were fast asleep by the time I finished.

And the final result. Most of the cakes I saw online stuck with keeping white frosting but I wanted to be a little different & so Laci had chosen purple as the outside color.
Present time! A few of the things she received.



Braedon dying for a piece of cake! He must have asked me 20 times today if it was time to eat the cake!!

The inside! It was a hit! All the kids & adults loved it! I was quite proud of myself that I was able to pull it off!
Pinata time!




Laci with her friend Jedziah.
All in all it was a successful party! A little loud (then again w/about 20 kids what do ya expect!) but still a good time. Good food, family, friends, wonderful gifts & lots of laughs! What else could you ask for!

7 Years Old Today!

Laci Alexandra Melle
b. Nov. 13, 2003
6 lbs. 11 ounces
18 1/2 in.
9:10 p.m.

@ 1 yrs. old

@ 3yrs. old after she had chopped all her hair off

@ her pre-school graduation Laci's 5th Birthday bash, the princess/pirate party!

Her 6th B-Day as Hannah Montana
I can't believe my baby is 7 already! Such an outgoing, happy, crazy, beautiful little
girl! At times can be such a tomboy but then other times she is definitely a little diva. Tomorrow we are having her party, she is so funny how excited she gets. Helped a little with her cake, she loves helping me bake/cook. And it's the first party in the new house so of course LuLu is loving it! I love you with all my heart LuLu Bell, you will always be my baby girl!!

Tumble Time!

We signed Braedon up for Pre-Ballet/Tumble this year. He was always imitating/dancing along with his sister's so I figured what the heck. Of course I did ask him as well if he would like to try it & the answer was yes. I've been able to watch him twice now, every 5 weeks or so Miss Judy has the parents come in to see the children's progress. Let me tell you he absolutely loves this class!! He smiles the entire time he is in there. I was told "he is such a joy to have in the class!" I am one proud momma!!