Brotherly Love

Nevermind the nose picking in this photo. It's actually a sign of sleepiness for Roman...lol I sure hope he outgrows that before he starts dating.

Brotherhood at its finest!

I hear a deep baby voice from the top of the stairs. "Babum! Babum....come nnnnn!" (Interpretation: "Abram! Abram Come on!")

Abram: "Hang on Roman, let me get your blanket."

This is followed by boom boom boom of the two of them bounding down the stairs.

I finish up what I am doing upstairs, open my door and I, too, head downstairs to get a bite to eat.

When I walk in to the kitchen I hear the sound of cartoons on. I look over to the red sectional and this is what I see. Luckily, the camera was conveniently sitting on the island. I nab it and swipe a couple of poor quality pictures.

However, my heart melted. Here they were, my two little boys sitting on the couch, enjoying one anothers company. I love the love they have for one another.

I am sure that God feels the same way when He sees us having that kind of love and kindness for others. How could He not?

Coming Together

It has taken me a while to get my living room the way I want it. It has actually been a much slower process than it normally is for me. We have been trying to build a look rather than just buying a ready made living room. Plus, for the longest time I loved the primitive country or even french country look (still do, but it isn't what I wanted in my living room anymore). No, in my old age I sort of wanted to go with a different style....lol I wanted something that looked a little more formal and eclectic. I wanted the room to look and feel like they were pieces that we had collected over the years, instead.

Anyway, I am not finished with the details. We are looking for nicer lamps, a coffee table, and an end table, and even some pieces that say "Den" or "Trina". I am one that believes that when you see it you will know. This is what we have so far. If the next house has a larger living room we will buy more seating, but for now the living room is rather small and it limits us. Nonetheless, I have really enjoyed pulling pieces in to the room to begin molding it. The couch was the beginning. It is a wine with a little bit of gold on the pillows, and then the rug, leather chair and the tapestry chair have been recent additions. I am starting to really get in to it. Although the ultimate goal, besides getting the right look for the room, is to get the right deals. I love getting amazing deals on things and this room is chug full of those!

Christmas Nostalgia

Christmas time is such a special time of year for me. I have such amazing memories of the holidays when I was a little girl. Although my sister and I were the only two children in the house you would have thought from all the excitement there was six of us. Those traditions I have tried to hand down to my children. My mom used to wrap the presents with such care that I remember admiring how she would crease the corners at the end of each package, and then tape them inconspicuously. I found such a beauty in it that I find picking out the wrap, and carefully wrapping them brings me the same pleasure today as it must have brought my mom.

Shopping with all the red, green and "Merry Christmas" signs gets me in the holiday spirit without much trouble. There are even certain smells and tastes that conjure up all things Christmasy. It's funny to hear how long this season seems to last for my boys, but as for me, as I am gaining in years it goes by so fast that I try to stop and smell the eggnog along the busy way.

I want to be one of those people that savor and enjoy this holiday for all times. I know that some consider it commercialized, but I believe everything you do in life is what you make of it. If you feel the dread of such a holiday than dread is what it will be, but if you relish it, even the craziness of it all will be precious to you. I have chosen to relish it. I have chosen to listen to the holiday tunes every chance I get. I have made it a tradition to make the homemade almond roca, white powdery lemon bars, and Russian teacakes and let those aromas and memories burn imprints upon my children's memories. Then one day when I am old they will come for Christmas and have the nostalgia in their hearts with their own children.

Merry Christmas to all!

Paaaaarty!

~ What is a party without paper crepe streamers? It was Isaiah's idea to wrap them around the pillars. Genius.....I say! ~

~ Here is a little closer shot of the table. Although still weak. I have a carved pumpkin in the center with tootsie roll suckers sticking out of it, all over. The kids can just pull one out and voila'.....sugar! ~


~ Here is the basket full of the crafts. ~



~ This is the craft for the younger kids. They are little foam purses to decorate. ~




~ The older kids have a little more variety, and it is a little more challenging of a craft than the purses. Just a little keepsake for them to take home at the end of the day. ~



We are having a Halloween party today!! The boys are excited!!! hehehe It doesn't take much to get kids happy happy happy. Isn't that so wonderful about children, though? We need to tear a page out of their book once in a while.



Okay, so I admit that the photos are weak and almost not worth posting. You see my batteries won't charge for my camera so I had to rely on my handy dandy camera phone. So what you see is what you get. The color makes everything look washed out, but believe me that orange is plenty vibrant! LOL



We made cupcakes last night. The hub bub of them baking was almost cruel, but the really great part, was the orange frosting and pumpkin and bat sprinkles that were layered on top. There is just something about sprinkles that make anything look amazing to a child.



Sis. Marisela and her 6 kids, Sis. Tisha and her 4 kids, and my 5 will be the only ones attending. We extended the invite to the others at the church, but sadly they declined. Maybe next time.



We are doing a craft with the little kids. I bought these foam purses that are in the shape of Frankenstein and spiders. I have googly eyes for them to glue on, and puff paints for them to decorate uniquely. What can they use this little purse for? Who knows...but Roman can barely keeps his tiny hands off of them. That's always a good sign, right?



The older kids are putting together a little more sophisticated, but still simple craft. I think the little projects will be hit. Anything to keep the troops busy. The other ladies are bringing over some goodies too. The kids are supposed to come dressed in their attire so that the kids can judge them. There is a small prize for the winners. I think we will have the rule that you can't vote for yourself, which I hope is a given, but ya never know.....hehehe



They are also bringing over their pre-carved pumpkins so that, again, the kids can judge them. This one will be based on age or something. I haven't figured out this detail yet, I am hoping for a little feedback from the other moms. I just thought it was a great way to kick off some festivities for the kids this year, and bring us all a little closer together.



It starts at 4pm. I will take some more pathetic photos with my camera phone and put them on my blog tomorrow. It should be chaotic and yet fun, isn't that what a party is all about?