'When you try your best, but you don't succeed'

It was just like that yesterday.  A day of volunteering. One that I thought would be a fantastic team building experience, but it wasn't and my sweet little family was severely inconvenienced and it just makes me wonder if giving my time to others, to support charity is even worth it at all. 

Soon...very, very soon...

I know I've been terrible about blogging lately.  I don't know how bloggers like Soulemama and Dooce do it... I guess they do it for lot more money that I do it for, because I do it for no money at all, ahh money, but all the same their raising cuties just like me and are still able to post each day, pictures, stories.  So I am writing you all to let you know that I will posting very soon.  I have a ton of pictures to post and probably even more stories to tell.  This weekend I will post and post and post until I just can't do it anymore.  And then I'll post one more, because I owe it to my kids, to tell them their story, a year, two, ten, twenty years from now when they are wondering what went on around Taylor's first Christmas.  

Love, Liz

Wondrous Strange

My favorite Harper Collins editor has a book hitting the stores on the 23rd and I couldn't be more thrilled.  I cannot wait to get my hands on this book, especially since I just recently got back into reading teen books with Twilight (can't put it down).  Check out this very cool little teaser that's up on YouTube right now.

I am very proud of my sister-in-law to be and all of her achievements. Yes, yes, this is a plug for her and this book that she has poured so much time and energy into. I can tell you with all my heart that her style is intriguing, smart and simply admirable and I believe that anything that has the fortune of being labeled as her work is or will be nothing but glorious. 

So please buy a copy of this book, and if you love it buy one for all the girls in your life, for your little cousin, your babysitters, your neighbors... anyone who you think will enjoy it. And let me know what you think! I am ordering one for myself and one for each of my baby sitters. Just click here to order yours now.

Thank you for your support everyone. I promise to have new pictures of the cuties up soon.

Love, joy and spirit, Liz

Getting so bad about this

I am really getting bad with posting things these days. There's so much going on and so much I want to write about. I think I may ask Santa for a journal because most of my thoughts come to me when I am not sitting in front of the computer. And that's another thing, I have had to really limit my computer use lately as it had gotten out of control. I was on constantly, mainly trying to get Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving.

Oh yes! Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We had such a wonderful day with family and are all so thankful for our gracious hosts Aunt Alice and Uncle Dennis who have always given us beautiful Thanksgivings rich with tradition and filled with warmth and family not to mention the incredible food. Couldn't have asked for a better day. Thank you so much and we look forward to future Thanksgivings at your home again.

I think I will write a more in depth post on what I am thankful for, because there is so much this year. But I will do it from the comfort of my bed and may just transcribe later for you all to read.

I am so thankful for you, my readers, my friends, my family. All devoted to keeping in touch and informed on what's new with our little family.

I'll be back soon!

xo Liz xo

Halloween Part 1

I know I'm partial, but really people, have you ever seen a more adorable scarecrow. Very proud to say that I made this costume myself. He loves it and still asks to wear it...to bed...to scare off the raccoons. Where he got that I haven't a clue, but sure buddy you can wear it to bed.

Here are a few pictures from Halloween. We had a scarecrow, pictured here and the sweetest little flower you've ever seen. I can't seem to find the photos I took that evening. These were taken just before Austin headed off to school and at school. Poor guy was off all day and I feared he was coming down with something. He may have just been overwhelmed, nothing more cmae of the funky mood and he was back to normal the next morning.

Hope to have some more pictures of this awesome day up soon. Austin had so, so much fun trick-or-treating this year with cousin Ben. Keep your fingers crossed I didn't delete them from my card. I have to have some of the little flower....

Llama Party

Pin the tail on the llama

The craft at the llama barn was make your own llama ears, using real llama hair.

the birthday boy

chasing after the ladies already :o)

he would have hugged this guy if he could. I kept telling him to watch out because llamas will spit, that made him laugh.

"hi llama!"

We had a BLAST! at the Llama party hosted by the one and only Sean from school. It was a wet day, but fun was had by all. Happy 4th Sean. Thanks for having us at your party.

Holy Zoo!

" I don't think so lady!" After waiting in line for 20 minutes to milk a cow, that's pretty much the response Austin gave. Love this shot, totally captures the moment.

My little man

Petting the pigs

Trust me lady, I know how exhausting nursing can be, and I only have one little piggy to feed.

The little pink piggies Austin wanted to take home

My little dude the chick

"Austin don't touch the fence honey, I think it's electrified."

Moo

actually it was a "farm" field trip, but it was more like six flags takes on cows, pigs and has a pumpkin for ya' when you leave. Ahh, the country girl in me is coming out. This was not my ideal fall festival. Austin had a good time, but was lost with the hundreds (I wish I was exaggerating here, but I'm not) of bus loads of children.

He pet a few pigs, chased a couple of ducks and was asked to milk a cow... and yes he got a pumpkin on the way out. I'm hoping for a smaller venue next year, maybe a ma' and pa' type operation.

Upon leaving the festival, Austin declared he wanted to go to the mall... then he asked for a pet pig. Maybe there's hope for us after all.

Skateboarding in Brooklyn

While out for a stroll in my brother's neighborhood, he and Austin came upon an old skateboard someone was giving away. Austin often obsesses over the older kids in our neighborhood skateboarding and just has had an undying interest in the sport. So Bobe let him take the skateboard home, and taught him the basics. Austin prefers to ride the board on his bum, which is totally fine with me.

He met e few skaters while at the park in Brooklyn and fell right into step with their talk and body language. Definitely one of the cutest encounters I've ever witnessed. He even introduced 'my mama and my Bobe' to the boys. They were very sweet and encouraged him to keep skating. Here are a few pics from our stay in BK.

Hope to have some more pics from teh weekend up soon. We're all fighting the worlds ickiest cold ever right now so I'm a little behind on my work. Must catch up on that first :o)

xo Liz xo

It's been a while

Taylor Eve enjoying the warmth of her cozy pony blanket. I like to nibble on those cheeks when they start to get rosey like that.

Cuties ready for a walk

Weeeee! Taylor loves the swing

The Apple pie I made from scratch, crust and all. It was so very delicious...

A rare sight to see I know. A picture of ME!!! and my babies, smiling!

Little Miss Blue Eyes

Just being Austin at the park :o)

She's talking now to folks and good luck trying to get her to stop! She's gabbing all the time.

McQueen getting ready to take the slide.

Well it's been a while since my last post. We've been busy, running up to Brooklyn for some fun, running up to Connecticut for a little more fun.... we're glad to be home for at least a little while now. Taylor is growing so fast. She is so ready to crawl, just needs a little more muscle to make it happen. I know she'll be off in no time.

I was just telling Chris how I cannot get over that she's already 5 months old. It sounds cliche, but I feel like it was last week we were coming home from the hosiptal with the newest member of our family. She has such and incredible little personality. She is all girl, when she wants to be heard, though not very often, she lets everyone know she's upset about something. To say that she adores her big brother is an absolute under statement. She watches his every move and I know she just can't wait to tag along behind him as he pings off the wall. He makes her laugh like no one else and when Austin has had a long or rough day, no one in the world can cure the crankies for him the way his sister can.

So glad I can enjoy this sibling harmony for now. I pray it is not short lived but speaking from experience, even the best big-brother and little-sister combo can go bad at times, for my brother and I it was several years :o( The cool thing about all this is that he's still my brother and I'm still his little sister and we will always adore and love one another. He can still make me laugh like no one else!

Well enjoy the pics. Have more from our trip to Brooklyn and Connecticut coming soon.

Our beautiful babes

My little honey bugs are so wonderful. We are really enjoying the cooler air these days. Gearing up for Halloween with some spooky crafts and darning the knitted hats. The cooler air and changing leaves are very exciting as we enter my favorite time of the year. Did I mention how in love with the lighting I am. Wow!!! Does it help my craft. All of you reading this should pick up your cameras, find the windows in your home that face north, put your back to it and have your kiddo pose, even if they're in their pjs like Aussie here. look at his skin! I mean really it's perfect!!! and those eyes!!! These were taken before he rolled down the last couple step of our stairs and now he has a little shiner. Just looking at these photos make me want to run upstairs right now and wake him up to let him know how incredibly gorgeous he is. What a yummy little guy we have.

Enjoy the pics and the links. The Etsy store I bought Taylor's hat from is Cite Fuzz and they are currently closed, stocking up for the winter months. Their store will reopen on the 5th I guess though. Well worth the wait. I want one in every color. She loves it too.

Love, Liz

Birthdays in the Park

Had great fun with friends today at the neighborhood park. Taylor took her first ride on the swing. Little buttercup loved it. Enjoyed a happy birthday song and some cupcakes with our buddies Owen and Oliver. Happy 2nd guys!!!

Ready to go

On your mark...

When daddy's around all eyes are on him, her little face lights up and she smiles like this; a smile only daddy gets. What a lucky guy.

Deep in thought.

Blowing zer-burts at mamma.

Taylor Eve is growing far to fast. She's rolling over (for about three weeks now) and starting pushing herself up a week ago and is already starting to push off, like trying to crawl. She's trying to catch up with her brother.

Slow down baby! You're making your mamma sad, you're so big and so strong already. I fear we haven't had enough nuzzle time yet. Your daddy and I hope your like us and grow to not mind being close to your mom and dad even though you'll be so big and so super cool.

Love you my little lady bug.

Mamma