Rooms With a View

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope 2009 brings you all laughter, love, happiness and and good health. I will leave you with a video of Patrick's choir singing "Go Tell it on the Mountain".

CHRISTMAS MORNING WITH WII

Charlie and I hinted to the kids that their big gift this year was too big to "fit" into the house and it was something that I did not want and let daddy talk me into. They were convinced that we were giving them a trampoline.
We were not giving a way any more hints and told them they would just have to wait and see. I will let you know at the end of this post. Here are lots of photos from our morning...

 

When the kids saw Charlie and I attempting to play Rock Band they ran to us and took over the instruments.

 

 

 

Vinny is sporting her cute new hat. They each received a new hat. Patrick is opening up his new sweat pants. He had been borrowing Charlie's which are too short and too big around the waste so I bought them each a pair.

 

 

I am a major control freak on Christmas morning. I only allow one person at a time to open a gift. This way the morning lasts a lot longer

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Mitchell is all excited to have his own phone charger. Patrick left one of them in New York and since then they have fought over the one we had left. All three also received their own personal charging stations for their rooms.

 

I put together a photo collage of pictures of Patrick and Beautiful Bo. This is what I was working on until 6:00am Christmas morning.

 

Vinny with a whale webkinz. She received webkinz this year.

 

Each of the kids got a shower radio. Vinny and Mitchell have to share theirs since they share a bathroom.

 

We pick names in our little family and keep the results secret. You know, like a Secret Santa. Mitchell had Patrick this year and all he wanted was a hair straightener. Why Patrick is sticking his tongue out is a total mystery.

 

I had Mitchell and I gave him a juggling set.

 

The Sea Otter webkinz.

 

The boys with their new hats.

 

Patrick and the new 2009 Guinness Book of World Records Book. He has collected these since he was about 6.

 

Mitchell got some cool gloves.

 

Vinny got a cool house to keep all of her webkinz in.

  

 

New robes and slippers for the kids.

 

Charlie and I gave each other new recliners for Christmas and I also gave renewed his subscription to Family Handy Man magazine. He thought I had given him some new towels.

 

Patrick was Charlie's Secret Santa and what did he want? Post it Notes. So, Patrick also got him a nice desk set to put the Post it Notes in. Charlie had Vinny and got her a cool clock radio that shines the time on the ceiling and Vinny had me and got me a scrapbooking calendar.

 

My new Pink Pool Cue that I need to take a photo of. I found this on my favorite blog A Passion For Scrapbooking. Jeanette listed it as something on her wish list and I sent the link to Charlie just for kicks. I was very surprised when I opened it up. It is a great cue too and has me unbeaten so far.

 

The kids opening up their Trampoline.

 

When they saw that their trampoline was actually a Wii, they exclaimed that they knew it was a Wii all along; yea right.

 

I also got the Wii Fit. The kids and Charlie have done nothing since Christmas but eat, sleep and play with the Wii and Wii fit. I have not been up to trying it due to my stupid headache. I received a second dose of Depercot today and hopefully will wake up headache free tomorrow.

Well, thanks for hanging around to see our Christmas. I hope you all had a glorious day as well.

No video tonight, I think the photos were enough.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS....

We had a very nice Christmas Eve despite not being able to make S'mores. It was raining so this Holiday tradition will have to wait until next year.We managed to attend Mass at 4:00 without Patrick. He had to work until 6:00. After church we had some dinner and then Charlie and I finished our wrapping while the kids watched a movie. It was a pretty low key evening, just the way I like it.  Here are some photos of our evening.

First up is the traditional Christmas Eve Pajamas.

Patrick is actually opening Vinny's pajamas. Vinny opened what I thought were hers and they turned out to be Patrick's. So, she said he could open hers.

Here is Patrick holding his new Penguin pajama pants.

Vinny also received penguin jammies.

Mitchell opening his pajamas.

What do you know? Mitchell also received penguin pajama pants.

This photo is from last year and is one of my all time favorite photos. The kids were pretending to be asleep when Mitchell (notice the broken leg) reached around and gave both kids a squeeze. I love how Mitchell looks like he is just trying to sleep even though he does have a little smirk on his face. I was hoping to repeat this type of photo again this year. I did not give them any instructions, I just let them do their thing. Here are the results.

Take One.

Mitchell going in for the squeeze. The photos are a little blurry because I was laughing so hard.

Take three.

Take four: Patrick receives a text message while Mitchell tickles Vinny. Next is our traditional reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas".

 

Patrick is really into this. JKLOL

Vinny and Mitchell still enjoy this tradition.

Next up....

Milk, cookies, letters, and a present for Santa.

Mitchell's letter. He calls me Love Muffin and Charlie is Fuzzle. Obviously he no longer believes in Santa. His hand writing is so bad!!!!!!

Then we have Miss Vinny's letter. Even if she does not believe she pretends really well. Love the readable handwriting!

Here is the ornament she made for Santa.

Since we put the tree upstairs this year, we had the kids sleep downstairs in our bed and Charlie and I slept in our presents; our new recliners. Here are a couple of photos of what the room looked like Christmas morning before we allowed the kids upstairs.

 

 

See that tall present sticking out of my stocking? It is a PINK POOL CUE!!!!!!!

 

When the kids came upstairs Charlie and I were attempting to play the Rock Band. That is all for Christmas Eve. Tomorrow I will post Christmas morning. I am going to leave you with another video of Patrick's Christmas Concert.

12 YEARS AGO TODAY

12 years ago today, I became the luckiest woman in the world. I did not realize just how lucky I was until much later in our marriage. When I was diagnosed with MS our lives changed quite a bit. I still worked and Charlie stayed home with the kids. When I was finally forced to go on disability that is when our lives really changed. As my health has declined my amazing husband has stepped up to the plate and keeps our family, our home and our lives running just as smoothly as before. He cooks, he cleans, he drives the kids to and from school, he runs errands and he also works full time. When I am feeling icky, he waits on me and does whatever he can to make me feel better. I am so blessed to have this wonderful man in my life. I am thankful that my boys have him as a role model and I pray that my daughter will find herself a man as worthy as her father is.

 

No, this is not our wedding. I do not have any wedding photos scanned into my computer so I picked an old one of us just before we conceived Patrick.

Cannot leave you without a video... Here is Patrick's Choir singing O Holy Night.

SHORT POST DUE TO TYSABRI HEADACHE

Last month I had an infusion of some drug called Decapron or something like that, the day after my Tysabri. I was so excited when after a few hours my headache was very tolerable and after 4 days it was gone! Before this new drug my headaches were lasting 5-7  days and I was flat on my back in pain. Yesterday we did the infusion one hour after my Tysabri. I was so hopeful that it would work again so I could enjoy the holidays with my kids. Well, as of today, my headache pain is an 8 out 10.

So, I am going to leave you with a second video from Patrick's Christmas concert. This is a song called 'Sister Mary had but One Child' and the director asked all alumni to come up on stage and sing along. There were probably 40 kids who joined the choir for this song.

PAJAMA CHRISTMAS PARTY!

When we lived in Salt Lake we had an annual Christmas party. We would invite everyone we knew and usually had around 50 or so people show up through out the night. Here in SC we do not know 20 people so last year we had two couples over and their kids. It was fun, not like the old days but fun. Well, we no longer are friends with one of couples (long story) and the other couple are in the middle of a divorce. So, we had the one couple minus the soon to be ex-husband and her three kids over for a nice quiet evening. Also joining us were Patrick's girlfriend Beautiful Bo and his best friend Jessica.

Originally, Charlie and I told our friend Christi that the required uniform for the night was sweats. Then, one of my kids suggested we make it a pajama party. So we did. Everyone come in their jammies and Christi and I even went as far as putting our hair in piggy tails. Here are a few photos from our fun night.

 

Patrick and Bo eating dinner. Charlie made his famous Sante Fe soup and we also had Mac & Cheese for the picky eaters.
 

Jessica is the adorable red head and you have met Anna Kate before. She is one of the twins.
 

Vinny and Abigail decided they did not want their photo taken.
 

Now Anna Kate does not want her photo taken.
 

Vinny means business when it comes to not having her photo taken.
 

My photographer (Mitchell) was determined to get a photo and he finally got it.
 

He also got one more of Jessica and Anna Kate.
 

Patrick and Beautiful Bo.
 

Anna Kate, Charlie, and Vinny.
 

Great close-up of Jessica.
 

Abigail eating a yummy piece of bread.
 

One more of Vinny.

After dinner we played a game that our dear friends, the Clarks in Salt Lake taught us how to play. We could not remember the rules so we made up our own version.
 

The Santa bag is full of goofy toys like woopy cushions and weebles.
 

First you roll the dice. If you get an even number you can pick something out of the bag. If you get doubles you can either pick from the bag or steal a gift from someone. If you roll odds, you pass. A toy can only be stolen once and then it is retired and safe from being stolen.

 

TWO MORE NIGHTS OF CELEBRATING!

Vinny's birthday celebrating continued late Saturday evening after she and Mitchell came home from skating. The boys each gave her a present. Sorry for the bad photos. I am not sure why they are so bad.

 

 

 

Patrick gave her a gecko lizard webkinz. Vinny's hair is not greasy, she had just gotten out of the shower.

 

 

Mitchell gave her the porcupine webkinz. Mitchell had also just gotten out of the shower.

The last night of our celebrating was on Sunday. We had a little party with some friends (another post) and for desert we had the cake I had made and almost forgot about.

 

The twins with Vinny. Abigail is in the blue and Anna Kate is in the black. I think.

 

This is Christi. She is my best friend here in SC and also mother to the twins and to her son Al.

 

 

Blowing out the candles with a little help from her friends. Now that I get a better look, Anna Kate is in the blue and Abigail is in the black helping Vinny with the candles.

Well, the party is over for Vinny at least. Tomorrow I will explain why we are all in our pajamas and why Christi has two piggy tails in her hair.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hard to believe this was a year ago.. I hope to repeat this great photo this year.

I hope you all enjoy your holiday surrounded by family, friends and love.

DID I HAVE MORE FUN THAN THE GIRLS?

On Friday night, December 19th Vinny had 5 of her friends over for a sleepover. I normally try to only do friend birthday parties every other year. This was to be her off year. Instead of a party we were due to meet up with her best friend Samantha and her mom who now live in Virginia. Since I do not know how to get in touch with them and we have not heard from then since July we decided to just have a small party with friends. After all, it is not every day you turn 10.
I will explain the happenings with the photos...

I picked the girls up from school. The cutie in the red shirt is Claire and the other cutie in the pink shirt is Anna Kate. She is one of the twins and I am sure you have met them before. When we arrived at my house the girls had a snack while I finished organizing our craft upstairs. I allowed them to just hang out until Charlie arrived home with pizza. After dinner we went upstairs to make stuffed felt ornaments.

 

This is Claire. Claire is new to Roebuck Elementary this year and has already become a member of Vinny's group of friends. She is hysterical. She had me laughing all night long. She also has an amazing voice.
Here she is with some googly eyes on her eyes.

 

This is Anna Kate. She and her sister have had a rough couple of months. First, Abigail broke her left foot. Two weeks later while playing dodge ball at their birthday party, Anna Kate broke her left foot. Two weeks later, Abigail had to have her appendix removed. Two weeks later, Anna Kate broke her right foot. She is still in a boot except at the party she took it off. She sat in an office chair working on her ornaments all the while slowly spinning around in circles.

 

The spinning Anna Kate.

 

Vinny threading a needle.

 

This is Abby sewing her turtle. This young lady has the most amazing voice and was recently selected to be in the SC All State Choir.

We took a break to have some cupcakes and to sing to Vinny.

 

Abigail being silly and Claire.

Make a wish!

Claire gave her some crazy socks which is one of her obsessions. The girl on the couch is Raven. Whey do they have silly ponytails on the sides of their heads? They were mocking Hannah Montana who is no longer their idol. They feel like she has lowered her standards and not as "virtuous" as she once was.

 

Claire also gave Vinny this cute T-Shirt with a Charlie Brown Christmas tree on it.

Abby gave her a great pink and white T-shirt. Vinny hates pink but since it says Peace on it she loves it.

Can you tell she is a little excited about the gift from the twins?

They each gave her a $20 I-Tunes card. This is the present that made it necessary to open her family gift in the morning. She also received $20 from Raven.

Vinny dressed as a seal.

The ornaments are completed. From left to right: Raven, Anna Kate and her twin Abigail, Vinny, Claire and Abby.

A tree and a turtle. I think the turtle is Vinny's and the tree is Anna Kate's.

Two presents by Anna Kate and a penguin by Abigail

Gingerbread man by Vinny, top turtle by Raven and bottom turtle by Abby.

One of my favorites, a bird by Anna Kate and a polar bear by Claire.

Two monsters; the big one is mine and the little one is Anna Kate's. The stocking is by Abby.

The stocking again by Abby in Clemson colors and a cute little bird by Claire.

The girls all asked me early on in the evening if they could stay up all night. Knowing they would never make it I said sure. They made it until 2:00.

Claire and Abigail.

Raven

Anna Kate

Vinny

 

Abby.

It was the easiest party I have ever thrown. I had just as much fun as the girls did if not more. It was fun watching them all figure out how to sew if they did not already know how. They all made some adorable ornaments that I hope their families will always treasure.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I started my last minute shopping at 10 this morning and finished at 9:30 tonight. I am exhausted. I still need to finish some homemade gifts and wrap. I am not sure how I will get it all done in time. I will do my best and that is all I an do.

If I do not post tomorrow, have a wonderful holiday!

LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN

Vinny's birthday celebrations began early on Friday morning. I wanted her to open her gift from mom and dad because her friends, the twins, were going to give her a gift that goes along with our gift. Here are the photos.

 

Finishing up breakfast.

 

This is how Mitchell looks in the morning.

All Vinny wanted for her birthday was an IPOD.

 

She is trying not to look disappointed. She knows this box is too big for an IPOD.

 

She is very curious as to what is in this big box.

 

Oh, it is a smaller box.

What could it be?

 

Great! It is another smaller box. This one could hold an IPOD.

 

Yippee! It is my IPOD. A shiny blue little IPOD.

 

After the kids went to school I started making the cupcakes Vinny ordered. She wanted to help but the only time I could make them was during the day on Friday. She also wanted them to be a little fancy. I am not a cook or a great baker. I gave it my all and it took me about 4 hours to make 5 dozen cupcakes and a cake.

 

The before photo

 

And after. They are not all that fancy but she loved them and that is all that matters.

 

I attempted to write the girls initials on them. When they all came home with Vinny today and saw their initials they went nuts. Sometimes girls can be so easy to please.

Stop by tomorrow for the big celebration Friday night with 5 of her best friends.