Snow White.

I woke up this morning, and hurrying out the door to get to work by 7AM this morning, I threw open the door, and what before my wondering eyes should appear but a glistening winter wonderland blanketed in snow!! With Nik on my arm, tottering out the door, in hat and coat and boots and bags, I didn't have time to stop and admire and show her the snow but for just a moment to savor...I hope to show her proper after work today. But, in that moment, when you see snow for the first time in winter, and you feel that softness, that temporary cool warmth that snow brings that calms the harsh winter winds, with Nik in tow, it was wonderful! And, I am so excited for this season! I found this photo on Google/Flkr, here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/.

I am really eager to make some more Christmas cookies and goodies, and am thinking of making this White Chocolate Mousse Cake (found the recipe while looking through a Christmas catalog) that I am really excited for.


I had hoped to take Nik to Chicago to show her the Windows and the Tree at Macy's (they are continuing the Marshall Fields tradition) and a quick visit with Nik's Aunt Becca that lives down town, with my husband as he is heading to Chicago for Business and a BBall game Tuesday, but with the snow storm approaching, not sure that that dream will become a reality. I just love Chicago in the Winter/Christmas Season; all blustery and cold. The lights and garland strung from the lamp posts down Michigan Ave. The hustle and the bustle of shoppers and business goers. The warmth and invitedness of the shop windows and stores, alight with Christmas cheer and symbols of the Season. And, the stores smell of Hot Cocoa, gingerbread, Pine and Holly, and Christmas Carols echo admiss the shopers and the merchandise. Even now, the smell of perfume takes me back to memories of shopping with my mom (we did more window shopping than actual shopping shopping ) during the holidays in Chicago. I am hoping to at least be able to go Tuesday during the day, before the Season turns too harsh, I'd like to get a picture of Nik with Santa, but we'll see!
Did anyone wake up to somehing similiar?

Mobile.

We are mobile. It's official-We have a crawler on our hands! It's been close, but we are officially crawling. I think it was the 8 month mark that did it (or perhaps that Mom and Dad finally figured out the need to throw this child down on some carpet every once in a while that did it), but either way--watch out! Time to baby proof the house. We were getting in position, lifting up on our hands/arms, getting on our tippy toes, shooting off our tippy toes, scooting backwards where we wanted to go, turning in circles, getting on our knees, then we were getting on our tippity toes and shooting off forward, and last night, we finally made the progress to definite crawling. On knees, hands/arms/legs/feet moving back and forth, and moving all around! We are so excited for this little pumpkin, and can't wait for what lies ahead! We are especially thankful that we put up an artificial tree instead of a real tree this year. Break out the safety locks and outlet covers, WE'RE MOBILE!!

Happy 8 Months, Little Pumpkin!!

Happy 8 Months, Little Pumpkin!!

You are getting so big so fast. I am loving every step that you are taking towards making your own place in this world, your own nitch, exploring every part of it. I am right there with you as you experience each new aspect of this world...I love that you love every part, every piece, every bit of knowledge and exploration. Each step, each object, an adventure to explore, a challenge to overcome, a piece to absorb and take in. It is going by so fast, in the blink of an eye, and I can't help but want to slow the hands of time. Stalling these moments, holding them idle, absent from time.
I am torn between wanting to show you everything and holding it all still, so that I might not look back moments later, and they are gone, forever, now just a memory. I never knew that my heart was capable of so much love, of a love so worldly, surpassing all limits and boundries. I never knew that my heart could hold so much love, so deep a love...till you. I love you. Each day I spend in your absence, my heart breaks a little more. Each moment that I miss, I die a little inside. Aching to consume every moment possible. Forgive me for missing these precious moments that I will never, ever hold in my hands again, but will forever wonder about, and regret, in my heart. I love you. Happy 8th-Mommy XOXO

Thanks, Rach, for freezing these moments for me to treasure for the years to come...

giving.thanks.

"The Pilgrim Hats Go Marching One by One...Hurrah......Hurrah!"Peanut Butter Balls. Mmm...

Yummy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Turkey Day!!

Gobble, Gobble........BAWK!!

Mmmm....

Disclaimer: The bird pictured above was not harmed for the sake of the Garrett Thanksgiving Holiday Dinner. The bird pictured above is alive and well on the Ropp Farm (we think...). Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

"Soon the Bells Will Start...."

Welcome to my Home!!! Ha, Ha. Just Kidding. WOW, I can't believe it has been a WHOLE WEEK since I posted last. I must be in a Funk or something. I just have not felt very Bloggy lately. I think I am just frustrated with work, our dog, the floppy baby tummy:) that is still adorning my once tiny frame, my photography that has just been soo blah! lately-fuzzy pictures, and trying to catch up on everything. My house was despicable early last week. I managed to make some headway and now, it is less atrocious. I hate to let things get that way because I am such a anal neat freak. It just makes me feel like a bad wife and mother, and woman and then I just start self-deprecating. But, I just haven't had the energy or the time. Our dog is very, very slowly healing from his ordeal and the slowness at which this is happening is really wearing on me, and he is completely my responsibility, as I am, also the prime care giver of Nikolia. I just can't believe that is going to take a year of his life, stationary, for our black lab to heal from this thing.

But, pity party, other news. Nik is very close to crawling, and I cannot wait for this step for her. She is getting up on her knees and rocking back and forth. And, I finally caved and put up some Christmas decs last night (I will post some pics later this week). I feel like I cheated Thanksgiving a little, but I couldn't stop myself, and I am not hosting Thanksgiving, so I am justifying it. I wanted to hang the lights outside this weekend, but we didn't get around to it. I volunteered to work for a colleague Saturday, in exchange for Wednesday off. So, I have a FIVE DAY WEEK OFF OF WORK starting Wednesday. Nik and I are going to make Peanut Butter Balls, and have loads of fun loving and hugging on each other. I would like to think that I will catch up on some sleep, but I know I won't. It's that time of year again, Christmas, and I have that itch, that butterflies, tingling, giddy itch, and I am finding it difficult to close my eyes.

I am Very, Very excited that Christmas is right around the corner!!

"It's beginning to look a lot like..."

Christmas has been on my mind lately (you know how I LOVE holidays, esp. Christmas!!) When I saw this, I just had to share with you my wish list and my own MEME. I want to hear your wishlists too!! So, if you want to copy this MEME and do the same, please, please, do so, and let me know in a comment!
Ironically, and not surprising to me at all, I share some of the same wishes and memes as my sister-in-law!!:) You'll also see my husband and I's photo (that my sis-in-law took) along with this same post!!:)

I went to my sister-in-law's blog today: http://schiranotriplets.blogspot.com/ and saw this:

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme todaysmama and Provo Craft http://www.cricut.com/holidaywishlist/?utm_source=todaysmama&utm_medium=meme&utm_campaign=HolidayWishList_Today%27sMama

are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.


1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?

1. The most obvious is the health and happiness of my family and friends, the safe arrival of my baby niece and for our Black Lab, Diez, to get better:)
2. Second obvious, Moola!! (we need to pay off our kitchen re-model before the interest accumulates)!!
3. This wish is kind of Moot(but because of it's significance, I have to place it in a category) after the Moola wish bc enough Moola and I wouldn't need to wish for this: To Stay Home with our daughter and extend our family
4. All things Photography: Classes, Books, Lenses: a wide angle lens and a prime lens (I am currently borrowing my sister-in-laws).
5. A Make-over (This includes a really good hair color, cut, eyebrow wax, make-up, new outfit, shoes, jewelry, handbag, if it could also include a few pounds lost, that would be stellar!).


2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

A "welcome" sign that my 5 yr old niece gave me when my daughter (now 7 months) was first born.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?

I have always wanted to get into scrap booking but there are so many choices, and it's such a committed, involved process, I'd have to buy EVERYTHING!! and would probably never stop and end up Bankrupt!! Ha!! I even bought a scrapbook and some supplies when I was pregnant to make a scrapbook of our pregnancy for our daughter, and it is all still packaged in the basement, untouched.:)

I have also always wanted to learn how to sew and knit too!

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

A copy of Roald Dahl's book, "James and the Giant Peach." I still remember how utterly excited and surprised I was when I unwrapped that gift. I was 7 and I remember it as if it just happened. I remember every detail of that moment. **My 2nd Grade teacher, Mrs. Lamers had read the book to our class in snippets over the course of the school year, and I was enthralled with the story. She was also my all time favorite teacher, who left after 2nd Grade, and I was heartbroken and cried. I wrote letters to her for years afterwards. I still remember looking to my mom and asking her how she's managed to a get a copy of the book like it was some ancient scroll masterpiece lost to the world for ages (or maybe it was because I asked Santa Claus for it:)

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?

Nik is only 7 months old, but I sat down and spoke with her regrading this matter, and she stated that she would be happy with anything Minuit and unnoticeable to the untrained human eye such as; little pieces of fuzz, dirt, crumbs, little pieces of plastic, coins, pieces of string, tiny pieces of paper, straw, particles of feathers, and tiny tiny sticks. These items are of huge interest her. She would also be happy with anything that she could put in her mouth; TV remotes, cell phones, coins, said items above, hair, body parts, articles of clothing, sweat shirt pant strings, broaches, earrings, bracelet's, watches, rings, receipts, plastic bags, beer bottles, glasses of water, packages, wrappers, flatware, china, pens, pencils, golf tees, golf markers, hot rollers, purses, hats, keyboards, laptops, cameras, lens caps, books, notepads, X-Box Controllers. She also is happy with anything that someone else currently happens to be holding or eating, this includes said items above, remotes, cell phones, X-Box Controllers, glasses of water, beer bottles, cans of soda, any kind of food, etc.

6. What is your favorite holiday food?

Umm...? Do you have to ask that. Christmas Cookies of course.

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?

I would like to say scrapbook. Not sure if Photos Christmas Cards, and Printing pictures and Framing for family members counts? I do that every year. I love to give framed pictures as presents. It's a gift that I think you enjoy every day for years to come, and I love photography.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?

I LOVE Christmas Movies. I watch the same ones every year, over and over all Season long:)
Favorite Classic: It's a Wonderful Life (of course). Without fail, I get goosebumps and cry every year.
(Runner Up:The Bishop's Wife with Cary Grant and Loretta Young)
Favorite Fun Movie: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation ( Elf: Runner Up)

9. Favorite holiday song?

I LOVE Christmas Music, I listen to it all Season long, in the car, in the house, while decorating and wrapping Christmas presents:)

Favorite Classic: The Christmas Song ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire...")
Favorite Fun Song: I also like "Baby It's Cold Outside" (Runner Up: Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby")

10. Favorite holiday pastime?

Mine is also, Baking dozens and dozens of cookies (for hours and hours) with my mother. She has the BEST recipe for Iced Sugar Cookies (from scratch) and Peanut Butter Balls. I remember every detail: the powder, the baking cloth, the wooden roller, the metal cookie cutters, the wax paper, cookie sheets. I remember the smell, picking each desired cookie shape, tasting the icing, putting colored sprinkles specifically for "tree ornaments," "Rudolph's nose," etc, the sound of the Christmas cookie tins, drizzling the chocolate, licking the chocolate off fingers, the chill of the peanut butter balls fresh from the fridge.
I can't wait to continue this tradition with my own children!

Runner Up: Every Christmas my mom would take us up to Chicago on the train to look at the Christmas Windows at Marshall Fields, then we would eat lunch around the Huge tree at Marshall Fields, and Christmas Shop. I remember the sounds of the train station and train car, the blistering chill in the air, the bustle of the streets, the lights everywhere, the intricate window designs, the sheer awe of the large tree at Marshall Fields(waiting in line to eat around the tree at Marshall Fields-even with a reservation!), and the talking tree at FAO Swartz.
Although Marshall Fields is no longer in Chicago, I still hope to continue a similar tradition with my own children.