Wow! I have been slacking on my blogging! Partly due to my stupid Adobe Flashreader not working. It has been a VERY busy couple of months. It's hard to believe the holidays have already come and gone! This year has flown. I know I say that every year, but I swear time is going by faster and faster. I'm just going to do a post since there is so much to catch up on.
Halloween was wonderful! Stella was Cleopatara. I was about her age too. Funny. Tristan was a cop. He's a little obsessed with cops and still wears the costume around the house. I helped in both classes for their parties and it was so much fun! The weather was perfect. Dinner with friends was perfect. One of my favorite holidays!
My mom turned 60 this year! We planned a surprise 50's party since she was born in 1951. Music, food, decorations themed soda shop. She was really surprised! It was a total success and so much fun! I'm so lucky to have the BEST mom! She is one of my best friends and someone I rely on and look up to still. Maybe more now than when I was younger.
Thanksgiving. Food. Yummmmm. Love, love, love Thanksgiving! It's kind of the kick-off to the holiday season. We hosted at our house this year. Shaun & Family were able to spend the actual Thanksgiving day with us this year. In the past it's always been Friday - which is a great excuse to have 2 Thanksgiving dinners, but we were glad they could be up earlier! We all ate way too much.
Bill and I celebrated out 12th anniversary on December 1st! We didn't do anything too exciting. Bill's parents took the kids so we were able to for the first time in a very long time able to do to dinner AND a movie! I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful husband. He truly is my best friend, biggest supporter, and partner in life. I'm very blessed.
Stella had 3 - yes, 3 dance recitals on the same day. One with Jennifer's class and 2with mine & Miss Natalies. I am so proud of her! She was so pretty and did such a fantastic job! I love moments like this as a mother. These are the bigger moments, and I do cherish the small moments just as much...
My Grandpa Robbins passed away the week of Christmas. I saw him the week before he died. He had been in a care center for about a year and a half and has quickly deteriorated since then. He was bed-ridden for a long time and in the end couldn't eat or drink. He was so frail and had suffered too long. We weren't very close, but he's my grandpa and I still loved him. I didn't want to see him suffer and felt bad it lasted as long as it did. I feel bad for my dad and aunt who I know will miss them tremendously.
The funeral was nice. It was small. It was cold. It was just a graveside service. Many of my grandpa's loved ones came to pay their respects. My dad and someone who helped take care of my grandpa spoke. They said many beautiful things. The girls sang "A Child's Prayer" which was beautiful as well. Funerals are always a somber thing, but they make you gain perspective of what's important and I find peace that he is now with my grandma, Aunt Betty & Uncle Don again.
Christmas was amazing! Christmas Eve we went out to my parents for dinner. Shaun & Mistee were up, but left so they could be home Christmas Eve. We all got pj's and my mom made really cute covered pillows for each of the kids. The kids were so excited that night. They are at such a fun age! As we were driving home they kept looking out the window for signs of Santa's sleigh and yelling at us to drive faster so we get home before he gets there! Things are just things, but those are the memories I want to last.
New Years was pretty kicked-back. As usual. We had my family over to play games and pig out. It was fun and everyone left shortly before midnight. The kids stayed up past midnight and they did the traditional watch the ball drop at Time Square. Then we heard people firing off fireworks and watched that for a bit. They loved it! It was nice to spend the holidays with our family and enjoy each others company.
