Heaven

My 2 favorite foods are Oreo's and brownies. I enjoy all kinds of fancy foods, but these 2 little desserts will always be at the top of my list. In fact while pregnant with Hayden, I ate a package of Oreo's a week, all by myself...no joke.
So when I came across THIS (via Make it and Love it)I thought I had died and gone to heaven! I made them for the kids New Year's Eve Party tonight. Hopefully there will be some left over for the party. I used mint Oreo's and OH MAN! AM I IN HEAVEN!

Merry Christmas 2010

It was an exciting Christmas at our house. It was also the first Christmas Aaron had to work. He went in really early so he could round on his patients and be home early. He kids woke up at 6. I let them open their stockings and then I had to stall them until Aaron got home. Thank Heavens for new movies. Aaron called about 8 and said he was on his way home! So the kids didn't have to wait too long to open presents.

Santa most definitely found us

Stockings
getting their piles ready

The little kids all got Pillow Pets from Papa and Nana...huge hit!

Isaac jammin' with his paper jam

Caites prized possession...the easy bake oven

Putting everything to use. We baked

we played with the doll house

we set up our zhu-zhu city and built a bat cave for Bat Man

We played all day long. And when it was time to have dinner I was still in my pj's. We ended up not even making a big dinner, we had snacked on left overs all day and no one wanted a big dinner. Truth be told, we were having too much fun with our new stuff to stop and eat.

At the end of the day Halle gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, "When is Santa coming? I not see him yet." Apparently she had been waiting all day to see Santa in our house. I had to explain that he came while we were sleeping and left her the doll house.

Christmas is so much fun with kids. I am so grateful for my family. I think the gift of motherhood is one of the greatest gifts a women can have.

Trouble turns Three!

It's hard to believe that Halle is 3! She is full of life and energy and always has something to say! I think she was born a month early because she couldn't handle missing out on anything...nothing has changed. She will always be our favorite Christmas Eve gift. She requested McDonald's for lunch.
Then presents when Dad got home

She was so excited to open presents. She LOVED all of them. And was very spoiled by Grandparents and cousins.
She kept giving us hugs after she opened something...her way of saying Thank You. It was very cute.
After gifts we invited the Schiederer's over for Christmas Eve. We had dinner and then a great concert put on by Brecken and Caite. They wrote and choreographed their own song.

Brecken's birthday is on Christmas, so we celebrated with cupcakes for dessert.

Halle really is the life of our family. There is NEVER a dull moment when she is awake. She is cute and sweet, yet busy and a wee bit naughty. She is adored by her older siblings. In fact for a long time Isaac kept asking if we could have another Halle...sorry buddy, no can do. There's only one Halle...Thank Heavens! And Thank Heavens she's ours!

(did you notice the 3 different outfits all in 1 day?...she's all girl)

Family

When making our decision to move to Cincinnati, we contacted Aaron's cousins Ardene and Randy who moved to the Cincinnati area a few months ago. Ardene gave us all kinds of great insight. And the thought of being close to some type of family was comforting to us.

Ardene e-mailed me a few days ago and said they were making a trek from Cincinnati to Dallas to be with her family for Christmas. They would be passing through Little Rock and would love to see us. They rolled in last night just in time for dinner. It was so fun getting the kids together. All 9 of them. Evey one had an instant friend. We couldn't have been happier. While the kids played the adults talked and talked. It was wonderful catching up with them. It had been YEARS since we saw them last.

The visit was brief (they still had a five hour drive ahead of them), but priceless. We went to bed excited and reassured that we have made the right choice for our family.

The Party

Caite invited a few close friends over for a DIVA party. They had a lot of fun. We made Christmas ornaments (no picture, but they turned out really cute) and jewelry

sisters Meredith and Malory

Avery, Brecken, Morgan
The DIVAS

They danced with balloons
Opened gifts. Caite and her BFF Morgan

Ate pizza
and

Decorated cupcakes.

Avery won for the most piled on sprinkles and for matching the decor.

Goody bags with their initials

Caite said it was the "best day ever!"

Caite turns 7!

It's hard to believe that our sweet little Caite McCall is not so little anymore. She has really grown and matured the last few months. She is still sweet. A little sassy (in a good way). Very kind. Super smart. Energetic. Beautiful. Loving and lovable. Has a dimple to die for. Cares more about fashion than any 7 year old should (I'm very glad she has to wear a uniform to school, it makes mornings SO much easier). Has the thickest hair I have ever seen on a little girl.

Her Favorites right now:

Junie B. Jones

purple, green, and blue

zuzu pets

Morgan (her best friend)

coleslaw, shrimp, and sushi

jewelry

drawing

writing in her journal

clothes and shoes.

Birthday sneak peak

Caite has been wanting a messenger bag for school (instead of her backpack). I took her to the store a while back to get one and she didn't like anything she saw. However, when I was getting ear rings at a near by accessory store she saw a Vera Bradley bag. Yes, the girl has good taste. Fortunately so does my friend Liz. She studied a Vera Bradley bag on-line and was able to replicate it. She let me borrow her bag to study and make one for my Miss Fancy Pants. This is what she's getting for her birthday tomorrow. Stuffed with books and jewelry.

I think she will love it!

Another "What you will NEVER see"

The Chief Residents are in charge of Noon Conference once a week. Aaron and Christy got the great idea to wear ugly Holiday sweaters. So Christy went to the thrift store during lunch. She found a great one for her, but nothing in Men's department except Santa ties. She settled on a tie and an ugly sweater vest thing, a quick trip to Hobby Lobby for cheesy embellishments and done...an extra ugly Holiday Sweater. Paired with a Santa hat and Caites light-up-flashing-snowman necklace, you get a mighty nice ensemble...Just what Aaron has always wanted.

Favorites

I remember saying it last year and I will probably say it next year. I love getting up in the morning before the kids and turning on the Christmas Tree lights. It is silent and peaceful, filling the day with brightness and hope. It's one of my favorite little parts of Christmas.

While I was on the phone in the other room...

...Halle helped herself to the peanut butter again! This time I took a picture.

It's wasn't nearly as bad as the first time, but a mess none the less.

I think she has tested almost all of my cleaning abilities.

Miami Beach...Just the 2 of us!

Aaron had to present his research at an international conference in Miami Beach. The Hospital paid for all of Aaron's expenses, so all we had to do was use a free companion air fair for my flight and we had a free little getaway! It was SOOOOOOOO nice to get away! No meals to make. no kids to watch. no snacks to get. no messes to clean up. no diapers to change. no homework to help with. no noses to wipe. no house to clean. no projects to get done. no schedule to keep.

THIS is where we stayed. Super nice! The picture of the room was just like our room. complete with his and her bath robes.

We got there Weds. just in time to check out the resort, get settled and find a good place to eat. Aaron had to be at the conference all day on Thursday. I had the day completely to my self. And wouldn't you know, it rained. all. day. So I snuggled up in the our room and read a charming little book that a friend suggested. So peaceful and quiet. I didn't want it to end. By the time he was done, so was the rain, so we walked around Lincoln Street Mall and found some good food.

Friday was sunny and semi warm. Warm enough to hang out at the beach. Oh how we miss the beach from our West Indies days. The sound of the waves, the smell of the salt water, the soft warm sand. It was fabulous! We just sat there in our extra cush chairs and did nothing (but people watch)!

It was wonderful being together. Just the 2 of us. It doesn't happen very often. The last time we got away like this was when we came to Arkansas to buy our house 4 years ago.

Things learned and relearned:

I love my husband. Ok, that wasn't relearned, I've known it since our second date. I just had to say it again.

It's nice not to be needed for a few days.

Everyone needs a day all to themselves.

Loews Resorts are nice places to stay.

Sleeping in feels so good.

I like good food.

I'm not a Clark woman like in the book I read.

Miami Beach is expensive.

Miami Beach is not a place for families.

The beach makes me happy.

So thank you to my wonderful friends Kathie, Hillary, and Laura Beth who became second mothers to my kids. I knew they were in good hands and I didn't have to worry about anything. I know it was a huge sacrifice and extra work on their part.