Merry Christmas!

I hope your family has a wonderful and peaceful Christmas!

For how I design our cards, see last year's post here.  (And yes, I see about fifty things that I would change about this year's design, but I was four days post-baby when I did them, and probably half crazy).  I used Persnickety Prints to print them again, and got truly excellent service (again).  I would highly recommend them!

I hope you have an amazing holiday!

Welcome to the World Griffin!

*Not many new pictures here, if you are my Facebook friend.  Please excuse all the superlatives and overly excited language.  We're very much in the honeymoon period over here*

After what seemed like both a very long but also very fast pregnancy, Griffin Patrick made a speedy arrival into the world on December 3rd.

 As soon as they handed him to me, I told Seth that I would do it again.  Hubs, being slightly traumatized by Griffin's intense arrival, immediately said, "Oh no you won't!"  Ha. Poor guy.

The big kids just adore the baby and are fighting constantly over who gets to hold him next.  Of course, they are also all exhibiting various degrees of flipping out too.  Smile.  They've been settling in a little more everyday, so I think when we go back to our regular routine this week they will be back to normal.  I hope.

We are so thrilled to finally get to see his sweet little face, one eye open and all.

We are blessed to live just up the road from Seth's family.  Griffin is a lucky boy to be so loved by so many people already.  (My side of the family will have to wait a few weeks to snuggle him, but they are no less excited).

These are happy days.

First Day of School 2012

Well, people I don't even know have started asking me what happened to my blog, so I think it's probably time that I posted, eh?  Here's the honest truth though: I can really only fit one extra thing into my life at any given time, and right now, that extra thing is pregnancy.  Being pregnant is not an easy time for me, no matter how wanted and loved this sweet baby has been (read: whine whine whine).  So I will do my best to show up a little more regularly here, but no promises, okay?  I am safely at home putting all my energy into the babies I already have, and the one who is to come.  (Oh, and my husband.  Him too).

We had a good and HOT summer, and I'll talk more about that later maybe, but here are some first day of (home)school pictures....approximately five weeks late.  (I'm still having a picture-editing issue with Blogger where the pictures are either too dark or too light, so bear with me).

Olivia is working in 2nd grade this year:

Amelia is in Kindergarten:

Charlotte is three and officially beginning Preschool (and so pleased with herself about it!):

And Henry is, well...:

And the obligatory everyone together picture:

Yeah, that's a keeper.  Ha.  No idea why Charlotte is pouting, but let's just say...it's not unusual!

We have a back-to-school tradition of having a picnic with Daddy.  This year we decided to head down to Turkey Creek, and Grandpa came too!  (Grandma had a meeting that night).

I am truly glad to have them at home everyday, despite the fact that I am a little frazzled sometimes....they really are growing up too quickly for their Mama.  (And yes, I say that every year!)