It's Beginning to Look a lot like...

Today, I am thankful for so much in my life. Waking up to a fresh dusting of snow has REALLY put me in the Christmas spirit.

I love how snow balances on top of trees & bushes.



I love how my girl marvels at our beautiful Christmas tree.



I love how she saw me preparing a roast and said, "Mama, I cook too!"


I love carrying on Christmas traditions & passing on simple things from one generation to the next--like my dear grandmother's ceramic Christmas tree.



Last night we went downtown with friends to the German Christkindl Market in Daley Plaza. It is hands-down one of my favorite events of the whole year. Spiced wine, German cookies and ornaments galore. This year we bought the traditional German pickle to hide in the tree!


The roast is in the crockpot, baby girl is waking up from her nap, and I've got raspberry-almond thumbprint cookies on the agenda for tonight. The Christmas Season is upon us!

The Annual Search

Every year, we head down to Essex, Illinois to search for the perfect Christmas tree. We always go the day after Thanksgiving (the first day they're open) because we want to have as much time as possible with our tree at home. This year the weather was a balmy 55*...almost tropical compared to last year's 20* temps!












I look forward to this day practically all year long. The thrill of the hunt for a tree is so much fun. The hot cocoa & time spent with family is a sure plus, as well! And now for the decorating...

"Hello" Halloween

Our little one loved everything about Halloween. She proudly told everyone that she was "Hello Kitty" and loved handing out candy--even to kids that had scary masks on! Each time they would walk away she would say, "More kids!" I can't wait to see what she wants to be next year! I'm going to let the photos speak for themselves...




(Oh- and yes, I made the costume. I spent $7 on the fabric for the skirt, $5 for the HK iron-on, and everything else I had at home on-hand. I made the headband out of felt with my friend the glue gun. Easy peasy.)







"More kids! More kids!"




Happy Halloween!

Back to "Normal"

I think it went like this: 103* fever, sleepless nights, rash, pediatrician visit, cough, sleepless nights, worse cough, more sleepless nights, pediatrician visit, albuterol script, flu for Hayden, flu for Mama, flu for Sito, then flu for Nana, and one last bout of flu for Hayden. Holy moly...it has been quite a month. I was in survival mode, going like a robot to & from work, only fitting in "the essentials". My poor camera was begging to be picked up, poor little Canon was feeling neglected! But today...today we were BACK!

I never imagined we would head to a pumpkin farm in 85* heat in October, in Illinois, but there we were. It was glorious.


















Darn power lines (but you get the idea- it was breathtaking). And- yes- I could spend all night Photoshoping the power lines if I wanted...but I'm not feelin' it.


We're at the top of the 1st inning of this three-day-weekend...much more "normal" to come. I can't wait to soak it all in.

Tamron Lens Giveaway from MCP Actions!

Check out the giveaway HERE!

Vale la Pena

Friday evening- I purchased a new bottle of OPI nail color instead of treating myself to a manicure. The $15 I saved...spent on Fall clothing for Hayden.

Friday night- Hayden had a fever (I'm guessing from last week's MMR shot) so I enlisted the troops...my mother, my BFF, and the hubby. "Should I call the doctor?" "What should I give her, and how much?" So many questions running through my head that I'm too scared to Google for fear of reading people's horror stories. My BFF graciously showed up at my door with a bottle of Motrin in hand, ready to dispense medicine AND her motherly advice. I set my alarm for 2 am so I could go in and give her more meds and another Pedialite popsicle.

Saturday- She seemed to be fine, so we went to tumbling class, the Antique Market with Nana, and even for an outing at Pilcher Park.

Saturday night- No fever at bedtime, so I thought we were in the clear. A glass of wine later, (for me, of course) she awoke with another temp. 10pm- more meds, more popsicles. 2am- repeat.

Sunday morning- She was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. We watched Sesame Street and ate breakfast together. I would like to go run some errands but the cool, damp, dreary weather is making me want to keep my PJs on all day!

**I chronicled these events not to gain an ounce of empathy, but rather to make the point, that depsite the scary moments in motherhood, the late nights, and the not-so-glam lifestyle...I wouldn't change a moment of it. Not for a second. The dirty diapers, the crying fits, the sleepless nights. I will take the bad with the good. Because no matter how bad it may seem, someone always has it worse off. And even when I think I've seen the worst of it, I have these tiny blue eyes staring back at me telling me it's worth it (or vale la pena, in Spanish).