passion fruit punch for the NEW YEAR

This punch recipe is super easy and fun for the kids to make.  They always love a special drink for themselves while the adults are toasting with champagne or other spirits!

Passion Fruit Punch:

1 bag frozen fruit {papaya, mango and strawberry mix}

1 can frozen juice {Welch's Passion Fruit}

1 bottle sparkling water

Mix all the ingredients and enjoy!

This is the basic punch recipe and you could add a few extra ingredients to attract adults 

{wink, wink}.

Either way, Happy New Year!

this year...

This year,

she was delighted to make a little place under the tree to sleep each night

she was happy being held

he calmly laid in the middle of it all

she reached higher than she ever could

they were up early

she was excited to read the gift tags by herself

her feet were her favorite toy

she looked forward to giving gifts

they carefully wrote notes to Santa while sampling the cookies meant for him

she slept through most of the morning commotion 

she sang on stage at the preschool sing-a-long

they decorated according to their likes and not mine

only the unbreakable box of ornaments made it out of the attic and onto the tree.

Hope your holidays were memorable too!

under our tree

Anytime she is on the floor, you can expect to find her under our tree.  She gruts and squeals as she makes her way (rolling) to the bottom of the tree.  Once there, she bats at the evergreen branches and kicks to watch the lights and ornaments sway.  Something tells me that our tree will be up long into January...

almost a month ago...four

With all the holidays and happenings, I am not quite sure where this month went.

Your favorite spot is on the front doorstep where you watch your sisters and the neighbor children play most afternoons.  You love the breeze and the trees as you kick and coo.

You have begun pulling at the mop of unruly reddish hair on your head.  Hopefully you haven't inherited the nervous hair-twirling trait that your mother and grandmother have.

Right now, you are happiest rolling around the floor trying to get to your sisters' toys.

At your 4-month dr. visit, the pediatrician thought you were more than ready to begin eating cereal.  Unlike your sisters, you were overjoyed to get the textured cereal in your mouth and down to your belly.  Consequently, you are now sleeping soundly at night.

Most of your waking hours, you are cooing, drooling, screeching and screaming.  You have most definitely found your voice and love using it to get our attention!

Happy 4 months little one!

Enchanted

She is in awe of you this year.  

Today she sat and wrote a little note...

Perhaps you will leave a little note about your work at the North Pole for us?

She is enchanted and I am delighted.

over the river and through the woods

Over the river and through the woods led us to breakfast with Santa this year!

Santa made room on his lap for 3 little girls who were itching to see him.  A list was presented and wishes were told.  Too many photos were snapped in an effort to freeze this sweet moment in my mind forever.   I love the little minds of children this time of year, filled with such pure wonder and delight.  What a beautiful season!

morning moments

When the sun streams through the back windows and falls softly on the floor each morning, you beam.  Something about the soft morning light, the warmth and a good night's rest strikes a delightful cord in your little mind.  Your eyes light up and you are happy--happy to talk, coo, play and just be here with us.  We look forward to this time each day.  It is a fresh start to our day, unclouded with frustrations or fussiness.  A beautiful beginning indeed!