2011 (Part 2)

Welcome to the 2nd half or edition of my 2011!!

Let's see what the 2nd half of the year had in store for us...

JULY

I loved these 4th of July pictures... so simply & yet so cute.

We made lots of trips to the beach in July, along with going to every park within a 100 mile radius, playing in the sprinkler in the back yard and just loving our Summer!

Abbie was FULLY potty trained in July... woooohoooo!!! Big milestone!

Chelsea from The Paper Mama was a guest blogger. Love her! She is one of the funnest bloggers in blog world! Please go check out her lovely blog & give her some love.

We went swimming over my Brother & Sister-In-Law's house frequently... I discovered this wonderfully delightful drink (thanks to my MOM no less!)

Don't Blink joined the world of FACEBOOK!

Have you liked me on Facebook? Well, you really should!

How about Twitter? Yeah, do that too!! :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

AUGUST

I had an awesome giveaway from The Homemade Way and took some CUTE pictures of Abbie!

We had many, many late Summer nights playing outside. Exploring the backyard, taking pictures & just being. It was nice. AND HOT! I do love Summertime!

We had some very, very terrible flooding in August from tons of rain. See some pictures of it here. I remember worrying about how to get to work on someday because all the roads were either shut down or blocked!

We made some yummy cupcakes waiting out hurricane Irene...

which, didn't really do much damage. Thank God!

Another evening of playing... riding bikes... love it!

We celebrated Jaelyn's 4th Birthday at the end of the month! Ahhhhh... 4??? Such a sweetheart.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER

What a busy month September was!!! A wedding... A bachelorette party... WHEW!

I took some very cute pictures of a friends little boy. ♥ Lucas!

Hubby & I celebrated 14 years of marriage. Here is to 14 more....

Jaelyn started Pre-K and rode a bus for the very first time!

Yes, I cried putting her on that bus. Yes, I still cry seeing her turn into a little lady.

Our best friends were married at Yankee Stadium.

By far the coolest weddings ever. We were so honored to be a part of it!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

OCTOBER

Fall was upon us quickly! Brisk weather, leaves falling, and the Harvest Festival was back in town!

I discovered the world of Pinterest. Oh boy. LOL!

We visited a pumpkin patch to pick out some really awesome pumpkins!

The girls really enjoyed it... such fun with cousins & friends!

I discovered the world of iPhone and my life hasn't been the same since. haha!

Oh my.. I.Love.My.Phone. ♥

oh and we got a new washer & dryer too but pfft... who cares about that nonsense?

My hubby turned 41... haha.. he'll always be older than me & I love it! :)

My girls had the coolest Halloween costumes on the planet. Maybe I'm partial?

Strawberry Shortcake & Lemon Meringue

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOVEMBER

We played in the leaves....

Mandy from A Sorta Fairytale was a guest blogger. So much to learn from her!

I tried to get some shots of my girls for Christmas cards.... it went 'ok'.. lol!

I did take some VERY cute pictures of my Sister & her family - RIGHT HERE.

This was by far my favorite....

Two very sweet friends got married so we were off to another wedding!

We found out for certain that Abbie is 100% allergic to tree nuts. :(

My poor babe will never know the sweet joys of peanut butter on a spoon right out of the jar... unless, she outgrows it, which I really hope she does!

We celebrated Thanksgiving with family.

We all got super cut haircuts!

I did some crazy Thanksgiving Night/Black Friday morning shoppping!!

We went to a PARADE!!

I got this AWESOME new layout which I love, love, love!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

DECEMBER

We prepared for CHRISTMAS!!

It was our first official Christmas as a family of 4.

The girls had their first gymnastics show... The Peppermint Twist!

So cute seeing them jump around, walk the balance beam & be little gymnasts!

Read more & see more pictures, HERE!

Had a photo shoot with some ADORABLE girls! Devyn & Laurie ♥

We celebrated Abbie's 3rd Birthday!!! Oh my sweet baby girl, still can't believe you are 3!!!

We had the best Christmas ever.... ♥

I am so looking forward to 2012!

We will be ringing in the New Year with our dear friends, in pj's, having dinner, a few drinks

and probably coloring with our girls until the ball drops. I know, be jealous of our super exciting party!

I can't think of any other way to celebrate it though with people that I love!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2011 (part 1)

  I can hardly believe a new year is right around the corner. Crazy isn't it!?

2011 was a good year for us - lots of fun, memorable things to look back on.

Here are some of my favorites, month by month!

I like seeing how my pictures improved too... thanks to my fellow bloggers for that!

You guys rock at teaching me how to be a better photographer!

JANUARY

Silly girls playing in the snow.... we got hit with a lot of snow last year. We have yet to see any so far!

My pretty neighbors red bar in the snow... loved this picture.

Playing Play-Doh with my girls. Gosh, this was really a year ago???

On January 21, 2011  - I announced my BEST FRIEND was getting married.

Well, let me just announce now... my BEST FRIEND is pregnant!!

So, so happy for her! I can't wait to spoil her little one like she does mine. ♥

------------------------------------------------------------

FEBRUARY

Another favorite picture. Went on a much needed walk with hubby in early February for some fresh air.

I wonder how many candy conversation hearts we will get this year... ♥

I read & finished an excellent book last February -  I highly recommend Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

I still recommend it, wonderful book! If you want more reviews & recommendations on books, please check out my friend Gingers Blog - GREADS! She is the queen of books!

------------------------------------------------------------

MARCH

On March 1, 2011 my post read: A Day to Remember.

and so it was. Please feel free to read it again, here.

My little St. Patrick's Day cuties!!!

My Mom-Mom's Gold Necklace & Jaelyn = Love.

This picture speaks for itself. I love her so much.

Cruising in the Jeep! Meep! Meep!

------------------------------------------------------------

APRIL

Could she be anymore beautiful!!!????

We signed LOTS of Adoption Paperwork in the month of April. LOTS & LOTS... but, all worth it. ♥

Yay for playtime at the park! Looks like the weather was breaking finally....

Pondering....

I had a pretty awesome guest blogger in April...

Marissa from Making Memories with the McClellen's

who is a pretty awesome girl. Check out her blog!!

------------------------------------------------------------

MAY

May had to be the MOST WONDERFUL month in 2011 for us!

ADOPTION FINALIZED!!!!!

Playing with bubbles. Yay for warm weather!

My daughters! ♥

Courtney from Click it Up a Notch was kind enough to do a guest post!

Her blog is GREAT for photography tips, tricks & how-to's!

My lovely friend, Ginger was a guest blogger. The book queen!

My Adoption Post

Adoption day in a collage!

On May 25th we took the girls for a fun day at the zoo!! They loved it!

I can't wait to go back again this year!! :)

See my ZOO post HERE!

------------------------------------------------------------

JUNE

Ashley from Rambling & Photos was a guest post in June.

I loooooove her blog. She is a WONDERFUL photographer!

Check her out!

We had our adoption party........ FUN FUN FUN!!!

Some very good friends of ours, Julie & Anthony were happily married.

Beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple!!

This little cutie pie went to a birthday party with me. I loved this dress!!

Jaelyn had her FIRST ever dance recital!!!

Details & pictures - HERE!!!

We celebrated my BEST FRIEND getting married once again & showered her with happiness!!

I love this girl!!

Whew, we are only half way through the year?

Goodness, I was a busy little bee!! Looking back now, I loved every minute of it!

It's so nice to reflect back & remember what you filled your life with.

Mine was most certainly filled with love, joy, happiness, family & friends!

Stay tuned for part 2....

We Believe in Miracles!

I so love Shutterfly. I've done our Christmas cards with them for the past 3 years I think?

They always have such cute cards every year.

I know Christmas cards are quickly becoming a thing of the past, which saddens me because

I love getting them & sending them out!

Here is our card from this year... hopefully I will get the girls to actually SIT TOGETHER and smile someday for a card. Doesn't matter, I still love it!

It was a special year for us... so happy we get to celebrate it!

Merry Christmas, Friends! ♥

 

WW: My Birthday Girl

Just a few pictures from my Abbie's birthday party.

She had a great time, loved being the center of attention and just looked adorable.

Can't believe she is 3! 

all from my iPhone ♥

Yummy Birthday Cake!

My Big Girl blowing out the candles... she actually didn't mind people singing Happy Birthday this year, whew!

Yummy Cake Pops/Balls!

My Mommy & My Babes  ♥

Little Cuties!!!

The Birthday Girl!! with some cheetos on her face.. haha.

♥

I need your vote over at The Paper Mama for my Holiday Photo Challenge!!

GO VOTE FOR ME HERE!

#3 - Don't Blink / Tammy

♥

Wordish Wednesday Link-ups:

Project Alicia

The Paper Mama

Live and Love Outloud

and then, she {snapped}

Naptime Momtog

Supermom

Jenni from the Blog

GO VOTE!!!!

  The Paper Mama has picked her top 30! (I don't know how she did it) for her Photo Holiday Challenge and I need your help!!!

GO VOTE FOR ME HERE!

I am #3 on the list - Don't Blink/Tammy

SO GO VOTE!!! You have until tomorrow I believe.. so vote today, vote tomorrow... PLEASE!

YAY!

Oh, and check out all the other cute cards, too... really are some adorable ones!



Happy Birthday, Abbie!!!

Dear Abbie,

Wow, you are 3 today!!! What happened to my little baby girl? Ya know, the one that needed me for everything, the one who cried at 3am for a bottle, the one who wrapped her fingers around mine while taking her first steps, the one who held onto my leg & acted shy around strangers? Where did she go?

Don't tell anyone but, you will always be my little baby girl. Although the things you need me for may change, I do hope you will always need me.

You are so independent right now. You like to try to dress yourself, go potty like a big girl, never shed a tear when I drop you off at daycare, listen well (most of the time), help your Big Sister clean up toys. Oh are you ever the entertainer! You love putting on a show, dressing up, standing on top of some sort of box and belting out your favorite tune. At the moment ii's Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. You even add in the extra lines of "like a lightbulb and like Columbus" which completely cracks me up!!

You are quite the little artist but could you keep it to the paper & not my walls, please!? You know how to write your name with almost no help. You can count to just about 20 and know all the abc's.

You cannot get enough of Wow Wow Wubbzy right now and let me tell you, I just about tolerate him and his Wuzzelburg friends anymore! You also like Dora, Mickey Mouse, Olivia & Peppa.

Your favorite food is pretty much anything that is put in front of you. You really are not a picky eater at all & will try anything at least once. You are a chocolate milk freak... we need a cow in the backyard. You know you are allergic to peanut butter & often ask "does that have peanut butter in it?". You don't complain about it though & will gladly eat carrot sticks instead ( ok, those may be a favorite!).

You love your Sissy, your Mommy, your Daddy & your Kitty which you tell me every night as I tuck you into bed, along with "Nite Nite Mommy. See you when the sun comes up!".

You light up my world & make it a better place my dear daughter. You touch the hearts of everyone you meet with your infectious smile & laughter. I am so proud to be your Mommy. Now, stop growing up so fast would you?

Happy Birthday my beautiful Abbie! It's your day to shine!

I love you,

Mommy