so sweet!

These two are so close, it just makes me smile! Yesterday morning when they woke up, they both came running down the stairs laughing. I asked why they were laughing and they look at each other and said, "we were snuggling in Jack's bed together." They are awesome! We have a three bedroom house so Jackson and Mackie share a room together, and I really think it's brought them so much closer. This picture was taken this morning without them knowing, they were watching a big fat squirrel eating the bird food we put outside! I don't wish this time away for anything!

Christmas celebrations!

Tim's Aunt Pauline, Melanie, Jackson and Tim

Tim's parents with all their grandkids!

Tim's parents with our three kids!

The four generations in my family!

Mackie and Anthony, Anthony kept calling her dress up girl :)

My brother, sister and I!

We always have a big dinner at my Aunt Kathy's and Uncle Jim's and they always spoil the kids with really nice gifts!

Here are the three two year old's on my side.

I just decided to post a bunch of pictures of the Christmas season! Wow, are we blessed with amazing family! This year Tim even loaded ME up with presents. We have watched every penny for quite some time and now with Tim's new job (thank God), we decided to celebrate a little bit and buy each other some really nice presents! Tim went to a little boutique in town and bought me a couple little trendy outfits and also bought me a bunch of work out clothes! Yes, I used the word trendy in my blog, I struggle as everyone knows! Anyway, Mackie's favorite gift was her gumball machine, Jack's were all his trains, and Cole liked all his baby toys too! I got Tim a new pair of shoes and a bunch of tools! The kids were so excited that Santa ate his cookies and that the reindeer only left a half of a carrot! Christmas is so fun with little kids! Merry Christmas!

One big happy family!

It's Christmas time and I have the best family in the world! I have three happy healthy kids, the best husband and the best extended family I could ask for! Cole's just trying to figure out what the heck he was born into (see the picure)! Ah, all the laughter and craziness in our life puts a smile on my face every day! I love it!

The best dinner ever!

With last week being so busy, I have really been searching the pantry and freezer trying to come up with enough ingredients to make a dinner. Well, finally things have settled down slightly and I was able to get to the store and plan some meals. I don't mean to toot my own horn (great phrase, isn't it?) but I think tonights dinner goes down as the best dinner I have ever made! It was awesome!! I love reading other blogs and getting dinner ideas, so I've got one and I'm sharing!

Mustard-Maple Pork Tenderloin (FOOD NETWORK)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/eating-well/mustard-maple-pork-tenderloin-recipe/index.html

Along side the Pork Tenderloin was a recipe that I dared to try from my new fave blog, (it's my friend Trish's, and she makes some fantastic food)
http://feelingsaucy.blogspot.com/ which was Sauteed Brussels Sprouts with Lemon & Pistachios
When Tim opened up the refrigerator yesterday, he said, "BRUSSEL SPROUTS???" I certainly proved him wrong, they were fantastic!! I also added brown rice to go along side them!
It was a healthy and fabulous meal! Sorry about all the links, but we all ate so quickly I never got a picture. The kids ate it all too...okay, maybe not the brussel sprouts, but they inhaled the pork! Yum!

Grandpa Joe's in heaven, but his memories are much alive!

Grandpa Joe entered heaven on Friday night at age 91. He was ready to once again join his wife! Tim was a lot closer to his Grandpa than most people are with their's. Tim was given his lawn mower quite some time ago and used it to cut our lawn. Even though it looked like it was from the 50's and Tim had to go over it about 10 times literally to cut our lawn, it was his Grandpa's, and just didn't want to part with it. Tim's learned more from his Grandpa than anyone I've ever known and is often reminded of so many of those things. I'm often amazed at all the things that Tim can make, fix and do, and his Grandpa Joe is a very big reason for that (his dad too of course). When Tim and I were just dating, Grandpa Joe and his wife drove all the way to Troy (45 minutes) to come watch me play a soccer game. Although they probably didn't think much of it, I have always thought that was pretty unbelievable. He'll be really missed by so many, but what a wonderful life!