Fun in the leaves!

Wanted to post some pictures from last week (before we got the snow...:), the girls were playing in the leaves. Tim and I would rake them into a pile and the girls would run...and jump...and wow a leaf explosion!!



Then we put up the outside Christmas decorations...

Peace

Definition (paraphrased from Merriam-Webster)~
Peace:
1: a state of tranquility or quiet
2: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
3: harmony in personal relations
Related words: accord, amity, concord, calm, serenity, order, stability



At church on Sunday, the message was about 'Peace'. I have been thinking a lot about the sermon all week because it really touched me. Especially around the holiday season, I agree that it is so important to be at peace. With other people, with your life situations, with yourself.

Overall, I feel at peace with most things in my life. But there are a select few places where peace is lacking. People who I wish I could make peace with. My question is, does it take both people to make peace? Must you come to peace within yourself first regarding that person?

I plan to begin studying the Tao Te Ching during the upcoming new year. I feel this will add a dynamic of peace and personal growth to my life.

The Dalai Lama:
When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.
Jimi Hendrix:
When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.

Family visits

With all the sickness surrounding Thanksgiving, I was unable to post about our holiday at the time. So I thought I would give a quick belated tidbit about it now...

Brian came down from WCU on Wednesday and stayed until Saturday evening. And thankfully, Tim was in town for Thanksgiving day, which was a surprise! So, we had a nice, big turkey, stuffing, and all the fixins. My mom flew in to AC Airport on Friday around noon, so Brian and I went to pick her up and surprised the girls when we got home! We were able to do a bit of shopping for Black Friday later in the afternoon. Then on Saturday, Tim left on a trip and Sean and Holly came down to visit. We were able to have some nice family time together and go out for dinner, like 'old times'! Brian, Sean and Holly all went home Saturday night and my mom stayed until Tuesday. We were able to get some nice pictures on Saturday with everyone, so I'll post them now... We all had a great time and I am so thankful for Family!!

Christmas pictures

There is so much to post about, but it's late so I will update more again tomorrow. But we got our family portraits taken tonight and the girls sat on Santa's lap, so I wanted to post these pictures before heading up to bed.

The experience with Sears here in NJ was AWFUL, but it's done and I think we got a few good shots (this was all we could scrape together out of over 25 pictures taken...and none were the girls' fault...) And these are just the proofs, so hopefully they come through well enough for you to see! Enjoy!!

Oh and the triplets got their ears pierced on Sunday...you may not notice in the pictures, but they are soooo excited and proud. And there was not one single tear, whew!

So sick...

Well the sickness has reached me in every possible way...this is awful.

Unfortunately my mom also got sick on her last few days here with us. She was able to safely fly home to Florida yesterday and now Poppop is able to 'nurse' her back to health.

So it has been just me and the girls these last 2 days and when I wasnt in the bathroom (sorry if too much detail) then I was in bed. In fact I had to keep the girls home from school because I was too sick to get them there. I really truly hope and pray that the sickness gets out of this house...SOON!! Three of the four girls are on antibiotics, on wheezy machine (nebulizer), ear drops, motrin, etc. I feel like a pharmacist, a nurse, a mom, and one sick girl.

Enough of my complaining for now...

One big HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout-out
to one of my favorite Ecuadorian Princesses...
Isabel... I love you baby!

Sickness abounds :(

Well, all four kids are officially sick. It is so hard. It started about 2 weeks ago with colds - runny noses, coughing, the usual. Then Tuesday night (two nights before Thanksgiving), I put them all to bed and 30 minutes later, Madison starts SCREAMING and continued screaming for close to three hours! She complained that her ear hurt and she couldnt lay down, it was constant pain. I called the pediatrician and the nurse helped put my mind at ease.
Wednesday AM I took them all to the doctor (our new, awesome pediatrician!) Turns out Madison had an ear infection and bronchitis, Morgan had a sinus infection and bronchitis - close to pneumonia, Kaitlyn had bronchitis. Megan was the best with just a mild cough. Then we were off to the pharmacy and $200 later, I got all the meds, antibiotics, and medicine for the nebulizer.
The triplets are feeling much better after a long weekend full of nebulizer treatments and antibiotics. Unfortunately, last night Kaitlyn got worse and started screaming that her ear hurt. She slept all day today and is running a fever. So tomorrow, we will be back to the doctors office.
We had a nice Thanksgiving and much to be thankful for. Tim was home and Brian came to visit for a few days. My mom flew in on Friday and is here until Tuesday. Sean and Holly came down Saturday for the day. I will catch up on all that later, but for now I'm off to snuggle my 'baby'.

Happy Thanksgiving!

“In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”
Albert Schweitzer

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today,
and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Melody Beattie

Funny Elves!

Check these out! They made the girls laugh till they cried!!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9553339053

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9556716505

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9556752542

Please vote!!

My cousin Karen is a beautiful singer! When we were young, she spent hours singing songs from 'The Little Mermaid' and her dream was to be on broadway. Well, now she is very happily married and has 2 adorable children and a busy life at home. However, she has found a way to live her dream just a bit ... Karen has entered a singing contest in which the winner gets to spend a few days in NYC in a fancy hotel and being a part of the recording of 'The Little Mermaid' on broadway. This would truly be a dream come true for her - honestly, it is something I know she would treasure. So, I would like to help her make this happen. And YOU can help!!

Please visit this website:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/mermaid.cfm#entries

You can find her under the name Karen O. from Southeastern PA. The voting started today and continues through December 3rd. So please, check it out and vote, vote, VOTE!
Thank you!!

Fun in Cape May!

My cousin Tommy was visiting us for the weekend and Tim was able to sneak home too! (even though he's on-call) - so we had a nice weekend together.
Friday night was spent relaxing at home and for movie night, the girls chose 'High School Musical 2' once again!
Saturday, we spent the day in Cape May and it was so nice! We went to the lighthouse and climbed all the way to the top - girls and all! Luckily, we were able to get some nice pictures while all the way up there, the girls were amazed by the view!




We enjoyed the nature museum and ate dinner at the Pilot House (www.pilothousecapemay.com) with seats around the fireplace. Then we walked through the shops, which remind me of a quaint New England town. It was very pretty.
And guess who we saw standing on the corner...SANTA! The girls were so excited, it was quite a surprise!

Then we went into town to the Emlen Physick Estate where they were having the Annual Tree Lighting ceremony. We had hot chocolate and cookies, listened to Christmas Carols and saw the place light up as the large tree was lit. Although by that point the girls (and ourselves) were exhausted, it was beautiful!

Unfortunately, all four girls have little early-season colds - runny noses and coughs. So the cold, windy weather probably didnt help, but we bundled up and snuggled together as best we could!
The holiday season has begun...with Thanksgiving only days away!
Have a great Monday!