Tuesday's post on Wednesday

He he, a little late on the Tuesday post, but here goes...

Yesterday was a super busy but really fun day. Got up sent Mike off to work, and off to the gym for me. I love that hour to myself and Fiona loves the oportunity to play with "the kids" as she calls them. Then off to a MOMS club meeting, small group but was nice to catch up.

Then we decided to walk on over to the Playhouse to visit Santa there. I am glad I am so in tuned with my "Mother's intuition." Fiona who is often quite boisterous and social, has her moments where she really takes a long time to warm up to new situations. I had a feeling this may be the case with a visit to Santa. So I thought since the Playhouse has a great Santa and a great set up with very few people there and no rush or need to get a picture it would allow Fiona to get to know Santa without any pressure for a picture. Boy was I glad - she spent most of the time clinging to my legs (not my usual Fiona). By the end she was definitely warming up to him - Candy canes, cookies and Santa reading a story to the kids definitely helped (you won't get that from the mall Santa and all for free). And I think we might be in todays (Wednesday's paper). We'll be back next week to say hi and see if we can get a picture or two (or 200 you guys know how I am...).

Then home for nap and playtime at home. Boy does Fiona get excited for Daddy to come home! Her new thing is she loves everyone to trace her hands and feet so here are a few pics from the night of Mike being the doting Daddy and tracing her feet on her magnaboard.

The Grinch and snowman pizzas

It felt like a long day today, but really it wasn't long at all. But I am tired so this will be short.

So we started today off with some new hair clips in Fiona's Advent calendar (will have to post a pic of it soon) which she loved - well loved them later that morning, always takes Fiona a few to decide if she likes it or not:)

Then camping out at the computer to make sure I got our Free Day tickets to visit the Huntington Library next month - Amanda and Colin, you guys will love this place when you come to visit!!

Then off to deliver the dinner swap meals for this month since we didn't make it there yesterday. Very fun to see everyone, kinda felt like I was Santa - who doesn't love getting a heat and serve meal to use during this crazy holiday season?!?! We are coming up on a year of doing this - and it all started with a soup swap that was going to be one time. Now I so look forward to it and it really has made my life so much simpler to know that 3 nights a month I don't have to think about dinner.

Then we had dance class which is always a favorite!! got to sing and dance and just have a great time. We switched to a new studio this past fall and I am just amazed at the difference between the two and Fiona has just flourished here, and the instructors are really amazing with the kids. I am looking forward to many years here for her.

So tonight we decided to make snowman pizzas and watch the Grinch (we DVRed it - serioulsy what did we do before DVRs???) A great night to be sure!!


Snowman Pizzas - baby, mommy and daddy snowmen


"The Girls" Curled up on the couch - Mommy Fiona and Bridget

Its Beginning to Look Like Christmas...

As we prepare to enter our favorite time of year here at the Hylands, I think of of the many things that make the season as joyful as it is for us. Number one on my list is togetherness. Our little family has spent nearly half the year away from each other with Mike's training this year. And in 2007 he wasn't here for the Holiday's because he was serving in Iraq. So as the tree is put up and decorated, I think about how blessed we are to have all of here this year. I often think of our family and friends, most of whom live very far from us, and how I wish we could all be together as well. I know, though, that we are all close in our hearts and minds even if we are not close in proximity.

Now that we have Fiona, Mike and I are enjoying creating our own traditions for the Holiday season. Its a mix of old and new and it makes the season pure MAGIC when we see the excitement in Fiona's eyes as she really is beginning to understand the season and who this Santa guy is. Her eyes sparkle as much as the ornaments on our tree - specially picked each year for all of us. I love telling her the story of each ornament, and visiting Christmases past as we hang each one. I love the smell of my Christmas Wish Yankee Candle as we decorate the house - like my Mom, I feel that it embodies the true scent of Christmas and no other Candle comes close! Christmas music - especially the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack - plays in the background and puts us all in the mood and energizes us for the busy weeks ahead.

Most of all it is a time where our family reconnects together. While we do enjoy the many seasonal parties and get togethers, we savor family time together in front of our tree, sipping hot chocolate. Throughout the month we remember all the events and happenings of the previous year, count our blessings, and thank God for them all. We hope you all have a wonderful Holiday season!!

Here a some pictures of us getting ready this weekend!

Silly Fiona

Here a video of Fiona being Fiona..just a cute silly little girl!

Halloween Party at School

Fiona had her Halloween party at school today. I think I was more excited than she was to put on the costume - it turned out GREAT!! She is Little Bo Peep, but she calls it Peep Peep Sheep. She was excited for the party, so much so she got up at 5:30 this morning!! needless to say she wasn't her total bubbly self today... wnjoy the pics!!

Lombardi Farms with friends

some pics (well a lot of pics) from Lombardi farms. we went with Daddy when he was here a few weeks ago, but today we went with our friends and had a blast!! Rumor had it that Halle Berry was there with her family as well. I didn't see them but friends of mine did. So cool to know we hang out with the rich and famous LOL!!! Go grab a nice hot apple cider and enjoy the pics :)

Sometimes Mommy goes a little overboard

Hey everyone!! we had a wonderful weekend with Daddy. I am still going through and editing the photos, but wanted to share these two pics from the Jump Palace from yesterday...Yes sometimes mommy goes over the top, but seriously how cute is she???

the pics are not my best work... I am learning to shoot in manual mode, but still have kinks to work out... but you can get the idea...