Life as we know it...

As I have been saying... We have been making a boat load of changes over the recent months. And we still have a bunch to make!!

Our next big change will be our diet. I am starting an entirely new approach to food with the new year. One that will surely make a HUGE difference in my 2 "sensitive" kiddos!! I just hope that these changes can be met with open arms!!
Stacy and I gifted ourselves for Christmas this year... we purchased an entire program for feeding special needs kids. What to feed them... what not to feed them... All PROVEN to make a big difference in their lives, and as a result... OUR lives!! BUT, not only are we putting the kids on the diet... we are ALL going to participate! Because apparently... we can all benefit from it! I am really excited about this...and actually looking forward to it!


I have also been giving a lot of thought lately to our holiday traditions.
I like them! My kids look forward to them! And I am not about to give them up... for anything!!
Friday will be our day to bake. I have EVERYTHING we need... except hershey's kisses. I cant wait to make a mess of our kitchen... and put flour hand prints all over my kids!!! :-)
Christmas Eve will be spent together, finishing up our baking... getting Santa's plate ready. I will bring down our presents... and let it eat away at the kids all evening...LOL! Nathaniel will get to read "Twas the Night Before Christmas"... which was the same book I read as a kid. I will cry... because now my kids are reading it to me... instead of me reading it to them (this happens every year). Carrots will get put out along with Santa's cookies... We will sprinkle our glittery reindeer food out back... and off we will go to bed!
Christmas morning the kids will come crashing down our bedroom door... telling us Santa was here!! Stacy will beg for a few more minutes of sleep... the dogs will join in the kids excitement... LOL!! And before we know it... presents will be unwrapped and the kids will be waiting for their visitors!! :-)
New Years Eve is no different!! I spend EVERY New Years with my kids. I have only ever missed 1 (and a half, I went out after midnite)... and they both sucked BIG TIME!!!

I absolutely LOVE the traditions I have made with my kids! And, I can only hope that they mean as much to them... as they do to me! I want my kids to always know that no matter where they are, or what they are doing... they can always come home for their holidays. And when they are all grown, and have families of their own... I will still be here... proud that they will be creating their own traditions!

It does sadden me that this year... I will only see 3 smiling faces on Christmas morning. Josh has always been able to come back home in the morning... but this year he has to work. :-( At the same time... I am proud of him, and the fact that he has a job... and is stepping up into the world of responsibility! I guess this is what being a mom is all about. Knowing when to let go. Letting them make their own decisions. And trusting that they will figure out for themselves what they want in life, and what will make them happy!

OK... well... I must be getting back to the huge list of things I have to do today.
But before I do... I want to mention that today is the 2nd Birthday of a very special little lady!! Our niece, Alexis!! Goodness... I remember the day she was born... and the craziness that came with it! She sure did kick butt... and showed EVERYONE what she was made of!! And I have a feeling, she isnt done yet!! LOL!!