a change in taste...

Wouldn't it be amazing if this tree was dwelling in my living room?

Or would you think I was the world's best decorator if this gorgeous tree was mine?

Would you want to be my best friend if my tree looked like this?

(Although Chad would absolutely never ever allow a peacock feather tree into his home for sure... but I did just buy a peacock feather wreath for my sister-in-law's birthday and it would look absolutely fabulous with this tree!)

But I'm glad those aren't my trees.

Why?

Because then I wouldn't have this beautiful "Adeline Original" ornament adorning my tree.

Or this, made by Emilia's sweet little hands.

And who could resist Addie's colorful snowflake?

And Millie's too (although she got tired after putting on just one bead...)

And none of those trees is good enough for this cute little face.

So yes, those trees above are beautiful.  Before having children, I would have loved to have had a tree like one of those.

But nothing is as beautiful as the masterpieces my children create.

I guess my tastes have changed.

Thanks, Remodeling My Space, for the pictures of the above trees. They really are beautiful.

out with the old...

and in with the new!

This is my old purse.

It's tired.  It's worn.  It needs a little rest.

I was on the hunt for a new purse.

If you've ever been "purse-shopping" with me, you'll know that I am very, very picky when it comes to picking out a purse.  The latest one I was looking for had to:

*have a zippered top
*go with black or brown
*go with my new green coat
*be a color that I can live with for awhile
*not be too shiny
*have a long enough handle for me to wear comfortably on my shoulder
*be big enough for all my stuff and a few diapers
*not be too big
*not be baggy (in other words, it has to keep it's shape)
*not be too triangular in shape (with little items getting lost in the corners)
*be organized with lots of dividers and pockets
*be under $40

Just so you know, this is impossible to find.  Don't even try.

So, I thought I could eliminate the "organized" bullet by buying a Kangaroo Keeper.  I have not yet received this, but I am super excited!  I really am such a nerd.  I get way too excited about organizational products.  As soon as I receive this little gem from heaven, I'm sure you'll hear all about it!

Anyway... I had put off my purse shopping for a little while because I was getting frustrated finding just the right purse for my tight budget...

when I got a phone call...

"Hi Katie.  Have you found a purse yet?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"Well, I have one for you so don't go buy one yet."

I must admit I was a little nervous.  Did this person know all my "must-haves" for my new purse?  I wasn't so sure.  Plus, I see this person at church twice a week.  If I didn't like it, would I have to switch purses just for church so I wouldn't offend her?  Probably so.

Then she arrived at my door with the most expensive purse I have ever owned.

a real life designer handbag by Francesco Biasia!

To be honest with you, I have never owned a real "designer" handbag.  In fact, I've never owned a purse worthy to be called a "handbag."  Have you ever noticed that all expensive purses are called "handbags"?

My friend must've thought I was a real loser when I opened the purse and found a cloth bag inside.  "What's this?"  I asked.  "Um... that's the bag to keep your handbag in when you're not using it."  Seriously, I have a handbag that has it's own bag?  That is just too much for me to comprehend.

When I asked how much I owed her, she said nothing.  Her mom wanted me to have it as a Christmas present.   Nice, huh?  Especially since after finding out that it retailed for nearly $200!  I know she got a great deal on it, but still!

And the best part... it met all the criteria on my list, except of course the organizational part... but I've got my kangaroo pouch coming for that.

So, I guess I won't have to be switching purses every Sunday after all!  Thanks, friend!  You know who you are.  ;)

here we grow

Our latest Christmas picture

Why do I go through the hassle of having a formal family picture taken every year?

Because I enjoy looking back each year and seeing how much we've grown (well, I don't really like seeing how much I've grown...)

Just look at last year's picture...

Millie still has pigtails on top of her head, but they're a little longer now.  And at least she has a smile in this year's picture.

Addie's face has lost even more of it's baby-ness.  *sniff*

My hair was much cuter shorter, don't ya think?

(Please tell my husband that so he'll think so too.  I'm trying to grow it out now... for him).

And Chad still just has one black sweater!

Poor guy... I forgot to tell him what the "color scheme" was until just before we had our pictures taken.  He then informed me that he still didn't have a red shirt or sweater and still just had the one black sweater.  Sorry.

Now let's look a little farther back...

Okay, now this just makes me want to cry.  Look how much my babies have grown!

However, I am so thankful now to have our family of five.  I can hardly even remember what life was like before Tate... a whole 3 months ago.  I'm sure it wasn't quite as hectic, but it wasn't complete either.

It makes me cringe to think how big the kids will be in next year's picture...

an old fashioned christmas

I love this time of year.

I love decorating my house.

Sometimes I may go a little overboard.

But can you really go overboard at Christmas?

Enjoy some of our pictures.

The girls' tree

Our tree

Chad spent a lot of time clipping in each bulb... (my request...)

And of course, the reason for it all...

Only 23 days left!

travel log

Wednesday

Leave home at 4:00 p.m.

Head to Michigan City, Indiana.

Get there around 10:45.

Tired.

Sleep.

Thursday

Swim at the hotel.

Travel to East Lansing.

Catch up with relatives.

See Aunt Mary and show off the beautiful sweater and booties she made.

Perry sports the too small hat as a yamaka.

Read books with Aunt Mary.

Eat.

Say goodbye.

Sleep on the way to Cadillac.

Stay at Great Grandpa and Grandma's.

Lots of hugs and kisses.

Goodnight.

Friday

Sleep in.

Play with Great Grandma and Grandpa.

Visit a great, great aunt.

Tate meets Uncle Scott for the first time and thinks he's pretty funny.

Have another great dinner with the other side of the family.

Lots of catching up.

Lots of holding Tate.

Lots of playing.

Crafts.

Say our goodbyes.

Back to Grandpa's and Grandma's.

Sleep.

Saturday

Wake up early.

Say goodbye to Great Gma and Gpa.

Travel to our friends' house.

Eat some super yummy corn chowder.

Hang out for way too short a time with old friends.

Laugh a lot.

Camera battery dies.

More goodbyes.

Travel just past Chicago.

Stay in another hotel.

Eat at Cracker Barrel.

Swim.

Sleep.

Sunday

Wake up.

Eat breakfast.

Travel home.

Re-live good times had with friends and family.

Thank God for bringing such wonderful people into our lives.

quick heads up!

FYI!

Target is having huge fruit sales this week!

I got...

a 3 lb. bag of apples for 99 cents,

a pound of strawberries for 99 cents,

and a pound of blueberries for 99 cents!


Pictures of our Thanksgiving Vacation coming soon...

game plan

This afternoon, precisely at 4:00, we will be leaving for the first leg of our Michigan Thanksgiving trip.  


That's right.  We're driving to Michigan with a 3-month old, a 2-year old and a 4-year old.  Don't you wish you could travel with us? (note the sarcasm)


So I made a game plan for today.  Normally the kids take a nap after lunch, but not today!  No, I don't want them wide awake and hyper for our evening drive.  So this morning we went to the library to get new books for the trip, ran errands at Target to pick up some good snacks for the car, picked up happy meals (only because it's cheap happy meal day and don't worry - I got them with apples instead of fries!) and headed home to play, play, play until they're so worn out that they just can't stand it anymore.  That's the plan anyways.  I'm a little afraid it'll backfire on me and we'll end up with overly tired children that can't do anything but cry.  


Let's hope the original plan works out.


I'm sure we'll have our wary moments during this trip, but it's definitely worth it.  We're going to visit some of Chad's family and some of our friends that haven't met Tate yet.  Plus, we get two Thanksgiving dinners!  Can't beat that!  :)


Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!