a juicy moment

My boys love juice like it's their own baby crack...a drug they just can't seem to get enough of. Niels asks (well, grunts and points to the fridge), then sucks a sippy cup dry, then asks for more. Anders, on the other hand, is more of a hoarder.....

He really did line them all up on the table, one by one, all by his lil self.

moments

After a day of many, many...oh so many...big messes like this:

 (Apparently my boys knew I needed to organize my recipe file...so they helped me get started....)

The day often ends, thankfully, with peaceful little moments like this: 

 

a glimpse into our holidays

We went to NYC for a few days during the wonderfully magical month of December. There is no more magical city than NYC during Christmas. I grew up visiting that city during the holidays and I have continued that tradition with my own children...luckily we live within a four hour drive!

The following are some glimpses into our busy holiday month:

Macy's window

going through the line at Macy's to see the man in the red suit

still waiting in line

Finally they can tell Santa what they want!

No surprise...Niels is not happy in someone else's lap....

The hustle to make the move through the city streets and subway....

I love Christmas baking!!

sharing Christmas candy

Christmas Eve right before bed time

Christmas morning, waiting...

...and waiting....

PRESENTS!!!!!!

opening her favorite gift and he's wearing his favorite

We then left for an incredibly relaxing week with my mom and dad in Hilton Head, SC.

It's a long story, but my dad is helping a struggling tugboat business get on its feet (just another example of an "evil rich guy", right?). So...we had some fun on his lil tug (which also happens to be the one featured in "Forrest Gump").

my four lil ones peaking out

the boys peaking

leaving my parents' boat with the tug and crane in the background

What a wonderful Christmas break it was for all of us! We didn't want to come home.

Happy New Year everyone!! Here's hoping some big changes come in 2012......

caged joy

I am just dying to post pics from my wonderful holiday season....but with so many pics to post and so many thoughts I want to share...and not enough time to put it all together.... I will simply post pics of the two main reasons for my busyness:

If these two didn't give me so much joy, love, laughter, hugs, joy, happiness, fulfillment, and just plain fill my days with pure unadulterated fun (and LOTS of work), I would sure love to keep them caged!!