Snow Day!!

Here's to days in the snow...building a snowman and dressing him up...Snowball fights...snow angels...building an igloo, or trying to...snow wrestling...sled riding...and finally, Hot Chocolate!! Joey and I are LOVING the snowy weather!!

Back to School

Just an update: We are back in Morgantown as of yesterday! Which means, back to school for both of us. Joey walked into school after a month+ break with ease. He loves pre-school and he LOVES Haley, his "girlfriend." They were playing by the time I left his school this morning and were still playing when I got back. She is such a sweet little girl!! Joey has made so many good friends at school and at home in Pittsburgh through good friends and family. On Thursday Joey will be enrolled in KINDERGARTEN! I can't believe it... I decided that he will be going to Eden Christian Academy in Wexford and that he will do full day kindergarten. We toured his "new school" a few weeks back and I know he is really excited about it!! Seems like yesterday that he was a baby and we spent the days at home together... It's bittersweet!! These are a few pictures of Joey when he and I moved to Morgantown and he 1st started Pre-School...

Oh, Christmas tree..

Tradition around Xmas time in our family means hiking up a mountain and cutting down our own Christmas tree. Here are some new pictures of this year. This was the first time that Joey has been big enough to run around and really have fun with the snowy mountain. He even thought it was fun to "belly slide" like a penguin down the mountain. Who needs a sled?! I LOVE this age!! We waited this year for Aunt Anna and Aunt Allie to make it home to get the tree and it was very worth the wait...Aunt Anna decided to give Belly Sledding a try too!!!

Here comes Christmas!!

At our house...we are getting ready for Christmas. It is my favorite time of year for many reasons, but most of all my two best friends in the ENTIRE world will be coming home. My sisters live in Florida and are coming home for an extra long visit this year. This Christmas, we are expecting an extra visitor too...Eric! Joey is so excited that Eric will be coming this year that he has spent lots of time recently organizing the "boy toys" and the "okay for his Aunties to play with toys." He is looking forward to being spoiled rotten by his Auntie's too...I know that's what he is most excited for! They will be here in six days!!! Here are a few photos of how Joey prepares for company...(gingerbread houses!)

Something to be thankful for..

Being a mom of a child who spends every other weekend with his Dad is tough but it really gives me a new outlook on spending time apart from loved ones. Each year, Joey spends Christmas with me and Thanksgiving with his Dad. So, this year was not any different. I packed up his Thomas suitcase and off he went to his Grandparents in Ohio. I packed him a Thanksgiving card and a new *Webkinz* surprise in his bag. ( These little online creatures are slowly taking over children ages 4 to 12. ) When Joey got home from Ohio, he began to tell me what he did while with his Dad. He told me that he ate turkey, two bites but a "fousand" bites of stuffing. He told me that he saw his "Gemma" play volleyball and she was the best one on the team. He told me that he did not have to go shopping at all, which he does with me often. Finally, I asked him what he was thankful for. His reply, "I am thankful for stuffing and you. You smile and you look pretty when you put a lot of makeup on." What a guy?! All he needs is soggy bread and his mother to wear a lot of makeup. I just thought it was too funny.
I'm just thankful that he has so many people in his life that love him and that he loves them all right back! (makeup on or not!)

October...my favorite month to take Joey's picture!!

Since Joey was about three months old, we have gone to Soergels Orchard in Wexford to the pumpkin patch every October. I am not sure when he will catch on that going to the pumpkin patch means the paparazzi (me!) is going to capture his every move. Until he figures it out and refuses to go with me, it is my favorite time of year with him. This year for Halloween he was a bat. I am not entirely sure what made him want to be a bat, but he loved it. When people would ask him what he was being for Halloween he would respond, "A fruit bat!" Where he came up with fruit bat is a mystery to me but he looked good being one! He loved Trick-or-treating and we will probably be eating the candy until Valentines Day...Here are a few photos that I took this year and previous years...He is really growing up fast!

Catching Up!

Four years ago, the most challenging and unexpected thing happened to me. I became a single, young Mom. Joey was the perfect example of a blessing in disguise and I am forever grateful for the life that Joey and I share...

Here are somethings we love to share...laughs, cries, memories, ice cream and as of recently...he feels the need to share my extra comfy soft Ugg boots!