Merry Christmas!

Santa came to our house despite Ali's worries that he might do a "fly by" because she was not asleep yet. I could see the relief on her face when I caught her sneaking through the presents and taking it all in at 6am while the rest of the house (except Mom) was asleep!

The holiday went by in a flash and now I'm enjoying the mess and the happiness of the girls. Here's our Christmas in pictures.

Mia enrolled in preschool right before Christmas Break. She's getting too big.

Ali had a Winter Party at her Kindergarten. Mom got to attend and help her with some crafts.

One of the girls' favorite people... my cousin Angie. She drove from New Orleans where she is in Graduate School to spend Christmas with us.

After Mass on Christmas Eve.

Ali can really belt out Jingle Bells.

Christmas morning!

The "Toy Zone"!!

Grandma's house for more presents and dinner.

It looks like Leslie got just what she wanted for Christmas!

Our Tom

Santa didn't get her roller skates... because he knew that Auntie already got them!

And a Baby Alive for Mia.. finally a baby that actually wets her diapers!

The Dads and Tom

Another baby to mother

As they say in Texas, "Merry Christmas Y'all!"

A Very Lucky Mom

It is getting increasingly difficult to get up off the floor, bend over, and tie my shoes

because of this....So I requested the assistance of my darling munchkins to paint my toenails. They were only too happy to help me out!

Don't you love it? They are so proud of their work.

Such a lucky mom to have such enthusiastic helpers!

Orphans?

The girls played outside this evening until I made them come in. It was dark. They had been running and playing and obviously involved in some elaborate make-believe. When they came in, Mia said "I have new Mommy and Daddy." I was a little confused.. and asked what was wrong with her old Mommy and Daddy - Ali explained, "We were playing that we were orphans. You and Daddy took us to Audrey's (a friend) house on your way to New York and we were orphans there." Mia says, "Drop me off please. I get my coat."

All I Need For Christmas

A Student. Again.

Well, it's official. I just attended a four day orientation at the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in Kentucky. I am a student. Again. I don't really know if I have a firm grasp on what I'm doing.... it's a little surreal. I didn't exactly think, "I know! I'm going to start graduate school during my last trimester with baby #3, take care of 2 little kids, work nights on the weekends and it will all be great!" I'm beginning to wonder... But besides the self-doubt (which I hear is normal) I'm very excited to be beginning a great program at a great school and while I know it's going to be a crazy, often stressful, 3 years - I know I can do it. Pray for me, will ya??

The school was founded by Mary Breckinridge in the 40's. It is the first school of midwifery in the country and also the first to offer distance education. This is the historical dormitory I stayed in.

My little room. Cute, eh?

The school is in a very rural part of the Kentucky Appalachians about 2 hours from Lexington. We drove there in a school bus from the airport during an ice storm. Quite an adventure.

My new friends and classmates. It was so affirming and inspirational to be surrounded by like-minded people as passionate about birth and committed to the education and empowerment of women as I am. My class is actually about 30 people, but we split into more manageable groups. There are 30 or more students enrolled in the Family Nurse Practioner program as well.

Turkey Day

This is a little late but I've been very busy... as you will see.

We had a great Thanksgiving. I helped out with Ali's Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast. She was an indian.

On Thanksgiving Day we joined all the local family as well as my Aunt Sandi and cousin Angela from Washington and had a big, traditional dinner with football on ALL day. Good times.