ERIC'S BIRTHDAY PRESENT

I have seen a lot of Eric's birthday present lately.  Every time a Bruins game comes on, the jersey magically appears from the closet.  He says I bought him a cheerleading uniform.  Although, cheerleaders are better with a few more teeth than most hockey players have.

PAINTING AND OTHER HOME UPDATES

Kayla thought it was a good idea one day recently to color on her face.

We thought it was pretty funny that she obviously wrote the word "peace" while looking in the mirror.
We thought it even more funny when we heard her yelling from the shower, "It won't come off!"

We painted our living room...

...a gorgeous saffron color.  Eric says it's the Frenchman in me that would pick such a color.
The photo doesn't really do it justice.  It's kind of a golden pumpkin color.  Much better than the plain old ivory that used to be there.

We painted a pair of tap shoes...

...gold for one Yankee Doodle Dandee dancer.  (More to come on that in the future)

I hung Eric's baby sweaters in the guest room.  They are seriously adorable.

I hung Eric's grandmother in an antique frame in the front entryway.  Could she be any more gorgeous?

The kids have been loving the pool table.  Mitchell plays every change he gets.  (Unless he's out at the basketball hoop)

Eric crafted us a gorgeous bar...

..out of an antique piece of redwood.  Check out the character and shine!

2011

Life has been busy.  Only the BIGGEST updates:

In August, we bought a new house.

We have four bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a master suite, a swimming pool, a living room and family room, a rec room and bar in the basement, an oversized two-car garage, a kitchen big enough for Eric and I to cook together....
and a great big mortgage!!!  (It's unfortunate that it works out that way, huh?)

We got a new family portrait taken.

Look how big my kids are!!!
Mitchell's in high school and wearing braces.  KB is in the fifth grade.  And our shy little Dixie is a part of the family.

Eric's baby sister, Jennifer, got married in a February to a wonderful man named Steve.

They look so unbelievably happy in their ski slope wedding pictures.
I can't wait to see them, and I hope they make it home soon.

Currently The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day By Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly, Clifton Collins Jr., Julie Benz see related

NANA'S GARDEN

baby robins

itty bitty bee in flight

Kayla's favorite, bleeding hearts

hummingbird

purple martin

Currently In Between Dreams By Jack Johnson see related

GLITTERY KIDS

Kayla's dance team shows off their bling

And Mitchell shows off his.