Charin's a *bad* blogger!! :)

I have been away from here for too long! It has just been sooo busy...but I will be back soon. :) :)
Hope your week is going well! :)
Charin

My beautiful boy! :)

I got the pictures back from jclare studios today, I had to share! :) These are the two that I bought digital negatives of, so I can make prints for family and friends...there's lots more but you would have to come to house to see them. hehe :)
I can't get over how much Colin has already grown! These were taken at 2 weeks old, and he's 7 weeks old now..gosh, it goes by so fast!
He's smiling a lot now, laughing for us once in awhile, staying awake *lots* more during the day (and night! haha) and just melting my heart. :)

I also wanted to thank all of you for your sweet words about going back to work this week..it was tough leaving Colin and Katie behind after being with them 24-7 but I'm doing ok. :) I had 600 e-mails to read at work and lots of changes in the bank to catch up on so that helped the time go by quickly! :)
Katie had the *best* time staying with my sister too! Up until yesterday Katie and I had been over at her house every day for 6 days, so Katie was really getting used to spending lots of time with her Aunt Jessica and "boys" (cousins Jathan and Jared) :)
Yesterday Kevin was back to his normal work schedule so he enjoyed having both babies home with him...I think he was a little nervous about how it was going to be having two to care for but of course he did great :) and so did they.

Well, I am going to finish baking some turtle and snickerdoodle cookies, mmmmmm! And get Katie ready for bed.
I hope to back soon with lots of scrappy pages to share! :) I got the CUTEST stuff from Scrapbook Addiction and some really cute tags from Shabby Chic Crafts that I can't wait to use. :) And Albert and Veronica from Shabby Chic Crafts sent along a stash of little boy tags and icons for me to use, they are so sweet! I can't wait to play with them . :)
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Charin

Over way too soon :(

I can't believe that my maternity leave is over, and that Colin is 6 weeks old already! :( Gosh, this time has just *flown* by!!
I have really loved being home with Colin and Katie and spending so much time just being with them without a crazy schedule rushing me and dictating what happens when. ;)
But it will be nice to have a paycheck coming again! :)
I know that I'm going to be sad tomorrow, and will probably shed a tear or too.
It's going to be a long day, I won't be able to see them on my lunch break like I normally would either because Kevin's working day shift (an odd occurence!) so they will be staying with their Aunt Jessica (who they absolutely lovvvvveee!) :) several towns over...too far away to drive on lunch.
Man, I sound whiney don't I? :)
I will just miss them!
I'm going to get some things ready for tomorrow before bed so I will just leave you with my cute boys face :)
Back soon!
Charin

Happy Easter! :)

Moreover, Brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures;
(I Corinthians 15: 1-4 King James Version)
Enjoy your free gift this Easter! ;)

Family :)

I found this article on simple mom and loved it, wanted to share. :)
As a young Mama I think it's so important to develop our own routines and traditions for our family...it's something that I am constantly thinking about and wanting to improve on. (Note to self, spend less nights eating dinner in the living room and more at the kitchen table!) :)

Here's the article from their site, hope you enjoy it too. :)

Every Friday, no matter how hectic or stressful the week has been, my husband and I have a ritual to celebrate the weekend’s start. We crack open a bottle of wine, plug in the iPod to its speakers, and roll up our sleeves in the kitchen. I make dough for the pizza crust, and my husband chops, sautees, and grates the toppings.

In the spring and summer, we open the kitchen door that leads to our balcony, where we have a view of the bay, the kids playing in the courtyard, and the evening breeze. The sauce I made in bulk has thawed, and because we work together, dinner takes 30 minutes max to prepare.

Our four-year-old daughter enjoys topping the rolled out dough with sauce, cheese, and veggies, and the baby plays with the Leap Frog fridge phonics. While the pizza bakes, we whip up a simple salad. Our background symphony is anything from Jack Johnson, to Sufjan Stevens, to Coldplay, to Mozart, to Ella Fitzgerald, to The Shins.

We then sit down to eat, either at the dining table, or on the balcony. Oftentimes, we end with a simple dessert and coffee, and when the kids go down, my husband and I break out a board game.

It’s a great start to the weekend.

The Importance of Family Rituals
This little tradition of ours isn’t complex or costly, and it takes no advanced planning (except for the pizza sauce, which I’d make anyway, for dinner). But it’s something we all look forward to, and it’s become a little something that says “home” to us.

Kids love traditions and family rituals, because it fosters a sense of belonging and security. They also thrive on routine, so rituals only add to that need.

Adults who work outside the home can really benefit from a simple family tradition to look forward to on the ride home. And adults who work inside the home can anticipate that ritual as something to mark the end of a work day. I know I do.

Don’t Wait for a Holiday
Sure, those Labor Day barbecues or Thanksgiving backyard football games are great. But don’t wait for those holidays on the calendar to create a family ritual. Make traditions part of your family culture, and celebrate them often. Make it part of your family’s mission statement.


Photo by Rosana Prada

Here are a few tips for creating that tradition of yours:
• Keep it simple. That way you’ll do it regularly.

• Keep it inexpensive. That way, you’ll look forward to it, instead of letting financial anxiety build up.

• Include the whole family. If your husband doesn’t enjoy cooking, make it a popcorn-and-movie tradition. Or if your kids are too young to enjoy Trivial Pursuit, make it a weekly walk to the park.

• Do it regularly. Monthly is great; weekly is even better. By definition, a ritual is done often.

• Make it fun. I say either make it relaxing, or make it active. Veg with a Netflix rental, or hike the nearby trails.

• Make it true down time. Turn off the cell phones and laptops, and don’t talk business.

Chances are, you already have some sort of family tradition. And if not, there’s a bourgeoning one within your troops, and you only need to make a concrete plan. Do something fun as a family over the next few days, and who knows - maybe you’ll start doing it each weekend.

He's SO going to win! :)

TEAM ADAM!!
Soooo did you see Adam's performance on American Idol last night? :) :) He is SUCH a good singer!! Man!
I text my vote in for him every week. ;)
And Simon giving him a standing ovation?!? I don't think that's ever happened on the show before! :)
The guys are so strong this year. Who's your favorite?

We're girls, Mama!!

Katie saw my pink nail polish bottle sitting on the coffee table from my pedi the other night and she said "toes, Mama?" :) I love that she wanted me to paint her little toes..then fingers. Then she looked at my bare fingers and said (For real!!) "We're girls, Mama!" and handled me the bottle for me to paint my fingers. :)
Silly little girl! :)

New Years Eve plans ;)

Well, I don't know about you but I've been invited to a New Years Eve party in London by one of my favorite singers. :) Darren Hayes..you know, from Savage Garden. ;)
I had to tell him I regretfully couldn't make it. Haha :)
The truth is he sent an invite to everyone that's on his friends list on Myspace, but it was still funny to receive a personal invite from him. ;)





New Years Eve With Darren Hayes
Posted By:
Darren Hayes



Hosted By:
Darren Hayes






When:
Thursday, Dec 31, 2009 7:00 PM



Where:
CLUB COLOSSEUM
1 NINE ELMS LANE
London
SW8 5NQ
View Map

Already? :(

I can't believe that I will be back at work next week! More than that, I can't believe that Colin will be 6 weeks old this Thursday! Unbelievable how fast time flies.
I'm really going to miss being with my babies 24-7, I have loved being a "stay at home Mommy" :) I'm sure eventually I would miss work..I do have a great job that I'm very thankful for. But for now it just seems way too soon to be going back.
I have a long to-do list pegged where my work schedule normally goes, and it's filled with things that I want to do in the coming week before getting back on a strict schedule. Some of them are boring necessities and some are just for fun, like being sure to take Katie to the park at least once. ;)
I'm marking some off of the list tonight, even though I should be resting up since I'm trying to fight off an infection. ;) (One of the not-so-great side effects of nursing!)
Here's to a great week!
Charin

She's so so so silly :)

*She likes to say that her Mama is so so so so so silly :)
*She has started saying "Are you serious?!" when people are telling her things
*She has called myself and her Daddy "blockheads" a few times. Thanks a lot, Charlie Brown! ;)
*She has been getting out of her bed and coming into our room (or the living room if we're still up) every night at about midnight. She is always carrying her bedspread with her and saying "Heyyyyyyy!" when she sees us. That usually means that she winds up sleeping in our bed the rest of the night. I'm not quite sure how to work on that one, since a lot of nights Kevin is gone and I have Colin to take care of too. She doesn't go along with the "go back to bed, Katie" routine. :)
*She is finally starting to get interested in potty training! :) She hasn't actually gone yet, but she's sitting on the potty a lot, which she wouldn't do before
*She says "Go Mama, go Mama!!" when I get out of bed after she's been saying "Mama, get up!!!" early in the morning :) I think that's so funny...if she's going to drag me out of bed at least she's encouraging. :)
*Says "Katie wants you. Colin. Daddy! (Or Mama)" When she wants one of us to hold Colin...she hasn't quite figured out how to word it yet. :)
*Still loves her brother soooo much. :) She gives him lots of kisses and snuggles every day. :)