2007 Coming To A Close.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I know we sure did. It was great having everyone together. My parents, Chris's parents and Chris's brother Ben and girlfriend Kendall. The food and company were great and we hope it becomes a tradition for everyone to come here for Christmas year after year. In a selfish way it was nice not to be the ones traveling but we were happy to open up our home for the family to get together.

I am thankful for many things this year.
* I am thankful for the health of my family even though it was a roller coaster ride for us this year
* I am thankful my mom has done so well with her cancer surgery and treatment and we are on the road to recovery.
* I am thankful for all the caring friends and family that helped us out when Aaron was in the NICU after his birth. We couldn't have been with him as much had you not been there for us.
* I am thankful for my wonderful children that are growing up so fast and are so smart. They are a joy, most days, and I love to see them grow and achieve new things. They have been very adapting to the new things that this year has brought and have been helpful in so many ways.
* I am thankful for Meghan who loves to learn new things and has been a great big sister to her sister and brother. She is so creative and at times stubborn but is always there to help you out.
* I am thankful for Katie who more quiet and reserved than her sister but is such a generous spirit to all her know her. She is always playing with her brothers and is thinking of others. She makes me so proud. But even though she comes off as quiet most days, once riled up there is no shutting her up.
* I am thankful for Ryan. Who would have thought I could love this little boy so much. He is such a sweetheart and so smart compared to his sisters at this age. The things he comes up with are just amazing. And even after he and I have had a tough day together, he still wants to give me a hug and kiss before I go to work.
* I am thankful for Aaron. Even though he was a huge surprise in our lives I am so grateful he is here. He will always be our bump in the road so to speak as every day is a new challenge with him. But of course I couldn't live without him now.
* And finally I am thankful for my loving husband. I could not be the person I am without him by my side. He is the calm and I am the storm and I love him dearly. I am a better mom with him around and a better person too. He is so strong and there with me every step of the way. I would be lost without him.

I hope each of you remember what you are thankful for this year. It has been such a whirl wind for us and we have weathered it all. I pray that 2008 will be better, but we will take what God gives.



God Bless you and your families in the new year!
Bring it on 2008!


Happy New Year from the Andreachis!

Merry Christmas from the Andreachis!

Ryan strikes again

So we are still working on potty training and Ryan is doing fairly well. Well this morning I was going to give him a bath with Aaron and told him to sit on the potty first. He did for 5 minutes and couldn't go. I said get in the tub then to which he replyed " Mom I think my pecker is broken." Yes this is what Chris has taught our son to call his penis. Nice!

BROKE!

The inhumanity of it all!! The week of Christmas, the craziest at the Andreachi household and my espresso machine decides to break! UGH!!!!! How am I to get through Christmas with no espresso every morning. And the day after we replace all our appliances. Seriously??? I am so bummed. :(

Alas! The wall is crumbling.

So for the last six months Chris and I have been trying to get Meghan and Katie to read the Harry Potter books. Especially Meghan cause we feel she would really like them. I even offered to read them to her. I have gotten nothing but a little girl who digs her heals in to any suggestion her mom might have. Katie of course didn't want to cause her sister didn't want to. We have watched the first two movies only by force and know both the girls enjoyed them.

School started and we found that a number of kids in her class are reading the books. Meghan still refuses. Even her good friend across the street has read them all. Nope, not Meghan. Every time we mention it, nope not going to do it.

Anyway since Meghan's birthday, where a number of her friends were discussing the books and she had no clue, I could see her getting a tad interested here and there. Then yesterday her friend was talking about wanting the Harry Potter 5 movie for Christmas and Chris and I started talking to her about it. Once we got home I thought, I will try again and bring it up to Meghan. So I said to her, "Are you figuring out now that you are feeling left out by not reading Harry Potter?" Her answer was yes. So I asked her if she might want to start reading the books. She then asked if I would read them to her. Of course. So tonight we started reading book one and I told her that she could continue on her own and when she wanted me to read to her again I would pick up where she left off.

Caught her reading more of the book tonight after everyone got home from dance. I am so excited that finally she has decided that maybe it is a good idea to read those books and maybe her mom isn't so stupid after all. :) It is the little feats in life.

On the other hand the three year old needs to be thrown in a snow bank. HA!

Thus begins the week of chaos!

So I am very excited for Christmas this year but somehow I need to make it through this weeek. There is still some baking to do and a ton of cleaning and to add chaos to the mix is the delivery of our new appliances on Monday and then our new fridge on Tues. Plus we need to get someone in here to shave off about a 1/2 inch of our cupboard lip so our new fridge will fit. I am so excited for the new fridge. It is HUGE! The old one is going in the basement and the stove is going in our garage for the hope that someday Chris's brother will come get it. Fingers crossed.

In addition to that there are haircuts for the whols family and yet another doctor's appt for Aaron. Lunch for mom with a friend and first reconciliation for Katie on Thurs at church. Oh and 5 nights of work for mom before everyone arrives. I might need a vacation before the fun begins.

Chris and I took the girls to see Scrooge the musical yesterday at the Community theatre. We had invited the neighbor girls to go along and it was so much fun. Ryan got his playdate too as he plays with the neighbor girls' sister. The production was wonderful and I think the best I have seen there in a long time. The guy that played Scrooge was so comical and right for that role and he couldn't have done a better job.

So I am off to start my list of fun for the week. Hope everyone has a great week whether you are done and ready for Christmas or just starting. Enjoy every moment.

God Bless.

For my friend Andrea

For my friend Andrea who lost her girls this past October. God Bless her and her family!

I thought of you all, I closed my eyes and prayed to God today.
I asked what makes a Mother and I know I heard Him say,"A Mother has a baby."This we know is true.
"But God can you be a Mother when your baby's not with you?"
"Yes you can!", He replied with confidence in His voice,"I give many women babies,when they leave is not their choice.
"Some I send for a lifetime and other's for a day. And some I send to feel your womb but there's no need to stay."
" I just don't understand this God, I want my baby here."
He took a breath and cleared His throat and then I saw a tear.
"I wish I could show you what your child is doing today.
"If you could see your child smile with other children and say,
'We go to earth to learn our lessons of love and life and fear.My Mommy loved me oh so much I got to come straight here.
'I feel so lucky to have a Mom who had so much love for me I learned my lesson very quick My Mommy set me free.
'I miss my Mommy oh so much but I visit her each day.When she goes to sleep on her pillow's where I lay.
'I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek and whisper in her ear,"Mommy don't be sad today I'm your baby and I'm here." '
"So you see my dear sweet one, your children are OK.
"Your babies are here in my home and this is where they'll stay.
"They'll wait for you with me until your lesson is through.And on that day that you come homet hey'll be at the gates for you.
So now you see what makes a Mother. It's the feeling in your heart. It's the love you had so much of right from the very start.
Though some on earth may not realize that you are a Mother until their time is done. They'll be up here with me one day and know you're the best one.

Written with love for all the Mother's missing their babies

by Jennifer Wasik