Easter Photos

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Where have I been?

BUSY.

March, which has long come and gone, is quickly becoming the busiest month of the year. Below you'll find a photo recap of my hubby's 50th birthday, a quick trip to NY with just me and the kids, and Ethan's 5th birthday.

Click here to view these pictures larger

Click here to view these pictures larger

Click here to view these pictures larger

Don't Wake Me Up!

This morning I was doing my usual online activities in between refereeing my two kids...ears on them, eyes on my laptop. A few moments passed and I realized that I didn't hear the usual kid banter in the living room. What is going on? I wondered...

I stepped away from my desk and craned my head around to see into the living room. My DARLING ANGELS were sitting side by side...looking at books! Please! Don't ever wake me up from this dream! Sibling harmony and education to boot! I had to take a picture :)

If a Picture Paints a Thousand Words

Mommy with a few of her favorite things

Mom, what is your favorite thing to do?

I love to sing.

What else do you like?

I like to dance.

I don't know how to draw that. What else is your favorite thing to do?

I like to eat.

What else do you like?

Hmmm... Hmmm...

Me? You like me?

Yes, I do like you.

You Are What You Eat

Yesterday during the kids' nap time I watched a documentary I had meaning to see for a while called "Food Matters". This film presents the idea that food can be your medicine (to quote Hippocrates), and that the staggering number of people suffering from chronic pain and heart disease, even cancer, can be attributed to the nutrient deficient diet of most Americans today.

I have never considered myself a big proponent of vitamin supplements or eating organic. However, the simple message of the film was easy to understand and digest, and quite frankly, spurred me on to think about what changes I can make in our diet. After all, I'm the one feeding my family! I know, I know...more fruits and vegetables. Fresh food, not processed food. Whole wheat and whole grain products. Here's the kicker: RAW food, since cooking food breaks down its many nutrients and natural enzymes. And by raw food, I'm referring to raw fruits and veggies. Obviously, we're not going to be eating raw meat! (Sushi, anyone?)

Sigh. What's a mom to do? My kids don't like vegetables much, my hubby can't stand the "cardboard taste" of whole wheat products. And I'm sorry...organic products are PRICEY!

In any case...it's all food for thought (No pun intended).

When?

Normally I don't have time to sit down and just type. But this morning, with my son at preschool and my daughter sick on the couch, I have plenty of time to just sit and think. And worry. When will this little girl get better? When will she be able to get a good night's rest, uninterrupted by bouts of coughing and fever-induced delirium? When will my back recover from 5 days of carrying 30lbs of toddler from one room to another because she just needs to feel comforted?

I'm tired, folks.

God has done the miraculous, though, as is His custom. I've been housebound for a week and haven't lost my marbles. My normally restless son has been very content to color a picture, imagine spaceships out of legos, role-play flying superheroes running back and forth through the living room. Not once has he complained of my unavailable arms and attention. That can only be a God thing, because let me tell you, that is NOT like him at all!

So, I'm tired. But I'm grateful, too.

A day in the life of mom

Homemade chicken and rice soup on the stove...

Means sick little girl on the couch.

My Year in Status

Summarizing my year according to Facebook...

Happy New Year

The new year brought a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Cuesta. They got to see first hand what kind of imagination is at work in our little boy. Here he is flying in a home made Buzz Lightyear jetpack/wings (I have no idea what you call it)

Kate, as usual, can't stop sucking her thumb. New Year's resolution, anyone?

Grandpa Cuesta was unfortunately quite jet lagged after spending 5 months in the Philippines. Business as usual! But despite his off sleep schedule he got to hang out with the Snyder gang. Thanks for visiting, Grandma and Grandpa!

Christmas in Texas

This year we took another road trip down to Texas. We drove straight!!!! We were surprised to find that though we were on the road for a total of 14 hours, it was actually much easier (and less expensive). With the exception of two meltdowns (one of which was mine), the kids did great and were in good spirits by the time we arrived.

Some of you who are my friends on Facebook have seen this already, but I've posted a link to the photo album here.Snyder Christmas 2010

Family Portraits 2010

Every year we try to take a good family photo. Rather than going with a photographer, we went with our local Portrait Innovations to take them along with a two year photo of Kate. I think next year we'll go with a real photographer, ha ha ha! Ethan's solo shots were done by his school, which I think turned out really well.

Ethan, 4 and a half years

Doesn't he look like a little man?

Kate, 2 years

The season's first snow...

It came so fast I didn't have snow pants for the kids yet! We're lucky Kate had some boots and one of Ethan's old hats. 

Look at the pretty snowflakes! I was the only one who stayed inside. They threw snowballs at the window to tease me.

The next morning brought sledding down the driveway

Add a new, homemade fleece hat for Kate.

I finally got my snow gear on and built a snow man! David helped with the finishing touches :)

My Muse

Kate has ONE dress. And since she spends her days keeping up with her older, rambunctious brother she doesn't need anymore.  However, this weekend, I was determined to have Kate wear something pretty to her Daddy's Christmas concert at church. I had an old pattern for a jumper that I made for her last year. Though I wasn't crazy about it, I thought I'd give it another shot with some new fabric. With my 50% off coupon, the fabric came out to under $5, and I already had thread and buttons to match. Here it is...

I'm glad Kate liked it!

The rear view. 

It's a simple a-line jumper, with button closures behind the shoulders, pocket in front.

Now onto something I could make for Ethan...Hmmm...pj pants, maybe?

Five Seconds of Fame

Last June, Ethan, Kate and I starred in our first commercial together! Okay, so we got 2 seconds in a 30- second public service announcement, but that counts, right?

It took a while for me to catch wind of where and when it was being aired. And luckily, one of my contacts from the shoot emailed me the youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgKBbFF3Zw4. Enjoy the video and pics from the shoot below...

Happy Halloween! (Part 2)

Spiderman and my little elephant getting ready to hit the neighborhood!

Our pastor lives a block away...they greeted trick or treaters with a warm fire pit out front! Perfect for warming my hands :)

Later, we joined a princess and a star trooper...

...an upset Knight...

a curious dalmation...

...and his firefighter ...

...for an evening of roasted marshmallows and running around our friend's back yard!

The adults gathering around the fire pit.

What a great Halloween!

Happy Halloween! (Part 1)

The kids carving their first pumpkins this weekend...

A blurry photo of the kids, but you can see the jack-o-lanterns really well!

Everybody Needs an Uncle Jimmy

I have a lot of cousins. A LOT. And since they're all over the world I love it when they are passing through Chicago and have time to stop for a visit.

I was feeling rather brave one weekend...oddly enough, the weekend after my girlfriends voluntarily took on one of my own kids to add to their two. I thought to myself, "If they can take care of three small kids, I can certainly drive up to Chicago for the day with the ones I already have!" I normally don't travel far with them by myself. But with the news of one of my cousins passing through town, I thought it was worth trying!

I was blessed with no traffic, no tantrums, and plenty of beautiful weather for a stroll through Lincoln Park Zoo where I met up with my cousin Jimmy. So great to catch up with him and meet his girlfriend, Ari. I introduced him to Ethan as "Uncle Jimmy" since in Filipino culture, age plays a big part in how we address one another. At least I didn't make him call him "Tito Jimmy!" 

Weekend Getaway

The day after the wedding brought us gallivanting around Dinosaur Valley State Park...Where are the kids, you ask? ha ha....not with us :) We enjoyed a day of hiking in some beautiful woods, hunting dinosaur tracks, and wading in streams. I had forgotten what it was like to play!

AAARGH!

Our little car rental! It was fun tooling around in this red VW bug!

We are forever indebted to our good friends, the Zimmermans and the Reedys for taking on an extra kid for the weekend and giving us the chance to "getaway". From what I can tell, Ethan and Kate had a great time doing sleep overs at their friends' houses!