Yumm-O

Carsyn loves her food! Today for lunch we had spaghetti and meatballs. She picked around all her noodles just so she could have her cut up meatballs. She finally did eat all her noodles. I had to post these adorable shots of her making a mess.

Last, but not least, our sleeping babies (just 2 of them because Carsyn had already woke up) in the car after a LONG day. For away basketball games we like to take the Jetta because of the gas mileage. We always have 3 car seats in each car, but when you add the 3 kids in the Jetta, it gets a bit tight. They actually manage most of the time not to hurt each other. After arriving home around 9 pm, 2 hours after their bedtime, we can move them from the car right to their beds. We are so thankful for 3 good car riding children! I could watch my babies sleep all night!

Movie night

I really have done an awful job at putting blog posts up this month in comparison to the past few months. I guess there has not been to many exciting things going on at our house. Between as many as 6 basketball games a week and my gymnastics season has started at Central, I am surprise I have done as many as I have.

We did however have a wonderful Saturday at home. We decided to have a movie night. The kids watched "Igor" and then later Brad and I watched a movie when the kids went to bed. We enjoyed quesadillas, popcorn and chocolate pie. (I didn't say a healthy movie night!) Here they are sitting on their floor cushions, eating their dinner and enjoying the movie.

Carsyn loves cheese quesadillas. Yes, she actually sat there and ate 1 whole cheese quesadilla. I love this shot of her little fingers grabbing the food. She only uses her left hand. Maybe she will be like her daddy and brother.
A few times she looked up to see what was going on in the movie. (Poor 3rd child..she doesn't have a floor cushion yet.)

3 in one

There are a few things to recap at the Kudlas house.

#1 I just had to post this adorable picture taken of the kids a couple weeks ago with their Michigan gear on. We are going to frame it and send it to Aunt Michelle who is working on her Masters degree at U of M. Yeah, I know they did horrible in football this year..but GO BLUE!

#2 I realized this weekend that I had not taken any basketball shots this year. Brad is in his 8th year of coaching at North Forsyth HS. This is his 3rd year coaching girls. My parents were in town this weekend, so they were able to hold Carsyn while I took some pictures. Aidan is the water boy for the JV games, so he stays pretty entertained. Brenna loves to talk to all the parents and siblings and Carsyn...I try really hard to not let her fall down the bleachers. Our "little bug" as we call her or the kids call her "Carzilla" turned 9 months yesterday and she is only days from walking. She is so much fun to have in our house! She loves to clap her hand and cheer, "DADADADA" at the games.

My dad watched the girls later Saturday evening and my mom and I were able to go see "Hairspray" at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. This place is absolutely beautiful. If you live in Atlanta, I highly recommend going and seeing a show there. We had so much fun having a girls night out! We forgot to take a picture of us all dressed up. Opps. O well!

#3 I haven't done "Monday memories" in a while so I thought I would add this in. My mom and I are working on a project for my Grandparents for the 75 birthday in March. Here is a shot of my Grandpa on one of his boats and my Grandma in high school.

Have a fabulous week!

A fun hobby

I had the honor to take some engagement pictures for some friends of my mom in South Carolina. I am no way a professional, but since I have this AWESOME camera, I thought I might as well help them out. It was a beautiful, windy day and we had lots of fun once I got them to relax a bit. Christian and Chelsey will be married early this summer. Here are just a few of the great shots we got...

2009

Happy New Year everyone!

I have always had a hard time at making "resolutions" as they call them. I like to call them GOALS. For some reason people break their resolutions, many the first month after making them. I guess having them as goals makes it seem like I am not under so much pressure. So here it goes....

1. Finish all my photo projects that are looming upstairs on my craft table. There is about 7 projects.

2. Paint and re-due the playroom/guest room and laundry room. We just finished the laundry room this weekend. I can check that part off. I have applied for a new show on HGTV for the playroom. Cross my fingers I get picked! If not, that will have to be done by ME. (The last and final room in our house to be painted.)

3. Read 12 books. If you know me..this will be my toughest goal. I take a long time to read books. I am already half way done with my 1st one, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

4. Be able to run 2 miles again. (This would be to the end of our road and back.) Again, if you know me, I HATE to run...however, Brad's goal for this year is to run a marathon. I think this will help motivate him as well. I have never loved to run...I do Pilate's everyday and would rather watch paint dry, but never-the-less, I AM going to do it!

5. Last but not least...be more PATIENT! That one is for you, Stephanie. My one word for the year that I am going to work on.

What are your GOALS for 2009?

A week of fun

We had a great week spending time with my parents at their house in South Carolina. My Grandma Belt was able to be up here from Florida to visit for the week. She enjoyed seeing how much the kids have grown. My brother was able to get a few days off as well to spend with all of us. Being a golf professional, they work all kinds of crazy days and hours.

Hang in there with me as we had a busy week of taking lots of pictures. Here is a snap shot.

This hat was my dad's when he was a young boy. We have always taken pictures in it and now the kids get to enjoy that.

Carsyn and Gramma
Aidan and Brenna had a blast making gingerbread (graham cracker) houses.

A tradition that we all really enjoy is to go ice skating. I guess it is the Michigan blood that is craving the ice! The kids are really getting a hang of it. Brenna loved the cart they gave her this year. She was cruising so fast around the rink.

One of the kids favorite things to do with Gramma....
bake! Brenna didn't even take her jammies off.

The kids taking cookies and goodies to some of my parents neighbors. (People who are in Michigan or up north reading this...it really was only about 60 degrees! Burrr!)

Christmas morning came with lots of anticipation from the kids...well mostly from Brenna. She kept coming downstairs saying that she has not seen Santa or the reindeer yet. She finally tired out and feel asleep!

Carsyn opening her stocking. She loved every minute of it!She really LOVED the tissue paper and wrapping paper!
Aidan trying on what Santa brought. University of Michigan gear for all 3 of them. Aidan just loves jerseys!

His big gift from Uncle Drew was his first set of real golf clubs. He was out later working on his chip shots.

With all the pictures I took, I didn't get Brenna opening her big gift from my parents, a doll house. She has not stopped playing with that or the ironing board an iron she got from my brother. The kids got a picture of what Mommy and Daddy got them. It was arrive this Spring. A play/swing set for our backyard.

My Grandma Belt with Carsyn.

Brad and I had agreed that we were not getting each other any gifts because we had just bought this wonderful camera for our anniversary/Christmas/birthday gifts. Yes, it was very expensive. The last couple months we had been LOOKING at new video cameras. Emphasis of LOOKING. My sneaky Brad shows up on Christmas Eve with this beauty! Boy, was I surprised!

I hope you had a wonderful week celebrating the birth of our Saviour!

See you in the NEW YEAR! 2009

Merry Christmas

In all the business of the season, I hope you take some time with just your family to relax and remember the reason for the Christmas season. We are heading to my dad and mom's for a week of exactly that. Have a Merry Christmas!

Here is a song by Rebecca St. James from her "Christmas" album (1997)

"A cradle prayer"

Jesus I love you my Lord my life

Where would I be without You

Here is the quiet, the still the night

I am in awe of you

Trials may come and friends they may go

What really matters is You, my Lord

Beautiful Savior my God, my friend

I am in awe of you

Lord I am in awe of you

Trials my come and friends they may go

What really matters is you, my Lord

Jesus I love you my Lord my life

Where would I be without you

Here is the quiet, the still the night

I am in awe of you

Why would you, Creator and King

Come as a baby for all, for me

Beautiful Savior my God, my friend

I am in awe of you

I am in awe of you