Merry Christmas!

We decided this year we would do a 12 days of Christmas activity for each of the 12 days. One of them was decorating clothspin dolls. I painted the faces and made a few outfits then let everyone assemble them by themselves. Mark chose to make his own clothes for his dolls and Eve decided hers needed a lot more pom poms. They will all be displayed on next years 'kids' christmas tree at our house. It was fun, and I am going to attempt making some fun decor for kid's rooms with the idea. Stay tuned....




Family photos for Christmas.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Happy Thanksgiving AND now for Christmas

Happy HOlidays!!
The one thing I don't like about American Thanksgiving is that it is too close to Christmas. I would rather it be at the beginning of November so that there is sufficient time to get over the holiday before you are frantically preparing for the next; and who can do two turkey dinners so close together? This means you have to think of another type of meal for Christmas and then again for New Years. If There was an extra month between the two holidays I don't think I would be so against two turkey dinners.
We start with a fun time at the crazy malls. Eve and Asher always have to take a turn on the Merry-go-round and who can blame them, it is pretty fun.




Our Little Jude is getting so big. He smiles now and is much more alert. Ahhhh, he is a cutie!


Here is the Turkey dinner. We tried the 'Brine Method' this time and we were not disappointed. The recipe was on food network and it was a apple cider turkey. SOOOOOO good and worth the extra effort. I think we have found our perfect recipe!!! I even made soup that SUnday with the gravy and leftovers.




"It is CHRISTMAS!!!"


Our Tree


Time with Santa (Jude was not so thriled, but Eve did tell Santa what she wanted)


The sad attempts to take some cute family photos. The kids are cute, but slightly crazy!!!

Happy Birthday Eve!!!!!

Eve FINALLY turned 4. More important, it was FINALLY her Birthday. She has been waiting for this day for a very long time. Her first party was with Tricia's parents and Eve was allowed to choose her decorations for her cake... she even got to decorate it (can you tell?)


She had to wear Asher's little Indian Hat while she opened presents, she thought the hat was a tiara.

Wearing her handmade gifts


The dress ripped the first day she wore it, off we went to the fabric store to by more durable organza.


I love the dress even more now. After this picture we hemmed the underskirt because it was so long. We added the roses and gathered the bottom. Even better than before!

Asher, after dumping his waffles and syrup on his head. I had to stick the picture in here.



Eve's Friend Party. Her Grandma Struk came down and brought the party with her!


All the kiddies


Eve got another princess dress. I think she is set for a while


Eating their cupcakes. It was tons of kids and tons of fun.

Family photos and baby Jude

Here are the newest photos of Jude and the family. Jude already looks different than in these photos, he is getting so chubby.












Halloween! This is what it is like in our family when you try to take a photo. Argh!!!!!



Asher LOVED his costume. He would wobble around to make the arms sway. I was surprised how much he liked it. He was so dang cute!!!


Our Princess and Spider hangin' out on Halloween


The Trunk or Treat a few days earlier. Little Jude was the cutest Zebra. He did very well hanging out with Mom giving out candy.



I had made Eve this Tinker Bell costume for Halloween; we then bought her wings and a wand. She looked so cute and wore it to her playschool Halloween party. Then for Halloween she refused to be TInker Bell. She got her own costume out of the dress ups and declared she was Rapunzel: She had a purple dress just like the movie, and a pink long piece of fabric to be her long hair. She was thrilled with her new costume, I was bummed that she didn't wear the one I had labored over.

Our little Zebra.

Jude Peter Struk

3 and a half weeks early, our last little buddy joined our family. He was very anxious to meet us and I was VERY anxious for him to come. It worked out well for both of us: no more kicking inside my stomach and he can get yummy milk and cuddles whenever he wants (sometimes he gets the cuddles when he doesn't want them).

Mark was ready, with his scrubs on he held my hand. I had to have a c-section due to some foreseen issues and I was slightly MORE than nervous. I would not recommend a voluntary c-section, but at least they gave me lost of relaxation medication and I could've cared less what was going on at the time.


First shot of Jude. 6lbs, 7oz and 18 inches long. He was born at 2pm. We are so glad he is here!!!

He does wrinkle his little brow a lot.





Eve doesn't looked thrilled, but it is actually the exact opposite. She loves her baby Jude (that is if she can remember his name). She helps me hold him, bath him, and she even gets toys for him to play with. Right now he is nestled up with her pink 'my little pony' and a tiny stuffed bunny. I guess he will never be lonely.


As thrilled as Asher looks, he could really care less. He is more pleased that Daddy is home with him all day, then the fact that he has a little playmate. Eventually it will be a good thing they are so close in age, for now... well....




The food was more than just disgusting at the hospital. I wasn't hungry the first day or two, but I was famished after that. Mark relieved my hunger by bringing me some 'Chipotles', yummy at anytime, it was heavenly that day.


Asher enjoying hanging out with me at the hospital. He loved the hospital, there were lots of things for him to get into and lots of buttons to push. He is such a big help.

At home


Eve had jaundice when she was born, and one thing they asked us to do was give her lots of skin on skin time. Marked loved it, so one of his favorite things to do when our kids are new born is cuddle with them, skin only. I think it is sweet and nothing gets the babies to sleep faster than a nice warm Dad.


Eve lovin' her baby Jude

nursery projects complete!!!

Here are some photos of the rocking chair and change table/dresser that I repainted. Our friends gave them to us and they were a bit out of date. The dresser was a honey colored wood with a forest green top, and forest green knobs to match. The rocking chair was an oak color a light brown, with plush forest green cushions right out of the early 90's. The wood on the rocking chair was a bit worn too. So with a little spray paint and some poor sewing I redid them both.

The rocking chair fabric matches the bedding in what will be the nursery. It has a huge bed in it too.


Even though the fabric is very feminine (according to Mark), I don't care, it was cheap and it is colorful.

The rocking chair was a beast to spray paint (and would have been worse to paint). I will not spray paint another rocking chair!!




I am happiest with the dresser. The black updates it and it looks like we bought it to match our crib. Even Mark had to admit it looks pretty good.