I have to write about a special person. She was brought into our lives when we moved back to NY. She has become a part of my crazy family and loves my children more than anyone else I know. She has watched our girls so many times without asking for anything in return. I can always be at peace knowing that they are taken care of. So this is for you, Nikki... my favorite friend... I love you.

Pickering Family 2008

Every three to five years my (joy) side if the family takes a family photos. It is a stressful day because there a ten children and it is very hard to get them to cooperate. I think we got some great pictures...

My mom and dad...



Pickering Family



My oldest brother Matt and his family...



My sister Holly and her family...



My brother Luke and his boys...



G & G with all the grandkids...



The WHOLE family...

Micah's favorite Christmas present!

This is now Micah's favorite thing to do, other than eat. He loves to sit in his high chair and play. Or should I say beat on the toy!

Memories from Christmas 2008...

The loves of my life...


Priceless... Micah spits up on Cora and she didn't realize it till seconds later when she feels it on her hand!!!

From Halloween to Christmas... ?

I have now realized that the last time I posted was right after Halloween. Here we are... just week after Christmas. I know I don't even have to say it but "TIME FLIES"! This holiday season was wonderful. Thanksgiving was great! We put up our Christmas decorations during Thanksgiving break so that we could enjoy it longer. Now the decorations sit on the dining room table ready to be put back in the Christmas bins. I has to keep reminding myself to take in every moment... This was Micah's first Christmas. He slept through most of it but it was fun to see him react to all the excitement. It is funny... even with all the emphasis on keeping Christmas simple and the reminders that it was Jesus' birthday, the famous phrase of the day was, "Are there anymore presents for me?". It was very hard to keep the girls in check with why we celebrate Christmas. Then it was my birthday... Let me tell you a story... I will make it short! Two weeks before Christmas, Anthony and I found out that we were surprising each other on the same weekend. I was surprising him with Buffalo Bills tickets for Christmas and he was surprising me with a weekend away for my "30th" b-day. So after a week of discussion as to how both of us were going to pull of our surprises... we compromised with a weekend in Niagara Falls. That way he could still go to the game. Our weekend was great. We had two beautiful hotel rooms, lots of great food, great conversation and well... can't share anymore... (hee hee) This was truly a Christmas and birthday to remember!
This is our living room in the junior presidential suite...




The amazing view from our hotel room!!!