Merry Christmas from the Palizzis

The wrapping paper is finally gone, the boxes thrown away, and all toys assembled. The boys are finally coming down from there permanent sugar highs. We hope that you had an enjoyable Christmas season. We sure did. From oreo balls, to train tables, to millions and millions of legos.

On Wednesday, the boys had their holiday concert. It was ADORABLE! Seriously. Julian was such a ham, such a performer, and not shy at all! it was amazing. Gabe? Well he was his normal preschool self. He didn't do much, but he sure looked cute standing up at the front :) It's so weird that he's so bubbly, and full of personality at home, with friends, but at preschool, he doesn't ever talk. I think now it's a battle of wills. He has both my stubbornness, and Barry's, so I think he just might win. He's showing his stubbornness in his reluctance to potty learn!

Meet Buddy. He's our Elf on the Shelf. Super cute, and original name. Right? They love the movie Elf, so Buddy was the natural choice.


Gabe, before his concert. SO cute.


Julian singing the Reindeer Pokey. So cute!


Baby Owen listening to the concert by the preschool children.


And Gabe just standing there, not performing :)



Here's a video of the Reindeer Pokey <3


We took the boys to see Santa. Julian and Gabe talked big, and said they would sit on Santa's lap. In reality? Julian stood about 5 feet away, and yelled what he wanted to Santa, "Lego City Airplane" and Gabe stood closer, but whispered, "Brogan has, chugga table." His friend Brogan has a train table, and that's what Gabe wanted! Only one of my boys was brave enough to sit on Santa's lap.



We got their school pictures. Juilan's was really hard to choose from! He was cheesing in ALL of them!


Gabe's? They looked exactly the same in every picture, like 9 of them.


We got a nice little snowfall on Christmas Eve. It was so nice to have Barry home, so I could play with the boys outside!

Gabey playing in the snow!


Jules trying to catch a snowflake on his tongue!


Our mini snowman! The snow was gorgeous, but not very packable, or maybe it was just me?





We have a family tradition, each person gets jammies on Christmas Even night. I ordered the boys' way back in July, from baby Gap. They were having a great sale! And man I'm glad I did. How cute is this picture?


The LOOT!


The boys seeing the stuff that Santa brought for the first time!


My Christmas baby


Enjoying his train table!




Sorry for the picture dump! I haven't blogged in a while! But that's one of my new years resolutions. Blog More. Take more pictures. Work out. And wear makeup again. Maybe eat a little better...we'll see about this one :)

DMU Magazine

WAY back during Barry's second year, we were approached by a woman at thew school. She worked for the DMU Magazine and would be writing a story on students with families and wondered if we were interested in being interviewed. We said yes, Barry gave her his email address, and went on our ways.

Fast forward to this past August. Barb emailed Barry and said they were writing the article, and wanted to set up an interview with us. We met her at Centennial Park, and she asked us tons of questions. The boys behaved and played a lot, and weren't too shy with her.

Fast Forward some more to October. Article was written, and they wanted our pictures! So we got all dressed and went down to DMU. I was miserably pregnant, 38 and some weeks. It went well, and we were excited to read it!

Yesterday, I got a disc with the family photo they'd taken!


One of my last belly p[ics!


And you can read the article at http://www.dmu.edu/magazine/

The time is flying by!

If I thought time moved fast with two kids, it's moving three times as fast with three. I never shared Owen's newborn pictures with you. Or his birth announcement (which is going out in the mail this week, along with our fabulous Christmas cards). Or his 1 month pictures. That's right folks. My BABY is already past the one month mark! So I'm going to share.

Owen's Newborn Shoot. This was my second time photographing a newborn, in any sort of artistic way. With Julian, I just had my P&S camera, and was SNAP.HAPPY. Seriously. And Gabe? Well, I had Stacy. And she does amazing work. So I had no reason to take pictures of my own. I attempted pictures of my nephew Preston when he was first born, and some of them turned out OK, but nothing stellar, nothing special. Just cute baby, ya know? I'm pretty proud of the way these turned out. I'm not posting every.single.one, because there'd be probably 100. These are some of my favorites from the little session.












The announcement! Designed by my DEAR friend, Jackie! She's so amazing!


Owen's One Month!
I appliqued this onesie on the 3rd, knowing I'd need to take pictures on the 4th. My *goal* is to have a onesie or t-shirt for every month-day. We'll see how I do! He looks SO different, already! I can't believe it. Looking at his newborn pictures made me all misty, and newborn hungry! There's something just irrisistable about a squishy, snuggly, newborn! Also, early reports show that Owen, SHOCKINGLY, may look like ME!







I weighed myself the other night, and then weighed Owen, and he was 11.8 lbs! Holy Toledo! Such a big boy, but he's SO long, that he doesn't look as chubby as my babies usually do! He doesn't have an appointment until 2 months, so I won't have anything official until then! He is such a good baby, and sleeps pretty well. He usually wakes once in the night to eat, get a diaper change, and then goes back to sleep until 7ish. Mama likes!

We had a special visitor here the last week. Barry's mom, Ann, came to visit us! She's the first of the Palizzis to make the trek to Iowa! We had so much fun. She made English Toffee that was supposed to be for the ladies I visiting teach, but it accidentally got eaten. And sugar cookies! We went to WaterWorks park and saw the Christmas Lights. Got the Christmas shopping done for the boys. Let me just say, Julian and Gabe are going to be HAPPY CAMPERS come Christmas Morning! Nailed down Christmas presents for my niece and nephews! It was a really fun visit!

Julian eating a cookie!


The boys got a little sprinkle happy...




I love the Costco Gingerbread House Kits, and so do the boys!


Julian said the next morning, "Mommy, I tried to use a gumdrop as the door knob, but it didn't work. Sooooo, I ate it."





Well this post is mighty long! So I'll bid you adieu!

Ho Ho Ho!

It's that time of year again. Christmas card time. In past years, I've designed my own Christmas card, been really organized and had family pictures taken in a timely matter. This year? Not so much. Having my third baby a month ago (cry cry, time goes by SO quickly!) has kind of thrown a wrench in my typical holiday preparations.

Enter Shutterfly!

They have SO many adorable designs for Christmas cards, it was nearly impossible for me to pick JUST one. I was able to though, after much deliberation.


It seriously couldn't be easier to upload your favorite Christmas picture, or pictures, and order your card for the 2010 Holiday Season!

There are seriously SO many fabulous designs to choose from. I know that you'll have trouble deciding, just as I did! There are designs for every personality!

Here are some of my favorite ones, but I did not include the one I am going to order! There's gotta be SOME surprises in life :)


#1-Snowflake Elegnace

#2-Holiday Lights

#3-Paper Ornaments

I had so much fun taking pictures of the boys for our shoot. And the boys? Cooperated. For the most part. Owen was a typical diva, and wouldn't look at the camera :)

Here are some pictures that WON'T be seen on our family Christmas card!


Total Cheeseballs



Another awesome thing about ordering from Shutterfly? It's not JUST Christmas cards, or prints. There are SO many amazing gifts! Photo books? Yep! Calendars? You betcha! Canvas Wall Art? You know it!

I am so excited for my Christmas cards this year, and it was so much easier. I', not designing another Christmas Card! Shutterfly is the way to go!