Happy New Year's Eve!

I have to admit: New Year's Eve has lost something for me now that I'm a parent. Why would I intentionally stay up past midnight? I have three small children at home, two of whom have been sick for the last week and one of whom is teething. If they're asleep at midnight, I intend to be asleep, too!

However, I do love the idea of a fresh start. A time to look back and a time to look forward. I don't really do resolutions, per se, but I definitely go into January with a desire to be better this year. A better wife and mother. A better role model. A kinder person. A better listener. A healthier me.

As 2014 comes to a close, I hope that you can look back fondly on the many memories of the past 12 months. But I also hope that you have wonderful things to look forward to in 2015! May the New Year find you happy, healthy, and blessed!

Carey, the kids, and myself meeting Santa at the annual Knights of Columbus Christmas Party.
(I'm grateful that one of Carey's fellow Knights, George, took this photo.
We rarely have all five of us in the same picture!)

Ten!

 

We are into the double-digits. The wonderful man that I married 10 years ago is even more wonderful now. He has proved himself, over and over again, to be a loving, kind, funny, loyal, hard-working husband and father. I am blessed to have walked beside him these past 10 years, and I pray that God will bless us with many more years together! Happy Anniversary, Carey - I love you!

And this journey that we're on
How far we've come and I celebrate every moment,
And when you say you love me, that's all you have to say
I'll always feel this way...

When you say you love me the world goes still, so still inside
And when you say you love me, in that moment, I know why I'm alive
When you say you love me, when you say you love me
Do you know how I love you?

-Josh Groban, "When You Say You Love Me"

Happy Birthday, Carey!

Every January 21st, we get to celebrate Carey's birthday. We get to celebrate the birth of the amazing man whom I am blessed to call my husband and our children are blessed to call their daddy. We get to thank God for another year with Carey, and pray that He will bless Carey with another year of health and happiness.

Proudly wearing his "Best Daddy in the World" sticker.
Father's Day 2013

Twirling Abby on the tire swing. Whee!
September 2013

Teaching Abby how to wash the car.
September 2013

Ready to see Beauty and the Beast with Abby. Again. ;-)
(Zach is just a photo crasher...)
November 2013

Carey and Abby with the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
December 2013

Carey and Abby, ready to go sledding!
January 2014

So many happy memories from the past year. We pray that God will bless Carey with another year filled with smiles, hugs, and happiness!

Recent Life in Pictures

Rather than a lengthy, wordy post today, I thought I'd share a few photos from the past few weeks to let you know what's been going on around the Ng house.

Abby showing off her muscles with Gaston and LeFeu at Beauty and the Beast.

What's better than a fun shopping cart?
A fun shopping cart at Wegmans, of course!

This one's for you, Aunt Katie and Uncle John! Yum!

We were so lucky to spend some time over Thanksgiving with
our new baby cousin, Carter. This picture doesn't even begin
to do justice to his cuteness. Such a sweet boy! :-)

Daddy and Abby playing Monopoly for the first time!

Because sometimes you just need 15 minutes to empty the dishwasher.
Thank you, Bubble Guppies, for the spell of peace and quiet that you
weave over my child...

This is what happens when you have two kiddos who are very
excited for their baby sister to arrive.
(P.S. - Can you see my feet? Me neither...)

When you allow the pregnant woman to choose dessert, you get a
Chocolate Chip Cookie Fudge Brownie cake from Wegmans. You also
get an empty container very, very quickly.

Abby making a Christmas necklace. This kid loves crafts!

Zachy and Abby modeling their new jammies from Cousin Mary,
Cousin Andy, and Baby Carter. According to Zachy, they're
"roaty-toaty" (roasty-toasty)!

Seven Days of Thanks: Day 1 - My Husband

We met in 2001. He asked me to "hang out." And the rest is history. I could never have imagined, 12 years later, that the man who charmed me with a shy smile and warm brown eyes would still be charming me to this day.

We've traded a small apartment in the city for a house in the suburbs. We've traded nights out at restaurants and bars for nights in with a DVD and a blanket on the couch. We've traded weekends of sleeping in for weekends filled with family fun (usually starting around 7 am). Throughout these changes, the one thing that hasn't changed is the fact that there is no one else I would rather be on this journey with.

I have been blessed with a man who works so hard to take care of our family, and yet always has the energy to read a book, go to a tea party, or build a tower out of blocks. He is an amazing husband and father, and we are blessed that he is ours.

"Married couples who love each other tell each other a thousand things without talking." 

- Chinese Proverb

Fall Family Fun - A Catch-Up Post

I love autumn. Apples. Pumpkins. Falling leaves. Cool weather that's perfect for playing outside. Fleeces. Halloween and Thanksgiving. It's probably my favorite season of the year. I also love autumn because Carey and I have found some great things to do on Long Island with the kids during this season. So here are a few photos of some of the fun we've had this fall!

Sweetbriar Nature Center - August 31, 2013

Abby and Zach having fun in the Rainforest Room

A bald eagle that is being rehabilitated at the Center

A little friend decided to hitch a ride on my shoulder in the Butterfly Garden :-)

A sand table? Yes, please!

Family Fun Night at Planting Fields Arboretum - September 6, 2013

Abby showing off her hula-hooping skills

Zachy just wanted to hold his hula-hoop...

Carey and Abby enjoying a game of Twister

My loves on a very big rock ;-)

East Northport Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival - September 7, 2013

A carousel ride with Daddy :-)

Abby was tall enough to go on most of the rides herself,
so she wanted to ride EVERYTHING. Twice. ;-)

Visiting our friends at the Public Library tent to color a picture.
(Can you tell that Zachy loves to color?)

Abby playing in the bubbles

Long Island Live Steamers - September 8, 2013

Ready to ride the trains!

Carey and our babies enjoying a train ride!
(Pregnant women aren't allowed to ride the trains,
so I was the official photographer for the day.)

We met up with our friends, Todd and Jaime, who have
two kids the same ages as Abby and Zach.
The kids all had a blast!

Zachy was upset to get off the trains,
but a Popsicle made him feel better. :-)

Abby and Carey enjoying a treat at the end of our
picnic lunch.

Meet Your Friend, The Firefighter, at the Northport Fire Department - September 14, 2013

Abby and Zach with Sparky, the Fire Dog

Abby checking out the inside of an ambulance

Zachy taking the fire truck for a spin ;-)

A visit to the Long Island Children's Museum - September 28, 2013

Bubbles!

Sibling harmony :-)

Abby's arch

And, of course, no visit to the Museum would be complete
without a ride on Nunley's Carousel!

Carousel rides are the best!

Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns at Old Westbury Gardens - October 4, 2013

Over 5,000 hand-carved jack o'lanterns await!

Amazing how talented people can be with a pumpkin!

The kids are both getting into Charlie Brown,
so they loved this pumpkin!

This one is for you, Aunt Katie and Uncle John!

My little pumpkin lovers!

We can't wait to go again next year!

Family Fall Festival at Planting Fields Arboretum - October 5, 2013

My loves taking a walking under the weeping willows

Abby enjoying a pony ride

Abby loves the bounce house!

Trick or Treat!

Abby with Vampire Mickey

Abby in the sack race

In addition to all these fun days, we've played outside, visited local playgrounds, and enjoyed some fun Halloween activities. As I said before, I truly love autumn, and I love sharing it with my wonderful family!