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!)

Christmas Cuteness!

I know, I know, it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But when you order photo cards for Christmas, you need those holiday photos taken early. With that in mind, the Ngs traveled to our favorite photo studio, Cl!x in Huntington, for our annual family photos. The appointment did not get off to a good start - we waited 35 minutes while a lighting problem was dealt with - but we ended up getting some amazing shots! So, while these are Christmas photos, they are appropriate for November as well since these loving, adorable people are definitely something I am thankful for!

 

Abigail Elizabeth - 6 years, 2 months old

Zachary Thomas - 3 years, 3 months old

Victoria Marie - 9.5 months old

What?!?

What's that, mommy? It's been how long since you posted to the blog?!

Don't you know people want to see this face?

Don't you know people want to see these other adorable faces, too?

Seriously, mommy, get on the ball.

(Gotcha, baby girl. Mommy will do her best to get back on the wagon and post to the blog a bit more regularly. Starting next week. Mommy is tired, baby girl, so off to bed...)

Top 13 of 2013

At the end of each year, I like to look back through the photos that we've taken and pick out a few that were great, but never made it onto the blog, for one reason or another. These photos tend to be taken towards the end of the year, since I make slide shows for both kids for their birthdays. (To see those, click here and here.) So, in no particular order, here are my Top 13 of 2013 - the 13 best photos that you haven't seen this year!

Enjoying some bouncy fun on a playgroup field trip.
March 21, 2013

I won tickets to a New Jersey Nets game at the Barclays Center,
which just happened to be on our anniversary. Nine years with
this handsome guy, and I love him more every day.
April 17, 2013

"Cooking" with mommy and daddy usually involves making
cheese quesadillas. It also usually involves more cheese eating
than actual cooking... ;-)
July 12, 2013

A day at the beach!
August 11, 2013

Bubbles!
September 8, 2013

Zachy has started to enjoy coloring,
especially when he can color with Abby.
September 20, 2013

Hanging out on the couch with my little man!
October 30, 2013

The kiddos next to our Holiday Basket, which we won at our
church's Chinese Auction.
November 3, 2013

Zachy being a ham at Old Westbury Gardens.
December 7, 2013

Every year, the Knights of Columbus hold a Children's Christmas Party.
At the party, Abby asked to have her picture taken with the Nativity.
December 15, 2013

Outside the New York Public Library on a recent
family trip into NYC.
December 21, 2013

Abigail and her finished gingerbread house!
December 26, 2013

From our family to yours, many wishes for a blessed Christmas season,
and good health and much happiness in the New Year!
Christmas Photo 2013

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 6 - The Mess

I am not a messy person. Not at all. Then I got married, and my stuff joined another person's stuff and we were double-stuffed. Then we had a child. Then we had another child. Now we're preparing for a third child. And I have been forced to let go of some of my notions of clean and organized. There are only so many ways to store toys. There are only so many places to set up exersaucers and cradle swings. There are only so many hours in a day to do laundry and vacuum and wash dishes.

God has shown me that I am blessed by my mess. My house isn't as clean as I would like, but my days are spent helping Abigail with her homework and playing cars with Zachary and sometimes even getting to sit on the couch with Carey for a half hour after the kids go to bed. My house is messy because my children are blessed (even spoiled!) by so many people who love them. My sink is full of dishes because we have food to eat. My hamper is full of dirty clothes because we have an abundance of clothes to wear. All of the things that make my house a mess are blessings in my life, including the aforementioned husband and two darling children. ;-)

So instead of being frustrated and overwhelmed by my mess, sometimes, I just look at it and smile. Why wish for a clean house when my home is filled with laughter and playing and living?

Cleaning your house while your children are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.  -Phyllis Diller

Seven Days of Thanks: Day 3 - My Family

Growing up, every Sunday, our large family would descend on my Grandma and Grandpa Kowalczyk's house for lunch and a day of play. During the summer, Sunday afternoon family time also included trips to our house and fun in our swimming pool. I grew up surrounded by the love of my parents, big sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Now, with the "kids" grown up, our family has expanded through weddings and births, and happy moments like engagements and job promotions are often shared over long distances by email and Facebook. But what hasn't changed are the fun times we have when we are together, and the love and support that are offered over the miles. I pray that Abby and Zach will grow up with a strong appreciation of and love for this wonderful family into which they've been born.

Family life is the source of the greatest human happiness.  -Robert J. Havighurst

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!