A big cut!

SG has been asking me for a while now...so we did it! I think she looks so grown up now. Sweet girl. This length will be much better for gymnastics and swimming lessons.

its a new year

Hi friends/family, happy new year! And I guess I can almost say happy Valentine's day! We have been so busy the last few months and blogging has been on the backburner. So here's what we've been up to...well mostly me...and some pictures!

I started a new job in October.  I'm working in Chesapeake 3-4 days a week at a fabulous salon doing hair and makeup. I am really enjoying it but miss my kiddies. Owen has become part-time stay at home daddy and full time PhD student. I am serving in church as our ward's Primary President and am absolutely loving it. SG is doing really well in gymnastics and continues to be a smarty pants. She is so bright and always surprises with how much she knows. Cecily is growing like a weed and is almost as tall as her sister. She loves to play and image and has the sweetest singing voice. Ben is climbing on everything! I'm sure once he figures he can, he'll be crawling out of his crib. He is such a sweet boy, loves to give me kisses and I'll take them all! All too soon he won't think that's cool!

Our families are doing well too. My sister is moving from Salt Lake back to California to start a new job and work on her bachelor's degree in Animal Science. We are so excited for her to pursue her academic endeavors. My stepsister Emily, just got engaged to her wonderful boyfriend Vish. We look forward to their wedding in Sonoma summer of 2014. Owen's little brother DJ and his darling wife Kirsty are adding to the Williamson clan. They little boy or girl will be arriving early June this year. Owen's mother Kim, will be visiting us for a few weeks this summer and we are all going on a "stay-cation" up to Williamsburg for a few days.

We have definitely been busy but are having so much fun amongst the chaos and certainly have more fun coming our way!

catching up

...Scottish Highland Games in Williamsburg...haggis, harps,  sheep.
...Cecily with straight hair... hope she always loves her curls,  we do...
...kids enjoying the beautiful autumn weather...
...Halloween... Ben Kenobi,  Merida and witch/cat... too much candy...
...Owen's handlebar moustache...lasted 5 minutes...
... had a wonderful thanksgiving with my dad and stepmom, stepsister and her boyfriend... no pictures to show for it, sad...
... today I turned 32!!! Had a fantastic day even with a sinus infection... made these super cute upcycled Christmas stockings...

Life is good!!

Mark it with a 'B'

And put it in the oven for Benny and me! Oh, and did he love his cake! Don't worry Katherine, there were no veggies or legumes in his cake! It was sprouted wheat and it was yummy!

Our baby boy turn one year old on October 2nd! This year has flown by so fast and yet we feel he has always been with us. Ben is such a joy we couldn't have asked for a better baby.

Fun facts about Ben...
-he started walking at 10 months
-he loves to chew on his blanket, its his pacification
-he loves eating purees, but I think he's just lazy and wants to be spoon fed :)
-he has 4 teeth, 2 top, 2 bottom
-he has light strawberry blonde hair that is still short and thin, it hasn't really started growing in yet
-he says, mama, dada, nigh-nigh, num-num, and is constantly babbling and loves shouting, he recently discovered volume
-he loves mommy, I'm his favorite :)
-he loves to rough around with Owen and the girls tickling and wrestling
-he sneaks into the bathroom at any opportunity to unroll the toilet paper
-he loves his sisters and knows their names, if I ask him who's who he looks to the right girl
-he climbs into the bathtub at any opportunity
-he's fascinated with buttons, the dvd player, remotes, etc, and is frequently turning off what we're watching
-he absolutely loves playing blocks with Owen or I. He will stack them up to build a tower and then shrieks with joy when he knocks them down

We just love you to pieces Ben and we are SO happy to have you in our family!! Happy Birthday Benny boy!

summer fun

We've been having so much fun this summer! Sarahvieve's hair is growing so long and beautiful, she calls it her Rupunzel hair and claims she never wants it cut, but we'll see about that! We had a short but sweet visit from my mom. We packed in as much as we could in just a few days! SG has advanced in her gymnastics and she now goes to class with the 'big girls'. She loved watching the olympics and is determined to do the BIG vault someday. She talks all the time about doing gymnastics like the older girls on TV, its cute. She has converted the chaise longue into a mini vault, much to everyone's dismay. Ceci has turned into a total chatterbox! She loves playing pretend and making up stories and senarios with her toys. She thinks she doesn't need naps anymore...I think she does, so we now have an hour of mandatory 'quiet time' but the girls think its just playtime in their room with the light off. Ben is WALKING! He's walking everywhere now. He has been for the last 2 weeks now and gets faster and faster everyday. Owen starts school next week! We've enjoyed having so much extra time with him this summer, but its back to classes now.

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Aberdeen to Norfolk (pictures)

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Aberdeen to Norfolk

We had the most wonderful visit with Owen's parents. There were here for about 3 weeks but the time went by way too fast! We had so much fun!! Beach, Brave (twice!), Madagascar, family dinners, eating out, crocheting, embroidery, strawberry jam, brawts, apple strudel, aquarium, shopping, date night, late nights telling stories about Shetland, and ton more! Benny fell quickly in love with Grandad, he became his favorite place to nap. The kids thought it was wonderful to spend so much time with Nana and Grandad and goodbyes were certainly hard. Cecily and I both were very emotional about it! I'll be posting some more pics from our visit together but the is my all time favorite one.

Thank you Nana and Grandad for everything! We love you and miss you!! I'm the luckiest girl ever, I really do have the best in-laws in the world!

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Neal's Yard Remedies

I have been researching this new (to the USA, but has been in the UK for 30 years) company for months now. Along with our new food/eating/cooking lifestyle change we've also taken steps to ensure the products we use ON our skin are of quality as well. This skin care and remedies line is certified organic and uses "green" production and business practices, something I can get behind and support. Our skin absorbs SO much, the good and the bad. The good can be a great benefit to our bodies, the bad can wreck havoc.

I've always been mindful of what I put on my skin. We have a family history of eczema, dry skin/scalp, freckles, skins that burns easily and I've always tried to seek out good wholesome products. And now with my headheads (Owen, Cecily and Ben) I'm  even more choosey because of their sensitive skin and coloring. I've had my favorites, but have never found everything our family needed in one place. Good, cleansing but gentle soaps and moisturizers for the kids, facial creams, sunscreen, shaving and after shave lotions, bubble bath, aromatherapy, salves for coughs and colds...NYR has all this and more, and it is top quality stuff.

In my career as a hair designer and stylist, I have had the opportunity for lots of research and exposure to many different skin care companies. I would use my favorites on my clients and coworkers but would pick and choose which company had the best for what I needed. I'm thrilled to have found a company that has everything I need, all in one place!

Neal's Yard Remedies had over 30 store locations in the UK, and in 2009 came to the USA as a direct sales company. Like Tupperware or Mary Kay. And while hosting a party or attending an open house may be annoying, this kind of business set up actually works really well for skin care. I know there have been times that I've purchased product and a week later thought, "um...this isn't working like I want it to", or "yeah, I wasn't wrong, I don't like this fragrance". At a party you can  try the products, smell them, touch them and doing business with a consultant as opposed to a store you can easily return or exchange items.

Do you own research, check out my business site, browse items, read ingredient lists, I think my friends and family will be as impressed as I have been. https://us.nyrorganic.com/shop/swilliamson

I will be hosting an open house soon so my local friends can check out these products, if your out of state, you can use the website or call me and I can tell you all about it.

If you are interested and concerned about using organics for yourself and family and use skin care items, I think this company is worth a look!

pictures at the park

I love that I get to see these sweet faces everyday. I just adore these little ones.

Cecily turns 3!

Today our sweet Cecily turned 3 years old!! We have a family tradition that the birthday person gets to pick to menu for the day so we started out with french toast and eggs and then opened presents! I can't believe how much Ceci has grown this year. She is almost as tall as SG, weighs the same and once her legs start sprouting she is going to shoot up tall! I love it!

Sweet Cec. I love SG's face, she's so goofy!

We then all got ready and went on a shopping spree to Toys-R-Us, that was fun!! The girls each took a handbag with their new wallets from great-grandma and were ready to blow their cash!

Awestruck in the babydoll isle!

I want this one!

Shopping complete, and heading out with a birthday princess crown and balloon!

Next, Costco for lunch (Ceci's request). Mmm, that's good lemonade!

Yes, she did eat that whole hotdog! At least 20 people at Costco told her happy birthday, seeing her balloon and crown, best birthday party ever in her mind! She loved telling people it was her birthday and that she was, "FREEEEE!"

Cake time! "Angel cake with raspberry fluff icing", ala Max and Ruby. It was actually a GF yellow cake with raspberry preserves and cherry-vanilla icing, yum! And we have part 2 of the birthday extravaganza happening when Nana and Grandad come in just a few days!!!

Happy Birthday baby girl!! We love you Cecily-lee-loo-loo!!

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