It's that time of year again... Ultimate Blog Party 2012!

Sure, spring means melting snow and flowers and sunshine... but, in the blogging world, spring can only really mean one thing: Ultimate Blog Party.

As what has turned into an annual event over here, the girls and I are excited to get in on the fun and excitement that only a 3,000+ guest party can bring. Hey, wouldn't be a little pumped up about a virtual gathering like that?

Having participated in UBP in 2011 and 2010, we thought we'd try to fancy things up a bit by wearing our finest gowns this year.

As I suspected, however, that just led to things getting a little silly. Not that there's anything wrong with being silly at a party, mind you, but with these two invited, one case of the giggles can send the whole shindig downhill in a hurry.

In the end, it is best if we stick with just being ourselves, isn't it? Because that's the true meaning of getting together with friends and enjoying meeting new people.

So, after changing back into our everyday attire, now we're comfortable and happy and ready to party.

If you aren't here for the Ultimate Blog Party and are wondering what in the world I'm talking about, take my word for it that I'm not just rambling incoherently. The amazing ladies behind 5 Minutes for Mom throw an annual bash (that continues to grow each year) that somehow manages to take the vast hugeness that is the blogosphere and shrink it down into something fun, unique and personal.

By introducing bloggers from all ends of the spectrum to each other, it makes it possible to jump right in and meet new writers from all corners of the earth. In the past two years that we've participated in UBP, I have continued to be amazed at the blogs that I've visited, the people that I've chatted with, and just how much our week was brightened by having new and old friends stop by and comment. On that note...

If you are here for the Ultimate Blog Party, welcome to Thanks, Mail Carrier! Those crazy girls up there and I are glad that you stopped by and we hope that you're having a great time at this unique event. If you feel like entering a giveaway or two or 20 while you're here, please feel free! We do like to give stuff away around here, there's something so satisfying about telling someone that they're a winner. Who doesn't like to hear that?

But even if you don't enter, please do leave a comment! We truly do make our way around to every single visitor's party as soon as possible, so of course we want to know that you stopped by!

You named your blog Thanks, Mail Carrier?

Indeed I did. Although my kids might have a slightly skewed view as to what is "normal" for a mail carrier to deliver on any given day, it's still just as exciting to hear the familiar vrooom of a vehicle coming down our block. It doesn't matter if it's USPS, UPS, or FedEx, you'll still find us peering out the window to try to catch a first glimpse at what might arrive. Who doesn't love getting the mail?

And you are...?

Why, hello! I'm Xenia (pronounced Za-knee-a) and here I am doing my best red-carpet-look-like-a-goon pose last year at BlogHer.

Enough about me, though. Let's talk about those kiddos of mine up pictured up there and are who are known here on the blog as Big Sister E and Little Sister B.

My 5-year-old, Big Sister E, is intelligent, caring, creative, inventive, beautiful, extremely stubborn and is thrilled over recently having lost her first two teeth. She loves books, games, arts & crafts, being adored by her sister, preschool, swim lessons, and her best friend (who loves bugs. Which is ironic, as Big Sister E strongly has my run-shrieking-from-the-room-at-the-first-sign-of-a-spider gene).

Then there's my 3-year-old, Little Sister B. From birth she has been sweet, happy, independent, loud, bull-headed, and my funny little comedienne. She likes giving her sister big hugs, pretending with play food, playing in the dirt, and jumping. Lots of jumping. She's a crazy one, that girl, but her energy and enthusiasm for life never cease to inspire me.

Together, the three of us (and Daddy too, every now and again) have been reviewing products and sites from all across the spectrum since 2009. From apparel to jewelry to food to household items to music to shoes to toys to gear to technology... to everything in between - we've worked hard but have also enjoyed doing it more than I ever would have guessed.

But while blogging has introduced me to opportunities and experiences that I never would have expected or thought possible, none of it compares to the people that I've met and the friendships that I've made over the years. This community may be bigger than I can imagine and growing by the day, but I am so grateful and glad to be a part of it with all of you. If you're a hugger, I've got one here for you... if not, hey, that's okay, too. High five!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Don't be a stranger, come back and visit anytime, we're always happy to have people stop over. Now, go enjoy the rest of the party and we'll be sure to say hello when we come stop by your place!