A White Christmas

Christmas Eve was spent at home, eating a traditional ham dinner, reading the Christmas Story from Luke, and watching a movie in our new Christmas jammies.  I love the feel of Christmas Eve night.  With the anticipation of Christmas morning, and the feelings of peace and joy at celebrating our Savior's birth, it creates a majestic and warm spirit throughout the day.

 Max's 1st Christmas pjs - already into 3-6 month clothes.  He is a chubby boy!

 Christmas morning started at 6:30 with Sam.  He came down and scouted out his gifts and then woke up Jack, who you can tell by the look on his face was THRILLED!!!!  We let the Queen of Sheba (A.K.A. Olyvia) sleep in until she had sufficient rest (she's a bear otherwise).  She woke up at 7:15 and she too was overcome with excitement at all the "pretty" things she received.  All the kids got everything on their list, and were so happy with each gift.  It was a perfect Christmas morning, complete with a snow! I love a white Christmas. Santa's sleigh and the reindeer even left tracks in the driveway.....

 Jack - wall track, attendance board, easel, beyblade, and Dennis the Menace.

 Sam - skylander's giants, beyblade, baseball bag, live butterfly kit and golf clubs.

 Lyv - dollhouse, baby high chair and car seat, Doc McStuffin's, tutu

Lyv gave Max the gift he had been dying for...toy rattle cars.  Can't you see the excitement in his face? (more like snore.....)

 My Christmas gift was Max's smiles...they've been coming on que all day

 Lyv wanted to show me what she had been working on this morning. She was so proud, I couldn't help but laugh that they were color coordinated, and that she did it all by herself. Can you say OCD? I have NO CLUE where she gets that from?

The kids had to have their first taste of winter fun and bundled up to play in the snow, or what was left by mid morning.  2012 Christmas was a success!

Their Christmas Best

Christmas' Sunday is always a one I look forward to.  I love getting the kids in their Christmas dress clothes, and being surrounded by the songs and words of Christmas.  Our ward read the Christmas story from Luke and we sang congregational Christmas hymns.  One part of the Christmas story in particular stood out this year.  "Fear not I give you tidings of great joy, which shall be to ALL men." The gift of our Savior continues to provide tidings of great joy for me, for my family, and for ALL men.  It didn't start and end in Bethlehem, it continues today. Here is a look at 4 of my greatest joys.

Disney on Ice - Rockin' Ever After

Friday after school we surprised the kids by taking them to Albany to see Disney on Ice.  We decided to make a trip out of it and stayed in a hotel, of course, this was the highlight because they got to go swimming!  They were so excited and I think it was a great way for Shawn and I to spend our 10th anniversary.  (At midnight - and the kids still bouncing off the walls - I might have not had that thought.) But it was a really fun weekend, and we got a chance to spoil the kids a little and just do something FUN!  

Saturday before heading to the show, we went to the mall to visit Santa.  We weren't allowed to take pictures, but the kids were able to tell them what they wanted. The show was awesome!  Lyvie was in HEAVEN... there couldn't have been a happier girl.  She was so pleased that she wanted to go and dance on the ice.  We tried to convince her that she couldn't and that it would be super cold, but she was not to be deterred.  We had to literally rip her away from the ice rink.  After some dramatic crocodile tears, she recovered enough to enjoy the rest of the show.  The boys weren't as thrilled as Lyv, but Jack managed to make it through with the help of his sno cone (the food and merchandise there is highway robbery - $10 for cotton candy and sno-cones. They better come in gold plated packages right?) Sam liked the Brave part because Merida shot her bow and arrow. We saw Ariel, Rupunzel, Merida, and Belle.  To complete the perfect night, our parking spot was right out in front! No waiting forever in a parking garage. 

Max Melts My Heart

We just can't get enough of this boy!  The instant he arrived, Max has been the center of attention and all of us ooh, ahh, and coo at him constantly trying to get the following reaction:

 SMILE

 Smile

 Smile

No matter how much he's been up during the night, he gives me one of his smiles and I have mother amnesia....oh, how I love this sweet boy.

Big Book of What?

Lyv LOVES Disney Jr. (as I've already stated about a million times).  She especially likes Doc McStuffins.  Yesterday she was pretending to be Doc, and did a check up on the toy tiger.  She did a diagnosis, sang the check up song, and then turned to me and asked for the "Big Book of Boobies!"  That is right - it should be "boo-boo's"....needless to say I had a good laugh over that.



Here are some other Lyv moments:

In her new Christmas dress, she thinks she is princess!

Feeding her baby just like mom.....

12-21....the end of the world as I knew it!

 Today is the END OF THE WORLD..and/or our 10th Anniversary! Ten years ago today my world changed forever for the good.  It has been the best 10 years of my life, and I look forward to then next decade of adventure with Shawn.  I told Shawn earlier today that my new favorite song is "Home" (Phillip Phillips) because I feel like it rings true to what our 10 years has been.  Here are some of the lyrics:

Hold on, to me as we go

As we roll down this unfamiliar road

And although this wave is stringing us along

Just know you’re not alone

Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons

They fill you with fear

The trouble it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone

Cause I’m going to make this place your home."

Shawn has been my "home" for these past 10 years, and I know that he will continue to be no matter where our life journey takes us. There really is no place like home.

Naughty or Nice?

Jack - so you knew that this post would be about Jack right? Yesterday we went to Jack's preschool Holiday Party.  They received a special visit from Santa.  Santa asked the kids to raise their hands if they have been good, and all the kids hands shot up like a rocket.  Then Santa probed further and asked if anyone was naughty.  Quickly hands dropped, except for Jack who raised his hand even higher!  Santa reassured him that he must be joking, but I know, and Jack knows that this might not always be true..... only Jack.  Who could help but love this boy?  He is our boy that fills our home and hearts with joy.

Max Smiles and more Merry Moments

Max lit up our home with his first smiles starting Dec. 13th!  He has been such a sweet boy, and is growing like a weed.  We took him into his 1 month check up, and he weighed 12 lbs., 22 1/2 inches long, and 40 cm head circumference.  I think he is looking more like Jack as a baby lately.  He also started to "talk" and we all sit around trying to coax him to coo or smile at us.  He continues to be such a blessing to our home - the only down side to his smiles: they occur mostly in the morning so Shawn has yet to see a really good one.  Shawn often thinks I'm making things up about the kids when he's not here to witness it first hand.  Unfortunately he is absent most of the time, so he does tend to miss out!) 

We made our Gingerbread Houses on Saturday.  They were a success, using melted chocolate this year instead of frosting.  The kids (minus Sam) were much more interested in eating the candy than decorating.  Jack's house only lasted a mere 24 hours before it was no more....Lyv's eventually caved in due to major "excavating!"

Parting Pic of Max - loving this new shirt and the Tongue that goes with it! 

Sam is such a good brother to all of three of the younger kids.  I really don't give him enough praise for the good helper he is to me.  Recently he's been helping take care of Max when I'm cooking, and even helping Lyv get on the potty if I'm feeding Max.  Without Sam, life would be much more difficult.  I love this boy!  Finally - in light of the tragedy in CT; I am so grateful for each of my children.  Sam, Jack, and I gathered around the computer and read about the events, and we were able to talk about what had happened and why.  I am so grateful for eternal families, that allow us to be together forever even when sad things happen.  Sam's school here in NY was much like the one in CT.  Sam is in 1st grade this year, and I know that it hit him especially hard.  I'm grateful for his teachers and principal that made sure to reassure the students on Monday that school is a safe place. 

12-12-12

Happy Birthday to Shawn!  He's 32, and thanks to our awesome friend Samantha we get to spend it with cousin Abe - watching Lincoln!  Happy Birthday Shawnee Boy, we love you so much.