Christmas Morning

Perhaps my most favorite part of the Christmas season is the Christmas Eve service at church.  It is always beautiful and magical and perfect.  With all the hustle and bustle of this season, it is a breath of fresh air to gather and celebrate the birth of our king, the best gift we have ever been given by far.

This year, there was a nativity scene on stage with real animals.  This was Sam's favorite part.  That boys loves him a nativity scene.  For reals.  

In the lobby of the church, there is usually a Christmas Eve visitor of the camel persuasion, and this year was no different.  Sam desperately wanted his picture taken with "Carl the camel", and fought his way through the crowd to get by the enclosure where Carl was.  I tried to tell him this wasn't the best angle to take their picture together, but he would hear none of it.  "I don't care, just please take my picture!!!"  Ok baby, as you wish...

Lucy and Momma all dressed up for Christmas Eve service

Our annual family photo in front of the WOC Christmas tree

We returned home to get ready for Santa's visit and head to bed.  We put out the cookies, orange, juice and a carrot (for the reindeer). 

All the kids received the usual something to wear, something to read, something you want, and something you need gifts.  But this year, we added something new, something to give.  This was an envelope with an amount of money in it for each child with a note with instructions to pray and think of how they wanted to give the money away by New Year's Day.  I'm very excited to see how they choose to give their gifts away.

Santa has come.  The child is born.  The wait is over.  

Yes, yes that is a candy cane hanging out of Sam's mouth.  

And yes, this is the best photo I got with the kids.  

Lucy has present opening down this year.

New tools for the man-child this year.

And this.  Hands down the favorite gift of Christmas.  

A stuffed deer head mount for Sam's room from his PawPaw and Kimmie.  

However, he didn't stay hung for long.  Sam could not be without his new friend. 

He supervised bath time…

He made sure the kids brushed their teeth...

He even slept with his new boy...

He traveled with us when we had to leave the house…

He even played Dino Meal, and wasn't afraid of the dinosaur.  Who knew?

Christmas at Suzy's

The big brothers got to spend the entire Christmas holiday with us this year.  It was a nice treat to spend more time with them this year.  Sam and Lucy certainly adore them, that's for sure.

After church, we all headed north to celebrate Christmas at Suzy's house.  A beautiful day made for some great back porch swing time and playtime outside.  

Eight boys and a girl… all looking the same direction and (more or less) smiling for a family Christmas picture.  It's a Christmas miracle.

Petting the animals

and riding tractors.

Someone's got an in-home gym in the works.

Uncle Drew and YaYa brought gifts for the little people.

It really was a beautiful day with great food and great company.  Our family is blessed to celebrate another Christmas together.  May there be many more to come.

The Adventures of Gabe

Soon after Thanksgiving, Gabe reappeared bringing messages to celebrate the holiday season to Sam and Lucy.  This was our second year to have Gabe occasionally visit during the Christmas season and help make sure we were spreading the real reason for the season.  

He brought the kids tasks to complete and sometimes treats to eat and share.

Help out around the house and at school

Read books about the birth of our savior, Jesus

"Shower" others with kindness

Make cards for our Christmas light tour

Share treats with your friends at school

I forgot to get pics of all our messages, but I know we will be glad to see him again next year.  He is becoming quite the welcomed holiday guest :)

Christmas Light Caravan

This may be the best new holiday tradition ever!

The Christmas light caravan tour, complete with a van full of kiddos (plus Anamana, Kimmie and me), kettle corn, cookies, chocolate pretzel sticks, hot chocolate, multi-colored Christmas lights, and Christmas music.  The Grinch would have been proud.  

We toured neighborhoods and homes that were beautifully decorated for Christmas.  We visited home with musically synched light shows, including "Let It Go" which was a crowd pleaser in our car for sure.  I would say we will be adding this to our December to-do list for many years to come.  So fun!

Living in the Now

So, Amanda and I are trying to live more in the "now."  Sometimes I feel like I operate in survival/auto-pilot mode for so long, I can completely block out whole daily events being preoccupied thinking of something else.  This Saturday, we took all the kids to the park (because someone wasn't going to make it if we spent another minute in the house) and tried, really tried to be present and engaged with the kids played.  We played with them.  Listened to their stories (without tuning them out) and otherwise had a great time together.  It was kind of a miracle.  And fun.  And I'm glad we did it.

Pay no attention to my sweet baby in the background playing with a large and dangerous stick.  Notice a real live workout session complete with squats (that hurt immediately because I'm so out of shape) and jumping jacks.  The boys loved it.  Anamana took pictures.  She is obviously the brains in this operation.

Muscle pain aside, it really was fun and far to infrequent that we just load up and go play together.  Perhaps a greater commitment to such things is in store in the future...

Thanksgiving 2014

Nothing says Thanksgiving like decorating the Christmas tree, huh.  Poor Thanksgiving, it's becoming the red-headed stepchild holiday.  And I know red-headed stepchild.  

Anyhow, the night before Thanksgiving, I decided to at least pull the tree out and let the kids start putting some ornaments on while I finished some food preparation stuff.  We put on a Christmas movie.  It was great.  I even rounded the corner at one point to catch this sweet shot of my babes...

But, that was about as good as our Thanksgiving got.  About an hour later, Lucy started getting sick, and it all went down hill from there.  Let me just say, there is no greater love than that of a mother who cleans up puke all night, off practically every surface of our home, because the sick babe is too young to understand to run to the toilet.  At one point, we were both sleeping naked, wrapped in a towel, in the bathtub.  Not kidding.  There would be no Thanksgiving feast for us :(

However, when I stopped by for a to-go plate, I snapped this "kiddie table" picture, minus Lucy.  

Once Lucy was on the mend, we made a quick trip to Mom's for Thanksgiving with that side of the family and a little traditional monster cookie baking.  Michelle said it best with, "there is no better treat than Grandmom's monster cookies made by sticky boy fingers."  It's a teamwork event to kick off the Christmas season.  

And, on our way home, we stopped by Bass Pro to ride the carousel and see Santa.  Both kids went right up to Santa and happily sat in his lap.  Even Santa was surprised.  Sam told Santa he would like Dino Meal and his little sister would like a doll, please.  I love that he always takes care of her, even when making requests for Santa.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Y'all, I can't make this stuff up…

3:00 pm

At work, preparing for after-school in service.  The PowerPoint is pulled up.  Sign in sheet, entry survey, and door prizes.  Check.  Snacks and drinks on full display.  Bring on the learning.

3:20 pm

Check phone to find several text messages from the TH.  Call me.  Call me ASAP.  Call me now.  Call now.  Call now.  NOW.  Sam had a run-in (literally) with a scooter and knocked out his front tooth.  

3:25 pm

Turn over meeting to AP.  Praising God publicly for a guest facilitator already planned who could rock the house without me.  Jump in van.  Scroll through contact list to call pediatrician.  Hit send while turning out of school parking lot.

3:26 pm

Flashing blue lights behind the van as I pull out of school parking lot.  

Pull over as I'm connecting with receptionist at doc's office.  Conversation ensues.

Marisol (receptionist): Dr. Loleh's office, how may I help you?

Me: Sam has knocked his front tooth out at school.  Can the doc look at him this afternoon?

(rolling window down at this point because officer is approaching)

Officer:  Ma'am, the reason why I pulled you over is because you were texting and driving.

Me:  (with phone up to ear) I wasn't texting, I was calling the pediatrician.  I'm on the way to pick up my son who has had an accident at school and knocked his tooth out.  

Marisol:  Are you still there, Jennifer?  (We're on a first name basis, Marisol and me)

Me:  Yes, Marisol, hold on.  I'm getting pulled over, give me a second… (laughter is heard on her end)

Officer:  You exceeded the time limit to be making a call, so frankly, I don't believe you.  

Can we just stop here for a second?!  Really?  Did he just say he doesn't believe me?  While I'm ON the phone?  Hand over my heart, I am living proof that God still intercedes on our behalf everyday because my next plan of action was to open my mouth and let my inner Julia Sugarbaker loose.  Instead,

Me:  I'm sorry you feel I am lying to you. Here, speak to Marisol.

(handing him my phone, again hearing laughter through phone)

Officer:  (stunned) That won't be necessary.  Do you have your driver's license?

(I hand him my driver's license and resume discussion with Marisol)

Marisol:  How quickly can you get here?

Me:  Depends on if I'm getting a ticket.  If yes, 35 minutes.  If not, 20 or less.  

Officer: (returning back to my window) Ma'am, I am going to verbally warn you this time that its against the law to text and drive.

Me: (mentally reminding him I wasn't texting) Yes sir.  Thank you.

(to Marisol) I'm on my way. 

3:45 pm

Meet the TH and this darling face at the pediatrician's office.  

(They cheered for me, by the way, for not getting a ticket.)

Nose and upper lip should heal fine.  Front tooth knocked clean out.  

Probably going to lose the second tooth as well.  Pediatric dentist to confirm in the morning.  

Oh, did I mention tomorrow is "Pictures with Santa" day at school?  

Awesome.  This'll make a great Christmas card...

Halloween 2014

Halloween was Superhero shirt day at school so the kids wouldn't mess up their costumes before the big night. This year, I escorted Batman and Batgirl to school.

When the time finally came to suit up for real, Leonardo and Ladybug Girl (along with our friend, Mia, in her cutest Anna costume) went trick-or-treating to our favorite house. 

Our favorite neighbors always take good care of our little people.  In fact, this year, they were the only house we visited, because it was CRAZY cold.  Like sleeting and snowing cold.  

Praise God for indoor trick-or-treating at Anamana's church!  What a wonderful outreach opportunity to our community.  Treats for the kiddos and chili supper for all who attended.  We are thankful.

Lucy definitely got the hang of this trick-or-treating thing.  She would walk back and forth trying to hit the candy booths twice. Smart girl. 

Turtle power!  Leonardo in full gear...

Super Dad made Lucy's wings and antenna because I couldn't find any in the stores.  Lucy wouldn't wear her headband, so Daddy did.  That man, oh how I love that man.