And so this is Christmas...

Kids in their Christmas Eve jammies

We didn't get a Santa picture this year but here they are in front of the tree

Taking sugar cookies to a whole new level

Sporting the much wanted Seahawks jersey on Uncle Bryce

I love this picture of my mom and dad talking to my brother Brent who is in Spain.
We were all on speaker phone out in the other room and I walked in their bedroom and caught this shot. There is so much love in this picture.

....And what have you done?

This Christmas was really magical for me and in a way I have never before experienced.
It was really special and one I hope to never forget.

• We set a very modest budget and stuck to it (this meant lots of sacrificing what we "wanted"
• Jeff wrapped the boots he got for me in an unusual way so that I was shocked to open them
  
• I made a bunch of homemade gifts for people
• A shopping date just me and Braxton
  
• made good use of one of the presents I got last year (the laminator)
  
• I had time by myself to finish some Christmas projects without my little helpers
  
• We bought something we really wanted and gave it to someone else
• Family
• Talking to my brother in Spain
  
• Packages in the mail
  
• We delivered cookies to friends/neighbors and sang them We Wish you a Merry Christmas
• We received a gift card on our porch from a mysterious someone (if this was you, thank you. I was so touched by this act of kindness on my behalf and I thank you graciously)
• I gave Jeff a brand new pair of Levis jeans his size that I found at Value Village for $14. They had never been worn, still had the tags on....look stinkin' HOT on him!
• Santa was assisted by some very special people to make sure the kids got their wishes granted
• Rocking Emmett
  
• Adelle is potty trained
• Having my brother join us in our Christmas Eve traditions
  
• Listening to Braxton explain the real meaning of Christmas to Adelle
• Special homemade gifts from a dear friend
• My mom suggesting I join her at ZUMBA (exactly what I needed at the moment!!)
  
• Watching Adelle hand a special homemade gift to one of her little friends in nursery at church
• getting a special note from Braxton's teacher at church
• kissing Santa
  
• Being read to by my 5 year old
• Family
• Napping with my little girl

This is what Christmas was for me this year. Merry and bright.

following directions

My exact words, "ok guys, all the Little People go into this bin."

I guess they took it literally. When I came out from the bedroom this is what a found. This, along with two giggling siblings.

Needless to say, we've been organizing today. Organizing, de-junking, prioritizing....
Don't worry the "Little People" are all sticking around!

Merry Christmas

Aren't they GREAT!!

Well it looks like we need to take a trip to Arizona because Adelle isn't in this picture!
This is Jeff, his dad, and his Grandma and Grandpa. Along with our boys. One set of great grandparents that my children are so lucky to have.

This is our children and Lesha's children with my Gramy who is my mom's mom. This was her Christmas card this year. Her and her little greats.
This picture inspired me to get pictures of all the great grandparents with my kids.

This is Jeff's Grandma and Grandpa with our kids on Sunday. More greats! We took them their annual Christmas ornament that I make every year and the kids were excited to find the ornaments from years past on their beautiful tree. I brought along the camera and they were good sports about getting their picture taken!

This is my Grandma, on my dad's side. Adelle call's Grandma, "Great Mary" because she is her Great Grandma Mary. Isn't that the sweetest.
We visited her on Sunday as well. It's another tradition. Growing up my parents would always take us to all of my dad's sisters homes and to Grandma and Grandpa's to see their Christmas trees. We would always sing carols the whole way and bring a special treat of some sort to the homes we visited.
My children know all of their grandparents and great-grandparents and for that I am so thankful. They are all GREAT and they all have so much love for these little ones. They each have their own little way of spoiling the kids and I hope to teach my children great love and respect for these special people.

Christmas Wreath

"Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."http://llerrah.com/truemeaningofchristmas.htm

This wreath that I finished yesterday only took me 3 years to make! I started it Adelle's first Christmas and I traced her and Braxton's cute little hands and cut.... And cut, and cut, and cut.
I never got it all done. That was a lot of cutting.
Then last year I dug it out and starting cutting some more. Then, after remembering I was 8 months pregnant, I stopped and decided to wait until my newest little hand print could be included.
So, after tracing little Emmett's sweet hand and cutting some more it is complete.
My little circle of love.

little brother

It's funny how every child is different and has their own personality.
Emmett is all boy, all twerp!
He is so mellow, the best natured baby ever.
But, he is a little brother.
Whatever brother and sis are into, he is into.
If he wakes up before one or both of them at nap, this is what he will do...
He will crawl down the hall to their room, push the door open, crawl inside and sit there and wave and say, "ha, ha, ha" which means "hi, hi, hi."
It's super cute.
These pictures are of Braxton coercing Emmett into letting Adelle finish her nap.
He loves to be in their room. Loves to be wherever they are.
These kids are so lucky to have a little brother.

29

Does anyone know how old daddy is today?
B: "66?"
A: "61?"
Yesterday he was 28 so today he is 29!
B: "Mom, wouldn't it be funny if we were all 16, even you and dad?"

I love this old man! He doesn't like that he looks so young and I tried to find a picture that made him look, "older" but no doing. I don't think such a picture exists.
However, in all the pictures of Jeff he is either smiling, being goofy, or working on something.
That is who he is.
The most kind, loving, happy, helpful, hardworking, silly, husband/dad in the whole world.
Happy Birthday!
We love you!

Preschooler for hire

Braxton is patient, determined, and very responsible.
He's a little sensitive but his future wife will appreciate that, I'm sure.
He is sure to entertain any 2 year old for....well that depends on the 2 year old.

I'm glad I busted out the camera for this one.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

With the kids acting out the Nativity
Braxton was Joseph

Adelle was a monkey (?)

There'll be trees to cut down

once the right one is found!

Emmett's stocking arrived via mail and don't say anything but...
it's my favorite one of all!

It's the Happ-happiest season of all.

With the kids decorating cookies

and tasting the cookies!

ok my song is lame. So I'm stopping!
These cookies were a favorite that we always made growing up.
They are deeeeelicious!
Ritz crackers
spread nice and thick with peanut butter (this is the only time I prefer creamy)
another Ritz cracker on top
Dipped into melted chocolate chips
Heavily sprinkled
Yum!!!

Oh, the tree. The "buetiful tree" as Adelle says.

Simply having a wonderful Christmas time

ER

Two letters no parent ever wants to experience!
Well, I'm still learning, never say never.

Our little Emmett had to go to the emergency room Friday night and get 4 stitches in his little pinkie finger after it was smashed in the bedroom door by his dear sis, on accident.

This is new for me having never had stitches myself, nor any of my kids thus far.

This little man is the toughest dude ever! He cried hard when it first happened but thank goodness Jeff was home to wrap it up tight and help me not freak out! Since then Emmett has been totally fine. Still into everything and still our happy baby BOY!

Poor BOY the nurses and the doc. thought he was a girl. They kept commenting on what a beautiful little girl and how sweet she was.
It made us laugh. He is beautiful, this is true, but he is more boy than any little boy I know. Always with a ball of some-sort.

So, for now I call him "nubs."

little elves

These two were in heaven Friday night at the Ferry Terminal Christmas festivities. We met up with Bama and Umpa and Umpa bought all of us our own cup of eggnog. I know, simple pleasures. This is huge for us because with everything we buy 1 and share it. We were happy! We guzzled it!

So we've turned our home into Santa's little workshop.
I would post pictures of our many creations except that then some of you would know what you were getting from us!
The kids are having hay-day making gifts for people. This morning they were in their room making a secret present for "mom" (me). I let them do their thing.
After I got out of the shower I went to get dressed and the present they had made me was right there when I opened my underwear drawer!
These two are too much!
I'm not really sure what to do... Do I tell them I found it? Do I let them think I won't open that drawer until Christmas?
So as of now it's still there. I think I will keep it there because it makes me laugh.

He gets it!

We have a tradition that we started last year and have continued this year. We make a paper chain, red and green, to count down the days until Christmas. Each night before bed the kids take turns ripping off a link from the chain. As they do so we go around and everyone tells something nice they did for another person that day. Last night Braxton had to really think of what he did but eventually he remembered that he had helped Adelle get into the car by opening her door for her. I helped Adelle remember that she had shared her orange with Emmett all on her own.
Today we came home from church and as usual both the kids ran to the bathroom to wash their hands with soap. I went back to get Emmett ready for nap and when I came out to the kitchen the kids had already had the table set for lunch (minus the plates which they can't reach). I was so touched and impressed that without me even asking they had done this service on their own. I expressed my gratitude to them for being so kind and helpful and Braxton honestly pronounced, "Mom, I wanted to watch my movie but I knew that was just thinking of me so I decided to think of you first. I knew you would be happy if I set the table." He was so excited to be doing something so nice that he ran back and told his dad what he had done. I asked him if he felt happy and he said yes.
This simple act brought me so much joy. I have really been working on teaching him to put others first and to not just think of himself. Sometimes I feel like I repeat myself over and over, and then I wonder if they will ever get it. They do. They really do get it and I know they will continue to bless many lives.
This is what Christmas means to me and this is what I am trying to teach my children. It's about what you do for others that brings the real peace and joy.

Gingerbread "children"

Have your kids lay down on butcher paper
Trace them
Cut out little mittens, hats,....noses..

Carson, Adelle, Braxton

Have them glue on the pieces
Wa-La!
They will love decorating
"themselves"

While I am in the corner, hiding behind the refrigerator, enjoying this delicious tradition from Auntie Angela.

So Thanksgiving my Aunt Marlene brought these huge gingerbread men for everyone to decorate. It was great and the kids loved it. They've been asking me since if we can make gingerbread men and decorate them.
My thought process;
We could...only that would mean they are just going to want to eat all the decorations, plus the finished cookies.
I would just soon eat the yummy cookies Auntie made.
So, I thought....we could do gingerbread men out of paper.
Then I thought, I could trace the kids and they could be the gingerbread men....
So, that's what we did.
Entertained them for a while.
and yes, I am sharing the yummy cookies with them....after lunch!