Christmas craft

Sully went down for his nap and I asked the girls what they wanted to do for a craft. Lauren immiedetly said, "I havent made anything for my great-grandmas in a long time."
How sweet is she?
So we decided to make Christmas trees for the three great-grandma's and great Aunt Phyllis.
I thought I had glitter pens - I didnt. I have glitter GLUE pens. Needless to say, these pictures might be dry by Easter.

And if any of the great grandma's check my blog...sorry I guess we ruined your suprise!

Little boys...

I am constantly fascinated by the difference between my girls and Sully. For example, Sully LOVES to play with their dollhouse. You might laugh, until you watched HOW he plays with it. The girls like to set the people up and act out little plays. Even Avery who isnt what you would call, 'a fan of order', likes the dollhouse neat and organized.

Sully? He likes to throw the bed off the third floor, rip the curtains off the walls and fling them, open and close the door as many times and as fast as possible and to basically just cause total chaos and mess throughout the otherwise calm and quiet, land of the Little People's Dreamhouse.
I love it!

Izzy

Izzy has been part of Jordan and I's family since the Christmas we got engaged. My dad gave him to me as a present...I dont know if Jordan ever fully forgave him!
Anyway, sometimes, after the kids have gone to bed and the house is quiet, Izzy likes to pretend that she is still my one and only baby.

He's Home!

My 'little' brother Robert came home from grad. school in NY this weekend. We havent seen him since July, a very long 5-6 months.
There is nobody like Robert and his nieces love to take full advantage of that. He and Avery played hide and seek and Robert tried to hide as a lamp. So of course Avery had to try it too.
We are excited to have him home for an entire month.

Mom

I received my mom's Christmas letter via email this weekend. Once again her faith is inspiring to me. She turned 60 last week and took what could have been a difficult day and handled it with grace and a smile. Her pain is real and many days are a struggle. But she knows where my dad is and that someday she will be there with him.
I had to share her letter...


I find myself unable to write Christmas cards this year, but do rejoice in His birth. What would this world be like if Christ had refused to come as a baby and take our penalty for sin at Calvary?
From my human standpoint, this should be a sad time for myself and family, it would not have been my choice and my heart will never be whole again, but I remember as Job19: 25-27 tells us, blessed be the name of the Lord. I recall the old saying,
“God is too good to be unkind and to wise to make a mistake”. Richard is celebrating this time with the One who loved him even more than I.
So, with this season, as I look on my mantel at the Nativity, dwelling on the God\man, I still marvel. Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles! Someday I will see Him face to face and He will fold me into His arms and say, ‘I’m so glad you are home My child’, time will be no more!
May each of you have a blessed time together and become as wise men, searching and following the Star to the Promised one. I will continue throughout eternity to praise my Savior.
REJOICE!!!

In Christ,
Barb

More cookie pics

Yes, there are cookies on that plate! Avery likes a little cookie with her frosting!


Lauren couldnt believe I put frosting on her nose.


Avery wanted more frosting on her nose.


Lauren found this hilarious.

Cookies

Last night after I put the kids in bed I literally collapsed on our bed and said to Jordan, when will they be older?
I was feeling tired, frustrated and selfish. Everything they did was a burden. When I went to bed, about 8:30 (!) I prayed that God would help change my perspective and help me to enjoy everything about my kids. Not just the things that make me happy, but things that push my buttons. I asked for some patience.
Tonight we made Christmas cookies. After a long day at work I hoped that this would not turn into a project that I wished we had never started. Jordan was gone for the evening and Sully was good enough to take a nap.

It was a wonderful time! Now, Avery was still Avery - stealing licks of frosting and using the frosting spoon as her own personal spoon, dropping frosting, cookies, a cup of flour and a glass of milk on the floor, Lauren was still Lauren - bossing her little sister, wanting everything just right (wonder where she gets that) and knocking over the frosting. Im pretty sure there is way more flour in the cookies and powdered sugar in the frosting than there was supposed to be and I really dont think Avery's shirt will ever be the same...But mommy had a differnet attititude. I took pictures of the 'naughtiness' and reminded myself that the next time I blink they will be teenagers and I will be begging them to come make Christmas cookies with me.
Im so thankful that God helped me to change my outlook today. I am so thankful for my precious girls. Im thankful that during the cookie making Lauren spontaneously said, 'Avery, I love you.' and Avery responded, 'I love you too, and I love you back.'
Tonight when I put them to bed I asked them each to stay little, Lauren said, 'No mommy, I cant!' Sully gave me a noncommittal grin, but Avery said, 'Ok, mommy, I will'. Tonight my prayer will be a little different than last night, but I'll probably add in a request for patience again, just to be safe!

Princess for a day.

Lauren and I spent Saturday wedding shopping with Grandma Cindy, Kylie, Trina and Alexa.
Lauren tried on many flower girl dresses and had the best time. She pranced and flitted all over the stores. I told Kylie that she may have thought that her wedding would be the best day of her life, but she was mistaken, it will be the best day of Lauren's life!


Dancing princess


The 'real' bride. This picture does not do her dress justice, it is beautiful and Kylie looks perfect in it!


Lauren and Alexa, taking some time to cuddle.


Loving every second...


Our favorite dress of the day.

Traditions

One of my favorite traditions from growing up was our yearly Christmas Ornament. Every year we each got a new Christmas ornament to hang on the family tree. Some time after the tree was up my dad would bring out our ornaments. We never knew when they had been purchased, we never got to pick them out. And I was never once disappointed in the one that was chosen for me. Somehow they always fit each of us perfectly.
At one of my bridal showers before Jordan and I were married I opened up a gift from my mom to find all my 18 ornaments boxed up to become part of my own Christmas tree.
Jordan and I started this tradition with our own kids when Lauren had her first Christmas. This year we took the kids over and let Lauren and Avery pick out their own ornaments. Lauren loves to lay out her ornaments and stare at them before they go on the tree. She is as mezmorized as I was by the ornaments chosen especially for her...
I posted a few of my favorites from my own collection and Lauren and Avery's choices this year. (Daddy hasnt found the first one for Sullivan's first Christmas yet...)





Avery chose a bird - birds have boundless energy - perfect for Avery!


Lauren chose a 'fancy' girl - just like 'Fancy Nancy' - perfect for Lauren!

A conversation with Avery...

I came home from my long, boring board meeting tonight just in time to help give Sully his bath. As we were drying him off, Avery and Lauren had to come sit next to him and watch the process, as usual.
Lauren says, Why does he have a penis. I explained that God made boys with penises (what is the plural of penis???) and girls with vaginas.
Avery said, "ew penis!"
Lauren laughed and laughed.
Then Avery said, "I want a penis." And I started laughing.
Jordan came back in and said, "you what?"
Avery, "I want a penis!"
And I said, "no you dont!"
And she said, very matter-o-factly, "No, I dont want a penis, I'm too little!"

I havent really stopped laughing yet. I know I am glad I got home from my meeting early and I know that 5 minutes was more fun than the entire rest of my day combined.

More decorating night pictures

Our tradition is to eat chocolate chip cookies and chocolate shakes, compliments of daddy, as we decorate the tree. Even Sully got to taste the shakes, when he wasn't getting into things...

Christmas decorating...

We spent the last couple of days decorating the house. I was really not in the mood and probably would not have done anything more than a tree but when I saw how excited Lauren and Avery were, all the boxes came up from the basement. The house is done and I am starting the bigger job of cleaning up the aftermath. But their eyes looking at the lights makes it worth while. Sully was impressed with it all...we will have our hands full keeping him out of the tree for the next month.

Thanksgiving weekend...

I didn't take a single picture of the thanksgiving gathering itself, 40 plus people in my parents' house was not providing too many good shots. But here are some other photos from the weekend. Our town put together a really fun holiday kick-off tonight. Complete with horse-drawn trolley rides, the town lighting, hot chocolate and cookies and an ice sculptor. We also celebrated Uncle Joe's 26th birthday.
Avery and Lauren are having so much fun with the Christmas lights.

Ready for Turkey


Uncle Joe and Sully


Watching the Iceman


His creations


On the trolley

Random pictures

I love bath time...


My boys...

More Birthday...

Opening Presents - look how Aaron just sits and watches so nicely.


All ready to go!!!

She got a walkman and a camera - how old is she?

The cake...

Some pictures from Lauren's party. She had a GREAT time!


The Cake...

Birthday Girl

Lauren and Mommy

Lauren and Daddy

My dream is not dead!! (yet)

We are trying to get a new king sized bed. We NEED a new bed but have decided that we would not settle for another queen.

Even our queen had to come in through an upstairs window due to our stairways. I measured the window in our bedroom last night and was crushed to find out it wasn't near big enough.

I called the furniture store today...king sized beds can be ordered hinged so that they can bend more to get in tight spaces!!!!

They are going to check and see if I have enough room to get it in with the hinge...My fingers are crossed!

One more...Silly Lauren