Life

Here are some pictures from the past few days.

Gee bought Olivia a new headband. She loves it!

Gee also bought me a scarf, but I keep forgetting to take a picture with it on. If you want some cute hair accessories for your daughter or yourself, check out Crafts For Hannah. Our friends, Tory and Kedra, are adopting a little girl from Ethiopia and leave in just a few days for their court date. The money they make from the sales goes towards Hannah's adoption.

Leaf raking day.

Olivia came in looking like this after raking leaves and said, "May I please have a coat?" haha

The boys have taken to climbing trees. They think that they are big stuff.

One day they'll see these pictures and wonder where the pictures of them climbing the huge tree are. Things are always bigger in our minds when we are smaller, aren't they?

sweetness

Friends!

Rachel really didn't think that she was in this picture. She begged me not to take a picture of her, but she always begs me not to take a picture of her. Sorry, Rachey.

an artist at work

making sure everything is absolutely perfect

love her

Isaac's self portrait

Isaac's take on his brother

hide-n-seek with Olivia

Where could she be?

Wow. This is difficult.

Found her!

Christmas 2010

This was our first year as a family to have Christmas with just us. I was a bit nervous about it, worried that we might feel lonely. But what a sweet time we had.

Andy kicked off Christmas Eve for us by allowing me to wrap him up in a Christmas bow. Doesn't he look thrilled?

Let me tell you something. The day of all three of my kids looking at the camera at the same time is over.

They came last year and then graced us with their beautiful presence/music again this year. I think this should be a Christmas Eve tradition...to practice music at our house before the service.

They love each other.

What did I tell you?

I tried to take a picture of the kids before the pageant, but this was the best I got. There were too many people there for my kids to stand still! Who wants to take a picture when there is socializing to be had?

Well, all but Josiah. He's his momma's child.

My favorite part was watching Josiah open his mouth WIDE to sing words he didn't know. His lips never touched.

And I loved watching Isaac sing so expressively. SO expressively.

Sweet evening

I sometimes see a picture like this and can't believe that this is me and that those are mine.

Christmas Morning!

Josiah and his art easel. He informs us that he won't become an artist, he already is an artist.

It's a toss up for Isaac. He's not sure if he wants to become a priest or a scientist. :)

Christmas morning cinnamon rolls.

Breakfast #1.

We eat like Hobbits around here.

I like sitting across from him.

Especially when our kids are fully entertaining themselves.

He has got the hang of it.

Lego's!

Josiah performed for almost every family member today. And enjoyed the spotlight.

Happy Birthday To You!

Olivia wanted to read her new book by her new lamp.

I made everyone hop up from the table so that I could remember what it looks like before clean-up.

We ended our dinner singing Christmas carols LOUDLY around the table. It was my favorite moment of the day.

Merry Christmas!!

Peaceful Chaos

Clutter makes me feel frustrated. When the house is out of order, I feel out of order.

But it used to be much, much worse. I used to clean every day (several times a day) just in case someone might stop by unexpectedly. If there were dirty dishes or if toys were scattered everywhere, I felt like a bad mom/wife.

But somehow that has all changed since moving to Florida. Maybe it's because people don't really just stop by here, or maybe it's the fact that I have more kids now who keep me too busy to worry about it? It could be all of those reasons, but I'd like to think that I've just let go a little bit and have decided to ease the pressure off myself. I'd also like to think that I have become more laid back and would rather spend time playing with the kids rather than cleaning up after the kids.

Whatever the reasons, if you would have just "popped in" today, this is what you would have seen.

unmade movie watching bed

kitchen table artfully littered with hologram stickers, baby doll, snacks, and crayons

cones from a creative game of bowling

and

dominoes used to build a tower

early morning cartoons

fire house pulled out from boys' room to be used as a doll house

games played over and over again on top of t.v.

books that made me laugh so hard tears were coming down

books that made boys laugh because Mom was laughing

socks used to warm feet and then removed because the feet were too warm

another table full of crafts

artwork hung in a very artful way

(This does make me cringe...but I'll deal with it.)

Josiah's perspective:

stockings that have already been filled, much to the delight of the junior photographer

What was once Jay's piano has suddenly become Josiah's. And the lid never closes anymore because those little 5 year old fingers stop and play about once every hour.

Josiah has been looking out this window all day, waiting for me to let him play with the neighbor boys.

But during this Christmas break, I want my kids with me making messes and lots of memories!

Now, if you call ahead, I'll most likely spiffy up the place a bit. But if you decide to not give any notice, come in and we'll make a craft together. :)

Isaac's 1st Grade Party

I was able to go to Isaac's classroom Christmas party with him on Friday. It's the first time I've really been around his friends besides a couple of lunches.

Isaac is very independent and isn't much for having his mom around while he is at school. In fact, I've been shooed away a couple of times when I brought him lunch, and I've even been begged by him to just not show up at lunch (unless I have a Happy Meal).

Why did I expect any different when I asked him if I could come to his Christmas party? He told me that he'd get plenty of time with me over Christmas break and that he'd rather just have this day with his friends and teacher.

Wow.

Well, he came back to me about 15 minutes after he told me all of that and said, "I've made my decision. Only you can come." Gee thanks.

But he later told me that the best part of the party was having me there. This momma went through a roller coaster of emotions during that 24 hours.

But you know what? I'm so glad that he loves school as much as he does. He's doing so, so great academically and is well loved by all of the kids in his grade.

Isaac and a couple of buddies.

The boy on the right is his best bud.

games

He was laughing at a joke that a dad was telling him.

If you could have seen the food...

Seriously, we got a cookie for our Christmas parties in elementary school. These kids chose whatever and as much as they wanted of doughnuts, cookies, fruit snacks, cheese, crackers, fruit, candy, chicken biscuits, drinks...They were bouncing off the walls!

A dad reading a Christmas book to the kids.

This work of art was drawn by Isaac. Please make sure and read what he wrote on the top and who he drew in the picture.

Do you think he's maybe needing some alone time with his parents? haha

Before Daddy Goes To Work

Fun, magical things take place.