blog header year in review

I have a lot of fun creating my blog headers. I thought I'd give a year in review. If you follow in a reader, stop by our actual link sometime and check out the headers! I definitely have a few favorites this year. I really like April, June and November. Of course as I just looked back at them, I like other ones too. It's fun--we'll see what I come up with in 2011! Still don't have January yet, so it may be a tad late!!

Christmas memories

All of the school programs have ended, Christmas cards have been sent and received, cookies were made and devoured, Christmas crafts cover our kitchen windows, our Candlelight service and Christmas day have passed, but we created wonderful memories!

This was the year that Luke wanted a blue Lightning McQueen and glowing stars for Christmas and Charlie wanted candy canes. This was the Christmas season that Charlie fell in love with all things snowmen and the boys were obsessed with the Grinch. Silent Night, Joy to the World and Christmas Canon topped our favorite Christmas carols (along with the Grinch and Frosty). This was Miles' first Christmas! Family time at my sister's, Christmas eve at our house and Christmas day at my parents was really special. Lots of memories were made . . .

It seems more than ever this year, that JOY was infused into Christmas. Our boys learned the words to Joy to the World, we all pondered what it meant to have joy in our hearts, we sang with joy throughout the season, we spent lots of quality, family time together filled with joy and we talked about what a glorious night it was thousands of years ago when baby Jesus was born! As our Christmas has come to a close, we hope you all had a very joyful Christmas season!

tough days happen

This morning, I was done by 8:15am. You know, done with the day and with my cluttered and filthy house and with my wild boys. I thought about calling Chad at work and asking him if he slipped spoonfuls of sugar down the boys throats before they woke up. I actually just started writing all of the details of our morning, but erased it, deciding that wasn't the point. You would've had a good laugh though. Anyway, my point for writing is this: So often I write about the positives. I'm very lucky to have SO many more positives than negatives. But, there are tough days. I blog mainly for my family and for record and memory keeping. I love that I have other family and friends who read--it makes my day when I get comments about this and that. However, (and I may be fooling myself) I was thinking that maybe one day my sister or my future daughters-in-law might be having a rough day with managing the house or children and they may feel all alone. Like it doesn't happen to anyone else. It does and I want them to be encouraged! I also keep a personal journal and as I've been looking back at it, I realize I never write about the hard things--only the good. Just recently, I asked Chad if he remembered going through tough times with Luke and Charlie as babies. Did they cry? Did they nap? He remembers some of our struggles with each boy. I don't. Okay, I do in the broader picture, but not the day to day stuff. Part of me believes the Lord helps me with that. Part of me thinks that is a piece of my make-up. I think it's probably good for the most part that I remember things positively. But sometimes, that's not reality. So, I thought I would write that down. Have it on record that some days are just hard. You know, in case my sister or future daughters-in-law ever wake up with a cluttered house and kiddos that are W-I-R-E-D. In case you ever have to take your 3 boys to the dr. office and one isn't feeling well, the other is crying because he had to be woken from his nap and the other is screaming because he can't climb on the table or play in the trash can. In case you have to stop and feed your youngest in the grocery store parking lot before going in, but then find out you have to cut the feeding short because your oldest has to go to the bathroom and you suddenly find another meltdown on your hands because your other child really wants to see the giant blow up Frosty before going inside. In case, oh, I could go on, but just hope you know these days happen and you get through them. And you love your life even more (after you've had some quiet time during nap time to reflect)!! :) At least I do!!

I'll simply remember. . .

These are a few of my favorite things. . .

The awe of new baby Miles and his first Christmas. . .

watching ice melt in hot chocolate so it becomes "cool cocoa". . .

the smell of the aforementioned cool cocoa

singing Christmas carols on a cold winter day, but being warmed

by yummy cookies and fun times together. . .

and my very own adorable Santa!!

Christmas snail mail

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is checking the mail! I even keep a mental record about what day in December we receive the most cards. Last year, it was the 10th--which is why this post is today! Going to our mailbox has become quite an exciting event for our boys too! We love to open cards from family and friends, to see who we know and to hear stories about families and friends who live out of town. It's so much fun to see so many faces hanging on our cabinets and to be thankful for everyone who has touched our lives! It's also a treat just to see the creativity and life behind each card---what the pictures involved, the colors, the designs and how families have changed in a year.

Last year, I remember how stressful it was to get a good Christmas card picture. I remember someone not wanting to sit still and having to resort to using a picture from the beach (which turned out great, but wasn't what I had planned). This year, we got our picture right before Thanksgiving and I was thrilled! Because I had it in advance, I toyed with the idea of making our own Christmas cards. It would save money and it was a way to get some creative energy out! So, I started the process. Once into this project, I realized how absolutely crazy I was to attempt this with a 2 month old, 2 other kiddos and the chaos, that is our new normal. And, I became overwhelmed. Really overwhelmed. However, since I was already into it, timewise and moneywise, I forged ahead--scratch that--I am forging ahead. I still have several more to make, envelopes to stuff and stamps to put on. But, now that I am over halfway done, I am feeling better. Maybe I won't make ours next year. Or maybe I will, because I will be in a different place. Who knows? What I do know, is that Christmas cards are really important to me and our family. We love sharing our family with you and even more, we are delighted to receive yours! If you feel or have ever felt that it's not worth the hassle of getting your Christmas card together----be confident, it is not lost on us. We ADORE your cards--but most importantly, your family!

check ups!

Merry Christmas season to you all! Things are already busy around here, as I am sure they are with everyone. One of many things we have had on our calendar for a while now is today, Dec. 2nd, when Miles get his first round of shots at his 2 month appt. and Luke gets his round of shots for his 5 year appt (which is late, due to our ped. who was also having a baby when we were)!

People have been telling me for some time now that the 5 year exam is NOT fun for the kiddo. Poor Luke was not excited about it either. He had a flu shot back in October, and while he was brave and it didn't hurt much at all, he's fully aware that shots are supposed to hurt. With Bun-Bun and Buddy in tow, Mommy and Daddy to squeeze and the knowledge that his youngest bro was getting shots too, Lukey managed quite well. I think the fear of the shots was worse than the pain for him. Isn't that how it usually is with life? Like my fear of giving birth was definitely worse than the pain. Wait, not this past time, when the epidural didn't take. But that's another story. Anyway, Luke was a champ and he got a lollipop, a stamp, a star sticker AND a silly band! Yeah, you know your kid wants to go to our dr!! He was quite proud to be 45 inches tall!

And sweet Miles was a trooper too! The appt. took a while since we had 2 boys to take care of. Miles went last. He's huge!!! Actually, I thought he'd be off the charts, but he wasn't. He's merely in the 75th-90th percentile in weight and height, coming in at 24 inches (3 inches longer than he was at birth) and 13lbs. 3oz. (5 lbs. heavier than his birthweight) at his 2 month check up! He was quite tired when he got his shots, so that with a little pain, brought on some tears. But, it was nothing a little cuddle couldn't cure! Miles did show off his amazing core and head stability by practically doing push-ups on the exam table! Good job Miles! We actually call him Miles E a lot. You know, like we call Luke, Lukey and Charlie, well Charlie and Mommy and Daddy all have that extra "e" sound on the end. So, Miles gets an extra "e" sound on the end too. I just don't know how to spell it---is is Milesy, or Milesey, or Milezee or, okay, you get it. Just FYI.

So, the big event down and our boys checked out wonderfully! Thank you, Lord!

Miles at 2 months!