Seeing Santa

On the Thursday before Christmas, we finally took the kids to see Santa. My good friend Jill wanted us to take all of our kids together (total of 8 kids ages 7, 5, 5, 2 1/2, 2 1/2, 8 mos, 5 mos, and 5 mos) to see Santa at the mall and have their picture taken together. I couldn't muster up the energy or patience to take all of these little people to the mall, in the rain. That's the kind of thing in the month of December that can push me over the edge :) So Jay and I opted to see Santa that night at Chickfila instead. Thankfully because it had been pouring down rain, Chickfila was pretty empty. Perfect for 5 small ones to see Santa.

Catherine and Will each typed and wrote down a list of 5 or 6 things they wanted Santa to bring them. This was a very random list that they assembled as we were walking out the door that night. It included things like camouflage sunglasses, a belt, and a few random toys I had never heard of. Santa really enjoyed reading their lists. We reminded Catherine and Will that Santa really likes to bring surprises so that they wouldn't be disappointed when he didn't bring them what was on their lists. The only thing he did bring from either list was Barbie clothes for Catherine.

Sweet Anna was a little bit shy with Santa. He had to listen closely to hear what she asked him for---a candy cane! That was all the little one asked for. She was very excited when he handed her a candy cane right then. And she was thrilled on Christmas morning when her gifts were wrapped in red and silver striped paper because it looked like candy canes.

James was very curious about Santa. I think he would have liked to grab his beard. Elizabeth was just happy that someone was holding her. I love this pic of Santa holding both of them. 

After visiting with Santa, we enjoyed milkshakes and cookies. Chickfila does have some yummy treats!

kids Christmas performances

I'm a little behind the past few weeks on keeping up with these things. But that's partly because we've had extra things going on, like children's choir performances and school nativity plays.

Here are some fun pics from Will and Catherine's Christmas choir concert at church and Will as a shepherd in his school nativity play. I love seeing the children participating and learning and worshiping through these. It was a great way to help prepare our hearts for Christmas and to enjoy the treasure of these small ones.

Gingerbread house failure

We attempted to make gingerbread houses yesterday. I had bought one of those kits to make the little village. I thought it would be a fun craft activity one morning over Christmas break.

Our gingerbread houses kept collapsing though. Marcy and I assembled and reassembled each of the five structures at least three times. This was about to push me over the edge. And Catherine too. The sweet perfectionist had a meltdown because it wasn't perfect. Will and Anna were very happy to eat all the candy and icing. It was close to getting out of control.

Who knew gingerbread houses were such a difficult adventure? They can make gingerbread houses at school next year.

Christmas pics by Anna

Enjoy a few of these Christmas pics by Anna. This is what you get when you give the 2 1/2 year the phone. :)

Merry Christmas

I hope you have a wonderful and joyous celebration of Christ's birth.

Christmas and the days leading up to it and the days recovering from it are some of the most exciting days for families, especially with little children. They are also some of the most exhausting and trying ones. Every day for the past month we have had extra Christmas events and parties and school performances and church choir and shopping and wrapping and more. I have tried to cut back on a lot of the extras this year but adding anything extra into my daily routine right now is enough to make me crazy, or at least very tired.

But as I prepare to go to bed and to celebrate my savior tomorrow, I am trying not to worry about how early our kids will wake up, the fact that we forgot to put out the reindeer food and cookies for Santa, the mess that our house will be for the next few days, the logistics of packing people up so we can visit my family for 18 hours, or the laundry I still need to put away.

I am reflecting on the fact that this chaos and mess is what my God chose for his son. Jesus willingly left something more wonderful and perfect than we can even imagine to come into this messy and broken world. For me. For you. It amazes me.

So Merry Christmas friends! Celebrate the chaos and craziness and praise God for Jesus.

5 months (plus a little)

The babies are now 5 months old (well, really 5 1/2 months because I'm behind on posting these things). They are both growing and changing every day. I love seeing their personalities develop and watching them engage more with people and toys.

Elizabeth is still the sweetest, laid back baby. She cries if she's really hungry or wants to be held. She is pretty even keel--which means not much crying, but it also means that you have to work for her smiles and laughs a little bit more. She lights up when Catherine is with her, and Will has figured out her ticklish spot under her chin. She also really loves to be held by Mimi. She has rolled herself from tummy to back a few times, but she's not too interested in going anywhere yet. She does like to play in the jumper some. She is a precious baby doll. I could snuggle her all day. 

James continues to be extremely animated and lively. If he is grumpy, he is really really grumpy--screams his head off, arches his back, inconsolable kind of grumpy. But when he's happy, well he has the sweetest smile I've ever seen. It is glorious. He rolls all around, jumps in the jumper, and pushes himself up on his hands and knees. He got his first 2 teeth this week. The boy is a bundle of energy. He always falls asleep last and wakes up first. 

Their personalities are very different, but they complement each other so well. They love to be together, to be beside each other on the play mat or to sit in someone's lap together. They still grab each others' hands or snuggle near one another. So sweet.

These babies are so loved! What a blessing!!

Please tell her to stop taking our picture!

7 years old

Catherine turned 7 years old this past Thursday. Our sweet girl is growing up so fast. In some ways it seems like a lot longer than 7 years ago that we started having children and that we have known our sweet girl. But in other ways, it seems like she was just born, or just toddling around the house, or just started preschool. And now she's turning into a young lady right before our very eyes. She is so lovely, so compassionate, and such a wonderful part of our family.

For her birthday dinner, she chose to have quesadillas, rice and beans, and guacamole. She asked Mimi to make lemon bars for her birthday dessert. She even got all fancy (notice the pretty earrings??--they're clip-ons from her great-grandmother's jewelry box). She enjoyed opening a few birthday gifts, some new clothes and books mostly.

Precious Will wanted to give her something for her birthday too. He wrapped up 3 books for her--2 from his bookshelf and 1 from hers. He said "Catherine, I got this one for you because I know you'll like it since it's already yours." I love the sweet thought processes of a 5 year old boy to his sister. By the way, Will did a really good job wrapping the books. Maybe he can help me wrap Christmas presents.

Will and I went to school to have lunch with her and read a book to her class, Pickle Chiffon Pie, one of her favorite books. Jay took her out to Yogurtini after dinner on Friday, just the two of them. Then on Saturday, Mimi and I took her to see Mary Poppins at the peace center with one of her best friends. (I haven't uploaded those photos yet.) We have had a great time celebrating Catherine.

We love you, Catherine! We are so proud of you and the wonderful lady God is creating. I am so thankful to be your mama.