Christmas Wrap Up

Our Christmas was filled with joy and so many memories. 

I have just now had time to go through our 

many pictures and relive the many Christmas memories we made this year.

Christmas morning, Santa found us at Grandma & Grandpa's house. 

There was lots of squeals of delight as packages were ripped open.

Bubba's wish list read like a Dick's Sporting Goods catalog. 

Rosie, opened her phone and had to go into another room 

to scream from excitement! 

I still can't believe Santa got her a phone. 

We had many cousin moments, and those moments 

are so much more important than any gifts. 

 Now the tree is packed away.

The decorations are placed in their containers.

And all the glitter and lights of the holidays seem to be fading. 

But the laughs and memories of this time we will forever 

hold in our hearts to remember when we miss our family so far away. 

 Now we are home. 

Enjoying an Iowa winter.. 

Shoveling the driveway and making snowmen. 

We couldn't ask for more. 

Mommy SOS

This week I have been lucky enough to have my mom come and visit. 

I don't know if it was the winter weather, the constant onslaught of 

activities for 4 children, or just me but I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. 

My mom saw the bat signal I was lighting up 

and came to my rescue. 

 It is always fun to have Grandma Judy here. 

She has helped be an extra set of hands and my laundry has never been 

this caught up!  The kids LOVE having Grandma Judy here.

 While she was here she was able to see Rosie perform in 

an orchestra concert, Bubba's last basketball tournament for the year, 

Gigi and Bubba's acts in the talent show, and see Lil Miss 

dance her heart out in dance class. 

 Grandma also was able to volunteer in Lil Miss' preschool 

class on Monday and my little girl couldn't have been happier to 

have Grandma Judy there!

 For a treat for my mom, we went out eagle watching. 

I was so excited because we saw over a dozen eagles 

on our trip to the Mississippi River shore. 

 My beautiful mom.

 Grandma Judy brought along spring with her when she flew out to Iowa. 

The weather has been warming up since last Thursday.  

The snow is almost all melted and the birds are chirping all in full force. 

This weekend my Mom was a big help while Nate and I attended a fundraiser and 

she took two of the kids to their talent show.  

 Gigi performed a Raas dance with three of her friends. 

 And Bubba danced to the Superbowl Shuffle with his buddies. 

Even though we couldn't be there to see them perform, I was glad 

Grandma was there to cheer them on. 

Nate and I got a night out. 

It was wonderful.  I had my hair and makeup done so I felt 

pretty as a princess! 

 Bubba especially enjoyed his momma all dolled up with lipstick!

 What is better than going out with the hubby AND supporting a good cause?

Pretty much nothing.

We attended the Gigi's Playhouse Gala, which supports programs to help 

children with Down Syndrome.  Of course my mascara ran as families 

told their beautiful stories. 

It was a good reminder of hope and love.

 So we are grateful that Grandma Judy saw our SOS and came out to help. 

I couldn't ask for a better mother. 

After a week with her here, I feel like such a better mom just following her example. 

Spring is here! 

Skidamarink

I love you in the morning

& in the afternoon

I love you in the evening

and underneath the moon.  

Skidamarink a dink a dink

Skidamarink a doo.

I love you.

 Apologies for the preschool sing along, 

but we do have a singing 4 year old in the house. 

This tune so adequately describes my love for this little girl. 

My Gigi. 

I cannot believe she turns 8 tomorrow. 

 This girl made me a mom. 

I know moms usually reserve this for the oldest of their children. 

The child who they gave birth to first. 

Well, obviously my situation is a little different in that my oldest three children 

came into my life all on the same day. 

This girl though. 

This girl was placed in my lap 5 1/2 years ago. 

She was the first of her siblings that I met, and lets say that smile melted my heart. 

 As a mother I have experienced love in a few different ways. 

Some love is gradual, like how a book transforms into something you can't put down by chapter 3.

Gradual love is strong because it is something that blossoms and when you finally accept 

each other you know it is forever. 

Then there is the love that is instant.  

Love at first sight.  

Gigi had me at "hello."

Seriously, look at those cheeks. 

You think her mouth would hurt from as much smiling as this girl does. 

 Gigi has always had her own sense of style. 

She is all girl. 

She prefers skirts over pants, 

sparkle over anything "blah,

and she believes you can never have enough accessories. 

 Happy Birthday baby girl. 

Keep smiling and being who you are. 

Advent Countdown

2 more days until Christmas. 

We have been counting down the days here at our house. 

Last year, I made this Advent calendar with little brown 

envelopes that have special Holiday activities for each day. 

Some days are about reminiscing about Christmases past and

some days are about making new holiday memories. 

Last year we started ringing bells for the Salvation Army. 

It was a day with negative wind chills and snow on the ground. 

This year only 5 days before Christmas, the weather was much more pleasant as we 

rang bells to raise money for those who need it more. 

These beautiful smiles were just to cute to walk by without putting

a little something in the red box.  We also were given suckers, 

free cookies, and free hot cocoa from strangers. 

Ringing bells is always a great reminder to my kids 

on the importance of helping others. 

It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving. -- Mother Teresa

 Of course we can't have Christmas pass us by without seeing Santa Claus.

Our Christmas list go to Santa in our stockings on St Nicholas day on December 5th, 

so seeing Santa in person just means we verify that one gift they really want.  

I was so proud of my son, who when I told him to think of something he wanted to ask 

Santa for... instead said that he didn't need anything really, but had a question to ask the big guy. 

His question was "Everyone tells you want they want for Christmas Santa, but what do you want?"

Santa answered, "Hugs!" 

 Popcorn and Movie day is one of my favorite and I have to admit we do this more than once 

over Advent.  This past Saturday was special though, because we went to the Putnam Museum 

to participate in the their Polar Express Pajama Party. 

 They had face painting, a snowman scavenger hunt, and we explored the museum in the 

dark with flashlights.  To end the night we watched Polar Express in 3D. 

It was so fun, and of course like every time I watch the movie... mommy cried. 

It has become a routine for the kids to watch mommy during 

sad parts of movies to see my tears. 

I think it's mean... they think it's funny. 

What can I say, I'm an emotional person! 

 We waited until the kids were on Christmas break this year to tackle the 

Christmas baking.  We made 6 different kinds of cookies, candies, and breads. 

  

 I love our Advent countdown. 

It takes even Bah Humbug daddy and turns him into a 

Holly Jolly Elf. 

We can't forget the true meaning of Christmas though.... 

O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pinning

Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. 

Fall on your knees,

O hear the angel voices!

O Night Divine,

O night when Christ was born!

Ice, Ice Baby

 I'm a Winter Baby.  

This cold snowy weather doesn't really bother me.  

I am usually as excited as the kids to go out and play in the snow.  

So when Nate and the kids got me tickets to go ice skating for Christmas, I was in heaven.

I got them with the understanding that I was not even to hint that Nate was to go. 

He's tried it. 

He's tried it many times. 

He hates ice skating.  

Growing up with a pond in our backyard, we waited impatiently in the winter waiting for dad to declare the ice safe enough to skate on.  

When Nate and I started dating, of course, I wanted him to enjoy another activity that I love.  

But alas it was not to be. 

Again, he hates ice skating.  

On Saturday, we (the big kids and I) got bundled up and went to an outdoor ice skating rink. 

Above is the before pic we took with their ice skates on in the lobby.  I wanted this picture in case the ice skating thing didn't work out with them and this was going to be the only smiling picture I got. 

Thankfully that wasn't the case at all.  

 We started out a little shaky.  Clinging to the exterior wall with a death grip.  

I reminded Bubba that in the car he had told me, "Mom, I've been roller skating.  Don't be suprised if I am super awesome at ice skating too!"  Such confidence!  

That confidence gets him a long way. 

20 minutes after lacing up the skates he was skating around the rink and trying to jump and skate in circles.  Yes, Super Awesome!

It took about 2 circles near the wall, before the girls got a little brave and started letting go for periods at a time.  A bit shaky at first, they quickly got the hang of it. 

And, yes Mommy skated too! 

I didn't fall once, even though I am sure if I did I wouldn't have bounced up as quickly off the ice as my kids did.  My 33 year old body was sore the next day though.  Skating for 2 hours was about all this gal could take. 

Here they are racing.  Gigi and Bubba. 

We had a blast and the snow was falling so it was the most beautiful picturesque day ever!  

 After two hours, I tried to coax them off the ice with hot chocolate, but they so wanted to stay.  

Eventually I won, and we hopped into the van to get warm and soothe our aching muscles.  

Okay it was just Mommy that had the aching muscles.  

 The rest of the weekend was just as splendid.  

We had a three day weekend so we enjoyed alot of family time and 

yummy meals.  Breakfasts are my favorite on the weekends because everyone pitches in doing some part of the meal.  We crank up the music and jam while scrambling eggs and dicing potatoes for home fries.  Breakfasts are the Best!!!  

On Monday night, I had to take Gigi to piano practice and on our way the snow began to fall once again.  When we left piano a half hour later the flakes coming down were some of the biggest I've ever seen.  When we got home I grabbed a pajama clad lily and hollered at Daddy and kids to come outside and catch the snowflakes on their tongue!  

Embracing the moment!  LOL  

So there we were on the driveway enjoying the snowfall.  

 Today, we were back to a school/work day.  

Daddy headed off to work and the kids got up scrambling to find all the necessities to go to school. 

Over the course of a weekend, how do so many things get lost? 

With everyone excited about the fresh layer of snow, we got ready for school in record time and 

had 15 minutes to go out and play before school.  That never happens!  

My snow shoveling crew, they asked if they could please shovel the sidewalks for me.  

Of course.  I swear I am in the twilight zone.