Monday, December 31, 2012

Christmas Card 2012

Friday, December 28, 2012

Christmas Morning

Santa really did come to our home. The kids were worried Santa wouldn't be able to deliver his presents with the christmas tree on the deck. He even ate the cookies and drank the milk. The big surprise was a new mountain bike for each of them. They were so excited. We're at a magical age right now with the kids. I want to bottle them up.
I was thinking back to that morning and asking myself if Christmas was pretty much ruined since it was not a "picture perfect" Christmas with all the renovations going on in our house. The dishwasher in the dining room? Check. The tree on the deck? Check. No stove to bake cookies? Check. But, taking care of my babies and being home with my family was the best gift. I told David how thankful I was to be able to hold and hug my children on Christmas morning regardless of the chaos we are dealing with. We were together. That's all that matters to me. Looking back reminds me to be grateful for the little things.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Tracking Santa

On Christmas Eve we got home late from Oma and Opa's house. The kids were pretty wired and David and I knew we had a LONG night ahead of us. We tracked Santa using NORAD and we could see that his sleigh was REALLY close! Summer's reaction to his coming our way was priceless. We told them Santa couldn't stop unless they were asleep. It worked. The kids ran into their beds to make sure he wouldn't miss our home. So magical.

Christmas Tree





I wished I could say that I decorated our home for Christmas. In reality, we only hung our stockings by the fireplace, put up the Advent Calendar, switched the kids' beddings with Santa sheets... and yes, we did get our Christmas Tree. When your living room looks like this in December, the only option to put the tree is to put it elsewhere. The kids voted the deck. Last weekend Summer begged us to get our tree. I was in shock (and denial) that Christmas was only a week away! I wished I could make the clock stop. My hope is that we finish the renovations in time for next Christmas, only 364 days left.
Summer and Forrest loved helping me put the lights up on the tree.




For the record, Summer was very happy.

Friday, December 21, 2012

My Reindeer



Forrest's Kindergarten class had their Christmas party and each kid got their own reindeer "ears". It was pure adorable. I am so grateful to be able to go to his class as a parent helper. Lots of candy, hot chocolate and frosting were consumed. After the kids made their crafts they went outside for story time. I came home with these pictures of Forrest that I will treasure forever. I love this little reindeer so much. He has grown so much this year. It was a touching moment for me to watch him interact with his classmates. I am the luckiest mommy to be able to sit in the front row to watch him grow through boyhood. He is sweet, funny and thoughtful, all wrapped into the cutest little person ever.
I love you, Forrest. 

Monday, December 10, 2012

By My Side

She is utterly baffling to me.
Total confidence, sassy and beauty squeezed into a petite little body.
My Summer is really growing up. Sometimes when I look at her I still think of her as my little baby. She likes to follow me around in the house and watch me do whatever I am doing at that moment. She likes to dress up the same way I do. If I'm wearing boots, she will wear hers. If I'm wearing my hair down, she'll leave her hair down. It's adorable. I can see in the corner of her eyes she's absorbing in everything I do. I can only hope I am doing the right things and that I am guiding her in the right direction. One of the things we like to do together is to dance. I turn on the music on the computer and we just let it go. She does cartwheels and it's quite a funny sight with me dancing around her. Summer, I love it when I find you by my side.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Too Quiet

When the house gets too quiet, I know something is up. I went upstairs looking for the kids and found both of them sitting on the couch, snuggled next to each other. I had started to take out the Christmas books from our holiday boxes to put them on the table in the playroom and then got distracted. My sweet Summer and Forrest couldn't wait any longer. My camera was on the desk nearby and I just snapped this one of them together.
If one of them is sad and feels like I'm not giving the attention they need because I'm dealing with the other child, they say, "Mom, stop what you're doing. I need some love and attention". How could I not respond to that? It stops me in my tracks every time. I sometimes feel torn with two little ones constantly needing me and all I can do is pray that I'm giving each of them what they need.
Summer and Forrest, when you read this someday...
I hope you'll know that you have ALWAYS been sooo loved.
I love YOU.
p.s. Summer was concerned about the girl with a broken arm in the picture and wanted to show it to me.
I love her heart.
p.s.s. Thank you to my dear friend Kelly Mercer for designing my blog header. To say that I love it would be an understatement.