christmas memories

TWELVE family members
ELEVEN o'clock bedtimes
TEN family photo attempts
NINE cozy beds
EIGHT Catch Phrase players
SEVEN yummy dinners
SIX Cottage Bar burgers
FIVE cloudy days
FOUR cars in the driveway
THREE little cousins
TWO televisions
and only ONE shower in the house.

And we wouldn't change any of it!

the greatest gift

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2: 11-12

smash hit

From the moment Luke, Sarah and Doug walked in the door, it was nothing but fun! Luke darted through the kitchen and immediately found some toys. Morgan willingly gave Aunt Sarah a hug. Andrew just took it all in. And then just 30 seconds later, there was no looking back. The kids chaos began! We're all so very glad they were able to stay the night with us.

Playing on Luke's bed

Playing on Aunt Sarah and Uncle Doug's bed

On Christmas Eve morning, just before departure to GG's house

in lieu of Christmas

While Morgan excitedly discusses Jesus' birthday and is quick to announce her sightings of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus in yards across our neighborhood, she is much more pumped about something else. Something other than spotting Christmas lights or taking a link off our countdown chain. Something bigger and better than wrapping a present with Mommy or, for that matter, opening a present for herself.

Today is the day Morgan has been waiting for. The one marked on the calendar since the beginning of December. This afternoon Aunt Sarah, Uncle Doug and Luke will be in our house, playing with our toys, reading our books and eating at our table! They will be parking in our driveway, sleeping in our basement and eating our Mini-Wheats!

"I wonder what kind of car they will have!"

"What color do you think their car will be?"

"Which kind of hair will Luke have?"

The buzz about December 23 has been constant. But now the big question is this: For all the hype that Morgan has created about the arrival of her cousin, will she retreat when he walks through the door? Or take her standard 30 minutes to warm up and jump right into playing? We will see!

As for Andrew, he'll probably flash a big, mouthy smile and then proceed to take on the role of Luke's shadow. Or maybe bask in the attention from his ever-loving aunt and uncle.

Either way we are all excited for our company to arrive. Their time here will be a small sampling of things to come, but we'll take the tease and enjoy every minute.

July 1, 2010

proof positive

With a Christmas tree in the living room, with gray skies in the afternoons, with late sunrises and early sunsets, with needing that extra bit of elbow room and a change of scenery, with overnight company, with toys exploding everywhere, with a preschooler who sometimes desires her own corner and toddler now on the go... the remodeled basement has become an amazingly cozy and comfortable resource for our family. No doubt we are thankful for this space. It was so worth it.

first snow

Since nearly every school in our county has been closed the last two days - even ours - we've been feeling the fever to break out of the house. Today we scrounged around for some outerwear, some too big and some too small, and ventured outside into the new snow from Sunday. The kids had fun, but I will say this:

First, I am not outfitted at all for the outdoors. No boots taller than my ankles. No snow pants to speak of. No waterproof mittens. I am no good as an outdoor playmate in my current winter gear.

Second, we didn't last long. In fact, I'm certain that it took the three of us longer to suit up then we actually stayed outside. Though the glorious sun was shining, the wind had a bite. And was really cold with readings today in the single digits.

So after our brief time outside, we came in for a snack of graham crackers and hot chocolate. Or in Andrew's case, milk. He wasn't thrilled. But Morgan was. "Grandma M. drinks like this!" she exclaimed.

Then we spent more time basking in the sun. And when it had passed too far in the sky, we made our getaway to the basement where nearly all the toys have been exported. There's just no room upstairs anymore!

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

While we've been slowly pulling decorations from storage in the basement since Thanksgiving, our house is finally complete with Christmas decor. On Saturday morning Scott and I selected our Christmas tree while Morgan kept Andrew entertained.

We quickly found the one. In fact, it was the first tree we looked at. Love it!

Morgan had been looking forward to decorating the tree for some time, so hanging ornaments on Sunday afternoon while Andrew napped was incredibly fun for her. "Oooooh, look at THIS one!" she would say each time I handed her a new one.

When Andrew woke up, he was most fascinated with the star on top. He's been really great so far with respecting the Christmas tree.

In addition to stringing the lights on, my job was also to hang the beads. They need to drape on the branches just so! And I enjoy putting on that finishing touch every year.

 

A favorite vintage ornament!

As always we have our garland over the French doors. This is by far my favorite of all the Christmas decorations.

Our stockings are hung on the IKEA floating shelves with care. That is also where our nativity is displayed.

I also stumbled across this neat find while blog hopping the other day. I absolutely love the design and the message, so I printed one for us and framed it just last night. It's hanging in our awkward formerly-a-window-before-the-addition nook above the basement steps.

I kept some Christmas tree branches, too, for a vase and thought this area might be a nice substitute for a mantle since there's no fireplace in this house. But it needs something more, don't you think?

And here's our minimalist outdoor decorations: two wreaths on the garage with garland over the front door. Still haven't figured out how to take a great picture of Christmas lights, but it really does look pretty at night with the Christmas tree peeking through the front left window!

All that's left to do is shop, bake, wrap and celebrate!

hand picked

Morgan is becoming more independent each day and insists on dressing herself each morning. I try my best not to squash her desire no matter how pressed for time we may be. I don't want this willingness to end! So I take it. And return the proud smile when she comes giggling from her room, thrilled with her own achievement. Even if it's something I'd never pair together, like today's preschool outfit!

on his way

Andrew had his 15-month check-up this morning and all is well with him. Inching taller every day and managing to keep his ever-so-slight weight gain proportionate with his growth. He's a lean machine with a dash of stubborn.

Other highlights? He's started walking. And more than the few steps that we would encourage after dinner as seen in this quick snippet of video from last week.

Maybe by Christmas (and with a little inspiration from his older sister and cousin) Andrew will make walking his first choice instead of reverting back to the easy crawl.

anticipation

Today marks the first Sunday in Advent, and begins a countdown to the celebration of Christmas. There's something about having little ones that makes the anticipation even greater for me. In our house this year, we have several family activities to commemorate this season.

The first is our Advent wreath, which we typically light for our meal on Sundays from now until Christmas day. Morgan has already connected our wreath at home with the one she saw on display at church.

All of the little preschoolers received a take-home project: a paper chain for each day of Advent with a discussion question or activity written on the inside for that day. Morgan has already cut and glued each strip, and was excited to remove the first one tonight.

I also intend to resurect my mom's hand-crafted Advent calendar, a felt banner with 24 pockets, each holding a piece to the Nativity. By Christmas day the scene will be complete with little Jesus in the manger. I know Morgan will enjoy this just as much as I did as a child.

And finally, I am most excited about a new tradition. With inspiration from my crafty cousin Katie, we are wrapping 24 Christmas books for the kids. Each night before bed, they can choose one from the stash to open and we will read it together as a family.

What fun we will have in this season of preparation!

Happy Giving Thanks Day

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
1 Chronicles 29:13

look alike

Morgan got a hold of my sunglasses yesterday. She ran to the mirror and hollored, "Look at me! Who do I look like?"

My reply, "You look like Rachel!"

"No," she said. "I look like Aunt Kelsey," she corrected. And in her brain, I could almost hear, "Duh, Mommy. How could you not see the resemblance???"

next up

Morgan's hair twirling has gone from girlie habit to a daily obsession. A full-on
get-the-scissors-to-cut-the-knot obsession. Every day on the left side.

One day last week, Morgan called me from her room in a slight panic. While in bed, she had twirled her hair so tightly that her finger had literally become stuck. Again with the scissors.

The more she twirled, the more we discussed a short haircut. Not as any sort of punishment or consequence, but as a preventative measure so that she wouldn't be walking into preschool rocking an asymmetrical haircut. After looking at pictures from last year, Morgan asked when she could have short hair again. That was my cue.

I brushed up on my hair-cutting skills Saturday night, watching technique from trained professionals on You-Tube. (No laughing, Dad!) And Sunday afternoon while Andrew played and Scott suffered through another Lions game, Morgan and I headed to the basement with the laptop and a 45-minute VeggieTales movie.

And this is the result - click to zoom. These pictures were taken after Monday's twirl-free nap, so pardon the bed head in the back. I still think she looks adorable.

the real deal

Scott was off for Veterans Day and we took the weekday opportunity to take Andrew for his first genuine haircut. I wasn't sure it needed more than a trim, but my attempts in the bathtub weren't proving successful. It was time to see a professional.

After a recommendation from a friend and a slew of "before shots", we headed to the family-friendly shop and got right down to business. Andrew loved the car. Thinking he was buckling in for a ride, he was all smiles.

And then the stylist started in with the spritzes of water.

And the scissors.

We tried our best to distract Andrew and keep the crying to a minimum.



Meanwhile Morgan enjoyed the fact that she wasn't in the hot seat!

And then it was over. As soon as we were home, I grabbed the camera to get some comparison shots and this is the very first one I captured of Andrew. Think he was happy to be back?

Andrew's curls and swirls are gone for now - I knew I would be sad to see them go - but I think his hair will grow in so nicely. After seeing the pictures side by side, it's obvious that this haircut was long overdue! He is such a handsome little toddler.