Getting rid of the Christmas tree

I am such a great wife...right? Jason had mentioned that we needed to get rid of our Christmas tree this year because it was old. So, me being the helpful wife that I am...and being off work for two weeks...I decided to take everything down while I was off. But as you can imagine, I had not really thought through how hard it would be to pull apart the huge Christmas tree without any help from my big, strong husband. I am so thankful that my 8 year old did not think to turn on the video camera as I was trying to pull that tree apart...hilarious!! And...as I finally got the top part done and taken out to the street...I see the trash truck coming...at least two hours early!! Seriously?? Is that how it always happens? The hardest part of the tree was still left and now I had the truck coming around the corner? Man, did I say a prayer, because I honestly did not want that tree left in the garage...I did not want to give up!! It came apart just as the truck was pulling up...and I ran it out to the curb. The sweet trash man walked back up to the house and helped me with the last piece and laughed as he saw me tangling with it. I explained to him that I was trying to be "helpful". He just continued to laugh...I hoped that Jason would see it as helpful and not laugh! I was sweating!! But the kids and I did get it done...and Jason was impressed...which of course was the whole point. :). Now..the hard part is finding another tree before Christmas next year at a reasonable price!!

Christmas morning 2011

Christmas morning is always a little hectic around here because we have established that we are here at our house until after the kids have the Santa experience, and then we are off...off to Waco for Jason's family Christmas and then my family Christmas that evening. So it is a lot of presents and a lot of driving in one day. But also a lot of family and lot of love in one day..so it's worth it! This year, the kids were a lot more willing to leave early because their toys are portable...Elle got a Kindle Fire this year and Easton got a DS...so they could just bring their big toys with them instead of having to leave them behind like they usually do. We were able to make it to the Rinewalts in plenty of time for visiting and then Tree...so it was a wonderful time. It is so great because on both sides the kids have a boy and girl cousin to play with and always have plenty to do at both grandparents. We really are so blessed...I have to remind myself of that sometimes when things are perfect or when I have had a bad day. We really have it pretty stinking great. This year was a great year and the kids repeatedly said that it was the "best Christmas ever"! Can't beat that!

Reason for the season

Every year, as we discuss Christmas, I love that the children know why we are celebrating Christmas. Not that they don't talk about the gifts they want..or talk about Santa..but there is no question in their minds that the reason for the season is Jesus birthday. We have always had the birthday party for Jesus, but I love as the children are getting older that they are finally taking it all in what Jesus really did for us coming here as a baby and living here as a human..and ultimately dying for us. It is so exciting to hear them pray now because they are not praying like toddlers anymore...they are praying like they have a relationship with our Lord...a real relationship. It is so humbling. Christmas eve was fun this year...or more special this year as I felt like we were able to really experience it with our kids..more so than ever. I guess that will only get better.

Gingerbread house making time

We started a few years ago building gingerbread houses on Christmas eve day. The kids really enjoy it, and they never turn out looking very nice--but we always have something to laugh about later. This year, when we picked up the kit for the house, I guess we were in a hurry, because it was a premade house...have you seen these? You don't have to put anything together or anything like that..just decorate. Where is the fun in that? But at this point, we were smack dab in the middle of our day--so we couldn't look back now. We decorated...and decorated...the kids are older now and both have their opinions of decorating. Easton is more into eating the decorations and Elle wants everything in a certain order...as you can imagine this makes for lots of laughing, shrills, and "it's okay, it doesn't matters".
Lots of great memories!

Easton hanging out with the Wills family

Over the Christmas break, Elle mentioned to my mom that she wanted some "YaYa and Poppi" alone time so my mother called me and asked if she could come for a few days and spend some time at their house alone. Jason and I talked about it and agreed, but then needed to decide what we would do to make the time special for Easton. I decided to call my brother and sister in law and invite my neice over for a few days since she and Easton get along so well. My sister in law said that since we had kept her for a week during the summer, that they wanted Easton to come to Southlake for a few days. That would give Jason and I a few days alone together...what's that?? So we agreed and I spent the next day driving both kids in different directions--totally worth it!!
While Easton was there, he and Addyson went to an aquarium and to Lego Land. We weren't sure if he was going to want to come home! We were able to FaceTime with him every night and they had a blast! Elle spent the entire time basking in the grandparents attention, as well as my oldest brothers that lives there on my parents property. And then I met up with them on the third day for some shopping and spent the night there. We had a great time. Cousin time is always so much fun.

Wow--cut a little short

A few months back, Elle had another little bout with sucking her thumb... She doesn't do it consciously--only in her sleep. But the worst part about it is that when she does it, she twirls her hair and then pulls it out...always in the same spot on the side of her head...eventually leaving a little bald spot. If you have been a thumb sucker...you know that we all have a little something that you have to do when you are sucking your thumb--rub your ear, hold a blanket, etc...well this is her thing. It is awful and she hates it. But it's her thing. So when she is not sucking her thumb, her hair finally grows and she is so happy, but then things get hectic or she is upset even when she doesn't realize it. We go back to a time when her hair needs to be cut and that devastates her. This recently happened, and it seemed like a really bad one. We went to get her hair cut and we talked through it, but she was really upset about it...even though she looks precious with her hair short. But because she was so upset, I was even calling places and asking about weaves!! Because she got so many compliments in a short amount of time, she was okay...and it has grown and her anxiety has gone away...we are praying about it and trying to give it all over to God...for her not to worry. I still think she is gorgeous regardless!!

Birthday party #2

So this years birthday party for Easton I would not record as a success...he had been asking for months to have it at his house. Honestly, that sounds like the biggest beating in America to me, but if my child wants that, it is his birthday--so that is what we are going to do. Elle has always been the kid that plans her entire birthday the week after the previous year...so I have to do very little other than ordering the supplies. I love that! She is SO my kid!! Easton is not one little bit like that...he just said I want to have my party here and only boys can come...and after all of the planning that I did...that is really what ended up happening!!
He wants to be a police officer when he grows up, so I asked him what about a cops and robbers party? He loved the idea and I began planning with the help of lots of people online and my creative friends in Sunday school. I had one friend paint a jail and a bank out of cardboard, one friend made these great cards with cops and robbers for the scavenger hunt, and another friend made a shirt for him to wear at the party. Everything was planned to a tee...the deal that I did not take into consideration was the sheer chaos that happens when you get over 10 five year old boys together and then add a few 8 year old highly intelligent girls (sisters of the boys)...The cops and robbers game was a hit, but they did not follow the rules and the game only took about 20 minutes, not the 45 minutes to an hour that it could've taken. Then we had a scavenger hunt and piñata next...well the highly intelligent girls helped this along and it was over in 5.5 SECONDS!! Not the 15-20 minutes that it should've taken...it was a total bust...and those cards were so stinking cute!!! I wish I had videos of some of the WWF fighting that occurred on my trampoline...it was insane...
And after it was all over...I said to Easton, I don't ever want to do that again...his response? Mom, that was awesome!!!