Christmas Celebration Take 1

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas celebrating with family.  It was Brian's year to work during Christmas which forced us to spread the celebration out over a week or more.  I don't wish four days of non-stop call for him every year, but we loved it.  We found out we really like it because it let us spend more time with everyone than the years when we race around to three or more celebrations in two days. 

This year the we celebrated many milestones and blessings.  Our most precious family blessings were two beautiful, healthy babies.  Baby Kennon for us and baby Presley for Natalie and Kevin.  Their little faces, laughter and sweet smiles fill our hearts with joy. 

Little Presley is spoiled just as she should be.  She loves to be cuddled and adores her brothers and sister. 

Kennon was into everything.  He is a man interested in all things dangerous.  He beelines it for stairs, electrical outlets and cords.  Baby Kakes (one of my many nicknames for him) loves to be held and watch his brothers shenanigans. 

The boys love playing with their cousins and we love visiting because the boys are very entertained.  

Our nieces - Lilah and Macy - spent a good amount of time looking adorable and trying to evade the boys by disappearing to the bedroom to play.  Grayson and Brayden found  them quickly and continued their tormenting.  

Kevin, Natalie, Riley and Cooper worked super hard to make a delicious lunch.  Riley pretty much ran the show.  Apparently, he worked so hard cooking I failed to get one picture of him. 

Instead, I got a picture of Cooper with all the food.  

Yum....................

Tyler is a calm presence with an otherwise wild, loud clan.  Just look how handsome he is.

When Kevin wasn't cooking he was usually holding Presley.  She adores her daddy.

Brayden was especially lovable with Aunt Danielle all day. 

Natalie is so in love with Presley she almost glows.  

And, finally, the yearly kids-in-front-of-the-tree picture.  

The years are passing so quickly.  Twelve years ago when I celebrated my first Christmas with Brian's family Riley and Cooper were the only two kids.  Times have changed and this family has evolved as every family does.  We get together to enjoy each other, good food, laughter and fun.   In the end, that is all that really matters.  Granny would be proud, I think.

A Wrinkle in Our Plans

Every now and then Brian and I have a reason to get all dressed up, leave the kids with a sitter and go out on the town.  I'm forced to wear something other than jeans or yoga pants and spend a little extra time getting ready.

Recently, Brayden was asking questions about our wedding. I offered to show him the video. He was entranced. Just as I was beginning to enjoy the lively conversation we were having about old times, Brayden says, "wow, mom, you didn't have that big wrinkle on your forehead at your wedding...."

Nope, no I did not. Thanks for noticing. 

I promptly decided to start getting ready for date night because - heaven knows - it takes a long time to rid a woman of her wrinkles.

After much work and primping here we are ready to rock around the Christmas tree.  No close up included for fear of revealing my wrinkles. 

Visits with Santa

It is a yearly tradition for the boys to have a little chat with Santa.  We were fortunate this year that Santa and Mrs. Claus visited preschool rather than us having to trek it to our usual rendezvous point with Mr. Claus because the regular spot is very over crowded and always results in grumpy kids by the time it is our turn. 

This year the boys were all smiles.

When we asked about the requests they made of Santa Brayden was a little suspicious of revealing the conversation for fear of breaking a pact with Santa, but after a little coaxing he let us know he requested Castle Grayskull (HeMan stuff). 

Grayson wanted cows...probably real ones. 

Kennon's request is any ones guess, but he has been a super good boy so I suspect Santa will be good to him.

Curled Up

Of all my boys Grayson has been the very best sleeper.  He always took great naps, went to sleep on his own from a very early age and...apparently....can sleep comfortably pretty much anywhere.......

This was his bed on a particularly exhausting day after jumping non-stop at the "jumpy house".  He slept from 6:30 pm to 7:30 am the next day. 

Baby Blue Eyes

We enjoy lots of outtings and adventures including many trips to the park.  Kennon is very active and likes playing at the park too.  He thinks he is just as big as his brothers. 

Let the record show - this picture is staged.  I positioned Kennon at the bottom of the slide myself and did not let him slide down head first at 6 months old. 

That little face melts my heart.

Weed Sledding

Earlier this fall as our neighbor, Ryan, was finishing mowing his yard for the last time of the mowing season  he took the weed whacker to the empty lot between our houses and made a great sledding path in hopes of the perfect sledding day.

The neighbor kids - Eleza and Drew - and Brayden just couldn't wait for the snow so they broke out the sled right away. 

The weeds were so dry the sled actually worked. 

It was hysterical.  I was proud of their ingenuity.  They even built a starting line out of rocks and a sitting area our of logs for spectators. 

Tis the season....

There are so many things I enjoy about the Christmas season. 

The joyful gathering of people we love.
Christmas carols about the birth of baby Jesus.
Festive spirits.
Beautiful decorations.
Christmas cards and letters from old and new friends.   
Holiday baking.
Giving.

And so much more.  We have so enjoyed decorating with the boys this year.  While we are decorating, buying gifts and getting caught up in the hustle and bustle, we are working very hard to put even more emphasis on the real meaning of Christmas and helping the boys understand its importance.

Nearly every day this week little Grayson said "Mommy, sing happy birthday.  Sing happy birthday little Jesus."  At school, the boys have learned Christmas carols and I feel like we are making progress when they sing "Away in a manger" before they sing "Santa Claus is coming to town".

Brayden - remembering what we did last year - asked me if we could go buy gifts to give to the kids that "don't have a mommy and daddy."

When I look around our house at the toys and stuff scattered everywhere I feel a little ashamed at times, but then, in the moments when I know the boys are thankful and gracious I feel confident in knowing it is OK for them to have plenty so long as they understand and appreciate it and are willing to put others needs before their own.  Teaching this lesson is challenging, but it isn't a lesson to learn overnight.  It is a lesson learned over a lifetime.

As we teach these lessons to our sweet boys we enjoy establishing and relishing in special traditions too like cooking and decorating and sharing gifts with people we love together.

Here are some of the results of our decorating.   

Thanks, Brother-in-law!

A couple weeks ago, Brian and I enjoyed a great - adult only - night at Martha and Kelby's with Sarah and Darian and Ashley and Brandon. We had a fantastic time eating a great meal, sharing drinks, playing games, laughing and telling stories.  This little story is a special thank you to my sweet brother-in-law, Brandon.  He takes great pleasure in being a smart a** and harasses me relentlessly.  Unfortunately, I usually provoke it and give him plenty of material to harass me about. So, on to the story....

Here he is looking very fancy with his martini.  A nice little break from the standard Bud Light.

Brian and I arrived to the party a little after everyone else because we stopped by the nursing home to visit my grandmas.  We were in a rush driving there and I fumbled around in the car (yes, I was driving) for my lipstick.  I smeared it on heavy and thought to myself "I don't remember my lipstick being so worn down."

Once we got to the party - as married couples do - we walked into the house and went our separate ways.  I talked with the girls and walked around the house looking at Martha's Christmas decorations and the babies nursery-in-progress.  We all complimented each others cute outfits and hair.  Twenty minutes later we return to the kitchen and join in the guys conversation. 

As I smarted off to Brandon about something he turned to look at me and said:

Brandon: "So, how much did that crap cost you."

Me: "What?"

Brandon: pointing at my lips "that white crap on your lips..how much did it cost?"

Me: as I put my hand to my lips and look at my fingers, looking down and then laughing hysterically "Oh crap, I put on white concealer."  Really, Abby, geesh.

Then, I realized that I just spent 20 minutes talking to three women who didn't bother to tell me my lips looked ridiculous.   These are women I've known since we were born.  We have traveled together, shared stories about love, marriage and having babies.  These are women I trust.  Ashley is my only sister who has been so brutally honest at times it almost hurt.  What were they thinking?  Traitors!

They claimed they thought I was trying a new trend. Really?  I could never claim to be that much of a trend setter.

After everyone had a good laugh at my expense the night continued and we had a really great time. 

Brandon and Ashley

Kelby telling another wild story and cute, pregnant Martha listening intently.

Aweful picture of Brian and I (sans white lipstick).

Darian playing with fire while he preps are vanilla creme brulee.  I failed to get a picture of Sarah with Darian.

Turkey Day Fun

Brian and I hosted Thanksgiving this year for the B family.  I had every intention to take before and after pictures of the food preparation to keep track of the menu.  In the process of cooking, keeping the house spotless and taking care of the boys I failed at my picture taking attempts.  I did manage to take pictures of the kids enjoying the meal.

As I cooked I thought about Sondra, my mother-in-law, and how she never let anyone bring anything and, yet, made meal preparation for so many people look so easy.  I wished she was here so I could ask how she made that happen and what she did when she used to have three little kids running around.

After three years, I think we all still feel a certain emptiness in her absence, but I think she would be proud of our perseverance.  In some ways, her absence made the rest of us much closer.  I love how the kids play together. It reminds me of all the fun I used to have (and still do) with my cousins.  Case in point....

Brayden sat at the dining room window for 35 minutes waiting for everyone to arrive. 

We made Indian headbands earlier in the day to pass the time.  Grayson was the only one to wear his and I think he slept in it that night.

The younger kids sat at the kids table.

Cooper, Riley and Brittany sat at the bar.

Macy and Lilah looked pretty, as always.

Karate Kid - Yellow Belt, Check

Last summer, Brayden enjoyed a sleep over at Uncle Brandon and Aunt Ashley's.  The following day he came home throwing kicks and punches.  Just after he threw a punch at me I asked him where he learned this new found aggression.

He proceeded to tell me all about his new favorite movie and how much fun he had watching it with Uncle Meme.  I wanted to karate chop Brandon's head. 

The kicking and punching tapered off of the next few days, but, still Brayden talked about the movie and started asking about karate lessons.  So, I began to research.

I learned quickly that karate is far more than karate chops.  It teaches respect, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and so much more - attributes we work on at home, but can always use reinforcement.  Why not give  it a try.

Ten weeks later Brayden was ready to test for his first belt.  In those 10 weeks he showed improvement in every area and has found something he really enjoys.  I was so proud watching him stand in front of the class and all the parents and respectfully respond to the instructors questions.  Progress, oh how I love progress. 

Ahhh, ya!

Working on his kicks.

Accepting his certificate and yellow belt.

Proud daddy, proud Brayden.  Tearful photographer not pictured. 

Wolverine and the Giant Pumpkin

We party so much in the boy's classes I can hardly keep up and recover from one party to the next. Just a couple days after Grayson's Halloween party I - along with another mom - was the "room mom" for Brayden's party. I successfully executed goodie bags, snacks and a crafts. In the organized ciaos and excitement there wasn't much time for pictures, but I did manage to get a picture of Brayden getting a good whack in on the pinata.

The other mom made the awesome pinata with her daughter. It was adorable and durable. The durability kept the kids entertained for a good 20 minutes. We made clothespin bats and pumpkin magnets.

Later that day out of the blue Brayden gave me a giant, unsolicited hug and said, "thanks, mom, for working hard and making my party special." Once again, I am reminded it is always the little things that mean the most.