Christmas and a New Year

Since it's New Year's Eve and my hubby is working in the ER, I thought I should do a little post about our Christmas.

We went to my parents house but before we went, we gave the girls their big present from us: new bikes. It was fun to see them so excited. And don't you just love that Lucy hopped on backwards! This picture just makes me smile. 

 We celebrated Janie's birthday at my parent's house and it was super fun. It was pink, and girly and perfect for Janie. 

 On Christmas Day, we decided to wait to open presents until all my siblings (except Ben, he is in New York) could come over to my parent's house. So we decided on the time of 7:30 am and it was torture for the girls. Gratefully everyone came a little early and the fun chaos began. Everyone got really lovely gifts, thing we really wanted and I felt so blessed and contented. 

Again, another great picture that makes me smile. 

 My sister, Rachel, and my nephews David and Josh, and their dad, my brother Dave.

As I look back on 2013, the word that best describes me is grateful.

It was a little hard in the middle, with the move, but so, so many people helped us and I felt God's hand.

I have so many people in my life that I love dearly and I feel truly rich.

I am so grateful that Jonathan is doing better and he is happier and he is home. 

And thanks to you, my friends who read my blog, and offer me your friendship.

It has been a good year. I am excited to see what 2014 brings! 

Happy Birthday Janie!

Janie turned five years old on Christmas Eve.

She thought she was going to get to go to kindergarten right now and was a little sad when I told her she was still in preschool.

 

Janie is such a fun, sweet little girl. She likes to make people happy. She likes to give compliments and say thank you. She is charming.

She does not like to clean up.

She loves being a big sister to Lucy.

Janie is in to all things girly. This is a crown she made and taped to her head. She loves tights, dresses, shoes, purses, hair bows and headbands, and is very specific about the clothes she wants to wear.

 

Janie is such a blessing. I am so glad she came into our home.

We love you so much, Janie! Congratulations on being five!!

 

 

The Week Before Christmas...

Lucy knocked down our tree. It's broken. We now have no Christmas tree. I couldn't bring myself to buy one when they will be half off in a week. And we are going to my parent's house and they have a tree.

It was an old, somewhat ugly tree, so I am not totally sad to see it gone.

I will say that Lucy did feel bad when it came down, and started gibbering really quickly then burst into tears. Ah, life with a one-year-old.

We made gingerbread houses after Lucy went to bed for FHE on Monday. I helped Janie and Jonathan helped Sami. It could have gotten really competitive if Jonathan had boys instead of girls. As it was, we reigned him in. :)

 

And then two days ago, I cut my finger making chili. I called Jonathan and told him I think I needed stitches. Gratefully it was the end of the day. He was able to grab a suture kit from work and come home. He stitched me up in the bathroom WITHOUT pain meds! Yeah, it hurt like crazy. But I felt really cool and tough afterward, like maybe I am not a total wimp.

And today Sami had her Christmas program. This was our first music program at the school and I learned a few things. 1. Don't bring a stroller. There is no room. 2. If it's during nap time (and it was, 12:50 p.m.), hire a sitter for Lucy or she will be a terror and not understand why she can't run around. 3. Bring a real camera, not just your phone.

But she did so great. I was so proud of her singing her heart out. She was so glad we were there. Jonathan had to work, but it meant a lot to her that the rest of us were there.

 

Here's hoping next week is much calmer. I can hope.

 

 

Happy Birthday Sami!

It is such an honor to be this girl's mom. I just love the person she is becoming!

I can't believe she is six years old! She has been waiting for this day for a long time. She has had a count down for about 45 days now.

 Sami tries really hard to do what's right. Of course she still gets in trouble for the normal kid things like being bossy and not using a nice tone of voice all the time, but usually she is trying to help others do what she thinks is right.

 Sami is a really good helper. She is always asking to help clean or make dinner. Sometimes I ask her to vacuum the stairs and she loves it and I love it too! She likes to make her sisters and others around happy. She makes notes and gives them to everyone in the family and other people, like Mr. Greve, her kindergarten teacher and her friends from church.

 Sami has given us so much happiness. I miss her so much when she is at school. She has a lot of active energy which keeps us going. She is excited about everything. It makes things so fun and magical. The littlest things, like a treat in her lunch box or snow, make her so happy.

I am so thankful for Sami. She is such a blessing!

Happy Birthday Samantha!