January randomness

I"m so far behind lately and taking time to think about what's been going on here just seems exhausting especially for a momma who still seems to need a nap every single day. I do hope I get out of that funk soon.

So far January has been pretty uneventful. We have been trying to have some long lost pals over for dinner and play dates so that has been fun catching up with old friends.

We finally got to play outside Sunday, which was amazing. I couldn't believe it when I read the temperature was 55 degrees outside. Of course, that meant the entire neighborhood came out to join us and for some reason always tends to find its way to our garage and house.

D is gone this week so we have a full fun week planned with over nights at grandmas, friends for dinner and overnights with friends. So we are super excited about that.

We got to celebrate cousin s's birthday over the weekend, which was fun but it just keeps reminding me that little sage man's birthday will be here in only a couple months. I still can't believe he will be two. He grew up way too fast.

Other than that we have the big doctor's appointment on Friday - I'm super excited to hear the heartbeat of the baby and see what pics we get from the ultrasound. Then we get to pick D up at the airport and spend time watching those planes come in - something we seem to really all enjoy.

Here are just some silly pics of the kids lately.

Sage is in love with taking pictures on my phone.

The kids begged D to hit the carwash - they finally love it! Maybe its the no buckles!

Silly mustache straws I scored from Shopko. 

Crazy skyzone hair (see she needed a cut) - if you haven't been to toddler time, you should. Its so much fun! 

Mad smoothie man

Indoor forts - a new one unfolds each day I believe. This one got some help from momma.

Coffee filter snowflakes - we got a bit carried away. So we made a wall of them in the kitchen.

Oh yes and celebrating my birthday with my favorite people

 Yummy pie - like the three candles plus the giant one.

And this boy loves him some ice cream and cake. He polishes off every bowl. Then takes his spoon and points into the bowl. "More ice cream" and if you dont' respond quickly. It turns into a screaming voice.

A new do

Ells hair has been getting a bit overdue for a trim. Well my mom suggested that she used to trim our hair so after bath last night I thought I would give it a go.

Well not exactly a trim. I just started cutting and then one side would be a little less even and then it turned out like this...

I love the new look and the bob is cute on her.

D, of course, was mad at me for messing around.

So long story short... a good friend from church will rectify things tomorrow but as for today we went to the library with short not so even hair and no one even noticed (or at least they didn't say anything)

Plus this little girl I think is proud that she looks like her momma (pss...so is her momma)

Christmas

Merry Christmas!

 Well...Santa arrived and delivered.

Sage slept in Christmas morning and the other two anxiously waited in our room (they all wanted to sleep together Christmas Eve - fine by me just not in my bed). So after about an hour he finally got up.
I love the look of wonder and splendor. They of course checked to make sure Santa had gotten the cookies and the note that they left. Our Santa even left us a note too.

We enjoyed gifts from Santa and our stockings. Daddy made yummy breakfast and then we spent time opening gifts from us. I usually lost track of my camera and forget to take pictures so we have a only a few.

Just another crazy Christmas morning at our house. Always fun filled. It is such a joy to see the excitement the season brings but even more a joy to know the real reason we celebrate and give gifts to one another - because we were given the Ultimate gift - Eternal Life by Jesus coming to earth as a baby, giving up his glory and splendor to become an ultimate sacrifice to pay the price of death on the cross so that you and I might believe in Him and share eternity in His Kingdom here on Earth and in Heaven. What  wonderful  joyous news and a REASON to celebrate. Hoping you and yours know the real reason we celebrate this season personally. It is unforgettable!

Christmas Eve

Each year Christmas Eve looks a little different. This year we celebrated a day early with my family so we packed up in the morning and came home. After a couple rough nights of sleep we all napped. And I mean napped. Sage slept till about 4:45 which is forever. Even mom and dad were exhausted.

But some things that remain the same...
Christmas pjs. We get to open one gift from Mom & Dad and its pjs to wear that night. Then a christmas movie. Normally we would try to make it to the Christmas Eve service and have in past years but this year we kept it simple. We read the Christmas story and enjoyed time with one another.

Ells is already in pjs from the day before. Exhausted doesn't even explain it. 

Then before bed....

Not exactly our best this year for Santa. I haven't been feeling great so we went with neighbors cookies and it looked tasty. I almost forgot milk but was quickly reminded by Shadd to get it. It was such a fun thing to hear them chat about Santa and his reindeers. Love their vivid imaginations.

Christmas Celebrations

Christmas seemed to last a week around here. It all started with D's family on Saturday. Mine on Monday. Our own on Wednesday. And my Mom's side the following Saturday.

As d's parents are currently living in an apartment we offered to host again. It was so much fun.

Grandma and Grandpa always wrap tons of goodies and there socks (well stockings this year due to the move and packed away items) are overflowing with them. Plus we even get stockings full. Spoiled. Yes. Loved. Even more. We try and let each kid open presents one at a time but we are at 7 grandkids and patience was tough for the big boys since they are next to last. But they did it.

We always have a blast and the kids love playing together. It just makes it so much fun to have cousins close by that we get to see often enough to be good friends.

Then Monday...we celebrated with my family.

the boys ready to dig in

papa & q man

Ells and her highly requested Lalaloopsy doll

still head over heals for those turtles

b with her new skates - had to watch them as they headed to the tile floors

S in her new tent Papa made her

 Then there was the crazy big gift that only my mom can and would do. Yes. Three power wheel dune buggies. Great black friday deal. And one for each family.

Of course there was snow on the ground. So where to ride. Oh. How about the gym above my dad's work. Brilliant. We took two and we definitely need some practice. The poles and net seemed to pose a little bit of a problem but they seemed to get the hang of it.

 And of course just some random photos from my phone. Love spending time with all our nieces and nephews. We are growing and it just gets more and more fun.

31 things

So today is my birthday. The big 31. Officially no longer 30.

Since I skipped yesterdays thankful Thursday I thought I would add 31 things on this special day.

1. My relationship with Jesus, its been awhile now (like 27 years) and I keep learning new things each day! Thank you Lord!
2. My bestest friend - prayed for you like 17 years ago and my life has been forever changed.
3. My three blessings. I've never been luckier to have someone call me "mom".
4. My family - one lucky girl to have some many so close care about you
5. My friends - always reminded of how great I have it on days like today. Texts, cards, gifts. Love that. Feel honored and blessed.

Now that's the for real ones and these are the silly things that just come fluttering to my mind this wintery day.
6. That my kids were born on even years - it tends to help me and d remember how long its been since we bought something or started something etc.
7. fresh flowers - there is a beautiful amaryllis growing upstairs and it just bloomed. BEAUTIFUL!
8. the silly jokes my kids tell at the dinner table each night. they don't make sense but they laugh regardless
9. how my kids think 31 is super old and wonder what kind of birthday party i'm having.
10. that i am not sick today. last year I had the flu - lets just say i think d is thankful too. he did most of the cleaning up that day. YUCK.
11. my shaddy is at home this year before school starts
12. moments of quietness
13. how d's brain works. i'm just glad we are in this together. he presses on and i crumble and check out
14. our church - friends, great messages, a place to grow
15. a day to spend traveling up north with my momma and my sis - ikea here we come
16. the beautiful sunrise this morning. sage pointed and said, rainbow! it looked like it for sure
17. sleeping in these past few mornings
18. how even a disney movie can make me tear up. Tarzan today.
19. my job and the good, bad and ugly
20. sage's constant chatter and the way he devours ice cream
21. ell's love for puzzles, opinions on hair dos and what to wear but still snuggles early in the morning and has the best laugh
22. shadd's sensitivity makes me more sensitive
23. a teachable spirit - through any avenue God sends sometimes even my little ones
24. all the small things that i take for granted
25. how all things work out to God's perfect plan - it just may not look neat and tidy on the way
26. random things like an insanity workout and an elliptical
27. d's unconditional love
28. my nieces and nephews. love that my kids love their cousins
29. date days with my hubs. thanks to uncle j
30. we still have our christmas lights up and running - secretly still christmas outside just not in
31. we are going to have another baby. doctor apt is in a couple weeks but due date should be around Aug 7.