Christmas

And...one month later...

We had a wonderful Christmas. We spent lots of time baking, singing, wrapping, and just loving seeing the season through the eyes of our children.





Caroline loved everything about the season. She loved the tree, Santa, each and every decoration, all the stockings, wrapping gifts, the food, just everything. She also enjoyed spending a lot of time with family and friends and staying up wwwaaayyy past her bedtime several nights! Landon really liked looking at the lights on the tree and loved watching everything his big sister did. He however, did not enjoy the change in his routine so much, but we made it through.


(opening a gift with Ms Deborah)




(Yes, GrandKev is a KISS fan, and no we will not be encouraging Caroline to be one.)



We had a Pop-Up Eric Carle "Christmas Countdown" advent calendar this year that Caroline really liked. This was the first time in my life I've had a Christmas countdown. We didn't do this tradition in my family while I was growing up, but Aaron has fond memories of his, and I got the calendar for free so we decided to do it. Caroline had a good time with it each night and Aaron was diligent about counting each day with her. She was just up to counting to 20, but now she can go to 25. :)





Christmas morning was fun. Caroline had a good time opening her gifts and looking in her stocking. Landon was pretty indifferent, but also had a good morning.





This light-up Santa is from my childhood. Mom and Dad had him out at their house and just like last year, he was a favorite of Caroline's.



We had a wonderful time with Aaron's extended family....we even had a white Christmas!











A truly wonderful holiday was had by our family!

Birthdays

We've had 2 birthdays around here in the past few months. Caroline turned 3 and Aaron turned the big 3-0! We had parties for both. Caroline's was ladybug themed. Aaron's had no theme.







I did not make those adorable cookies, which I gave out instead of goody bags. I did make the cupcakes and they took a lot longer than I was expecting! A definite labor of love, and she loved them, so I loved making them!





I think these pictures say it all. Birthday parties are fun and exciting, but are also tiring and overwhelming. Happy 3rd birthday to my sweet girl!

I plotted and planed Aaron's birthday party for months beforehand. I wanted it to be a surprise and I wanted it on his actual birthday, which is really close to Christmas. I knew some of our friends would be out of town, but I also knew that some wouldn't be, so I planned it for his actual big day.

For the 30 days leading up to his birthday, his sister planned a huge and touching gift for him. She contacted family and friends and asked them to send in pictures, stories, objects...anything that they had that meant something to Aaron. She got so much great stuff! Each day for 30 days he had an envelope to open for that day. Each day was from someone, and held the picture, story, or object from his thirty years. It was so wonderful to read about his life and see it through the eyes of people who have known and loved him. Fun times. I used presentation boards to display each day at the party. (and had Science fair flashbacks while putting it all together!)



He did sniff out the actual party, but he was surprised that his family came. His parents, sister and brother-in-law all came for the surprise, which he absolutely wasn't expecting. So I halfway got him.





Happy Birthday to my amazing husband!

Little Eyes

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I wanted to paint another one.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.



When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.



When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing; I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.



When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.



When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything I could be.



When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."



Little eyes see a lot.

Written by: Unknown Former Child

My New Year's Resolution? That the little eyes in our home will see a mother who is dedicated to her Lord, her husband, and her children.

Happy New Year!