December 2008

More Christmas Bliss

December 30, 2008

After spending Christmas morning at our house with my wonderful in-laws and grandpa in law, we went to PA this weekend to celebrate with my parents and my brother’s family. I just had to share some more candid gems because they just warmed my heart and I feel my hubby did a great job of capturing the love and fun of our day together.

We all had lunch together on Sunday and afterwards the youngest two of our crews took naps while everyone else enjoyed a relaxing afternoon of play. We all went into my brother’s old bed room which my two oldest have now deemed “their room” because that is where they always sleep at Grandma and Papa’s and the kids had fun building forts and playing around.

The kids had a blast hiding in their “fort” made out of an old exercise mat. They’d go in and then pop open the door and flash a smile. One of my favorite moments was when my son was playing with my oldest niece. She started whispering to him but it wasn’t easy to understand what exactly she was saying…the conversation we overhead on the outside of their fort went something likes this.

Niece: bhiwlekg bui;dlk (in a cute sing song voice)

Son: What’s that cousin, I don’t understand what you are saying?

Niece: bajsdlgkjas bnjgas gabsk

Son: “OH” bahfsd ;laksdg bfjads

giggles (followed by laughter from their parents as we overhead them)

After the youngest two woke from their naps, we exchanged presents.

I love these shots… everyone in on the action, looking at gifts, sucking their fingers… good times.

My parents got our kids each their very own sleeping bag and Scott and I got a new tent (because we have kinda outgrown our previous tent) The kids were very eager to try out the new gear, so Scott sent the tent up in “the kids”room where we all got to go in and play and the kids got to camp out on the floor for two nights. I gotta tell you it made me very eager to go camping… can’t wait till summer!!

I LOVE this shot of my daughter with my brother. I can’t quite put into words the feeling I get watching my little brother interact with my kids but it touches my heart to see the love they have for each other.

My son was so excited to bring his light saber so he could fight with his Uncle Jordan… he was grinning from ear to ear as they “fought” on the back deck…aka.. Planet Hoth.

I am truly thankful for the time spent with family over this past Christmas season.

{ 8 comments }

Christmas in the Capital

December 30, 2008

in Circus Shots

While these were beautiful sights to behold,

She stole the show for me.

And while we did enjoy taking in the lights,

and some holiday cheer,

Everyone’s favorite part was the journey home. <– Last Mondays Post

Visit 5 Minutes for Mom for more Wordless Wednesdays.

{ 19 comments }

Candid Gems

December 29, 2008

in Circus Shots,Motherhood

Christmas provides you with many gems…photos which capture the moment, in real life. Nothing like posing in front of the tree to bring out the true personality of your child.

Yes… this is def what I meant when I said , “Smile in front of the camera so Mom can have a picture of you in your nice church clothes.”

I love this pic… I am entitling it Christmas bliss… I love that it is not posed.. you can see all three kids enjoying their gifts… wrapping paper on the floor and a happy Daddy interacting with this kids. True gem this photo is…

This one is called “Self Control” as you can tell the kids are all eager to dig into Nana’s Christmas tree cinnamon rolls.

Why is it so hard to get a good shot of the family??

And if that isn’t hard enough we say, “ok kids now we’re going to take another with Nana and Pop…” (Pop so graciously wears his grandson’s engineer hat for his little granddaughter and still they don’t sit still and smile).

OK because you’ve been sitting so good, let’s try for another photo opp with Great Grandpa…

Yea… we def pushed our luck on that one.

Un-posed cuteness…I just want to eat her up!

Mom, are you blogging already?

Toddlers, they dive into life’s goodness face first… I love it!

I call this one her Angelina Jolie pose…doesn’t she look like one tough chick? She’s got the baby up on her shoulder and the light saber hanging from her chest… she can take on the world!

Sometimes the less than perfect candid’s truly are my favorite and I know years later when I’m looking back on Christmas pics these treasures will be among my favorite.

If ya wanna see how other bloggers spent their Christmas, check out 5 Minutes for Mom.

{ 10 comments }

Weenie Whistle

December 27, 2008

in Motherhood

2 days before Christmas, Scott was talking with our son and he mentioned how he asked Santa for a remote control Lighting Mcqueen car.

OK here’s a slight problem because we hadn’t gotten him a remote control one. I had just gotten him a little matchbox size mcqueen car for his stocking (because Santa does the stockings at our house).

So, I went out to Target on Christmas Eve to try to find a remote control Lighting Mcqueen car, with no such luck.

I still wasn’t too worried about it until that evening at church a friend told us how our son had told him that he had asked Santa for a remote control Lightning Mcqueen car.

YIKES… now it has come up quite a few times…. ya know a few days notice and I could have ordered it on amazon.

After leaving out milk and cookies for Santa (as well as Christmas cards which they made for him) and sprinkling reindeer food on the back lawn, we read through Luke 2 and put the kids to sleep.

I really started to feel bad about the remote control car. Scott said we should have told him it wouldn’t fit in his stocking, that would have helped prepare him.

YES! Why didn’t I think of that?!?!

So, I went back to the kids room and had a little chat with my son. (Yes, I went in and disturbed my almost sleeping son on Christmas Eve…)

Son: almost asleep, sitting up in bed (Mom?)

Me: Yea, I was thinking…ya know how you asked Santa for a remote control Lighting McQueen car?

Son: Yea

Me: Well, I was thinking, that might be pretty big and I am not sure if it would fit in your stocking.

Son: Oh, well what about a little Lightning Mcqueen car, since I lost mine?

Me: Yes, that is a great idea, I bet he could do that…I’ll leave him a note for you

Son: Leave a hundred notes.

Son:Bbut what if he doesn’t have one with him?

Me: Maybe he carries around extras incase

I went back to the living room so relieved. My husband looked at my quizzically and asked if I felt better. I said, “Yes, I was really worried it would be his weenie whistle.” (ever seen the movie The Santa Claus??)

We don’t stress Santa that much at our house, he isn’t what Christmas is about, but we do let them play the Santa game.

I would be totally fine if he figures out the truth about Santa. He’s a bright one and I don’t think it’ll be too long before he figures it out. We talk often about pretend verses real.

BUT, I didn’t want him to find out because he woke up Christmas morning disappointed. That would just be sad.

Christmas morning when he checked his stocking and found a little Lighting Mcqueen car his response was, “YES!”

And I gave a huge sigh of relief.

{ 4 comments }

Jesus’ Birthday Party

December 26, 2008

in Circus Shots

Last night the kids helped me decorate a birthday cake for Jesus and after singing Him Happy Birthday, followed by a few favorite Christmas carols, we enjoyed cake and ice cream.