Christmas 2013

Decorated and ready to celebrate!  We stayed in Texas this year for a warm Christmas.

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The kids really liked driving around looking at Christmas lights.  We also went on walks to look at the decorations but it was always before dark.  These were their favorites.

We may have to put some lights outside next year.

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After Christmas Eve Service we tried candy canes for the first time.  

Christian was not a fan.

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On Christmas morning they were so excited to see what Santa brought.

 I guess we were on the nice list this year!

We cleaned up and spent Christmas afternoon at the lake with Nana and Papa.

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Then, the next morning, we had one more Christmas celebration with Grammy and Grandpa.  They surprised us a day early!

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Grammy and Grandpa stayed with us for a week.

Mickey and Minnie were HUGE hits this year!

Grandpa even made us Mickey pancakes!

Feeling very blessed this Christmas!

Santa!

You Better Watch Out.  You better not cry.

We did it!  We all sat with Santa this year and no one was terrified!

(We did go before Thanksgiving to avoid a line and we were the only ones there.)

Julianna told Santa that she would like a Minnie Mouse.

Christian told Santa that he would like a race car.

I guess we will wait and see.

18 months old

Emerson is growing up so much faster than the twins did.  She is sitting in her booster and has been for about a month now.  She'd had enough of the highchair and won't sit in them at restaurants either.  She is also drinking out of a cup!  She is in size 18 clothes and size 4 diapers.  She weighs 21 lbs 14 oz and is 32 inches tall.  She is finally talking.  She is saying wa-wa for water and she tries to say Brother and Ju Ju.  She says blanket, belly and uh-oh.  Uh uh for no and uh huh for yes, even though she can say no-no since she's at the age where she hears no-no all day long.  Her favorite thing to do is to turn off the TV which upsets the twins very much.  She is great at giving hugs and kisses!  My favorite thing is that she pretends to sneeze and then wipes her nose with a tissue.  I also love when Christian and Julianna get her laughing.
 So cute.

oops!

We Are Thankful For...

potty training
diaper changes
sticky fingers
messy faces
bubble baths
toothbrush brushing
bedtime prayers
morning rushing
sleepless nights
crowded beds
teething
grumpy sleepy heads.
ABC's
123's
laundry piles
giggles, smiles
screaming, laughing
crying faces
hugging, kissing
their loving graces
our strong-willed girl
our funny boy
our sweet baby love
that brings so much joy!

At the end of each day we are simply exhausted and so grateful we get to do it all over again.  Everyone says it gets easier.  I think it's just a different hard but we wouldn't change a thing.

I'm so thankful for my Mr. Wonderful who sees me at my worst and brings out my best.

I thank God for this whirlwind life we are living, it seems, all of a sudden.  I am thankful for my amazing family, here under this roof, and for our friends and family members we don't get to see enough.