Good land I know we all said it and certainly thought it but wow I can't believe Christmas is over.
With a late Thanksgiving, a new baby and more on my plate than ever before I barely had time to blink and Christmas was here and over.
The weeks of December were wonderful at times and completely stressful other times.
But let's focus on the wonderful because that is what I wish to remember.
My two new goals for 2014 are quite simple really.
1. Lose baby weight.
2. Put down my phone more and pick up my big girl camera.
Man I miss documenting the every day stuff.
I took less pictures this year than I ever have in years past and ironically enough this is the year I finally got my dream camera.
I am grateful for the memories documented through my phone but I want nice ones of our everyday lives and not just of the big moments.
My point to all this is really my picture throughout the month of December are quite comical really.
I am not sure what made me snap a shot of some events and yet completely missing other events.
December was so fun and so busy and I only have a few pictures to show for it....not cool.
2014 I will do better.
I love these days, I love our family the way it is right now....I never want to forget the moments that make up our lives.
So these were just cute and fun little gifts.
Each year I try and get my sisters and mom a fun little gift.
Something they wouldn't typically buy for themselves because it's so not practical.
Every time I go to Lee's I see these flavor syrups.
We all love our dirty cokes and I always want to buy the coconut to splash a little into my cokes at home.
But at $8.00 I could never really justify buying such a thing.
So guess what these girls got for Christmas?
Your welcome dears I knew you would love it!
Best night ever right here. Each year we have a ladies only Christmas party with my mom, sisters, aunt and cousin. Only this year Miss Hallie and baby Caroline got to join in on the fun.
Hallie because she is a dear and one of the girls for sure and Caroline got to come out of default because well you know she is a newborn after all.
It's such a marvelous evening. Every detail is taken care of right down to the stripey straws to sip our fancy drink with. Thanks Tam for hosting this year....pure magic for sure!
And thanks Jill for basically taken over Caroline for me that night.
Evenings are not her best hour but you wouldn't have known it that night.
She ate up the attention Jill gave her and was on her best behavior for ladies night allowing me a little time to relax and enjoy the evening.
And thanks to this girl too!
Oh these girls are my favorite.
I am in Activity Days for church and we had our Christmas party at my house for these little dears.
How I love each and every one of them, isn't it so true you love those you serve.
Such little dears who bring such joy to my life.
How my heart melts each time they run to me at church and give me a hug.
Or the bracelets one little cutie made as a gift for Caroline.
Or the way they dote on Katelynn who idolizes them.
Best calling ever getting to hang out with these sweeties and feel like a kid again.
K had her Christmas dance recital.
Just a quick little thing one Saturday morning at the dance studio.
She was goofy as usual....
But cute and fun to watch and makes me so grateful for her dainty girly little ways.
The girl is always singing and dancing and in general being a priss but boy is she a cute one.
We have had our share of snow this year.
A few weeks back we got dumped on and the kids begged and begged for a snow day.
I'll be downright honest and admit I hate snow days.
The amount of time and energy involved in getting three kids all bundled up, hunting for gloves and boots and hats.
Sending them outdoors, only to have one of them come to the door five minutes later because they are cold, or need to go the bathroom, or a glove fell off.
And then when it's all said and done they wet clothes all over my kitchen floors attempting to dry off.
Grr.....it kinda makes me crazy.
But their daddy was home and reminded me kids and snow days are magical and he was there to head on out and build forts and sledding hills with them.
So off they went and surprisingly stayed out there for a few hours.
Giving me and Caroline enough time to get cozy on the couch and watch a Christmas movie.
It was a good afternoon.
Which brings us to the Sunday before Christmas.
I will have you know thanks to a winter baby and sick kids I can count on my hand the number of times I have been to church the last two months.
With Eric in the bishopric and needing to be there each week whenever one of the kids fell sick it was up to me to stay home with them and miss out on church.
The week before Christmas I had Luke and Caroline home.
I was so excited for Christmas Sunday everybody was healthy Saturday night, new clothes were ironed, I had heard all about the program from Eric who would be singing in a quartet.
I could just feel the spirit in the chapel of that special day.
Imagine my frustration when late Saturday night we woke to a puking Katelynn.
I was crushed, the next morning I woke my boys up dressed them in their Christmas best and sent them out the door staying home with the two girls.
So sad to have missed that day.
But looking forward to this coming week when we are finally all feeling well and miss Caroline gets blessed.
Now that should be a special day.
