We did it! We bit the bullet of stressful planning and made an appointment for a family picture. We have dreaded doing this for. . . well, since it was just Tom, me and Julian! That was the last time we had our pictures taken.

Yes, the kids got sick, their lips were chapped, Evely’s eye kept watering – but it wasn’t too bad. I prayed all week that the kids would behave and smile. That we would all get there in one piece with no blood shed and, praise the Lord, we ended up with a few good pictures. I was pleased!

According to the calendar, it is officially Spring! I welcome it with open arms. I’m so ready for warm days and putting all the coats back in the closet. Yet winter visited us yet once again and I am thoroughly enjoying it’s beauty today! I was actually hoping for a few inches that would give us a snow day but only a dusting fell in our part of the area. I took some pictures of it and thought I would share them with you.

How great is our God!

His work is known throughout His creation!

It screams of his good pleasure. . .

And His awesome creativity!

Selah. . .

My wonderful friend, Megan, took this photo and I just had to share it. It’s soooo sweet! She surprised me at church today with a framed copy of it. Thank you, Megan!

Evely has turned into such a character, full of ornery mischief and getting into everything. It’s nice to see her this way once in awhile. There is nothing more peaceful than a sleeping baby!

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for”

Sorry to post two things in one day, but I wanted to share my kiddos having fun on Wednesday. It was such a beautiful day – a true day of beauty. The weather was a warm almost 80!! Spring was teasing and it beckoned us all outside for several hours. It was such fun to swing the kids, swing the kids, swing the kids. . .okay, I was starting to get tired of swinging them! You get the picture. They, however, never did get tired of swinging.

Three happy amigos.

She pulled her shoes and this sock off. I am still looking for that sock!

Jaden peeking

They were so excited to be outside and Evely just cried when I finally made them all come in. She crawled over to the back door and stood there looking out the window crying. Poor baby.

Evely being happy.

Oh I am sooo ready for Spring!! It can’t come quick enough.

Throughout the holidays, we were going crazy like everyone else. Running here and there, buying last minute gifts, wrapping gifts, going to kids programs, candlelighting services, more wrapping, company, finishing our room addition, baking and more wrapping. You know how it was; I am sure it was the same in your home.

One of the things that I learned this Christmas season was to be like Mary. When she found out she was pregnant with Jesus, she just said “let it be done to me as God wants it to be” (Karen’s paraphrase). Instead of reacting she just reflected. She went through her life “treasuring up” in her heart all that happened. I really thought about this because so often I just react to all that is happening around me instead of stopping to reflect or treasure.

So this year, I did stop to treasure moments, looks on my children’s faces and being with family. I hope that I stored them well in my heart so that I can look back and remember with clarity.

Here are a few of the moments:

Cheerio Bliss

I found Evely sleeping peacefully in the middle of her cheerio snack after Christmas. Isn’t she adorable. You gotta be tired to fall asleep in the middle of eating!

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Out with the Old and In with the New!

On New Year’s Eve, Julian lost his first tooth (by natural causes). It was truly a momentous occasion that he was very proud of. He put his tooth in this baggy and wrote this note. In case you can’t read it:

He received a dollar from the tooth fairy, which he promptly spent on a bag of 50 balloons.

An Armful of Precious

Two sick kids safe in Daddy’s arms.

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Moments of Joy

I got the Robin Suit!

Mom with us and doing well!!

Uncle Mike with us!

Our traditional Mexican feast on Christmas Day!

Kenny reading the Christmas Story

Male Bonding

So what moments of joy have you been treasuring lately? Feel free to share them!

This year for the Christmas program at church, the 4 – 6 year olds were to do this adorable little play about an angel. It was First Class Angel, Kenny (our Pastor’s name). This angel was to pick the star to shine the way for the Savior’s birth.

MY son, Julian was picked to play the part of this First Class Angel. Well. . .we got to the practice on Saturday a few minutes late and headed toward the stage. This is what greeted my 5 1/2 year old BOY.

He suddenly started hanging on my coat, burying his head in my crotch and saying “Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom. . .I’m not going up there. I’m scared of the stage!” I thought he was having stage fright. No amount of coaxing could get him on the stage. I even tried to bribe him with picking something out at the toy store. Nothing worked! Later they talked him into being one the children dressed in their PJ’s listening to the story being read. He agreed happily to that.

Later that day he told me. . .”Mom, I didn’t want to go on the stage because I didn’t want to be one of those angels! I thought people would think I was a girl. I also thought I might just turn into a girl!!” I laughed so hard. I never really thought about him thinking that he would be dressed like all the little girls. They didn’t have his costume ready and so he couldn’t see what it was to look like.

Needless to say, he was fine with his new part and the play was rewritten to have a girl be the First Class Angel. It was so cute and the candlelighting service was really neat. Here are some photos of the evening.

Here’s Julian sporting his manly batman Pj’s

Julian’s good friend Sam

Every year that Tom has worked for Children’s Mercy they send all the employees and their children to this big Christmas party downtown. It is really done well and the kids just have a ball. They give away free books, do face painting, crafts, magic show, caricatures and of course SANTA!

This year we stood in line for about an hour to sit on Santa’s lap. Julian was bound and determined to talk to him.

We got up there, put the kids on his lap and took pictures.

Aren’t they cute!!

You didn’t bring it!

Then Julian proceeded to tell Santa. . .”Last year I asked for a Robin suit and YOU didn’t bring it to me!”

Santa’s excuse

The kindly ‘ol fella then proceeded to explain that sometimes they run out at the North Pole, but this year he would be happy to try his best to get him a Robin suit. He explained that sometimes you have to settle for second choice gifts if they run out.

That seemed to appease poor Julian’s disappointment. I keep wondering what happened to my extremely shy little guy. He’s growing up and now letting his own thoughts and wishes be known. Kindergarten sure does cause them to grow up fast!

Here’s what this year’s caricature looked like. I think we all look a little sad.

Today is our first official “Snow Day” of the year. I met it with a gammet of emotions. Thoughts of little bundled up bodies trudging through snow drifts, snow balls and attempts at snowmen, collide with the images of runny noses, muddy snow prints on carpeting, piles of wet mittens, hats, coats and boots strewn across the entryway.

I thought back to my snow days as a child and appreciated my Mom all the more. I never remember her being in a bad mood or miffed at all the snowy clothing and us kids traipsing in and out and back in and out. I just remember the good. Good job Mom.

So today I tried my best to see that the kids would look back on this day with fun, fond memories and not Mom being in a bad mood. I made hot chocolate and greeted the red fingers and Jaden’s tear-filled eyes with a smile.

All that truly makes me sound like such a shallow Mom, doesn’t it? Oh well, I think I am just tired of all the messes around here. They are almost done . . .the carpet comes tomorrow and the addition will be done!!!

Here are some adorable shots of my Snow Princess and the boys.

Evely liked the snow,
probably because she couldn’t feel the cold!

Remember how that tasted? I tasted it again and it hadn’t changed.

Jaden, always cleaning up!

I’ll leave you with this snowman funny.

Because of numerous requests to see the pictures of poor Julian’s teeth, here they are!

If you are easily grossed out, please don’t look. I warned you
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Toothless!

Here are the big pieces of Julian’s teeth that were pulled. They didn’t bother giving me the little pieces of his teeth and bone.

And the picture you have all been waiting for. . ..

Keep in mind, this is 3 days old. His gums are looking pretty good at this point!

You can see his stitches here. He will get them out on Thursday. He is a little concerned that they will hurt. He came home from school yesterday and it looked like something white was peeking out of his gums. He said “Looky, Mom, a tooth is coming in!” I told him we would ask Dr. Bruce next week if it is. He turned really sullen and said “Is he gonna yank it out?” I told him an emphatic “No!”. He looked at me funny and said “Can we call him right now and find out?”

Hee Hee.

On Saturday afternoon, James and Julie invited us for a hayride re-do. The week before we were rained out but this day proved to be absulutely beautiful!!

Spreading the hay on the wagon.

Jessica and Julie (sportin’ her freckles and pigtails).

Our little punkins in the hay!

Larry pulled the tractor and wagon around. We spread out the hay and covered it with quilts and blankets and piled in. We drove for quite a while around the country roads surrounding Larry and Nita’s home. The weather was a perfect 70 and the leaves on the trees were showing off their colors as we meandered the dirt roads.

We relaxed in the hay and let the sun warm us as the kids threw hay and watched the road swiftly go by the side of the wagon. It was a perfectly relaxing moment in time!!

Evely enjoying her first taste of hay!
It’s an acquired taste.

Thanks James and Julie, Larry and Nita for a memorable fall day. A true highlight of our fall fun this year!!

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I have to share this pic with you. It is my favorite!!!!!

Awwww. . . Isn’t she soo sweet!