Christmas 2016

I’m not sure there is anything more magical than watching your kids celebrate Christmas! I truly love being a mom! Christmas Eve we had our fancy little dinner with my favorite red punch. Last year I spread the work throughout the week, but this year I did it all in one day. I vow to never to that again, it was way too much, especially with a new baby, but luckily she loves spending time in my wrap.

We ate dinner, read about Christ’s birth, sang a few Christmas songs, and then opened up Christmas pj’s, The boys were bouncing off the walls, and when we told them it was bedtime, Ledger sprinted up the stairs in record time.

I’ve always dreamed about having all my kids peacefully sleeping in the same room, waiting for Santa to come, and dreaming of sugar plums. But I learned we’re not quite to that point in life yet :) We put the boys to bed and over the next two hours, Pat and I took turns telling the boys to go to bed. Ledger was nearly in tears, begging his brothers to fall asleep before Santa chose to skip over our house, all the while Cannon and Cruiz were hanging from the bunk bed and jumping all over their room like two little monkeys at the zoo. Eventually we separated them into three different rooms and they fell asleep. Maybe, next year…

Christmas morning was incredible! Ah, it still makes me smile just thinking about it. Early that morning, the boys ran into our room with crazy hair and tired eyes and begged for us to let them go downstairs. Pat put a baby gate at the top of the stairs so they wouldn’t sneak down before we were ready. Good thing, because I think they would have went without us.

Ledger was sooo excited when he saw Santa brought him a Tortuga, a Wild Krattz toy. He dove right down to grab it and immediately started yelling with excitement! Cruiz hopped on his bike and just beamed, and Cannon found a chocolate that had fallen out of his stocking and was totally content with it. haha He seriously was giddy over a Hershey's chocolate.

We opened presents, ate biscuits and gravy for breakfast, and hurried to get to church on time. Christmas Eve we went to bed with very little snow, and woke up the next morning to so much! Pat shoveled half the driveway for over an hour, and after watching a couple of cars get stuck, we gunned it down the road, (The snow plow hadn’t made it down our street yet). But we made it, and received a special Christmas message at church. I’m so happy we were able to go.

Our original plan was to head to Idaho on the 26th, but due to a high expected snow fall, we chose to take off Christmas evening. The boys were so excited to see my parents and Uncle Rhett!

I hope to never forget the incredible memories we’re making at this stage of life. The boys are growing up so fast, and we’re trying to hold onto every moment we have with them.

Without a doubt, the best gift we received this year was by far little Oaklee. I can’t even begin to tell you how happy it made me to have a little girl in my arms, along with pink toys under the Christmas tree again. I’ll never take for granted buying a Christmas dress and matching bow. She certainly made this Christmas special as I was able to reflect about Mary holding her own newborn so long ago. And in the quiet moments, I think Preslee was near. Having a little one in heaven, truly changes how you see and experience life, and for that, I am grateful.

Now we’re on to a happy 2017! We have big plans in the works, and we’re hoping to share them with all of you soon!