Christmas Day

Not only was this our first Christmas away from family, but Adam also had to work on Christmas Day.  He had to be in by 7:30am so that meant some schedule adjustments to the way we usually celebrate Christmas.  We got the kids up at 6:30am to see what Santa brought.

 C really wanted a keyboard from Santa.  She loves music and plays with it all the time. She also wanted a jingle bell and panties for her Barbies (Santa didn't deliver, but she didn't notice).

This Snow White doll was in C's stocking, and I just love her face in this picture.  She had no idea that Santa could bring things we didn't ask for.  She was so excited that he knew her favorite princess.

After that our little family broke up for a while.  Adam went to work.  The kids and I got ready for and went to church.  When we all were home again that afternoon we opened the rest of our gifts. C insisted upon wearing her Christmas dress to open presents since it was Christmas.

These cute magnetic dolls from Mimi and Poppie have been so fun.  These have to be one of her favorite toys now.  She likes to play with them up on my bed where Jonas can't reach them because he likes to throw the magnets everywhere.

Mita made the cute purse for C (and a matching one for Mommy).  Charlotte's was filled with lip gloss which is a dream gift to C.  She glops that stuff on her lips till it's dripping off.  Then I tell her to go kiss Daddy!

Jonas was trickier to get pictures of.  He had a pretty good Christmas...lots of cars which is his most recent obsession.

My parents also made this ABC book that I need to take a picture of.  It is full of pictures of our family and things that my kids are familiar with for each letter of the alphabet.  For example, J is for Jonas and Josh with pictures of both of them.  My kids adore this book.  We read it multiple times each day, and Jonas has a favorite page.  It's S is for sleep and Sheila (my parent's dog).  The sleeping picture is of him and Adam napping together and there are a few pictures of Sheila on the next page.  He gets so excited every time we get to this page and very upset if we don't spend enough time on it.  So cute!

Later that night we had some friends join us for appetizers and games.  It was so fun!  And we were super lucky because Adam didn't get any emergency call the entire weekend.  I consider that a huge blessing!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is when our family does the special dinner.  I love a ham at Christmas, but Adam's Christmas "bonus" was a turkey this year so that's what we had instead.  I'm assuming it's what we'll be having for the remainder of residency as well. The menu also included hot potato casserole, cheesy broccoli, dinner rolls, and sparkling cider. We always have a candlelight dinner on Christmas Eve.  I completely forgot to get candle holders so I floated tealights in our glasses instead.  We're all about high class in our home!  :)

So, I really wanted a cute picture of Charlotte and Jonas together by the Christmas tree.  Charlotte loved the idea, and Jonas hated it.  He gets really bugged these days if C tries to hug him or hold his hand.

I had to bribe them by letting them hold presents.

After that we acted out the Nativity and then opened some presents.  New jammies!

 This hugging scene keeps repeating itself!

We give the kids a new Christmas book to open and read on Christmas Eve each year right before we send them off to bed!  We tucked them in tight, and they were out much quicker than I thought they would be.

Home for the Holidays (or not)

This was our first Christmas without family.  All season long I had been so busy that I hadn't really had a chance to think about it.  I was sad that we weren't going to be with family, but still upbeat about this time of year and all the merriment in brings.  Then came the time to pick up a few last minute items from the grocery store.  I got there at 9am on Christmas Eve day and the parking lot was already packed.  I pulled the kids out of the car (Adam was working) and made my way into the store.  I go to the grocery store all the time.  Because I'm a stay at home mom, and I make my trips during the day it's always the same type of people there...elderly men who pull coins out of Charlotte's ear or other moms with kids wearing construction paper and feather hats on their heads.  These people are not at the store on Christmas Eve day, and I was not prepared.  I saw grown men there with their teenage sons,  moms with their children that must be home from college, grandpas and grandmas with their preschool aged grandchildren, brothers and sisters who ran to the store for mom to grab some last minute forgotten item.  All of a sudden, will all these people around me I realized I was very alone.  My family that I usually spend Christmas with was in Georgia and Texas (and California and Nevada).  I quickly ran my items through the self-check line.  I fought back tears as I loaded my car with kids and food and felt quite successful for keeping my emotions in check.  Unfortunately music got the best of me.  "I'll be home for Christmas" started playing on the radio on the drive home, and I couldn't hold the tears back any longer.  Upon arrive home, I thought about how even though I'm not with all of my family for Christmas, I'm at least not completely alone either.  My hubby and children are lots of fun.  Then my thoughts turned to those who are alone, and I immediately panicked as I wondered if the missionaries in our ward had a place to go.  So I called them to invite them over.  They informed me that they already had plans that evening to go caroling, but would love to stop by our place.  Around five that evening, eight missionaries showed up at our door.  We invited them in to hear them sing.  I was not prepared as they began to sing, "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed."  These eight boys away from their families at this Christmas season sang with power and love.  Their voices blended perfectly as they sang 2 or 3 different parts, and I felt as though I was listening to an ensemble that diligently practices.  Most importantly though, they filled our home with the spirit of Christ!  It was all there...love, peace, joy!  It was a Christmas Eve tradition growing up in my family to sing Christmas hymns by the light of the Christmas tree.  I always cherished that time with my family.  As the missionaries closed with singing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" we joined in. Although I wasn't singing with my parents and brothers, the light and warmth of Christ filled my heart and eased my loneliness.  I'm so grateful for those young men and the sacrifice that they're making in spending the holidays away from their families, and the service they were able to provide to me by doing so.

Gingerbread and Houses

I attempted to make gingerbread this year.  It was a complete failure.  I don't know if gingerbread is even considered to be difficult to make or if I was just too impatient with it's very sticky dough.  I'm beginning to think it was more of the latter.  I made six cookies.  The rest of the dough went into the trash wrapped up in the wax paper it instisted upon being stuck to.  I don't know how people are patient enough to make houses out of this stuff!

We did make graham cracker houses this year though.  Here's a picture of Charlotte and her little friend Kassidy with their decorated houses.

I'm pretty sure C licked every piece of candy before sticking it on her house.  Jonas made a little hut, but didn't want to decorate it.  Typical guy.  Then he ate the graham crackers...

Animal Sounds

Our little man is starting to talk here and there.  Here's a video of some of the words and animal sounds he makes.  Also, that bag he's playing with is one of his favorite toys.  He loves to put it on his head and run around.  Don't worry...we always watch him and don't let him play with plastic bags.

Hop on Pop

If Daddy is home at bedtime, a little rough housing is part of the ritual before we read scriptures and do family prayer.  These kids sure love playing with Daddy, and I'm glad I can sit by and just take pictures.  You'd think I'd be more into wrestling having grown up with four brothers, but nope!  I'll stick to the sidelines.

Thankful for Family, Friends, and Food

Can I just say that I did not help my mom out enough in the kitchen in preparation for Thanksgiving?  Making all of that food is a lot of work!  I don't know how she does it every year.  Unfortunately, I live too far away from her to make it up to her this year.  Luckily though, I had some friends to split the work up here, but I was still in the kitchen for two days.  It was fun, but can I just say that by last night...I couldn't wait to crawl into bed.  Oh, and thank goodness that there is always enough food for leftovers because the last thing I wanted to do today was cook.  I know it sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm really not.  I enjoyed cooking, cleaning, eating...everything!

Look at my cute helpers taste testers in the kitchen.

Our dear friends, The Wagners, who have become family  (not literally) since we've been out here in Ohio invited us over for the day.  The Elders from their ward also joined us for dinner.  It was great company.  Also, Seth makes a mean turkey...so juicy!

Later that night our friends, The Bills joined us and brought some delicious pumpkin pie.

I'm pretty sure Charlotte thought Boyd was there to play puppets with her.

After the puppet show we all played Farkle...including Charlotte who kicked everyone's trash.  She had no idea what she was doing.  We just told her to roll the dice like a "gentle princess" and somehow she won the game before any of us even had a chance to be considered competition. 

My heart was so full by the end of the night.  I really do have so many blessings for which to be thankful.  I'm grateful for parents that taught me that I am a daughter of God and about what is important in life.  I'm thankful for my husband who works so hard so that I can stay home and take care of my precious babies.  I love being a mother.  I'm also grateful for all the women I know who have mother's hearts. They are all excellent examples to me and blessings to my children.  I'm grateful for the family I married into.  They have taught me a lot about being supportive and accepting.  I'm so glad I married my best friend and then gained another best friend in his sister.  I am thankful for my home.  Although it's referred to as the "ghetto" of the city we live in (it's really not that bad), it has given us a comfortable living space and some of the greatest neighbors who have "adopted" my children as their grandchildren.  I am so happy to have the scriptures.  The words in the Bible and Book of Mormon have really blessed my soul.  I'm grateful for my eyes.  I know that's a little random, but I've been reading a book that made me recall the eye trouble I had at the beginning of my pregnancy with C.  I'm glad I can see.  I'm glad I have my health and that my family is healthy.  And I'm sure no one is reading this anymore so I probably should go write these feelings down in my journal.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Charlie Brown

(This picture has nothing to do with the post - but isn't she cute?)



There are two "Charlottes" in C's class at church.  The other little girl has blonde hair.  To differentiate themselves they call one "the white Charlotte" and the other "the brown Charlotte"  due to their hair color.  Lately, Charlotte enjoys asking me what EVERY song on the radio is about when we're driving.  This song came on recently.

She asked  and I answered, "It's a Charlie Brown song."  To which she replied, "It's a song about me?!?!?!"
I couldn't help but laugh and say, "Yeah, I guess you are Charlie Brown."  I think we found a new nickname for her.

Excuse me? What do you think you're doing?

The other morning I was upstairs going to the bathroom.  Things were awfully quiet downstairs.  All moms know that unless it is naptime, quiet = trouble.  I promptly bounded down the stairs, my eyes scanning the living area until I found who I was looking for.

"On the table with my cell phone?  And just who do you think you're calling?"

I'm a little afraid for when he's a teenager.  I can hear the conversation now, "In my car with the keys during the middle of the night?  And just where do you think you're going?"

It's Easy..Like Taking Candy from a Baby

Trick-or-treating this year was a completely different experience than any previous years thanks to exhibit A.

Exhibit A

He looks cute, huh?  Little man was so excited to be outside and didn't even know what we were going to be doing that Halloween night!  So our little party started walking...Charlotte and Daddy hand in hand (this holiday kind of freaks her out).

We dutifully said our "trick-or-treats" at the first doorstep, and Charlotte took a piece of candy and placed it in her bag.  Being the experienced trick-or-treater that she thinks she is, she proceeded to show Jonas what to do.  We really hit the jackpot with the first house.  They were passing out full sized candy bars. Jonas walked away with a Hershey bar in hand and was in no way going to let go of it.  House number two...each kid grabbed a piece of candy.  Now Jonas had his Hershey bar in one hand and Nerds or something in the other.  He was a happy kid...as long as no one tried to take his candy.  House number three created a bit of a dilemma because Jonas only has two, very small hands.  There just isn't room to carry three pieces.  Charlotte and him both took a piece.

We then took his piece of candy and put it in his bag.  Then the night turned very frightening!  This is the reaction we got: crying, trying to run away, foot stomping, and candy throwing.

We dealt with this scenario after EVERY house.  The poor kid did not understand why his parents kept taking his candy.  We tried letting him hold the bag.  We tried letting him hold a piece of candy in each hand.  But with Jonas, it's all or nothing! 

I would like to have a talk with the person who first said taking candy from a baby is easy because they obviously did not go trick-or-treating with my baby!

It was still a fun evening though.  While we were out we ran into Charlotte's friend and they were joined at the hip for the rest of the night.

Isn't she a cute kitty cat?  I know she's not smiling in any of the pictures.  Like I said...she is a little leery about Halloween.

Halloween Party

Our ward puts on a great family Halloween Party each year.  This year they took some family photos.  Here's our photo with a sneak peek at our Halloween costumes.  I say sneak peek because Adam is NOT in costume (contrary to popular belief).  He came to the party a little late straight after work and everyone thought he had dressed up as a doctor as a joke.

Squire's Castle

This past weekend we took a little drive to Squire's Castle.  I've been wanting to go for a couple years now.  It was built in the 1890's by Feargus B. Squire.  It was never completed and just the shell remains.  We enjoyed walking around and exploring the area.  Charlotte was not happy that we made her come and take a picture when she was so busy being a "pwincess."

It's settled in one of the Cleveland Metroparks and so there are some nice trails to hike as well.

I made the mistake of telling Charlotte to make big eyes when she smiles a few months ago.  Now she tries so hard to make big eyes that she has completely forgotten how to smile on command.  This is the face we get when we say "smile."

And what would fall be without playing in some leaves?

Patterson's Farm

This past Monday we went to a little family festival at Patterson's farm that runs through the autumn season.  They have all sorts of fun things for the kids to do there, and the kids loved it.  We just love this season in Ohio!
Jonas loved this little bike track!  He actually enjoyed pretty much eveything because we were outside.  He loves anything outdoors.  All day long he brings me his shoes to let me know he wants to go out.  It's going to be a long winter with him.

These last two pictures crack me up.  I think they best capture what our life is usually like...Jonas putting up a fight about what we want him to do, Charlotte always off in her own little land, I'm never completely ready, and Adam trying to fit into our activities despite his busy work schedule.  Oh, these are good times.

Time Out for Women

This past weekend was spent in the beautiful city of Cincinnati.  If it was normal to have a crush on a city, this would be the city I would crush on.  Here is the great view we had from our hotel room.

It was so peaceful to sit and watch the river flow by and see the lit up skyline.  I went down with a bunch of my friends to listen to speakers and singers celebrate and inspire women.  Most of the speakers were great.  Friday night Michael McLean performed.  He was the main reason I wanted to go, and he didn't disappoint.  When I was little my mom had his Celebrating the Light casssette.  I remember listening to it and feeling a peace and calm wash over me.  Although I didn't recognize it at the time, it was the first time I felt the Spirit.  Years later, as a teenager I was going through a difficult time.  I kept it mostly to myself and didn't think anyone really knew what was going on. I don't even remember what I was having a hard time with, but I remember feeling very alone.  During this time, a dear young women leader showed up at my door with a Michael McLean CD.  She told me to listen to the song "Ninety and Nine."  It was exactly what I needed.  The combination of that leader following the inspiriations of the Spirit and the message of that song testified to me that Heavenly Father knows and loves me.  So Michael McLean's music holds a special place in my heart.

While I was there I ran into my friend Aubrey.  We went to seminary together in Georgia, and it was so fun to see her somewhere I wasn't expecting.

One of the biggest blessings of our move falling through is the wonderful women in my ward that I get to have as friends.  I learn so much from these women and feel so blessed to be in their midst.  I had so much fun with them this weekend and am grateful for the opportunity it provided me to get to know them even better!