December, Part 1

We spent the first part of December iced in for an entire week. Although, after 3-4 days, we were able to get out during the day some, but every evening it would all re-freeze and we'd start all over the next day. We MAY have spent the first two days wearing the same clothes. Maybe.

We made chocolate covered pretzels...

...watched Christmas movies...

...and played out on the ice...

...a LOT!

It looks like snow, but it isn't. It's SOLID ICE. Davis was so mad that his 4 wheeler was frozen in the ground.

He had them FLYING. I was really nervous, but they had a blast!

He helped me "read" the ingredients on the box of gingerbread cake mix (and he helped me make it).

We made hot chocolate.

They got caught eating breakfast leftovers standing on the play table...

...and sitting under it. While wearing one boot.

We danced a lot.

And this one got waaaay too quiet...

...grrrrr! (But at least she had a bath the night before!)

And when it was all over, we celebrated Daddy's birthday before church. And clearly before I fixed Anna's hair or dressed Davis. Keepin' it real.

Not sure what they were playing, but it's a regular game with empty diaper boxes.

December 1, 2009

December 1, 2009. Diagnosis day. We sat in a cold doctor's office and listened to her tell us all that would be wrong with our unborn baby boy. She painted a bleak picture. She PUSHED us to "terminate and try again." I remember everything about that day. Everything. Every horrible detail. I wish she would have told us how GREAT he would be. A diagnosis of mylomeningocele spina bifida implies that life will not be easy, but it isn't a death sentence. I wish I would have known how smart he would be. How funny, how sweet, how quick witted, how loving, and how active he would be. I wish I would have known that 4 years later, my 3 1/2 year old would be one of the most amazing blessings I would ever have. If I had known all of those things 4 years ago, I would not remember that day as such a horrible day. It would have just been remembered as the day we learned we were having an extra special baby boy.

There are still so many times I wonder what on earth God has planned. It often makes NO sense to me. To us. But...He is a good God. He DOES have a plan. We may not always understand it, but it is there, and we trust it. My sweet boy is AMAZING. We have already seen some of that "Plan" at work. I can't wait to see what his future holds!

Sweet babies. On Sunday nights, we have picnics in the living room and watch America's Funniest Video's. (I did the same thing growing up!) We caught them eating like this.

One more extra from that day. This Santa. I have NEVER liked him. When we were first married, we couldn't really afford to buy Christmas decorations, but this Santa was on clearance (I wonder why?!) when Brandon was at the store by himself. He loves this thing. I continue to put it out every year. Partly as a reminder of where we've been, and partly because Brandon loves it. Turns out, Anna also loves it. His placement became a game to me this year. No matter where I put him, Anna would come through, see him, and move him to one specific spot. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. This was the first time I found her to put him somewhere else. The ornament he is staring at is a record player that plays music. Davis and Anna would push the button and have a dance party. She thought Santa would like to dance too. Sounded good to me. I left him until she eventually moved him back to "his spot." :)

Thanksgiving

Brandon is a golf course superintendent. That means he works Thanksgiving Day for a few hours. Honestly, I don't mind! I truly enjoy spending the holiday week/weekend with my little family. Before we had kids, I made a big (traditional) lunch, we went to the movies while recording the Cowboy game, then came home and decorated the house for Christmas while watching the Cowboy game. The only thing we changed when Davis was born is that we no longer go to the movies. 

The night before, we made a no-bake Pumpkin Pie. They loved getting to help, and Anna loved eating it. Davis just loved the cool whip on the top. Don't worry. Brandon got his "regular" pumpkin pie too...thanks to the bakery. :)

While the parade played in the background, we got started cooking lunch. Just a side-note...we will not be watching the parade anymore. It has not been a "parade" in several years. It has become a bunch of people who stop to perform in front of Macy's while we listen to people talk about it. The Tournament of Roses Parade...THAT is still a parade. I digress...

When they FINALLY got bored "helping" me cook, they flew around the house like Buzz Lightyear...

...and stopped to see Santa make his grand entrance.

Lunch! I would also like to add that I do not like "traditional Thanksgiving food." At all. None of it. Brandon does. It's a sacrifice I make so that he will get my Christmas tree out of the attic after lunch!

After Anna's nap, they put up the trees in their rooms.

It requires a LOT of concentration.

He was SO proud of HIS tree!

She was SO MAD when she realized the ornament in her hand was the last one to put on. Haha!

I told Davis we couldn't put up the big tree until the floor was vacuumed. He got it out, plugged it in, and vacuumed the floor! By himself! Haha! Poor baby...he was so ready!

This one cared less about the tree, and more about dinner that was cooking in the oven.

After dinner and baths, it was time! And, no. I have NO idea why she was putting ornaments on from this position.

(Yes. They stayed in their pajamas all day, took a bath, and put fresh jammies on. Unashamed.)

Look! There I am...the only picture of me from that day.

Perhaps I should have taken the "hand turkey's" down before the picture.

My favorite picture from the whole day. My sweet boy loves to sing "Away in a Manger," and the Little People "Mativity" plays the song so he can sing along. I've never heard a sweeter sound than my baby singing about our Savior.