Christmas Season Likes

Likes:

-I was able to see much of my dad's side of the family and my mom's parents.  Several of my relatives I hadn't seen in a lot of time and they mean a lot to me. 

-I was able to spend a ton of quality time with one of my best friends, child-free, quality time. She drove me back and forth to Vegas, St. George, and Hurricane.  She's awesome.

-I was able to have a girl's night out with two good buddies and one of them serenated me.

-Had a blast with a good friend and our kids at Bass Pro Shop.

-Went to dinner and the tree-lighting ceremony with my family. 

I love Cabe's arm muscles and I also love how the ornament looked like a word bubble.  It had to be done.

I love that big brother wanted to help Lil' Guy reach the ornaments. He loves his baby brother.

A local church acted out the nativity. Lil' Guy loves to spot the baby Jesus. 

-We were able to attend a boat parade.  I screwed up our schedule and we almost missed it.  I was very excited we made it to the tail-end.  

 I hadn't been to anything like it before, although I hear they are not THAT unique. The crowd was the unique part. There is nothing like the small town Louisianans. Think, "Swamp People." Other then the huge amounts of smoke being puffed out, I love to be around them watch their cultural fun.

-I was very happy to spend a lot of time with the missionaries and some friends.  We had them over a lot this season.  It was fun to watch them skype with their families.

-We had a blast with our Elf, Analia.  The kids LOVED when she took their stockings off the shelf and hung up their underwear.  These four were probably the top favorites.

-We went to the Acadian Villiage.

 

-We went to Jackson, Mississippi to see Cabe's sister's family. 

 

My nieces and nephews have the cutest personalities.  They are cheerful and sweet and a joy to be around.

We often miss living around family and it was a real treat to see them just a day or two before Christmas.  The Natural History Museum was great too!

We got to watch the kidlets run around with some of their favorite people!

My brotehr-in-law is sporting a new beard.  Looks good!

My sister-in-law is one of the sweetest people ever. 

-I like that we were able to spend a lot of family time together.

-I liked the traditions we started this year.  I copied my friend and made star ornaments with different names of the Savior.  At night we'd take an ornmanent and talk about why the Savior is called by that name then we'd hang it on the tree.

-I like that I really enjoyed the holiday season this year.  I was really into it.  In my younger years I worked at a grocery store and being in retail and listening to Christmas music from October to January really soured me on the whole thing for a few years.  This year I LOVED it.  I loved the spirit of it.

Believe it or Not, I Wittled These Down

I needed some pics for a Christmas card.  Mr. D was NOT in a good mood.

I snapped one pic:

And then he had a meltdown.  I was glad the pic turned out pretty cute but I really wanted his cheesy grin..

I brought the other kids out to be goofy and cheer him up. 

They were nuts. 

I had twenty more of these puppies.

I wittled it down as much as I could.

I need to remember all of these expressions.

One day they will grow up.

I hate that.

I want them to stay the same. 

I love the look of sheer joy on her face. 

Their little nuts and I love them for it.  

It took awhile but he did cheer up. 

And I ended up with this gem!  I love it! 

Again...sheer joy.   

I love my babies.

I want another one. 

Please, can I have another one?

Acadian Village

 

 

 

We love things we can label, "Only in Louisiana." 

3 Miracles

I am trying really hard not to let myself get overwhelmed by life right now.  For the most part, I'm succeeding, but I have these moments where I realize how much I've (had to) let the ball drop lately and my mind starts to spin.  I can't believe how my planned December just flew out the window and it's just been a tail spin ever since.  However, I have received so many blessings recently too.  I've seen several huge blessings this month but I am calling these particular ones The Three Miracles.

Last night my phone messed up our reservation and booked us a king bed for all five of us.  Instead of fixing it my sweet hubs said if he had to he'd sleep on the floor.  However, he was out within five minutes and snug in-between babies.  I lay there for the first half-hour with my mind reeling and feeling so blessed. D had both arms wrapped around my arm and was snuggled right up.  Miss L was using my feet as a pillow underneath her pillow.  The hubs and Malachi were snuggled up on the other side of Mr.D. I could hear all of them breathing.  I loved being that close to them.  I just prayed and thought of all the things I love about my life.

I had a difficult time falling asleep.  I could not shut my brain off.  I finally started to focus on the Lord.  I talked some things out in my mind and received good, strong insight.  Inspiration that I know will help me in my life.  It was so calming.  It didn't help me fall asleep, but it did help me to be a better mom and wife today than I was yesterday.  I hope tonight I quickly and quietly fall asleep, but I will take a sleepless night for insight like that any time.

(Sorry it's not the best pic - I may replace it with a better one later.)

Wednesday of this week I was so sick.  I thought I might die.  I wanted to die.  It was horrible.  I laid on the couch in a semi-coma.  In my moments of coherency I'd stress over how close it was to Christmas and how little I was getting done.  Then I'd fall back into my coma.  I asked Cabe to give me priesthood blessing and almost immediately I started to see improvements.  He gave it to me before work on Thursday.  By the time he got home I was up and cooking dinner.  I didn't feel well by any means but I could function.  So many in my family have passed this same sickness around (we got it at my grandpa's funeral) and some have been hospitalized, others quarantined.  I had the worst of it for one day.  You can't tell me that is not a miracle.

Unfortunately Miss L and Mr. D have caught it also.  We were in Jackson, Mississippi picking up our Christmas presents from my in-laws (another story in itself) who drove from Nashville to deliver them to us.  On the way home from a wonderful day spent with them my poor babies were crying in the backseat.  They were so sick.  Their eyes had the glossed over look.  They complained of hurting ears and upset tummies, aching limbs.  I felt so bad. I knew exactly how they felt.  Miss L would look at me searchingly.  I had no idea what she was trying to see. Comfort? Help? Empathy?  I felt so helpless.

I turned to Cabe and said, "I just wish I could get them out of their car seats and hold them."  Of course I can't do that, but I made a discovery a few months ago.  I am now small enough  and flexible enough that I can climb around in the car if needed.  I hauled myself up and over the console.  The second I planted myself in between the small space between their two car seats they each grabbed an arm wrapped their little arms around mine, buried their heads into my shoulder and slept.  Hours of moaning and groaning stopped in an instant. Instrumental Christmas music was playing, the night lights were flashing by, Caleb put his hand on my leg that was resting on the arm rest in front of me.  My eyes watered at the comfort I was finally able to give and the beauty of the moment. To be that kind of comfort for another human being is a powerful thing. 

When we got home Miss L pleaded to sleep with me.  I wanted Mr. D and Miss L in with us anyway, fevers scare me and I want to keep and eye on them.  I couldn't leave out Mr. M, who so far has not gotten the sickness, but I wasn't about to sleep with all five of us in one bed again.  I blew up the air-mattress on our floor and everyone is comfortably tucked in somewhere in our room, as content as little sickies can be.  Who knows, maybe we'll keep them in there for all of Christmas break.

We often call these tender mercies in our church.  I'll take the Lord's tender mercies anytime and I hope to often be an instrument in giving them to others. 

A Few Projects

Miss L made this at pre-school and pretty much ate it within five minutes.  She did save some for sibling though.

She made these for her friends.  She loves art.  Love it. 

 This is Mr. M's gift to his teacher.