Christmas with more Family

After our Christmas at home we went to my in-laws, which I always thoroughly enjoy, and had Christmas and lunch with them. Here are a few pictures.

K (with his new shotgun that he absolutely loves) and L with Nana & Grandpa

Grandpa and M shooting their bows.

Once again, we had another wonderful Christmas. I truly feel blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Christmas at Home 2009

This was such a nice Christmas. I wanted to make sure the true meaning of Christmas wasn't lost with commercialization of gifts, gifts, and gifts expected by the kids, so we give gifts based on keeping the JOY (Jesus, Others, & You) in Christmas. Yep, that means our kids only get 3 gifts, just like Jesus did. It was nice not hearing the kids complain when their dad opened more presents than they did because it wasn't about how many they got. We also make sure the kids know that Christmas is Jesus' birthday. Here are a few pictures from our morning.

He loves costumes.

His Christmas morning selection. Transformers. Although he's only seen a short clip of them transforming, he hasn't seen the movie and probably won't for a while.

K opening his stocking

K helping L open her stocking.

Christmas with Granny Nee

Merry Christmas!

The New Year

I know! I know! I still need to post pics from Christmas and I will. Hopefully I can get to it today, but it all depends on if I take a nap when the kids do. I didn't get too much solid sleep last night and am desiring a nap, so just be patient.

With the upcoming New Year, lots of resolutions will be broken, lots of habits will be formed, and lots of changes and new adventures await.

I'm really looking forward to the busyness of the upcoming new year. Mike is going on a hunt a few days into the new year and has a week long elk hunt planned for September as well as at least one or two bow tournaments that he will participate in.

My brother and a few cousins are organizing a 92nd birthday party for my grandfather in Austin. Mike will be working, so I might be taking the 6 hour trip by myself with the two kids. That should be fun. There are going to be relatives that I haven't seen since K was crawling and some that I'm sure I've never met. Hopefully those that don't get to make it will be able to attend my cousin's wedding in August. I'm looking forward to it as well as I know she's going to be a beautiful bride.

We will be welcoming a new blessing into our family. I'd be really surprised if this baby isn't bigger than my other two were. Although I haven't gained as much weight, this baby seems to take up a lot more room than the other two did. Of course, I'm not eating as many pizzas or chocolate as I did with my other two either. That might make a difference. :-) With the newest blessing arriving, sleeping arrangements will be altered and L will start sleeping in a "real" bed since we'll need the crib for the baby.

Then, there's potty training. L is going to be 2 this year and with that, she will stop using diapers at some point. K will "officially" start kindergarten (according to his age).

I can't forget vacations! We are going on a cruise in May and will return on my 31st birthday. At some point, we are planning on taking the kids on their first plane trip (they don't know it yet), and we are also going on another vacation toward the end of the summer/fall if all goes as planned. Oh, and I can't forget our newest annual tradition of camping with my family in the Ozarks.

Of course, we will keep K in gymnastics, but I'm also considering putting him in baseball/t-ball, depending on what is available for his age. I thought about soccer, but would really like to wait until it becomes more than just running around on the field. Does anyone know what age actual training/teaching starts? K just informed me he'd rather do baseball because it's easier. Hopefully, I'll be able to find a league that isn't too time consuming or isn't run by the parents.

Oh yeah, and we're going to finish remodeling our house and maybe start house plans for when we build in the next couple of years.

2010 is guaranteed to be full of life, adventure, and love. With all the great things that it will bring, I also know there will be unexpected trials and tribulations that I can only pray that I will fully depend on God to get me through and make me stronger and better.

Here's to the New Year and ALL is has to offer. God Bless!

Potty-Training

I got to do the "pee-pee dance" with L today! She peed on the potty 2 times. YEAH!!! Once in the morning, right after waking up, and once in the evening right before bed time. She kept a diaper on the rest of the day b/c I was running errands. I didn't realize she had used the bathroom this morning until later, but I was in the bathroom the second time when she went, so I got to celebrate with her.

I found a couple of books that she likes and I sit on the floor and read to her while she sits on the potty. Tomorrow we are going to start full on potty training by using the bare bottom approach. You know, where they don't wear anything except a long shirt so they're not flashing or exposing any private parts. I let her wear panties and pull-ups around the house the other day, but she thought they were too much like diapers and treated them like such.

I'm sure there are going to be plenty of messes to clean up around the house, but I'm hoping it works. We did it with K, but was able to let him play outside b/c we had a fenced back yard. For the most part it did work with him, but once we put him in pull-ups for outings, he started having accidents because he knew he could potty in diapers and pull-ups are like diapers. Since we have tile floor in most of our house, cleaning should be pretty easy. It would be so nice to have her trained before the new baby arrives. Wish us luck!

A Clean House

At times when I go to a friend's house, I can't help but wonder how they keep their house so clean. It seems as though it's always immaculate, even when they say, "it's dirty". I can't help but wonder what they would think of mine and I smile. The other day I went over to a friend's house for a Christmas party and aside from the dirty dishes we had created and a few toys on the floor that the kids had put aside to help clean up, the house was considerably clean when we left. The next day she mentioned she was cleaning and I couldn't help but wonder what exactly she was cleaning.

Then, I realized that they (the ones with immaculate houses) probably spend a good amount of time cleaning or don't have kids. Although I do teach and have taught my kids to clean up after themselves, most nights there are a few toys left on the floor and my kitchen ALWAYS needs to be swept.

There was a time that I had a hard time going to bed if there were dishes in the sink. Now, I'm just grateful that I have a family that dirties the dishes and will put their dishes in the dishwasher if they're able to.

There was a time when I didn't have to do loads of laundry every week, but then we had kids.

There was a time when I never had toys on the floor, but the my son learned how to walk and I was more interested in him playing and learning than in stressing over how clean my house was.

There was a time when my floors didn't need to be swept everyday, but then our son starting playing outside more.

There was a time when I didn't need to mop every other day, but then my kids started learning how to feed themselves and drink from cups.

There was a time when my bathtub didn't stay full of toys, but then I had kids that started bathing themselves.

There was a time when I could could cook without having to worry about burning anything, but then I had kids that could talk and I wanted to listen.

There was a time when I could read a book or watch a movie in silence, but then I had kids that became interested and had questions. I want to answer their questions.

There was a time when we could take a vacation without having to worry about getting sitters.

There was a time when my counter tops were always clean and void of mail, but then we started getting Christmas cards and letters from the church.

There was a time when I could go to the store when I wanted without having to worry about if I had enough diapers in the diaper bag, but then God blessed me with the responsibility of caring for His children.

Once again, there will be a time when I do the dishes every night before I go to bed. There will be a time that I don't have to do loads of laundry every week. There will be a time that I won't have toys all over my floor. There will be a time that I don't have to sweep every day. There will be a time that I don't have to mop every other day. There will be a time when I don't have a bathtub full of toys every night. There will be a time when I can cook without burning the food. There will be a time that I can read a book or watch a movie in silence anytime of the day I want. There will be a time when my husband and I can take vacations again without having to worry about sitters. There will be a time that I will have clean countertops again. There will be a time when I can go to the store without loading up kids and all their necessary supplies. As for now, I count my blessings and what others may think of as interruptions each and every time they happen, for I truly delight in the gift God has given me, the gifts I call children.

I'm okay with the fact that my house never looks like it came out of a Southern Living magazine nor will it ever be chosen as a "Featured Home". I am proud of the fact that my children are not afraid to be kids, but still know and understand the responsibility of cleanliness. My kids aren't afraid to make a mess, but they do know how to clean one up too. I've never yelled at my kids for spilling milk, but instead I hand them a towel and taught them how to clean it up.

So, if you ever come to my house, don't be offended if I don't apologize for the mess, because I'm too busy thinking of all the memories we've created by the things we've done.

Don't become so busy doing things for your kids that you forget to do things with them.

Although Mary and Martha both served Jesus in their own style, Mary is the one who got to spend time with Him because Martha was too busy cleaning and doing housework. Don't be so busy that you miss out on wonderful opportunities and chances to share Jesus with your kids and with others. Don't get distracted like Martha did. Luke 10:40-41

Enjoy the blessings God gave you, because one day, the kids will grow up and the house, although full of memories, will be quiet.

Ambulance Ride

K took his first (and hopefully last) ride in an ambulance this evening. While I was doing laundry, he decided to try to do a front flip from our nightstand to our bed (I didn't realize what he was doing) and he fell a little short, hitting his head on the corner of the nightstand. Although it bled for a little while, by the time the ambulance got to the house, the bleeding had stopped. He did GREAT getting on the stretcher and doing everything they asked him to do. The paramedic even gave him a bear which he named Teddy that you can see in one of the pictures.

The attending physician is a friend of ours from church, so the visit was quick and pleasant. We did not have to do a CT scan b/c K never lost consciousness. I took him to the ER because I just wanted to be safe and really wasn't sure what to do with a head wound. K was very brave as the Dr. scrubbed the wound to clean the blood off. He never once complained or cried. The Dr. said he's fine, (of course) and that he probably won't even hurt in the morning.

Apparently, this wasn't the first time he had done a flip from the nightstand onto the bed, just the first time he didn't succeed.

On the way home, K told us that he had fun in the ambulance.

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