A Quiet Little Christmas

Merry Christmas (as I post this 1 day after)! Our Christmas was quiet as we celebrated in our new home this year. Traveling with an almost 2 year old and a newborn was not a sane act this year and though we missed the hubbub of family celebrations, we got to connect with some over phone and Skype throughout the day. Christmas Eve, we celebrated in the morning at a brunch over at our friend’s house. We then went to Christmas Eve service at our church. Christmas celebrations started out rather rocky due to Hayden boycotting a nap that day which led to total breakdown later and Clare exploding in her cute outfit about 2 minutes into Christmas Eve service began. However, we made it through all the plan evening festivities and praise God for his wonderful reminder as we settled in after kids went to bed, he blessedly put on “It’s a Wonderful Life” to remind us to look at all the blessings among the messiness in everyday life. Christmas Day consisted of a nice breakfast followed by opening gifts. Though Hayden was distracted completely by the second gift and checked out after that. I shouldn’t have wasted the wrapping paper I realize now, though it does look pretty under the tree. He has so enjoyed his gifts, in fact, that removing him from play the last two days have proved challenging. We found the need to get out and enjoy the 50-something degree day that was going on outside and found our way to a park after naps (all around). Then shared in Christmas dinner together! I am grateful for the wonderful family I have and though I have received beautiful gifts this year, I can sincerely say that I am the most blessed by the gifts of my husband, children, family and friends that are in my life and care deeply for me. God bless the rest of your year!

Christmas Eve before Service








Christmas Morning in our pj's






















The prized possession...Mack from Cars!









Mama showing off her rocking new purple slippers! Thanks Daddy!












Later in the day at the park, a happy Clare in the stroller.






















Hayden playing on the playground equipment










Daddy and Hayden having a race on the slides






Sadie joining in the fun

Happy 30th!

Derrick is officially a grown up. Isn’t 30 when that happens? If so, I’ve still got 6 months to live a wild and crazy life of someone in their 20’s. Oh wait, we have 2 kids, a dog, an SUV and a mortgage. We may have graduated to that before we hit 30 anyway. But we celebrated it well here anyway for him. His family flew in to surprise him and many friends joined him to celebrate this big occasion. I hosted this surprise birthday party for him at our new abode, with the help of many. We wish that all of our friends far and near could have come and it makes us grateful that wherever we go, God has provided us with the friendships that we have needed and enjoyed. And God has given us friends who sincerely care to "Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn" (Romans 12:15) as we go through our lives together.

Clare's Second Month

Forgive me, for I am a little behind. Rather, Clare forgive me. I am trying to keep up with everything for my blessed second child as I did with my first and am constantly gasping for air. So tonight after baths, I have abandoned the leftover steamed carrots on the stove to complete this, alas, almost 1 month late. However, I am doing it so the pictures will be slightly dated as these little sprites grow at amazing speeds. At Clare's 2 month appointment, she weighed in at 11 pounds 1 ounce having grown 1 ounce short of 4 pounds since her birth. Amazing! The girl, admittedly, is like her mama and doesn't turn away a good meal. So growing this one is EASY. In case you missed it, my little bean pole of a boy doesn't much care for dining (unless I spoil him with the occasional Happy Meal) and would much rather starve to death as he plays. But back to the littlest munchkin. She is a happy, happy, happy little girl. I can't get enough of her smiles and they just make my heart burst. She coos and does her version of talking. She is very vocal. She is strong and can roll with the best of them. She loves watching big brother play. Mostly, she is very social and wants to be a part of everything that everyone else is doing. We love her so much, all of us, even Sadie who tries to get the occasional lick off on her. Anyway, to the pictures now!

A Visit to Santa Claus

So despite my fear of older men who dress up in costume to put small children in their laps and it being the heart of cold and flu season, I felt is was better judgment to not pass on my fears and cynicism to my kiddos and to avoid the question later in life of "why didn't we ever go see Santa Claus." It went really very well given we had to wait in a 45 minute line on a Friday morning to do it. It cracks me up that you can now buy USB drives which give you the rights to print and publish your pictures as you please. Back in my day not so long ago, or at least what I deem as not so long ago, it was strictly a photo sheet situation which you picked up at a later date and time. Here you have the immediate gratification of not only seeing the picture but walking away with it in your hand. Amazing. Even Santa visits have evolved.
Anyway here is Hayden at almost 2 years old (23 months) and Clare at 2 months and 1 day.





















Oh an by the way, Hayden knows who Santa Claus is now and everytime we see one he calls him Santa Claus. I just hope he doesn't think Santa always wears gym socks and a groovy 70's button up under his outfit.

Visits from Osha

To my faithful blog visitor...a tribute to you and your most recent visit.


































Hayden is still talking about "Osha" or Aunt Michelle from her most recent visit. I love it that Hayden is getting old enough to remember the constant figures in his life. He knows who his grandparents are and he remembers his Aunt Michelle very well now. He likes to talk on the phoneand on Skype to his grandparents. He can list his friends that he plays with and even some of their moms. He of course knows his family. So we are glad to have those who are far away who want to be part of his and Clare's lives. I'm so excited that he is getting old enough now for the value of each of those visits to be seen. We are always so grateful for those who will travel to us.

Our First Thanksgiving on Our Own

So we didn't travel back to Kansas this year for Thanksgiving for the first time EVER because with a wee one in the start of cold and flu season, we had to be more cautious. Plus traveling there in itself would be risky so we made our own little Thanksgiving. Hayden enjoyed his "bacon" or turkey as the rest of us call it. Perhaps it was a little to salty. Clare enjoyed her milk. I have a new appreciation for the last 28 Thanksgivings that have been cooked for me as my little version of one (yes I cheated on the turkey by doing a turkey breast roast and the stuffing...I stove topped it but everything else was legitimate) was exhausting to make. Either way, it was quiet. I actually paid attention to the Macy's Day Parade, did some online shopping for Christmas (beats the Black Friday craziness and I got better deals), and read the newspaper that I got from the grocery store...I never, ever take the time to do that. It was very relaxing but we missed family and it definitely didn't taste the same or feel the same this year.





Hayden digging into his "bacon"







Clare taking a post dinner snooze

Clare's First Month

Well, our little Clare has been with us for one whole month now. It feels like longer (though that I am convinced is because I get the privilege of experiencing day and night which feels like 2 days.) We love her so much already. It's like she's always been part of our family. Hayden always wants to help with her. He actually tried to push Mommy out of the way tonight while I was giving Clare a bath because he wanted to do it. She was laying on a blanket on the floor the other morning in his room while I dressed him and when he was done and heading down to breakfast, he tried to pick Clare up from the floor to carry her downstairs, I supported her head for him and let him carry her to the top of the stairs where I took over completely. He's a sweet big brother now, but he's going to be a great big brother later. He just loves her so much and it just about breaks my heart, with joy. She is such a different baby than her brother was. Her temperament is so different. Hayden learns with a frustrated determination and can't move on until he has accomplished what he is he is aiming to and expresses his emotions all through the process. Clare who has mastered rolling over now and began rolling over at exactly 2 weeks loves time on her tummy and has a very strong neck. She doesn't cry though that like Hayden did but shows a quiet persistence in achieving milestones so far. She has also mastered her turned under lower lip when she's about to cry. Kills me. I don't know how she came out knowing how to do that. Clare is smiling pretty consistently now, and not just at the ceiling fan which is amusing to babies in general, but at me. She loves her bath before bedtime. She's a great eater (like her mama) and is putting on weight beautifully. Overall, she is just a very content baby. Its funny how two children from the same two people can come out so completely different. Anyway, we're just enjoying life as it is right now, a slow but busy and tiring pace. We are still working on the house but just in nibbles, as having naptimes to work around really cuts into a Saturday and Sunday for productivity.


















































Bathtime for Clare.










Hayden talking to Clare and Clare listening intently.









Daily outdoor activities for Hayden.









Daily indoor activities for Hayden.













Daddy has big shoes to fill, but Hayden is trying.