December 26 & 27...

December 26- Tigger was a hit!

and hugs were the best!

Cars were driven....

but Ava still loved the bags the best!

A fun evening with Grandparents.....
(and uncle!)

December 27 was loud and chaotic!

with Ava digging in bags....

along with 23 other people!

Sam outgrowing the Grandparents abode...

Ayden sporting his bow....

Who needs expensive gifts anyway?

The Light up Rudolph nose was crazy fun....

Sorry Mom - I had to post this...

But Ava wins the prize for funniest Rudolph!

What a wonderful weekend of yummy food, extremely thoughtful gifts, warm hugs and laughter. Remembering people we especially miss this time of year....who loved this holiday and would have enjoyed tremendously the grandchildren noisily opening their gifts (and the white elephant exchange!!) And just enjoying time together.

Christmas 2008

December 25, 2008

The pajama party begins.....

with presents that have many layers to unwrap....

and a nap required halfway through the festivities.....

and of course everyone trying out the house.....

and the power tools.....

and just enjoying gifts....opened or unopened!

Christmas 2008...post #1

This Christmas has been so nice. We were able to spread out all the functions so that kids had good naps and had time to regroup in between parties!

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away!"

Santa hats

Christmas tree hunting!

Found the "perfect" cedar!

watching Daddy and Sam cutting the tree.

decorating!

Too much stuff in my head

Last month I was asked to sing a song and and narrate for our Christmas program. I realized this month that I have "too much stuff in my head" to even consider memorizing that narration. Actually I wonder if I even have the capability to memorize anything anymore - I never was much good at it - but now I am even worse. Just too much stuff in my head.



We have a lot going on....besides the holidays....we are preparing for 2 surgeries on our little ones. Ayden will have hernia surgery early 2009...date still pending....which is a relatively easy surgery...but he is going to be miserable for a couple days. Ava has to have eye surgery for exotopia....which is also outpatient...but could be related to her NF...so there will be alot more testing done on little pumpkin head prior to that she will not enjoy AT ALL. That too will happen early 2009. Prayers and babysitting will be much appreciated!



We are also just a little overwhelmed by everyday stuff. The kids had to stay home this week due to a death in our special friend NaNa's family....so we worked through that as best we could. Ayden actually surprised us all and had a wonderful day at his Aunt & Uncle's house Wednesday...which really was wonderful for the parents! Thursday...Miss Ava had 3 appointments in STL...and we took Ayden along....(that was a bit over the top)....but they were troopers and we actually had a really good day.....just alot of stuff in our heads.



Erin and Sam are wrapping up a semester of school. That was alot of stuff in their heads! Sam has ACT testing today.....I am anxious to hear what he thinks of it. He is a very good test taker. Miss Erin did amazingly well in her first semester of pre-med classes....performing beyond expectations as usual....and working full-time besides. We are so proud of our kids/grown children!


so...that just is a sampling of the "stuff" I allude to.


Life brings you such interesting opportunities and it is so hard to decide if they are the direction you are supposed to be taking or not....and waiting patiently to see is not my best characteristic. Just when you think you are where you are supposed to be....something will surprise you...and make you "think" some more. I think we all spread ourselves too thin in this busy world....which makes the "stuff" feel overwhelming.



2008 gave me "too much stuff in my head"....so I am proposing that 2009 is my year of "focus". Focusing on what is important and just letting go of everything else that isn't (like vacuuming)!

Just some fun pictures...

I do have alot to blog about - but no time to do it - so thought I would just share some pictures!