Christmas moments become cherished memories.

Its hard to believe today is Christmas.  Where has the year gone?  Tomorrow we wake up and get back into the swing of things and it feels like life goes back to the crazy hustle and bustle.  These last few weeks have been a lot of fun as we celebrate Christmas really for more than one day in our home. 

I've always loved Christmas and so we try to squeeze every ouce of joy we can out of it.  It starts before Thanksgiving and lasts through the holiday.  This year I, feeling quite tired, mentioned perhaps we wouldn't put up all of our decorations that we normally do.  We have 9 trees in our home and that on top of outside lights, other decorations, holiday baking and shopping, I was wiped out even thinking about it.  However, when I mentioned maybe we wouldn't put up all the trees this year, and maybe just have one, the kids and Jarrett wouldn't have it.  The kids said, "But mom, no we have to have it all up, it isn't Christmas unless the whole house is decorated."  And Jarrett just asked me if I was sick?  I told the kids they were going to have to help me as it is a lot to do just one person.  They obliged and so all the decorations were put up. 

Below are a few, okay a lot, of pictures about how we've been celebrating the holidays in our home.

The Christmas tree set up... it takes me a couple of weeks to get all the trees up.  Here Michael is helping me with one of our 12 foot trees.  The first picture is the mid-way photo and the right one is us starting.... it transforms into a really pretty tree I think.

 

Thanks to several trips to Lowes and Home Depot.  How come the lights seem to only last one season.  Oh well, it allows us to browse for other decorations.

Isabelle and Madelyn were quite excited to see Santa.  Isabelle even got some air time in her jumping for joy.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care... the mantle is quite full now huh? I love it.

Some of our Christmas trees.  Man do I love how warm and cozy they make the house feel  Each one unique, each one a theme per say, each one with special memories. 

 Jennings loved the trees this year too.  He liked to watch the lights and star at the ornaments.

During the holidays we love to go see movies at the theater.  In fact today we went to see Jumanji, it was cute!  A few weeks ago we went to see Frozen (twice), it was so good.  

Then came the turn for the outside lights and I recruited Gabe and Michael to help me as Jarrett hurt his knee, had to have surgery and has been on crutches for several weeks.  

Gabe didn't mind climbing all the way up on the roof (some 25 feet in the air), although it made me nervous he was very careful and seemed to enjoy "being the man of the house" to do it.

I took this picture one night before we went to bed and I had to smile as Jarrett sitting next to the tree seems so small compared to the giant evergreen.

One of our dear friends gave us this gift this year and I love how it lights up and that it's personalized with our name.  It is right at the front door as one enters.  We truly do believe in the magic of Christmas. 

Frosty the snowbaby...aka Jennings has truly loved this holiday too, although he doesn't quite understand all the chaos happening in our home.

Madelyn knows this year and she is loving some of the other traditions we've been having, like the Elf on the Shelf (for another post)

Side note: She loves to dress herself now picking out her pretty clothes.  I love how she loves rainbows and naturally seems to gravitate to them too.

Gabe posing for a rare photo.

There's something special about the glow of Christmas trees and a baby sleeping nearby.   

Don't the girls look so cute?  With the rainy weather we've been having lately, the girls got a chance to wear their matching rain jackets.  Super cute!

And Daddy is finishing up his final weeks of leave here at home, which has been nice for the holiday season.  Jennings is loving the extra time he gets with dad.

Last weekend at our church they had Christmas in the Courtyard complete with a Christmas train.  Nana and Papa came to it and the girls got to ride the train with them.

The girls didn't enjoy it at all. ;-)

Another fun activity we did this Christmas season was have a gingerbread house making competition.  Everyone was given graham crackers, frosting and toppings and had to come up with a sturdy house that was decorated.  It was a friendly competition and all seemed to have fun.

Another annual Christmas activity we do it paint Christmas photos.  I know we have many around the house now and someday I hope to pass them onto the kids (I know they probably won't want them and their spouses will ask them to toss them, but that's okay- its for fun now and they all love it).

Below is Gabe's picture for this year... he rushed through his as he instead wanted to talk with his friends (no surprise)

The rest had fun and painted beyond their canvas (the table, the chairs, even a few spots on the wall-thanks Madelyn). 

And Michael celebrated his first attempt at making a Nutella/banana crepe.  Isabelle and Madelyn enjoyed it too.

Oh yes this Christmas has been magical.  I remember last Christmas wishing so much for the baby growing inside me to get to be with us this Christmas.  And he is such a wonderful addition into our family.  We are so grateful he is here, they the other 4 are too.  This Christmas I was very intentional about not trying to soak up each moment, for my greatest wishes have come true and great thanks is what I have to give. 

Merry Christmas to all.  Wishing you all happiness, joy, love and good health.

Until next time,

Angie

Kind Isabelle

On Halloween, Isabelle's school had an awards assembly where she was recognized along with some of her peers for their strengths.  Some strengths recognized are humor, perseverance, friendly, helpful and more.  Isabelle was recognized for the strength of kindness.  

That's her up there with the cat headband and the black and orange attire (that's how they can dress up for Halloween at their school- colors).  

All of the strengths are ones to be proud of and I am especially proud of Isabelle and her award for kindness.  Her teacher shared that Isabelle is kind to everyone, that she always sees the best in other people and how she always want to try to help others with her genuine care.  I am so proud of her because of the many qualities I value and hope to instill in my children, it is that they are kind.

In a world that in my opinion, is lacking in kindness, it gives me hope that our future, our children embody these strengths and that I'm lucky enough to get to raise a beautiful young girl who every day shows kindness to others.

Tonight as I tucked Isabelle and Madelyn into bed I read them the story "When God found us you"  It is a story given to us when the boys came home and one I loved reading with them.  Now I read it with Isabelle and Madelyn and soak up every minute.  It was the first time Madelyn had heard it and she listened attentively and at first, I didn't think Isabelle was paying as close of attention as Madelyn.  It is a story of a momma fox who prayed, hoped and longed for a baby fox and after a long time of waiting and almost giving up hope, God brought her a baby fox.  The momma fox says in the book it was one of the happiest days of her life.  At the end of the book, Isabelle said, "Mom I think... " an di thought she was going to say something about being adopted as she is starting to understand what it means.  I waited for her to finish her sentence... "Mom, I think we should get another pet." I laughed, not what I was expecting.  I declined her ask, we have enough stuff to keep track of Isabelle, and then we went onto say our prayers.  As we said, "Amen" I leaned over to kiss her goodnight and she said, "Mom, will you tell me about when God found me for you?"  I smiled ... I'd love to Isabelle.  I explained that she was a tiny precious baby and they called us to ask us if we wanted to be her parents.  I told her that we said yes right away and were so excited to meet her.  She smiled.  Then she said, "Mom, why did my other mom give up on me?"  As she said the words, my heart broke, and I said, "Isabelle sometimes moms and dad's have babies and they realize they can't provide the life and the things their babies need, so sometimes those babies go to families who can give them the best life they can.  Isabelle, we are so grateful we get to be your parents, and honey, just like in the book... "the day God found us you was one of the happiest days of my life.  We love you."  In hearing my words, Isabelle pulled her blanket up under her chin and cuddled with it and wearing a smile from ear to ear she said, I love you, mom."  

I hope she always knows how much we love her, cherish her and think of her always as our own.  I never want her to think or feel like her story is less than any other of our children.  We love all of them, those here on earth and above the same and while we came to be together in different ways, and our time together is longer with some than others.... my heart feels love differently, abundantly and eternally for all of them.

Isabelle you are growing up so quickly and we are oh so proud of you.  Keep on being kind.  It is one of many qualities that make you shine so beautifully. 

Love you always, 

Mom

M'Scrunchies & Michael's Dog Service

Michael has become quite the entrepreneur.  He is driven to make money to support his wish list becoming a reality.  These last few months he's been making and selling scrunchies for friends at school, our family and friends and well anyone willing to support him in his venture.  His business is called M'Scrunchies and his tag line is Make sure to get M'Scrunchies!

He goes out and picks out the fabric he thinks people will like, then he cuts the fabric, sews it, stitches it closed, writes a thank you letter and with mom's help delivers them.  I'm proud of him as he spends a lot of time thinking about his business decisions, trys to find coupons to keep his costs low and he saves.  He saves as much as he can.  

Recently he had expanded his entrepreneur skills and has now opened a dog walking and poop picking up business.  He does dog services for one of our neighbors daily and I thought maybe he'd do it for a while and then give it up but he's been doing it for the past two months and every single day, he religiously goes and takes care of his job.  I'm so proud of him and he's been able to save up to buy an electric bike that he takes care of like his prized possession.  

I can see him learning about life and the importance of saving and how long it takes to earn enough money to actually get something one really desires.  I hope he continues doing this as I think he can be very successful.  He jokes that he will have more money to buy a car than Gabriel will when the time comes and if I'm being honest I truly think he's right.

Keep it up Michael.  You're doing a great job and dad and I are so proud of you.  

Until next time,

Angie 

Baseball Tourament Champs!

This fall Gabe has been playing with a new team and as we get to know them we are having fun watching them move the level of competition up and the quality of play get even tougher.  It's been good for Gabe to see other players who challenge him and remind him he always needs to work hard, because there is always someone else out there who wants it just as bad if not more than him.

A couple of weekends ago, Gabe and his new team the Aces played in a weekend long tournament.  We are new and so I felt kind of out of the loop about how it all worked, or maybe I was just disorganized and didn't get my act together to fully understand how it all worked.

They played two games on Saturday and ended up winning and then they had to play a game on Sunday.  I thought it was it, but it turns out that if they won that one, which they did, that they would make it to the championship game Sunday night.  We went as a family of 7 and most of the families on the team, being that we are new, looked at us like "Why are you here?"  and "Why would you bring that small baby to the field this late?"  I think we may have wondered that too.  But we need to support all the kids and Jennings is getting used to going with the flow.

Gabe played well, he's been playing outfield most of the time these days, I don't know all the ins and outs but I guess it is a good thing because he has the arm to be able to throw it in to the infield quickly and accurately and can throw all the way to home if he needs.  I guess it makes sense.  Where we've really seen him get excited is when it comes to hitting.  He has been hitting lots of long balls and he's oh so close to hitting one out of the park.  They are now playing on fields the size of major league ball parks and during this tournament Gabe had one hit that went 325 feet.  The outfield was 330, he was bummed it didn't go all the way.  But what matters more is that he brought in a few runners and helped their team take the lead.  This in their final game, which was very close and back and forth with the scores a few time, helped bring the Aces to the top and finish with a W.

It was so fun to watch them and Gabe was so excited to get a big shiny, gold ring.  Seriously it is so big!  He is so proud and we are happy for him.

Here are a few photos from the tournament and the celebration afterwards.

Sorry they are so blurry, he wouldn't stop or slow down to let me take his picture.  He was too excited!

So happy for him and hope there are more in his team's future.

Oh and wish me luck in getting those pants white again.  YIKES!

Until next time,

Angie

Thankful at Thanksgiving...

As I sit here early this morning feeding Jennings while the rest of the house is quiet, i find myself reflecting on how my life has changed in the past 10 years. At thanksgiving now more than a decade ago I remember giving thanks for Jarrett’s health. And yet as grateful as I felt for his victory over cancer, and that I shouldn’t ask for anything more, I so deeply wished and longed to be a mom. Now looking back, I can see how perfect God’s plan was and how great of a gift each one of our children are. Each story Of how we came together unique and each so special and loved. Last night we went as a family to see Frozen 2 (again) and it did not go unnoticed that these moments we get to spend as a family of 7 are fleeting, for they are growing too fast and will soon be spreading their wings. So today on this holiday of thanks, I feel profound gratitude for the many gifts in my life. For these small and not so small people, who challenge and change me everyday and who I love more than these words can convey. For a partner who supports and dedicates all he does to our family. Our lives are crazy, we are definitely not perfect and make a lot of mistakes, but this is us and I wouldn’t want it any other way. And for the family and friends in our lives, I am thankful for you too. Thank you for sharing your lives and friendship with us. Wishing you a very happy, tasty and blessed thanksgiving. 💙🌈

💙#givingthanks #myblessingsoverflow #thankfulforthislife