Christmas Recap

Well, here is our Holiday in pictures..

Some of our activities have no pictures to tell the tale, but we had a great time. Probably my highlites (besides family) were seeing our friends Courtney and Charlie and Alicia and Nathaniel. I don't often have time to visit with female friends, so it was such a blessing to see these two women I love and admire. It was especially nice to have real conversations, something I get very little of outside of my family.

Happy/Frustrating Milestones

Well, I'm not at home so I can't post Christmas pictures, but they are coming.

Here are the current milestones in our home and what each milestone means for Max and I.

* KayLynn is climbing so well on everything. = The back of the couch is no longer the "safe zone".

*KayLynn is talking so much now that she is requiring an answer. = Mommy can't understand the questions that are coming out of her mouth, but she does understand the smiles and giggles.

*KayLynn loves to put anything "away". = Mommy and Daddy have more help.

*KayLynn likes to put her dishes in the sink. = Mommy and Daddy get splashes all over the counter - but they get a happy girl too!

*KayLynn is very interested in dressing herself and her dolls. = Mommy gets to pick up the clothes all the time, and watch her baby be 'mommy'.

*KayLynn loves walking down stairs. = Mommy has to fold her hands and hold her breath.

*KayLynn loves to know the answer to, "Where's Daddy/Grandma/Mimi/Granny...?" = Mommy gets to say, "at work/home" but is happy that she is not answering where Zsa Zsa is.

*KayLynn loves to give lovins to everyone. = Mommy gets to stop what she is doing (wet/soapy hands and all) and get down on her knees for the hugs and kisses.

*KayLynn loves to feed the cats and dog. = Mommy and Daddy are constantly sweeping the floor, and watching a giggling baby!

It's amazing how much you put up with to have a happy, healthy, learning child.

A Mother's Knees

Do any of you find that your knees get more work now that you are a mother? From finding toys under the couch for the child saying, "where did it go?" to getting down on her level when she is talking to me, I am always on my knees. More importantly, I am on my knees when I am pleading with my Savior for/with/about KayLynn. My daughter has taught me to pray like I have never prayed before. When she can't sleep I pray that the Lord will help her to be still; when she cries I pray that the Lord will give me patience; when she goes to bed I pray that the Lord will keep her safe while she sleeps and always I pray that the Lord will help us to teach her about Him. I find myself on my knees begging with the Lord to help me to deal with this amazingly wonderful responsibility that He has given me. Because without His help, how would we do it?

KayLynn's second day as a twin...

But this time with two mommys!

Well, after sleeping off saturday we fell into Sunday. After church my sister, her husbnd Jayson, Kaeley, Mat and Tristan came over for lunch. What a crowd. The kids did pretty well playing with eachother and were very excited about the sugar cookies that they got (Thanks Mat). We had a fun lunch and then while the kids took their nap we relazed for about half an hour. Afterwards we played wii for a few hours.

Around 5:00 my dad and step-mom came by. They gave KayLynn her Christmas presents (which she very much enjoyed!) and we ate again. Unfortunatel Mat, Kaeley and Tristan could not stay for dinner, but we did get lots of time with them which was nice.

During this day I made 7 shortbread for a cookie exchange at work (I am a little sick of butter). I also made christmas shape sugar cookies - did you know that a sugar cookie dough doubles when you are not looking? I'm not kidding, I don't know how many dozens of cookies I made, but I still ended up throwing away dough!

I have tomorrow morning off, so if I am not sleeping in, I will share pictures from this weekend and maybe tonight's Christmas party...

KayLynn's day as a twin

Imagine yourself carrying two babies - one on each hip. You also have the diaper bag (full of both their things, as well as fancy clothes for the Christmas pictures) on one shoulder. Now imagine that both these "babies" are 25 pounds (or just over that) and should be walking, but they want to be carried because the other one is being carried.

Let me guess, your arms are falling off?? Saturday KayLynn and I got to have Tristan with us all day. They were so good playing together and chasing each other around the house. We had only two mishaps as far as my house is concerned (a broken ornament and an unwrapped gift!) and the rest of the day was easy - compared to watching to wild boars! We played at the house, went to Costco, went to the play area at the mall, and then went to get Tristan's Christmas pictures for his mommy.

Now I know that some of you are saying that you have two kids and you do it all the time - well let me say, no you don't!! You were smart. You had one child, and then however soon after, had another BABY and slowly got used to it. You did not (most of you anyway) suddenly give your child a twin. However, all went well and we were able to have a great day with great pictures to show for it!

That night I took lots of ibuprofin because two wiggly 25 pounders really do a number on ones back and legs. All I have to say - double stroller.

Christmas Party #1

Last Night I had my work Christmas party at Moctezumas. The whole office (support staff included). All the spouses and kids came, making it a fun evening for all. One of my co-workers has two kids who especially enjoyed KayLynn, which was really nice for Mommy!

My girly girl

I walked into KayLynn's room last night and this is what I saw. There is something so fun about watching KayLynn play when she doesn't know I am there. Of course, as soon as I pull out the camera, she pulls the headband off and looks at me!Tonight this is what she looked like. And, of course, when I pulled out the camera she said, "cheese"!

Christmas Poll

1. Real tree or artificial? Ideally?? Real, but I have a fake because I am allergic and too poor to buy one every year.
2. Foil or Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper
3. When do you put up the tree? day after Thanksgiving
4. How is the tree decorated? red and gold balls, with nutcrackers
5. When do you take the tree down? 1st of the year
6. Do you like eggnog? yes. I just found soynog so I can actually have more than a sip without getting sick.
7. Favorite gift received as a child? I got a down throw blanket that was cream and sage.
8. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, My Aunt Toni made it when she was younger - Aunt Tam passed it on to me when I moved out.
9. Hardest person to buy for? My sister - every year.
10. Easiest person to buy for? My brother - every year.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? ?
12. Mail or email Christmas cards? I would say mail, but I don't know if I will do either.
13. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas
14. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Early, we try to do one a week and have them done before Dec 1.
15. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I am sure that I have, but I can't think of one off the top of my head.
16. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? peppermint hot chocolate
17. Clear lights or colored on the tree? clear, but Max likes colored, so next year...
18. Favorite Christmas song? Jingle Bells by Barbara Streisand
19. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? Stay home - now that I can
20. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes, but if I did you would all cheat and copy my answers
21. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel - but we have nothing because I have yet to find the perfect one.
22. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas Morning
23. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Malls - so I don't go
24. What I love most about Christmas? Everything!! I love it all.

You know how it works, if you are reading this, you have been tagged.

Snow

I prayed for a snow storm, but God gave us snow sprinkles. I really want a snow storm - tonight would work well too!! I want one of those storms that keeps you all stuck at home, with no where to go, unless your feet can take you there. I would relish some fun family time with Max and KayLynn, but apparently not yet. I guess I should look on the bright side. Max and I had Thankgiving off together, and we will get Christmas off together as well. The Lord knows just how long we can stay sane without eachother and then he gives us a day off together (of course, he has more faith in us than we do!).

All that to say, Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow...

The lenghts to which we go

Max and I were trying to come up with a good christmas/birthday present for his dad - here is the picture that it will include...

What are some of the comical things that you have come up with for Christmas presents? Or, what are the most unique Christmas gifts you have given?

Zoolights

We had a blast. I am actually not sure which of us had more fun. Although next time I will be bringing some hot cocoa of my own. We tried a few places and the first place's cash registers were broken and the second only took cash.

Anyway, the lights were amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed everything and took lots of pictures and videos. My favorite was the Narrows Bridge as it had the car lights going both ways on the bridge, and Max's was the Salmon jumping up stream! I took lots of pictures but I have to go through them.

I recommend you all go if you have time.

He thinks of everything...

Yesterday when I arrived home (It was Max's day off) he had the house clean, I know you've heard that before. Isn't he great?

But, here is the clincher, he had my most comfy sweats, socks and shirt in the dryer. When I told him I was going to change before we went out, he pulled them out of the dryer for me, so that I could put on nice warm clothes before we went out to dinner and shopping for Christmas ingredients. Isn't he the best?!?

Christmas Fun

I loooove Christmas. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. Even my husband who has not always loved the holidays has been getting excited this year. Though KayLynn cannot be as involved as she (or I) would like, she is doing what she can.

This year I was 24hours late putting up my tree. I had to work the day after Thanksgiving, and then got to go to my aunt's house afterward so I had to put it up that Saturday. KayLynn and I decorated the tree together - she handed me the ornaments, ate the pine needles (from my fake tree thats not supposed to loose needles) and played with the nutcrackers. I'm pretty sure that she called every christmas item in our home "pretty" or "wow".

Last night we went shopping. We bought...white sugar, powdered sugar and brown sugar (etc.) for all that Christmas baking. On the way home we drove around to look at all the christmas lights and pointed them out to an amazed and wide-eyes KayLynn. When we got home she got to have hot chocolate, and watch a Pooh Christmas.

Tonight we are going to Zoolights at the Point Defiance Zoo and then to the TCC Christmas Concert, which features Granny Tam and Liz Johnson.

Hope you too are enjoying the season. God bless you as you celebrate His birth.

A Nutshell