A Very Merry Christmas

We had a very nice Christmas in our house this year. On Christmas Eve we went to the candlelight service at this beautiful, HUGE church in Charlotte. It's not our regular church, but we've decided that it's the nicest candlelight, so we go there every year. Anyway, it was especially beautiful this year. This church has an organ with gigantic pipes, a full orchestra and a choir. Then, to top it off, they had a man leading the singing who sounded like Josh Groban and another man playing the bag pipes (I love love love the bag pipes. I keep begging Keith to learn to play the bag pipes but he refuses. He thinks you must wear a kilt at all times if you play the bag pipes and he won't do it...boo). The candlelight part of the service was really terrific too. There were a ton of people there, which translated into a lot of candles. After everyone lit their candle, they turned off the church lights and we sang Silent Night. It was wonderful, spectacular, beautiful, and glorious!

It was a lot of fun watching Nicholas enjoy the whole Christmas experience. He doesn't really understand about Santa but he did get that he would be getting presents under the Christmas tree. If you asked him what kinds of presents he wanted, he would always answer the same--trucks and trains. It was very cute! Of course, that was the majority of what he got from Santa. Lots of matchbox cars, a matchbox semi truck that hauls the cars (his favorite present) and Thomas trains and track.

Avery had a nice first Christmas. She didn't get much since she doesn't understand what is going on at all and there really isn't anything she needs. Santa did bring Avery a little baby doll, a pink glo worm, a few smocked outfits, an activity ball, The Velveteen Rabbit book, and her "My First Christmas" ornament for the tree. I think she was pleased!

Of course, most everything that Amanda and Alaina wanted was super expensive so it's always a challenge to find a good mix of presents for them that won't break the bank. I think their favorite presents were the Wii from Grandma Pat and the Wii Fit from Grandma B and Grandpa Ron. They have been playing with it almost non-stop since they opened it on Christmas Eve! They also each got an ihome, which they really like.

So, it was a very nice Christmas. I am glad that all of the stress and work involved in preparing for the holiday is over and that things will start to settle down a bit. I think we'll take our tree down tomorrow (trash day is Monday) and get our house put back together. We're cramped for space as it is, so throwing a large tree into the mix is a challenge! On Wednesday evening my mom is flying in for the long weekend. A visit from mom and grandma will be the perfect topper to our holidays and a great way to kick off the new year!

We have been so blessed this year and have so much to be thankful to the Lord for providing for us. My life is covered in the fingerprints of God! I pray that the coming year will be filled with as much or more love, joy, peace and happiness in our family and in yours!

No Fair Weather Fans Here!

Michigan's football season ended in a blaze of glory a few weeks ago with their much expected loss to Ohio State. This year's team set all sorts of records--most losses in a season ever, an end to the school's bowl appearance streak, most consecutive losses to Ohio State, and I know there are others... It was such a bad season that I was actually glad to see it end. That's something I didn't ever think I would ever say!

In spite of the debacle that was this season, we still love Michigan football in my house. Of course, like any true Michigan fan and parent, I'm trying my best to pass along my love for Michigan to my children. Amanda and Alaina have been able to sing "Hail to the Victors" for a long time. The girls even taught all of the neighbor kids the Michigan fight song and then, for Keith's football Saturday enjoyment, they all made up a "Boo to Ohio State" song that followed the beat of Michigan's fight song. It was very funny! When I drove through Ann Arbor in October, I taught Nicholas to say "go blue." All of my children are also well equiped with Michigan paraphernalia (they have to have something to wear on game day!). Here are some pictures of my little ones proudly supporting Michigan as they play Ohio State.

Oh, Christmas Tree

On Saturday we made our annual family trek into the mountains of North Carolina to pick out our christmas tree. We make this trip every year, yet, somehow, every year we end up getting lost on our way to the tree place. And, every year, we end up going to a different tree place because we can't find the one we went to the year before! As I think back on it now, I can laugh about the whole experience. However, at the time, I wasn't laughing at all. When you're traveling with 4 kids+1 friend and two of those kids are babies, there is a finite amount of time that everyone can be confined in a vehicle and maintain their sanity. Needless to say, by the time we arrived at Grandfather's Christmas Tree Farm, I was already mostly over the experience.

Grandfather's tree farm made up for the drive by being a really neat place! They had an inside barn-type place with a few horses and a little hot cider/cocoa stand. We got to take a hayride up the side of the mountain to where we could choose a tree. It was cold and overcast but the upside of that was that it was snowing (a tiny bit) and the kids all thought that was so cool! We chose our tree and some guys with a chainsaw came and cut it down for us (we're not the Griswalds!), and then Santa drove it down to the where our car was parked. Instead of taking the hayride back down the mountain, the kids decided to run. We ended up having a really fun time! I made Keith save the location of this tree place in our navigation system, so hopefully next year our christmas tree search will start off on a better foot!

What A Difference 4 Months Makes!

It's hard to believe, but last Friday Avery turned 4 months old. I commemorated the occassion by taking some pictures in the morning after her bath. I dressed her up in this adorable smocked outfit I bought on Thursday at a dress sale I went to with a friend from church (we had so much fun--she has a little girl 15 days younger than Avery). I love smocked outfits/dresses and hair bows!!!

Later that day, we went for Avery's four month well-baby visit. I am happy to report that she is doing great! She weighed in at 12 lbs. 14 oz. (25th percentile)--she's almost doubled her birth weight. Since she was born, Avery has gained 6 lbs. 2 oz. and grown 5 1/4 inches taller. I went through some of her newborn pictures when I got home. She already looks so different! It just amazes me what a difference four months can make. Four months is no time at all! Avery now smiles, laughs, coos, blows bubbles, rolls from her belly to her back, reaches and grabs objects and follows people/things with her eyes. Of course, her favorite activities are still eating and sleeping. I know I always go on and on (and on) about how fast the time is flying by and how much the kids are growing, so I won't go into it again...but know that I'm still thinking it...each and every day! Here are some then and now pictures of my precious 4 month old baby girl.

August 4, 2008

August 5, 2008

December 5, 2008

Taggie Blanket

For those who aren't up on all of the current baby trends, a taggie blanket is a small blanket with ribbons around the edge. The idea is to create several different textures for the baby to grab and feel (it comes from the love that many children have of rubbing the silky tag on a typical blanket). So, of course, I decided that Avery needed to have her own special taggie blanket. I also decided that I was going to make her this special blanket. You know...made with love, from mom. I figured it couldn't possibly be that hard. Even though I'm not nearly as crafty as I'd like to be (or as I sometimes think I am), I felt like I could definitely handle sewing a square.

A few months ago, Amanda and I headed to the fabric store and spent a long time choosing the perfect fabrics and ribbons. We had fun (and Amanda got all excited looking at all of the different fabrics and thinking about some things she could make...it was really cute!). I got home, cut the fabric and ribbons, pinned it all together and started up the sewing machine. That is where my troubles began. Apparently, the minky fabric we chose is strechy. By the time I got to the end of one side of the blanket, the minky fabric was way longer than the silky fabric. It was a mess! I tried to figure out a way to keep it from stretching but nothing worked. I finally got so frustrated (and Nicholas and Avery woke up from naps) that I had to just set it aside and take a break. Several weeks later, I was finally able to finish her blanket after approaching it with a fresh attitude (and some helpful suggestions from my crafty neighbor and mom). I still want to embroider her name on it, but that will have to wait for another day.

So, Avery has a taggie blanket now. It is far from perfect, but I think it turned out pretty well! And it was made with love by mom...