Merry Christmas! ...and a HAPPY New Year

Okay lets be honest. I am writing one phrase then tending to a child so my train of thought is a little choppy. (See "chirstmas" typo in previous post title).   I want to at least attempt to capture our first Christmas as a family of 5.

Leading up to Christmas, Abe gifted us with lots of smiles! (Reminds me of his big brother's first Christmas gifts to us!) Van and Jean-Margaret entertained us with many Christmas dance parties.

We had a visit with Santa (Jean-Margaret was not interested).

 Van reinforced to Santa what he has been telling Larry (our elf) all season: I need a double guitar, an electric guitar, a microphone...etc.


To which Santa replied: "Wow, who is so musical in your family?"

Van said: "My uncle...Don Henley."


***********************************

Christmas Eve we went to the bell service (we arrived about 10 minutes before it was over! Better late than never!) then to G-Mommys for delicious dinner and presents...AND A DRUM SET!

Our Christmas started out pretty well...lots of fun toys and full bellies...

How come I cannot fly?

Then we piled into the Volvo wagon to head towards Granny Rhombus's for some Christmas day brunch.
About 2/3rds of the drive to her house we hear an awful sound...and realized Jean-Margaret was getting very very sick in the back seat. We pulled over, stripped her down in a parking lot, and I held her in the front seat bundled in my coat all the way back home.  I'll insert a cute picture here:

Since having sick children is inevitable...the next day we decided more vehicle space would do us well...

Despite the flu, Miss Priss bundled up in her new robe and high heels.

Time to upgrade!

Merry Christmas, mom!

My favorite post-Christmas stories come courtesy of Van. When he saw his Christmas loot, his first comment was: "We should ask the Easter bunny for the double guitar since Santa forgot."

The next morning he saw Evans unloading box after box into the dump. These boxes just happened to be an empty guitar box, an empty microphone box...etc. Van (who misses nothing) exclaims: "Mom!? Why does daddy have my guitar box? Look--there is the microphone box!!??"

Mom, sleep deprived...thinking on a whim... "Santa must have put all of his trash in the back of daddy's truck!!" Crazy Santa.

 This Christmas taught us how VERY important good health is, especially with a big family. It is by far my favorite gift of all--to have our family back to good health in time for the new year. Which, in keeping with our tradition of posting favorite photos from the year, I'll just sum it up with my one favorite photo from this year:

Our family is complete. And everyone is here. In one place. And healthy. Deep breath. Thank you God!

Here's to a healthy, fun, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

Chirstmas Time

So many people have asked: "So...what's it like having three kids?" 

I have not really come up with an answer (partly because it hurts my brain to think right now) and its just really hard to describe, and its only been 6 weeks!

Yes, in some ways it is not much different than two...but then again--you have two arms...not three...and that presents an unavoidable obstacle. 

However, the more challenging life gets--the more I am learning to embrace it. The most positive response I can muster is that having three kids forces you to be 100% living in the moment. No worries about the past, no leftover energy to be anxious about the future. 

Luckily "living in the present" happens to be one of the Dalai Lama's rules for healthy living and I think he is right! Here we are preparing for the birth of Christ and a much needed renewed, refreshed spirit for the new year!!

Jean-Margaret loves her princess night gown, her bathrobe, holding "baby Abe-Aba" and licking icing off of cookies for breakfast:)

"Baby Abe-Aba" loves holding onto mommy and his paci. And hearing his brother and sister's sweet voices.

 

Evans is enjoying his new job...especially some perks which include lunch with Roy at the Dean Dome!

Mommy loves making Pioneer Woman treats for neighbors (and eating it in the process), and date nights with dad. We heard Pat Conroy last week and really benefited from his light hearted humor.

For the record, Van has asked Larry (his elf) for Eric Clapton CDs, Eagles CDs, a double guitar, an electric guitar with a cord, a new CD case, a microphone that comes from the ceiling so he can drum while singing, and a drum set like Don Henley. His preschool teachers were hysterical that he so seriously requested for them to burn him a copy of the CD they are using for their Christmas program. We have all mastered the words to the entire CD ("Oh where...is my tinsel?!")... Yes Van, one day you will be a rock star and we love you.