I can’t believe we’re practically half way through January already! I’ve been really busy lately with various projects at home and just trying to get prepared for this baby in the midst of getting back in the swing of the kids’ schedules, etc. You know how life goes. So before Valentine’s day comes I wanted to post about our Christmas break.
I had a huge list of things that I wanted to do here at home. Since Chris was going to be off from the 23rd through the 5th, I wanted to capitalized on his availability to lift heavy things, paint, etc. So we kicked off the first night of our vacation painting our “office”. Amai had been dying to help us paint, so we let her have a go at it before we really painted.
She was so proud!
Turns out that I actually don’t like the paint color we chose and we will be re-painting at some point. :( Then I will finally be able to post pictures of this finished room! Woo hoo!
That was the night before Scott and Meredith and their kids came up for Christmas Eve day to open presents together. It was really fun, but way too short of a visit.
Waiting patiently.
Who attaches these toys to the box? Did they know someone would want to actually pry the pieces out one day?
Boone loves Christmas!
My brother Scott.
Then we had our Christmas morning at home alone with just the kids. It was so much fun this year. Every parent says the same thing, but I just have to add to the common sentiment of loving Christmas morning more and more as our kids get older. They both were so excited this year and it’s double the fun having two to share it with. I can’t imagine what it will be like in the future as our kids get to that age where they try to find their gifts and open them ahead of time like Scott and I used to.
For right now, Christmas is still very simple in their minds. Amai is starting to understand that Christmas is when we celebrates Christ’s birth. At the same time, she heartily believes in Santa Clause. I wonder when she’ll figure that one out.
Amai wrote this- it says, "For Santa"
And the next morning Santa left her a note in return.
Surprisingly, she didn't really wake up earlier than normal.
We had to wake him up.
I got them both bath robes, which were possibly their favorite gifts.
That afternoon we drove down to Arlington for some good time with Chris’s family. We had our Chinese gift exchange that night and the next day went back down again to take the big kids to see Polar Express at the IMAX theater in Ft. Worth. It was a lot of fun. I was pleasantly surprised that Amai didn’t really move around much or talk during the movie at all.
Chinese gift exchange.
Amai talkin' to Uncle Hoyt.
His matchbox cars. He plays with them all day long.
One of her favorite movies.
We had a wonderful time. And it was tiring though not exhausting. I came home ready to dig into the rest of our (my) projects.
The next day I made Chris get everything out of the attic so I could sort through it all. Sadly this is the first time since we moved into the house that I’ve really been able to sort through things. Though I thought it would be really hard, I was able to let go of most of Asher’s baby clothes. It is a little sad to know I probably will not have another little baby boy, but I love getting rid of junk so much that I wasn’t very sad for very long. I got to get out all of the infant girl clothes I had, and the rest of the clothes I kept are now catalogued and in numbered boxes by size. Yes, I love being organized when I can.
We primed the fire place and it is now ready for paint. We are getting very close to finishing the cabinets in the kitchen. I narrowed down my options for the crib bedding I will be making. I went through both kids’ closets and got them completely organized. There was even a little time to make a dent in sorting through the thousands of pictures I still have from my parents’ life together. It was great.
Now we’re on to a new year. I’ve set my goals. One of them is to be more disciplined. Disciplined with our money. Disciplined with taking care of myself in the midst of three children needing me at every waking moment. And my other goal is to enjoy life more. Chris works so hard to provide for our family and being that I am the more free-spirited one of us, I want to try and find more things we can get out and enjoy together (that are also free or cost very little.)
It’s going to be a great year. March and our (still nameless) little girl will be here in no time. This year will also be Amai’s first year in Kindergarten, as well as Asher’s first year in Mother’s Day Out. I’m looking forward to all of it. Thank you Lord for a wonderful 2008, I’m looking forward to the work and blessings you hold in store for me in 2009.
Thanksgiving was wonderful! We had such a great time with family that day, and I can honestly say that it was the most calm holiday celebration we’ve had since the kids came along. And then…
On the way home from Chris’s parents place in Arlington I made Chris pull over so my pregnant bladder would live. And I got out, quickly followed by Amai who rather urgently announced the need to vomit. So after what can only be described as an impressively disgusting episode of throwing up in the parking lot of a gas station, we headed home for what I thought would be a 24 virus. And here it is, one week later and we just now think she is finally well.
What is it with the stomach flu? Why can’t someone figure out a way to make a vaccine for it. They have the Rotatec vaccine for babies, so why can’t they make a version for preschoolers- and even one for adults while they’re at it. I hate being sick at my stomach more than anything else in the world. To put it mildly. And thish week was fairly miserable. Poor Amai- she is a trooper for sure. Kids are much more resilient than I am, I think.
Since we were trapped inside all week, I decided to do something productive so I wouldn’t lose my mind. While I don’t mind sitting still, I prefer doing something productive while I am forced to stay in one place. Sooooo, voila! I finished making roman shades for Amai’s room. Take a look.
Yay!
I’m going to go with a more bold color palate for the baby bedding, as well as Amai’s bedding. (I don’t think you can tell, but there are some fairly bold colors in the shades.) And we may have to tweek the paint color a bit because of the pink in the shades. I love them though- they turned out much better than Ashe’s, even though his turned out pretty well, too. I’m even thinking of getting a different bed or making an upholstered headboard for Amai.
In case you don’t know, our house is a major remodeling project in the works. I love that we’re changing so much of it and will really love how it will help the re-sale value someday. But it is, by far, a diamond in the rough. I love our house, I’m so thankful for it every single day, but I know noone else sees the potential in it that I do. I’m eager to move onto the kitchen and “office” to get the paint and window treatments done. Then we finally get to focus on the master bedroom and master bathroom. One day, when any of the rooms are completely finished, I will post before and after pictures to amaze you all with the transformation!
Here’s a pic from Thanksgiving- see how healthy we all look? Who knew?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Aunt Patti and Uncle Bruce just recently spoiled us rotten on our trip to see them in TN. It was fabulous! They took us all over Knoxville- we got to see everything from the men’s college basketball team playing their first game of the season to seeing the snow-topped mountains up close and personal. Without saying another word, I’m just going to post the pictures and let them speak for themselves.
Getting excited on the way to the airport!
Sitting almost on the front row at the basketball game!
Though some of the fall leaves had fallen, the foliage was still just amazing.
My sweet Aunt Patti!
Did I mention how cold, but gorgeous it was on top of the mountain?
One in a million!
It was so nice to get away with Chris for a weekend.
Back at the base of the mountain...
Cool surprise...
On the way back to Knoxville after driving into the smokies, we stopped in Gatlinburg and to my surprise I found Arrowmont. Arrowmont is owned by my sorority, Pi Beta Phi and is a really cool place where artists can come and refine their craft, or take new classes to learn new skills. Since crafting is something I am personally passionate about, it was quite a treat to find Arrowmont here and to get to see it in person after hearing so much about supporting it through Pi Phi. You can learn more about Arrowmont here.
Overall, this trip was exactly what I needed. I didn’t realize how badly I needed to have a break with Chris and to get to see my family. Thanks again Bruce and Patti- you two are amazing and I LOVE spending time with you.
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