a very good Christmas

I will do my best to walk you through the six hats' Christmas. The holiday officially started when school let out on Thursday the 20th. At the Christmas gift exchange in Cassy's class, she received a little porcelain tea set. On Friday the 21st she decided to host a tea party in her bedroom, Madi and Ethan were invited. They had a great time!
On Sunday the 23rd, it was time to make cookies. Boy did we make a mess! It was a lot of fun and the cookie dough was yummy. Ethan quickly discovered this.

On Christmas Eve day, we decorated our cookies. Zach enjoyed this because he got to eat his very first cookie!


Then we got a visit from the Blue Elf, who brings us blue PJs every Christmas Eve.
Sometime that evening, Ethan crashed
and the rest of us ate a nice dinner of finger foods.
When Ethan woke up we had our family Christmas Eve gift exchange.
It was a lot of fun and a great way to start Christmas. We followed Santa that night on the Santa tracker and at 9:30 pm called out to the Missile Defense Control Center where they too were tracking Santa, and found out that he was going to arrive in Alaska at around 10pm. Off to bed the kids flew to dream about sugarplums and the much anticipated packages that would surely be waiting for them in the morning. On Christmas morning, Santa had not disappointed! The stockings were full, and the tree was barely visible behind the mound of packages that enveloped it. We took it slow, and sometime after 12pm had finally opened the last package. Everyone was tired and happy and what fun we had playing with our new toys!

Christmas Eve

As Christmas Eve settles upon us, I look back at the very busy year. Last year at this time I was pregnant and still freaking out over the idea of adding another child to our family. Now, I have an almost 9-month old. Where has the time gone? I seem to ask that alot. I don't know what it is about children, but they sure do know how to make life whiz right by. The best thing about this year passing so quickly is that we are almost to the whole milk, no more bottles, don't have to carry him around in an infant carrier stage! Yippee!

Truth be told...I was panicked at the idea of how difficult our lives were going to be by adding another child, especially so soon after having Ethan. I felt guilty because it was very hard for me to be excited about my pregnancy. I had never felt like that before. One year and a thousand kisses later and I can't imagine our family without Zachary. I knew that if I had gotten pregnant so easily after having some complications with Madison and Ethan, then God must have a plan for me-a gift. That much I was aware of. I just didn't know if it was going to feel like a gift or more like a test of my strength, mental and emotional. Zachary has truly been a blessing. He is the (knock on wood) best baby ever! He is happy all of the time, he puts himself to sleep, he sleeps through the night (most of the time). He is so beautiful and perfect to me. I thank God every time I see his little smile. I mean, seriously, how could you not feel happy when you have a beautiful baby like that smiling at you every day?

I know that some people were a little worried about us. Especially knowing that Zach was our pleasant surprise, and having just moved so far from family and friends. We've done okay, though. We have made a lot of great friends and have adjusted to this lifestyle that is Alaska. We have had to give up some things along the way to make our new home life work. We said good-bye to our yorkie Max, who was given to a much better family. He now has lots of little brothers and sisters, all yorkies, to play with. I also had to make a very difficult decision this fall and put our Newfoundland, Dakota, up for adoption. He was my other baby. He was just not happy in this small, boxy house. Who could blame him? After all, life on a military installation doesn't give people a lot of freedom let alone animals. Anyway, I believe he too has been adopted and hopefully has a lot of land to roam.

We have learned some interesting things since our arrival here in Alaska. We know how to deal with the constant summer daylight, and long, dark winter days. We have learned how to dress our children in full snow gear in less than five minutes. We have learned how to spot a moose in the dark while driving and where to go to get the best restaurant style food in this tiny, little, in-the-middle-of-nowhere town. We have a new found appreciation for the statement, "I am going to the store". We also know how to keep four children entertained for two hours at a time while in a moving vehicle. We use the words "cold" and "windy" wisely. We know all about frostbite, signs, symptoms, and prevention. We have also seen some amazing things that we will never forget.

This year, our oldest daughter changed before our eyes. She began the year as a young girl and will end the year as a young lady (in training). Our six year-old daughter learned to read, add, subtract, how to count higher than fifty, and so many other things that I just can't put them all down. Our oldest son started the year off getting into everything and hardly talking. Now, he repeats everything we say, and uses his own sentences to communicate what he wants to say. He says things like, "Stop it Madi! No! Bad boy!" and "Mommy, I want more sippy juice. Strawberry milk. Peease!" And our Zach...he was just a growing fetus in my womb. Kicking my bladder and turning summersaults inside of my uterus. Now, he stands on my tummy and bounces...giggling and smiling with a twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes.

Have Michael and I have been overwhelmed this year? Yes, we certainly have been overwhelmed... by all of the wonderful changes in our lives. The ups and downs of parenting, adding a new member to our family, adjusting to a new lifestyle. It is all overwhelming...wonderful and overwhelming.
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY:
As we celebrate the birth of your son, and the end of another year, Lord, we thank you for all of the wonderful blessings that you have bestowed upon this family. We are overwhelmed with joy, happiness, and all the love you have provided us this past year. Thank you Father, for our wonderfully overwhelming lives. In your name we pray, A-Men.
PEACE ON EARTH AND GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN. May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! God Bless...

'Tis the Season to be Very Busy!!

The pictures above are of the following: Zach and Santa at the Fort Greely Holiday Potluck, Kim Mortrud, Kathi Jurva, Andrea Richard, and Me at the Holiday Ball (they're my girls!), Mike and Me at the ball, and Madi, Ethan, and Cassy at the Delta Elementary school program. Ethan only upstaged his sisters once before Mike caught hold of him. He did manage to get a few laughs first!

the perfect set-up

I'm a very social person. At this time in my life, when I am usually surrounded by kids, I tend to enjoy spending time with other women that are like me-Moms that spend a lot of time raising their children and taking care of the home. I enjoy hearing what other women have to say about their lives and their kids. I take in as much advice and info. as I can...anything that will make my life a little easier. The one thing that I hear all too often is how much pressure we put on ourselves to be the "perfect" woman. We wear so many hats and juggle so many plates, that it shouldn't come as a shock when one of them falls, yet we still feel surprised and disappointed at this inevitable failure. What is it exactly that makes us want or need to strive to be perfect? I know that I often find myself comparing my life to those of others. If I go to a friend's house that is super clean, I suddenly feel jealous because my home doesn't look like that, and disappointed in myself that I am not able to constantly maintain an immaculate house. "Where does she find the time?" I often wonder. I don't know how everyone does it, but I do know this...NO ONE IS PERFECT! For every person that seems perfect, there is some imperfection lurking somewhere.

A long time ago I was helping a friend cook dinner in her home. She too was one of those women that somehow managed to keep an immaculate home with kids. I loved coming to her house, but hated how I would make myself feel after being there. During dinner preparations, I asked for an item and was directed to go to the pantry to find it. To my surprise (and yes, sorry to say, relief and amusement as well) I found a highly disorganized space. I opened the door and things started flying off the shelves they had been stuffed on. I couldn't believe it! How could such a perfectionist have such an imperfect closet? I'm not sure if my friend ever organized her pantry, maybe she was having an off day. Who knows? I never said a word to her about the pantry because I was so grateful to have learned the surprising truth. No one is perfect. Sometimes when I am feeling overwhelmed because there is so much to do, I ask myself one little question to help me prioritize. What would make God happy? If I choose to scrub the kitchen floor instead of reading my son a book is God going to be happy about that? If I fold the laundry but fail to help my daughter with her homework, am I really succeeding at anything? Life is give and take. We have only two hands and only one body. We must make most of the time that we are allowed, but not at the expense of personal fulfillment and enjoyment. Time well-wasted is time well spent, too. It's not that you should spend all of your time doing nothing and never let anything bother you, but spend your time wisely and don't forget to make fun a priority too. Even if it means that the dishes won't get done until tomorrow. Ladies, (and any men who can relate)STOP SETTING YOURSELVES UP FOR FAILURE! Remember, when you die one day, will your child remember the fun day you spent with them at the park, or the day you washed the dishes, folded the laundry, and cleaned the toilets?

Updates and thank you's...

I just want to thank everyone again for keeping up with this new blog and posting your comments. They have all been very positive and supportive! Mike and I often check the blog just to see if anyone new has visited, so if you've been checking out the site, but haven't left a comment yet, please do so! We would love to hear from you!

Okay, now for the updates: Zachary is getting ready to cut two top teeth, and is still doing the belly crawl. He is starting pull up on things, and really wants to keep up with his older siblings!

Ethan is so excited about Christmas! Everytime he sees something new that is related to Christmas we hear, "Mommy, Daddy, Merry Kissmas, Merry Kissmas!" I'm sure there will be some great Christmas photos of him on this site, so stay tuned!

Madison is growing so fast. She is such a little lady! She loves school and is doing very well. On Tuesday the school had a carnival for the kids, and that evening was their Christmas Program. She told me last night that Tuesday was the best day ever! She has really been enjoying this holiday season.

Cassidy has broken up with her boyfriend. She now has a new boyfriend. Enough said.

confessions of a pre-teen soon to be drama queen

Well, it has begun. Our soon-to-be 11 year old daughter is experiencing drama in her life. It started at school right after she decided to get her hair cut short. Someone told her she looked like a boy. A few weeks later, she announces to me that she now has a boyfriend. "NO KISSING!!!" was my response. Today, we went to go see Santa at the FRG potluck. We wanted a family photo with Santa for our Christmas cards. The Buckeyes are going to the National Championship this year, so we decided to wear our OSU gear for the photo. "Mom, do I HAVE to wear Ohio State stuff for the picture? Can't I look like a girl?" was the response I got from Cassidy. She was standing at my bathroom door looking very pitiful. She had tears in her eyes, an oversize OSU T-shirt, and a black skirt with red roses on. I couldn't help but give her a hug and do my best to comfort this girl who is no longer a child, but an awkward adolescent. She didn't even hug me back. We have now arrived at the point in her life where it is no longer cool to hug or kiss your parents. I know she will one day outgrow this, after all I did, but it is still hard for me to understand. I told her I would help her, that you can wear boy clothes without actually looking like a boy. She felt better and looked very pretty for the potluck. I'm glad that she still trusts me and that the drama hasn't gotten excessive...yet. I told her that kids her age can be mean sometimes and that it's hard to ignore them. I said that even though they don't have any reason to make fun of someone, they will often find something to pick on someone for. I wanted her to know that she is not alone in learning this and told her not to become one of those kids. I also reminded her that what she thinks about herself is more important than what any of those kids say to her. In my heart I know this is not the last time she will experience the hurtful words of her peers, but I pray that she will always be strong enough to overcome it and trusting enough to come to her parents whenever she needs someone to lean on. Wasn't she just a baby...yesterday? Where does the time go? Oh well, I suppose now I can understand a little better all of those weird moments in my adolescence when I caught my mother looking at me with sad, strange eyes. "What's wrong with you?" I would ask. "Nothing" was usually the response. Now I know what she was thinking. You're not a baby anymore...

"Kissmas"

"Kissmas". That's what Ethan calls it. "Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Kissmas Mommy!" he said to me today as we sat together in the family room watching the movie ELF. My heart melted, of coarse. It's hard to be excited about Christmas time when most of your family is on the other side of the country. Having Christmas with your children is so much fun, but there's always a little part of you that feels disappointed that all of the Grandpas and Grandmas, Aunts and Uncles, and cousins are missing out on the joy shown in your children's faces when they open those special packages. There's no helping your Mom fix Christmas dinner because you are the Mom. There's no Christmas night card games with more people than there are chairs. Our Christmas is now with a Mom, a Dad, and four children. Even so, I know our Christmas will be a lot of fun this year. One day soon, we hope to be able to return to our families in Ohio and West Virginia and spend Christmas with them the way that we used to. But, for now, we will snuggle up tight with our little fellows, relish in homemade Christmas cookies and Buckeye making day with our princesses, and do our best to have a very, merry, Kissmas.