Christmas to Me

Christmas. It means more to me than a tree, decorations and presents. This Christmas I have been able to reflect more on what Christmas truly is in my heart. Thank you, God, for sending your Son, Jesus, to earth to be born in Bethlehem. Christmas signified the beginning of what became THE most important thing to happen in this world EVER - the death and resurrection of my Savior. So as I continue to celebrate Christmas, I remember that without Christmas there is no Calvary. Without Calvary there is no sacrifice and redemption. And without my redemption there is no eternal life with my Lord. So I say, Merry Christmas to you all!

In Ethan's preschool class they had a party where they could wear their pajamas and decorate cookies. They had been working on a gift for the parents for the last few weeks, and on that day Ethan gave me his handprint in clay. What a sweet gift and he was so proud of it. My baby is growing up!!


My Nana came to spend a few nights with us (my parents let us Nana-sit) and we decided to take her to Logan's to watch the candy canes being made. Well, we weren't the only ones who had that idea, but we were somehow able to sort of watch how they did it. The crowds were almost too much, but we managed to still make our way through the small store and pick up some treats to share. They do give out warm samples which are yummy, but because they were warm, I got 5 squares stuck together, which I offered to those around me. They all gave me this look like, "wow, aren't YOU greedy?" Oh well....

The next day I had a doctor's appointment which worked out perfectly. Nana watched the kids for about 30 minutes while I got checked. Afterwards, we went to Watson's Drug in Orange for a chocolate malt, chicken salad, and other yummy stuff. Nana sweetly treated us (she insisted) and we were so thankful to spend some time with her by ourselves! Mom, I know you want a copy of this picture, so I'll email it to you! The lighting was perfect!

In the morning before my parents reclaimed her, she sat down to play the piano that she so kindly gave to us after Papa died. She played really well! She was having Austin pick songs for her to play, and he was trying to "help" her find the right keys. It was a special time for all of us and we sang several Christmas carols as well as "Jesus Loves Me."

This year Riva and I decided to go see the Newport Boat Parade in Newport Harbor. The traffic was terrible, but Bryan knew a less crowded place to go where we could see the boats with all their lights. The weather was gorgeous and not that cold! The kids enjoyed the boats, but I think they mostly enjoyed the candy that I brought from Logan's Candy Factory. Semi-fresh candy canes from the night before! I think our biggest worry was keeping Lynnea, Tyler and Austin from falling down the rocks in front of where they were sitting. We had a great front row seat!

The 5 waiting for the show to begin.

One of the many spectacular boats to parade in the harbor. I wonder - so much money is spent to BUY the yacht, but how much does it cost to deck it out like that? I won't even go there. WE enjoyed it and it was a fun experience.

Cozy and chillin' behind the kiddos watching the boats. Thanks Riva and Will for hanging out with us!! We had a really fun time. We don't do this enough, but it's fun when we do!

It was a Day...

Being a mom is challenging....too challenging for me sometimes. See the thing is, it's hard for me to give up control. I have this horrible feeling that I'll have to go to the ER for something stupid that my kids did if I don't watch them every so often. I also do NOT want to clean up horrible messes when it's been a bad day. SOoooo... this last week I was having a hard time with the boys (well, some of it was my patience) and I was told by Bryan over the phone to just let them go outside and play while I did something away from them. Little did I know that would be the start of quite a day. The first thing I see as I'm passing the window 15 minutes later is Austin throwing sand into the pond, while our entire deck is covered in sand from the sandbox. They wanted the sand to slide down the slide with them. Ya. So I have to go have them clean all that up. Then about 20 minutes later Austin yells, "Mommy, Ethan got paint on my face." Though I may be an artist, it takes a lot for me to pull out paints for the kids because of the potential mess and lack of attention span for the time it takes to clean up. I knew there were no paints outside....and then I saw THIS...

They had discovered that their chalk was completely soaking from the rain, and decided to paint the sidewalk and themselves with it. It was like goo. Of course Ethan was wearing his brand new jeans that are the only ones without holes in them. So after we removed the jeans, I let them have at it on the sidewalk while snapping pictures of the mess. They had a blast and I let go of the insatiable urge to spray everything down with the hose.

The goo was everywhere. It was like they were sitting in a painting while washing it with their feet. After the day I had, it took a lot for me to let it go on, but I'm proud of myself for not losing it. I just took pictures instead.

Enough said.

Programs and festivities

As we continue to battle sickness in our family, the fun comes and goes. I only post pictures below of the times we've actually gotten out and done things, which hasn't been much lately since we've battled colds and flu's the last month or so. Anyways, here's the update on our fam.

Bryan and I were giving the boys shoulder rides around the house and they were loving it! The one who wasn't being given the ride, however, was trying to take down and tackle the one who was GIVING the rides (mom and dad). What is WITH the tackling, but anyways... Ethan actually stopped and smiled for the picture above.

When Austin got on my shoulders, he was clinging on so tight to my forehead that he didn't care whether I could see or not. My hair was all in front of my face the whole time. Ethan thought it was pretty funny, but needless to say, I had to watch my feet to see where I was going.

Bryan's newest project is replacing all of our interior doors. Our friend and neighbor, Lee, discovered how to do it and bought a tool for it, so he and Bryan are collaborating to replace all of our doors and their doors. So far it's been a couple of weekends of sawdust noise in our garage while the big boys play with their big boy toys. One night Braedan and Toby (Lee's sons) came over to hang out with our boys and play Mario cart (which is Ethan's newest favorite game to play). It was amazing watching them all together because Toby (the one by Ethan) was Austin's age when we all met when I worked with Lee. My how time flies!...

Ok - my personality is NOT the type that likes things unfinished for long periods of time. (This is why my lack of scrapbooking sometimes kills me if I think about it). Anyways, I got this puzzle out that I had gotten when my parents cleaned out my Papa and Nana's house, and decided to open it and make it. Here is how obsessed I got....I actually sat down and chatted with Riva while completing the whole thing (border was done the night before) during the boys' nap time. It took me a little over 2 hours. I HAD to complete it. I'd say that's pretty darn good considering I haven't made one of these in years!!

Ethan had his Pre-school Christmas program last Tuesday and there was a time there that I did NOT think he'd get up in front of everyone and sing. In fact, even that morning Miss Lisa informed me that he'd cry every time they'd practice and go to the auditorium. Well, she must have said something to him during the day, because that night he went up there and performed like a champion! He was one of the best in his class singing all the songs! I was so proud of him because it was something new, but he didn't cry all the way through it. Sometimes I feel like I tell him over and over how it's going to be ok and not to worry about it and it doesn't get through.... (I know, mom and dad, I hear you saying it's coming back to bite me from when I was younger...)

Afterwards, we went to Miguel's Jr. and had some yummy Mexican food. I have to stay away from spicy still (which is hard for me) so I had a soft taco, but Bryan got nachos and Ethan got a bean and cheese burrito. Austin, however, didn't want anything but chips. No matter what I tried to get him to eat, all he'd eat was the chips. Until he discovered CILANTRO.

Then each chip was piled high in cilantro (or salad according to him) and devoured. A lot of it fell off during each bite making a mess, but he got some greens in him that night! We were laughing at how meticulous he was at getting all that cilantro on each bite. We've found a winner!!

An update on my physical stuff: Things have been going ok lately. After my CT scan a few months ago they saw nothing and figured that it is probably IBS (or Irritable Bowel Syndrome) that is causing the irritation and pain under my rib cage. I went to the Chiropractor and he figured out that he needed to adjust me differently, too. So, it could be a mix of things. In the last week I've been having some soreness and pain where my surgery was and today I had a check up appointment with my surgeon. I told him about it, and he had me do a blood panel so they could check my numbers. If nothing comes of that, he's not worried. I guess it could have to do with the fact that I've started jogging again and lifting (although I've been lifting weights for a few months now). Anyways, I hope it goes away and I can figure out the sort of diet that I need to be on for whatever it is that my body needs. There's a difference in the IBS diet and the Gall bladder (or lack thereof) diet. So, I would love your prayers concerning that! It's been hard to be good considering this is the time of year for goodies and stuff.