Our Christmas Eve......

For Christmas Eve we put a little gravel in our travel and headed to Dos Palos for time with my family. This is a part of my family that I don't get to spend enough time with. Our time together is fun.....and it's always insanely loud for the amount of people there.

When we got there the kids were riding quads and the big boys were preparing for target practice......for long range......where the targets blow up so you know if you're successful. This wasn't just a little pop......even from in the house I felt the ground shake. When it came time for gifts there were cowboy hats.......

remote control cars.......

remote control helicopters......(which were the biggest hit).......

Gage had a blast and everybody wanted to hold Gracie.....Valerie....

 Daddy......

 Uncle Josh....

 Uncle Jeff......they were blowing bubbles at each other.....

 Kelley.....

Kendyl.....

We laughed......

Opened gifts.....

Loved our gifts......

I wish I had pictures of the dancing. It started with PJ and Gage doing the Dougie....then they went Gagnam style, then Nick had to show them how to jerk and pin drop.....then we took it classic with the worm. That's where Gracie decided to join the fun and watching her try to do the worm was hilarious. 

It was a great day and thankfully our drive home wasn't foggy..........

Trimming the tree.......

Our tree is real-always will be.......and it will always have both gorgeous and ugly ornaments. For me, that's how Christmas has always been; it wouldn't be as lovely if everything was perfect.

The kids and I stopped at Hobby Lobby on our way down to the farm for Thanksgiving. While we were there I spotted some wooden ornaments for Gage to paint. He took them to my mom's and painted a few while we were out of town, then a few more when we got home. There are ornaments on my mom's tree that Amy, Josh, and I painted when we were kids........Amy's are perfect, Josh's aren't bad, and mine are downright ugly. I'm pretty sure I was close to Gage's age when I painted those-his look about like mine........

Just like my mom with the ones that we painted-never will I decorate the tree without these precious gems.  

Some of my other favorites are a set of ornaments Matt and I received as a wedding gift. It was something unexpected but I love them. Each one is symbolic-a church for our faith, a fish for fertility, a fruit basket for the bounty of blessings in our home.........there are several in the set. It's fun to take them out each year and review what they symbolize......and how they relate to our family. This time when we took out the fertility fish we joked that maybe this year we should just leave that one off the tree! 

Here is Gage's Christmas list this year........ 

We were in a quite a hurry when we wrote this so it's not his best work. I love that he included a new book for the babies, a shirt for dad, a new date book for me.........for Gracie he had asked for Santa to send her an Elf on the Shelf of her own. He changed his mind because he was afraid Builder (our Elf) wouldn't keep coming if Gracie got her own elf. For himself his list included Heelies (these are those shoes with a wheel in the heel so they can skate around in them), Beyblades and Ninjago Legos. Every time he wrote out his list or someone asked, "What did you ask Santa for?" I would feel bad. Gage would answer, "There is only one thing I REALLY want-Heelies".......and let me tell you what Santa is NOT bringing-Heelies. I don't want him to have them......I had people ask me if it's because they're dangerous and he would need a helmet like a skateboard-NO. But they're not allowed at school and I don't want them in the house......mostly I just think they're obnoxious. It's important to know that though I feel bad-I don't feel THAT bad because we're NOT getting them. 

This Christmas season I had whole list of things I wanted to get done-but didn't. As the big day approaches I'm fine with letting them go. I didn't get to make the wreath I had planned, didn't sew new stockings as I had wanted, didn't do Christmas Tree Lane, didn't make a gingerbread house (though Gage did at school to make up for it), didn't do this amazing new idea I had for monogrammed gift tags and the list goes on. In fact, this year-my gifts don't even have any ribbons or bows at all.......and my gift tags are Avery address labels that I wrote on with a Sharpie. I had big plans.......and as the day has been getting closer I realize that it might be several Christmases before anything gets done again. I'll have an entire post on that soon...... 

Gage's school-made gingerbread house...

BUT-we trimmed our tree, we hung our stockings, we read about the Grinch and Polar Express and of course-the story of Christ's birth, we watched Christmas Vacation, we made a few treats, we listened to Little Drummer Boy, and we didn't forget anyone on our list.........at least we hope not........

Love

How we started Christmas.......

A few months ago Matt and I decided that we needed to plan a weekend away without the kids.........we figured with twins on the way this would be our last opportunity to get away for.........several years. November was too busy and we didn't want to go while I was too far along so we decided on the first weekend in December. This meant that we had to get our Christmas tree BEFORE we left......I mean, if we were going to be gone the first weekend in December I couldn't wait for our tree to go up the SECOND weekend.

Each year we go out to find the biggest tree that we can fit in our house. I can't do the fake tree......it's just not our thing. I like the smell.....trying to find the tree with the fewest imperfections......the chill of the Christmas tree lot......it just wouldn't be right without it. Once we have the tree we put on National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, drink hot chocolate, and decorate the tree. The kids were hilarious. I wish I had taken a video but these pics are Gage and Gracie dancing......

Matt is crazy about having me "take it easy" this pregnancy so from the couch I gave directions on what to do. Here was the final product......

I've been searching for an angel to top the tree for years but haven't found one I like. I finally made Matt and Gage happy this year by getting a star.

After the tree was up and decorated I was ready for our trip out of town. The trip was perfect. We got a room at Tally Ho in Carmel, and left the kids with my mom for the weekend. The weather was drizzly but we just spent the weekend relaxing, reading, doing a little shopping, and enjoying some great meals. What we enjoyed most was sitting outside by the fire and enjoying some quiet time without the kids.

Our tree has changed since the above picture was taken......as gifts have stacked up for our loved ones. More posts on our holiday to come......

Love.

A look back at Thanksgiving.....

I finally have my own laptop back.....and can return to more frequent blogging......until the twins come at least......

We spent Thanksgiving this year at the farm. Jack and Kalli had just returned home from their honeymoon and invited us to stay at their house. It was a wonderful trip and with the twins coming we knew it would be our last time home for a while. Thanksgiving at the farm is no joke.......I think there were over 60 people there-family, friends, and neighbors. Some pics....

Gracie.....in a little dress I made for her

 The kids enjoying games on the tennis court......Gracie's trying to sneak in with the big kids

 Gathering to pray........

Gage with Kalli......

He just loves her......

We enjoyed reflecting on all we have to be thankful for......

Love

He met me here....and there....He meets me everywhere

Sometimes I go to church and my mind starts to wander.....it wanders off to my to do list.....to paying attention to every little move the twins make......to wondering if I should have reminded staff about Gracie's milk allergy just in case she picks up a cup that isn't hers. On the other hand, sometimes I feel like the message was meant just for me.

This last Sunday, at church, we were were asked to share a story and a picture (in the form of social media) of where God met us. Whether we shared the story of the first time or the umpteenth time-a story of when and where God met us. I've said before my memory isn't great but as I sat through the remaining time in service a few images came to mind. It brought great joy for me to think of the moments in life where God met me......

The first thing that came to mind was of the Church of Christ in Dos Palos, CA......probably around the time this photo was taken........
I saw several of us in the above picture on a bench singing, "Blue skies and rainbows and sunbeams from heaven, are what I can see when my Lord is living in me....I know that Jesus is well and alive today, He makes His home in my heart....never more will I be all alone since He, promised me that we never would part."

Next was YBC-Yosemite Bible Camp......

This one below is like Where's Waldo.......can you spot me?

How I loved going there every summer......He met me there each year. I learned of His forgiveness and love, how to worship and pray, and how fellow believers make the best friends. It was just one week out of every year......but it shaped me-because He met me there.

And then.....The Well

In 2007 I became angry with God........frustrated that my many prayers to heal a broken marriage were unanswered. I had no desire to maintain my relationship with Christ.......and over a year went by. At the start of 2009 Gage and I moved into a house and my friend Kelsi became our roommate. She asked me to go to church with her-we had gone together before but it had been a while. I was ready.....and so I started going again. Then I started dating Matt.....he also went to The Well so we would meet there or go together. I remember standing in church later that year; it wasn't the Christmas service but it was that time of year. Matt had just brought over the biggest Christmas tree that would fit in my apartment. It was the first beautiful Christmas I'd had in several years. We were singing, "Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow." I felt a warmth run through me.......like the temperature of the blood in my veins had just increased by ten degrees. It was the Holy Spirit-there to assure me that I was forgiven.......that even though I had been angry, that I had turned away, that I had questioned and probably even cursed Him-I was forgiven. Of all our meetings-that one stands out the most.

Then an image of our wedding day........



He met us there. He lives in the heart of my husband.......through Matt and my children He meets me daily.......His presence is the reason I am not a worrier......

I am so grateful I was asked to share this story.......

Love

Our growing family.......

It's been a while since my last post......I have some pics I want to share from our Thanksgiving and a few from our holiday preparations as well......I'll get to those when I get my laptop back. For now, it's just a post about preparing for our growing family.....

This pregnancy has definitely been different than the first two......I just don't feel as well. In fact, I feel like I should be having them any day when the reality is I have 8 or 9 more weeks. I'm as big as I was with Gage and Gracie when I delivered and more uncomfortable. Matt has been helping as much as he can and I'm grateful-but it's hard for me to accept the help. I have a friend that loves to have other people do things for her.......I hate it. It's just not in my nature to sit or lay down on a couch while life goes on around me. BUT-when I get contractions in the evenings I know it's best to sit down and let him take on the evening routine.

Sometimes I still marvel at the fact that there are TWO babies in there.......I imagine seeing one of them for the first time......then the realization that there is still another one coming that has yet to be seen. It's just not something I ever imagined happening in our life.

Gage is obviously very aware of all that is going on....he's aware that there are two babies coming....that they'll be coming a while after Christmas....that I haven't been feeling as well because of the pregnancy. He's sympathetic and already loves his brother and sister to be. Gracie obviously has no idea what's going on. In Dr. Swanson's office I was reading a little article in Parenting Magazine on preparing your children for the arrival of a new baby. I don't subscribe to the magazine because from my experience it doesn't line up with my parenting style. This article was a perfect example.

The article suggested having a gift for your older children to give them upon/after the birth "from the baby". I know people who have done this but our family doesn't subscribe to that kind of parenting. The idea is that it makes your children feel special......it's so they don't feel left out with all of the attention being given to the new baby. For one, the materialism bothers me.......I don't like the idea that a physical or material gift is necessary to make my children feel special. Second, life doesn't always leave you feeling special and loved. For children at a certain age I'm sure a new baby brings jealousy and feeling "left out" from the attention given to a new baby. Such is life sometimes and even children need to experience hurt feelings as a part of growing up. More importantly, for our family, a new baby wouldn't bring a gift because the new baby IS the gift..........

On that note.....we are anxiously awaiting our gifts. We can't wait for the arrival of this baby boy and girl and look forward to the joy and love they will add to our family. As we celebrate this most wonderful time of the year we are so grateful for the two gifts that are to follow......and we pray daily that they don't make an early escape!

Love