Back to Normal

We are getting back to normal, finally! I love the Christmas Holiday season but, gosh, it's tiring! The tree is disassembled & safely back in the attic. The house is almost livable again & the boys are having a blast with their new toys!
Now on to the next BIG event in the family! My brother, Will, is getting married on January 17th. We all have new clothes, except Jacob. We will be shopping for him Wednesday. I am so excited. My sister-in-law to-be is a sweetheart. She is a perfect addition to our family. Eli & Joshua are ring bearers. I'm a bit nervous about that. I think Joshua will walk down like a champ but Eli gets so nervous. I am just worried that he'll be too shy to walk in front of everyone. I keep reminding him of what he has to do & he seems to agree but I know that can change quickly around here.
Joshua is full fledged potty training now. I have been half-heartedly doing this for a couple of months but he had no desire to cooperate so I haven't pushed the issue. Well, now I'm pushing the issue. Of course, he's still less than enthusiastic but we're trying!! Hopefully, neither one of us will lose our minds in this endeavor!
Kevin bought me a sewing machine for part of my Christmas gift. I have been wanting one for a while now. I know how to sew but it's been a really, really long time since I've done it so I am looking forward to trying again. I've always thought if I ever have a little girl I want to smock & make dresses for her. I'm not sure why I haven't tried for the boys, but maybe I will now.

Here are just a few pictures of Christmas around our house!

This is Eli & Joshua waiting to see what Santa left for them, at 5:30 AM!

This is Eli & Joshua playing with some of their new stuff.

This is Jacob smiling at himself in his new mirror toy. He thinks someone is handsome!

This is David, Jacob, Peyton, Dylan, Eli, Joshua & Charlie patiently waiting to open their gifts at Mema's. (David isn't really waiting, just holding Jacob!)

This is Eli outside at Mema's, waiting to shoot his new BB gun.

This is Joshua waiting to shoot his new BB gun.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas & I hope you have a safe & happy New Year!

My Husband

My husband, Kevin, and I have been married for 5 years. He is so good to me. In my life I have made so many mistakes & bad choices but he is one of the best choices I've ever made. He is strong & kind. He is fiercly loyal to me & the boys. He is our protector & an incredible man. He has been through so much in his life & I think those things have made him the special person he is now! I am extremely lucky to be loved by such a man & I hope that I am always worthy of his love.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town!

I took the boys to see Santa Claus on Monday. It was so funny. Eli is extremely shy when around someone he doesn't know. When Santa, or Santie (as Eli calls him) asked what he wanted for Christmas he wouldn't say anything. So, here I am standing next to Santa trying to get Eli to tell him what he wants & finally Eli wispered that he wanted a "light saver", aka a light saber like they use in Star Wars (the newest obsession in our house). Joshua marched right up to him & got in him lap & said he wanted a puppy. Of course, Kevin has told Joshua that when he starts using the potty like a big boy he can have one. I guess Joshua thought he could get around that by asking Santa for one. Then Jacob just sat up there like he'd known Santa all his life! He was so sweet & never got scared or upset. I was very proud of all of them.
I love this time of year with little boys! They are so much fun!!!

Busy week & weekend

Well, we were on vacation from last Saturday until Tuesday. We went to Gatlinburg, TN & had a wonderful time! It was so nice to just get away & the kids loved staying in "our new house". They were so funny while they were exploring everything. They've never stayed anywhere but at home or at my mom's house. We rented a chalet & it was beautiful. It was just up the mountain from downtown Gatlinburg so we were close to everything. I recommend visiting there! Here's a picture of the boys at Cades Cove.

Now we are preparing for Christmas. We put our Christmas tree up on Thursday because we were home all day. I love our tree. It's really pretty. We have lots of lights & lots of ornaments. The boys love it & really haven't messed with it as much as I thought they would. Pictures don't do it justice but here's one anyway!

I've also spent some time taking pictures of my boys today. They weren't dressed up or anything. Actually they were still in their pajamas but I thought they looked cute!






I am almost through with my Christmas shopping!!! Yay me!! I never, ever get up & go shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving but this year Walmart had 2 items that I was sure I needed. I got up Friday morning at 4am & headed to Walmart. I got there & walked in & there were hoards of people standing around all of these pallets full of stuff going on sale at 5am. Well, stupidly, I thought "Well, I'll just check out the electronics department since everything I want is there". BIG MISTAKE!! I couldn't get within 100 feet of any part of electronics. There were so many people! Apparently the budget crunch isn't affecting people around here! Everyone in Olive Branch was at Walmart.Well, needless to say, I promptly turned around & walked to my minivan & was back in bed by 4:45am. I did go back around 9am & got 1 of the items I wanted & it was much less crowded!! Saving that mental note for next year because I decided that Walmart couldn't give away stuff to get me there that early again!
Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! I have so much to be thankful for this year. My husband is wonderful & my sweet boys are happy & healthy! What more could I ask for!

My Little Men

I have the best little babies! I'm looking at them & I am just amazed that these wonderful little boys are mine. They are all so unique. They all look very similar but their personalities are so different. They have all been super babies. Now as they grow older their own personalities are coming out more & more.
Eli is kind & gentle. He is strong & protective. He knows just how to take care of his brothers. He's never mean to Joshua & he knows exactly how careful he has to be with Jacob. He remembers everything & always knows the best way to do what he's doing. He is also somewhat headstrong & definately a first born. He is so smart & very inquisitive.
Joshua is thoughtful & very smart. He loves to work with tools & figure things out. He loves to help me with any number of things. He's extremely headstrong & relentless & he forgets nothing, especially if it has to do with him getting to do something. He has an angel smile & when he's up to something he curls his nose.
Jacob is still so young but he has a wonderful personality. He loves to be talked to & cooed at. He loves being held & cuddled. He doesn't mind laying in the floor on a blanket & playing with his rattle. He adores his brothers. They are the funniest things in the world to him. He is a chubby little butterball & he sleeps best when he's next to me.



Anyway, that is what I've been thinking about today. I am an extremely lucky mommy. I have been blessed beyond words 3 times. They take my breath away every single day & I love them with all my heart!

Time for Christmas

Well, I'm officially Christmas shopping, ugh! I am not a crowd person & I don't enjoy getting to the store early to get the best deal! Really, I prefer to shop online when possible! I don't know exactly what the boys are getting for Christmas. Afterall, they already have way too much stuff. I think I need to toughen up & just get rid of the stuff that they don't play with, even if it's in good shape! That's my problem, I am forever holding on to stuff because it's still good. Well, if no one plays with it, it's just in the way. I think I may work on this today, otherwise, we will be run out of our house by toys this holiday season!
Now, onto other subjects. We are going to vacation next week! Really, it's just a small vacation, 4 days & 3 nights in Gatlinburg but we are so excited! It's the first vacation we've taken since we got married 5 years ago. Usually, when Kevin gets vacation time saved up we have a baby & he spends vacation time at the hospital!! I'm actually a homebody but it will be fun for our little family to just get away! Kevin needs it because his job is driving him crazy right now! He works 2nd shift so we have very little time together since I work mornings...but I guess you do what you have to do....
Now, I'm thinking about putting up the Christmas tree! We will probably do that the day after Thanksgiving! Kevin hates putting it up that early but I love it. It gets me in the mood for the holiday season & the boys love it. I love to see their little faces when they lay on the floor under the tree & look up at all the pretty lights. I get tired of fighting for them to leave my ornaments alone but they're a little older this year so maybe they'll listen to reason, haha!
I know Christmas trees & toys are not what Christmas is all about & I'm sure I put too much emphasis on these things. I am trying to figure out how to make this Christmas special for my boys & teach them what the season is really all about. Poppy Joy's mommy posted a wonderful idea on her blog about making each day a learning experience about the true meaning of Christmas. I thought this was such a great idea because as we raise these children we are responsible for giving them truth, first & foremost. Hopefully, when we give them a strong foundation they will not be so easily swayed in the future. I want my boys to always be thankful for a Savior that was born to this earth just so he could die on a cross so that we can spend eternity in Heaven with Him. What an awesome thought. Even before there was Christmas God loved us enough to do that. Amazing!!

Looking ahead

While I am sick about the events that brought us President-elect Barack Hussein Obama, I am doing my best to trust that God is in control. As a born again Christian I know that God can do anything. God can use ungodly men to further His kingdom just as He uses Godly men. He is not in Heaven this morning changing His "game plan". He knew this was going to happen. He is only sad if Christians don't trust Him with this decision. We will get through this.
Thankfully, even though the state of California did vote for Barack Hussein Obama, they did pass the ban on Gay Marriage amendment, along with the 2 other states that had this on the ballot. That is something.
I believe that this could be God bringing Christians to our knees. I, for one am on my knees. I will pray for Obama & Biden. God can change an evil man's heart or He can use the evil man for the betterment of His kingdom.
So, in closing, I am not going to lose sleep over this. I am going to trust God & I am going to live the life He wants me to. I am also going to thank Him daily for the miracles that I live with every single day....They were people from the moment they were conceived & the knowledge of that should be above no one's pay grade!