Christmas Cheers

JOHN IS HOME FOR 11 DAYS. I am thrilled for help with diaper duty, adult conversation, lingering kisses, a few kid-free outings, and (the best part) John's blazing waterfall of Christmas cheer!

This afternoon we found ourselves in the kitchen together. He was making his mother's peanut butter fudge and a new molasses cookie recipe. I was sipping my new favorite punch with rosemary garnish and smiling at the resident leg grabber. 

Our next door neighbor has her grandson in town who has 100 of the best ride on toys and we could see and hear the three big kids playing in her yard and climbing her magnolia tree. 

Jesus is the reason for the season, and these kids play a close second. 

Boy Pile On

It happened one day last week that I found myself arms full of my three boys. They love to lay on me-as much of their body on my body and I love the weight of them. When this happens, someone usually notices and says, "oh Mama, you've got your three boys!" This time Fern noticed and grabbed my phone to take a picture-these pictures were taken on the same day, morning and night. 

I wouldn't call myself ready to raise boys, thank you Jesus for all grace and power, but I can say that nothing surprises me, thank you brothers for that hard knock education. Their rowdiness and their cravings for all things outside and physical is totally appreciated by me. I respect that they need to wrestle, roam, fight, explore, and get into mild trouble.

A quick google search to find a quote about raising boys turned up lame. The quotes were stupid and a little bossy. I don't have a conclusive thought on the subject, because it just is. It's fun, it's great, and it makes me happy. However, I saw a shirt that says "support wildlife, raise boys," that made me laugh. 

Christmas Mall Rats

I know it's not cool to like the mall anymore, but we spent a night at the mall/mall area and had a Christmas blast. What started out as Fern and me running a couple errands, turned into whole family Polar Express edition. 

We did some out of the mall stuff then had dinner at Carrabba's. We haven't been eating out much (aside from $5 Hot-n-Ready pizzas), so the kids were heart eyes for the experience. Man, they were so nice to us! 

Side story: Burl asked to speak to "the person in charge of that place" because he was so impressed. We told Ken, the manager, about how Burl wants to be a chef. Ken invited Burl back for a tour of the kitchen and to make his own pizza. Five days later, my dad (the actual professional chef in the family) took him back. They let him try every part of it-even the fire oven! To top it off, they gave him his own chef's coat. Support Carrabba's-they are good people! Burl wrote the kindest thank you letter.

After our Carrabba's dinner, we headed to the mall. Of course we had to talk to Santa! We don't "do" the whole Santa thing, but my kids always appreciate a brush with magic, believed or now. 

As the pictures show, it's obvious that the line went quickly and everyone waited patiently. Lark was there for it all too, but he was way past his bedtime. John had him moving in the stroller. 

Usually they're timid sheep when it comes to talking to Santa, but collectively they are wild things being silly through it all. Those mischievous smiles tell the story of what a good night we had together. 

(That's not the first time those overalls have met Santa. Remember this?)

Christmas Tucks

Whoop. I'm ready to put some Christmas on this blog! I've got Christmas spirit times two, because last year was a bust. I was 8 months pregnant with the biggest baby ever, sick (ended up getting the flu ON Christmas day), and had no energy but for the tree. My memory of last year was pain and exhaustion. 

Not this year! It's my first Christmas with four children, and they are so into it. They're guessing presents, rearranging nativity scenes and pretending to shoot the fake mistletoe that hangs in the doorway. We're also following an advent guide for the first time. 

After Thanksgiving, we got out the tubs, the music, and a new cookie recipe. We were jolly. I have a small handful of breakable ornaments that I put on the tree in unreachable heights, but other than those, I let the kids decide placement. Fern decided that all the white angles need to be together, so dang it they are together! No spacing here-that makes no sense to her!

Last year, I was at a friend's house for a mom-brunch and her house felt so festive and cozy. She was a tucker (like I am) putting yard trimmings here and color there. Nothing over the top. This year, I tucked too:

My free decoration that's not really free-buy some good colored Christmas card stock, punch oversized holes, and sew together for easy garland. Ridge "helped" with this and was amazed by the production. 

Sometimes the kids help tuck too-Fern got a discarded branch and put in in the vase and added it to this vignette. Like mother, like daughter. 

And Christmas cards-filling our dining room window with color. 

This is the dresser in our bedroom. What you might see is plain and boring, but what I see is PEACE AND QUIET. Mama's haven. 

My next door neighbor has given me an open invitation to grab branches from her front yard. It's a goldmine of evergreens. She has three types and I have some scissors. 

I stuff them everywhere-seriously nearly every room. 

It's like playing Where' Waldo? in each room-where did she put some greenery now?

My biannual watering of my houseplants even looks festive in the sink. I love real plants in the house, but John always jokes about my lack of care for them. They get one watering once they arrive then they're on their own. I'm nurturing a bit more now (and finding more resilient plants). 

Eucalyptus is my favorite! I love the smell and here you'll notice that the muted leaves' colors really bring out the ambiance of the sound machine. 

The living room sees a lot more living this time of year. Aren't twinkling Christmas lights romantic? I've had a standing date with the tree at the beginning and end of every day. John is allowed to come too. 

And now I continue to fill the space under the tree with presents. The more I add, the more the kids' excitement builds. Jesus is the reason for the season, but these sweet children add to it as well. 

Merry Christmas!

The Unbuckled Thanksgiving

We unbuckled our seat belt of rules and rode the Thanksgiving roller coaster as wild as we could. 

First off, the kids and I went all out with our place settings, a little tradition that I especially enjoy. In years past, we have come up with some fun ornate excessive little craft for each person's place. The kids are in charge of choosing the seating arrangement, a task that they take seriously. I love overhearing their reasoning of each person's place, even though they are about the same every year. 

But let's admire the little faux campfires for a moment. They even gave out faux heat. In our hearts. Precious.

This year I did something that I never knew I could do-I ran the 8k Turkey Trot with John and my brothers. It put me in the best mood for the rest of the day, because I was bursting with pride and energy. 

After the race, we headed back to our house. I put out a meat and cheese plate, and the kids filled up there. They couldn't imagine that they could walk by the plate, grab whatever they wanted and eat it while they walked around. Not buckling the seat belt can be fun. Ridge never got an official nap, until after the big meal, we found him asleep. That belly says it all. 

The next day we joined John's family for a buffet lunch. It's very unusual for us to go out to eat, but it was a treat for everyone. A break for the cooks in the family and a brush with fancy for the children, we all enjoyed ourselves. 

Our fun time with our extended family set such a good tone. As soon as Saturday hit, we started with the Christmas decorating and music. More of our current holiday explosion later! 

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7 Years (And Counting) Of Siesta

Recipe for my daily rest time: 

Book (currently reading this)

Good candle (my all time favorite or my new favorite)

Space heater

Closed blinds

Time to myself

For over seven and a half years, I have had a napping baby/toddler/child. Which means, for the same time, I've had an afternoon siesta. I spend the first little bit doing a few minor chores or dinner prep, but mostly I take that time to myself. Napping, watching, reading, writing, staring, snacking-the options are overwhelmingly endless. It's my cross that I have to carry. But it never, ever gets old. Goodnight/day.