Monday Afternoon

What a great way to spend a blustery winter day.  Jack got both the book and backrest for Christmas.  Lucy loves to sit with him.  I love that she loves it.

Slow Day

Today will be slow day around here.  We've got fevers and coughs.  Not to mention the wind is blowing fiercely this morning.  No need to go out in it.  We did have to drive back Christmas night in the snow.  The interstate was covered the closer we got to home but we made it just fine.
One of my favorite quotes from Christmas morning was from Samuel as he opened his stocking.
"Oh boy!  This is my lucky day!"

If all else fails, put them to work!

"When he came, there was no light.  When he left, there was no darkness."

                          Martin Luther

Merry Christmas

Checking Things Out

I wondered how long it would be until Lucy noticed the presents under the tree.  She actually didn't pay much attention the first day.  Then I found her checking things out.  Love it.

Fun Day

We went to the library this morning in search of Christmas books.  My favorite librarian was working.  She is always so chipper and quickly engages the kids.  She even let me look through a stash of books she had behind the counter.  We found plenty!  The first we read was Gus and Grandpa and the Christmas cookies.  Such a sweet story!  The second was The Night Before the Night Before Christmas by Richard Scarry.  Cute book and it reminded us of our friends from the cul-de-sac in Charlotte.  Thanks to Bonnie, I picked up Miss Read's Christmas which is already proving to be a cozy read.
Last night some friends of ours came over and brought gifts for the kids. Sammy's was a Sheriff Woody pillow/stuffed guy.  He has not parted with it all day.  Woody even came to the library with us.  The nice librarian asked Sam if he was planning on reading all these books to Woody when we got home.  Sammy grinned ever so slightly and nodded his head.  Fun day.

p.s.  Do you notice a trend in pictures of Sam with no shirt?  I don't know what it is but that's the way he likes it right now.

Perfect?

I declared today our Christmas cookie and craft day.
We baked cookies and decorated with the sprinkles.
We sprinkled (or dumped) glitter and glued sequins.
We had our music playing in the background.
And it was fun.
But if I'm honest, I'd have to say it was not all Currier and Ives.  Somehow looking back, getting out glitter and cookie dough at the same time might not have been the best idea.  I was a little on edge.  Sometimes impatient.  I can't tell you how I wish I had more patience.  It seems like I get a little less patient the older I get instead of the other way around.  That saddens me.
And I need to add that bit in here with all the pictures and smiles because if you're even a little like me,  you look around and hear about other families enjoying all of these holiday activities and wonder where you went wrong.  I want to create these cozy, perfect memories.  Not that I didn't enjoy our day.  I'm just saying, it wasn't perfect and I think that's ok.  One more reason why I need the Christ of Christmas more than I need a good memory from a perfect day.

Having said that, I did get some cute pictures and I think the kids had a good time.

I've not seen so much glitter poured in one place in a long time.

(He was just getting started!)

Not had so much tempting sugar around in a while either.

Sam said to me, "Mom, I guess you've never seen anything like this before."

HAHA!  There were an awful lot of sprinkles on his cookies!

Sweet Sam

Two things from Samuel:
Kayla and I were getting ready to make Rice Krispie treats today.
He said, "Great!  The girls will do the making and the boys will do the eating!"
Love it.

The other night as I tucked Sam in, I said, "Good night, Sammy.  Mommy loves you."
He said, "Good night, Mommy.  Sammy loves you, too."
So sweet.