Psalm 127:3-5

Behold children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior, so are the children of one's youth.
How blessed are those whose quiver is full of them
."

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SERENE!

Our little Christmas / New Years baby!!

tThree amazing years have been spent with this precious child.... What a joy and blessing!
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Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve morning

Snuggling sisters!!
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Thursday, December 23, 2010

It was a different season

This Christmas season was different for Jimmy and I than the others we have spent together. Usually, our Christmases are full of trips to North Park and fancy dinners with our children, a date to the Dallas Symphony, lots of shopping with the children,etc. etc... However, this year we had to do things a little different and it was not an easy adjustment for either of us.....

I guess we are finally experiencing the "pinch" of having all these babies at once. Let me just tell you right now, when you have four children (three of them under the age of three) you are suddenly very limited in your social outings. It is VERY hard to get children that age to sit quietly at our own dinner table, much less a public dinner out. Have you ever tried to take four children to the mall...a single stroller, a double stroller and one little boy with the energy of ten and some seriously strong lungs?? =)Oh and the list of difficult public outings goes on and on.

What about a babysitter? Well this is something we do occasionally but this being the Christmas season we want to spend it as a family not farming our children out to babysitters so we can enjoy the season without them. Of course even in the case of babysitters time is limited due to having a nursing baby so things like the symphony will have to wait till next year. This was our first year not to go to the symphony for Christmas in 5 years and admittedly it was sad but on the other hand it was missed with a greater good in mind.

We all know parenting requires sacrifice but it seems for Jimmy and I we are in a season of serious sacrifice when it comes to our children. It seems as though we are sacrificing a lot right now... a lot of the things WE want to do. But, as we do this we are finding that our lives are being enriched through giving of ourselves for these small people. Life is never truly fulfilling when living only for yourself and we are finding that parenting many little ones is the antithesis of living for yourself.

Contentment is being taught to our hearts right now... and we are learning slowly but surely. Probably more slowly but nonetheless we are getting there. We are learning to be content with simple nights spent by the Christmas tree talking as a family.... YEAH RIGHT... more like Jimmy and I trying to shout conversation across the room to each other while children run and play around us. Conversation stopping every five minutes to answer a question, get someone a drink of water, change a diaper, get something someone can't reach, break up a fight (it is always Serene and Ben), etc. etc.

I started this Christmas season with the expectation of Christmas looking like it always has for us. I got about half way into the season and went through an irritated angry phase trying to figure out what we could do to get "our usual Christmas" back. I ended the season with a new perspective on what life looks like for us now and how I can embrace the change and the difference and find new ways to celebrate this amazing time of year.

With each child we have I find myself a little less interested in me and my "rights" and a little more interested in the broader eternal picture of life. There will come a day when my children will grow bigger and I will have that "usual" Christmas season back but I don't want to lose all the years in between hoping for them to pass quickly so I can get back to what I want to do. Instead, I'm trying to embrace these years, not just making the best out of a "bad" situation but making these the best years of our life so far.

Christmas for us

Over the 6 1/2 years that Jimmy and I have been married we have struggled many times to know just how to properly celebrate the season with our children. While we both want the true story of Christmas (the birth of Jesus) to be the supreme focus I also want to make Christmas a childlike magical time for my children. While our children know that Santa is not real we do watch movies that have Santa. Just like my daughters dress up and play princess while knowing they are not actual princesses I believe it is ok for them to watch the make believe world of Santa on movies knowing full well a jolly man in a red suit does not pass out gifts to the nice and coal to the naughty! =) Make sense?

When I was a child Santa was kind of forbidden. My mom specifically had a very good reason from her childhood for not allowing any Santa in her own house as an adult but for me now I am at least hoping to find a balance of including the fantasy of Santa (movies) and yet the reality of St. Nicolas and who that man really was. While I do know that the more modern version of Santa tends to indulge human greed and selfishness, I also know that stories of pretend and make-believe allow children to be just that... children.

I of course want my children to be responsible and have chores and jobs and know how to work hard and help their family and so on.... BUT soon enough they will grow up and work will be their entire life (whether it be at home or in a traditional job).
I want them to experience the wonder and innocence of childhood. Part of that is hearing my girls upstairs pretending to be princesses and mommies. Part of that is letting watch Santa and snowman movies at Christmas.

At the end of the day JESUS is why we celebrate Christmas and WOW what an amazing gift to receive in to your life. There is never any doubt what our central focus of the season is in our house but we also love to make a big pot of hot chocolate and watch The Santa Clause or turn on the music and dance around the house listening to Jingle Bell Rock!

I love this life we have here. Our home is a haven from the rest of the world and the yuckiness of it. We don't get it all right but we are trying to learn how to keep it all in perspective. It will be a very Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas with family


I'm reflecting today on Christmas and remembering that it's not about being with family or not being with family. It is about celebrating the amazing gift of Jesus to an undeserving world. While I will struggle this Christmas with family missed I know the real reason for the season and will choose to joy in Christ! Being with family at Christmas is just a bonus!
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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

My happy boy

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2nd

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Monday, December 20, 2010

1st and 3rd

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1st and 4th

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Sunday, December 19, 2010

Happy 18 months!

You are all a mom and dad could ask for in a little boy! We love you beyond words!!
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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Sweet snuggling brothers

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Sunday, December 12, 2010

Tea time

My girls were invited to another birthday tea party this weekend for their friend Rachel. They had a lovely time!
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Happy Birthday to our first baby!!

You are pure joy and make everyday amazing! I am enjoying more and more getting to know the young lady you are becoming! I love you Annie!!

photo by: www.mistycolvardphotography.com
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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Before and after canvas



I had this old framed canvas and I thought a little "upcycle" was in order.... so here it is...

Spray paint (I already had) and a $2 letter from hobby lobby... cheap and awesome!

PS, I'm linking to I Made It Without My Hubby from Shanty2Chic (please follow the link on my sidebar to see this awesome site for lots of fab ideas!)

Monday, December 6, 2010

Put your heads together

This is how they were sleeping tonight!
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My boys... wrestling

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Sunday, December 5, 2010

A tea party birthday

We had a beautiful birthday tea party with amazing friends and family this weekend. We enjoyed yummy food and crafts and lots of visiting.

I hope this starts a tradition and we are having these parties when the girls are teenagers!

A BIG thank you to my mom and dad and Jimmy for all your help in pulling this off with three small children!

The only thing we lacked.... Aunt Jennifer and Cousin Ella. We hope one of these years you can join us!
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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Thanksgiving table

This is the centerpiece Anna created for Thanksgiving... All by herself! Lovely!
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