"Mo Lights"

"Mo Lights, Mo Santa, Mo Jesus"....That's our 18 month old's way of requesting more Christmas.  We heard this phrase repeatedly from the backseat as we would pass by decorated houses, nativities, and lights. We may need to work on the order of those requests but she kept us laughing through all of our travels.  We would think she was asleep and then hear "ohhhhh" from the back as we passed by something she liked.  I'll say it again, Christmas with kids is wonderful. Tiring. But wonderful.  It brings back so much of the joy we quickly lose with all of the hustling around and endless lists.  We spent Christmas with the Hostetler's and then headed to Columbia for the back half of the week.  I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking. 

a little last minute shopping

Helping Oma with cookies

taking it all in

safe to say she's not a fan of carousels

An attempt

loving on her "man-man"

A "man man" pancake

oh so animated

All bundled up for the lights

sweet girl

oh so relaxed

love this face

all the cousins

our little cowgirl

love.

Santa came!

new set of wheels

it's a winner

taking Elmo for a spin

taking a nap break

her favorite spot

Her gift from Lolli and Pop!

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Hopped right on!

You think she likes airplanes?

We are so grateful for the generosity and hospitallity of our families.  So thankful for their love.  It's been quite a year! Here we go 2013!

My Waffle

This lady sums it up pretty well.  I have had similar thoughts but would not have been able to convey it so eloquently.  I stumbled upon this last night. Today at lunch , we got some news of what looks like more delays on the home front. Frustrated is an understatement.  In my attempt at a holiday craft, E and I were going to make salt dough ornaments.  Easy enough.  Who doesn't have salt, flour, and water? Apparently me.  Since moving to this apartment we streamlined.  We have not purchased anything we don't use on a daily basis, mainly because we do not want to have to pack it for the third time this year.  Now we have a little salt shaker but no big daddy case like this calls for.  No salt was a breaking point for me today.  Funny how it can sometimes be the smallest things that seem to push you over the edge.  Not a proud moment I admit.  After the call from the realtor I told my husband through tears that I know our "waffle" is not finished yet.  That there is a reason and a purpose for this season of waiting and uncertainty.  I was very much the one screaming at the toaster today.

O' Christmas Tree

We debated on getting a tree this year.  I know, who am I? If you know me you would know that this would    ordinarily be punishable in our household.  We were clinging to the hope of closing on the 17th and I was trying to minimize the chaos of moving around the holidays, if that's even possible. Also throw in an incredibly curious 18 month old and a table top tree was looking pretty good.  Well after a  more than frustrating walk through of the house and an equally frustrating discussion with the builder we headed straight to pick out our tree.  Yup, that's right I bought my tree out of spite :) I believe my sentence went something like "they (the builder) can miss deadlines, display sub par communication skills and  skew our plans, but they can't steal Christmas. Yes, cue the music to "The Grinch".  That't the imagery I saw in my head at least.  So on we went to the local tree farm  Lowes.  Emerson loved getting to find the perfect tree and was enamored with the larger than life blow up Santas and "man-mans" (snowman).  She is now convinced that Santa lives at Lowes, as she "ho, ho, hos" every time we pull into the parking lot.  Daddy would be proud. We found our tree and decided to take the "simplistic" route with ornaments, seeing how all of ours are in storage.  We combined Emerson's love of gumballs and some gold spray paint and ta-da.  I did spring for some green balls to mix it up a little.  And the biggest surprise, Emerson has not gone near it.  Except to tell me to turn the lights on :) 

P.S The sweater she is wearing is mine from when I was her age.  Yeah we aren't sentimental at all.

Chris explaining how to choose

She found it.

Thankful

Somehow it's already December and surprise, I haven't done our Thanksgiving post. :) We headed to Columbia for the back half of the week.  We ate entirely too much, enjoyed the parents new house, caught a little high school football and even snuck in a date night.  I was so excited for Emerson to watch the Macy's parade.  It was a tradition in our house.  Dad would get the fire going and we would all settle in on the couch with hot chocolate. E LOVES balloons and is starting to show interest in "characters" so I thought it would be right up her alley.  Apparently she had other plans.  Our sweet little sleeping-in girl woke up so happy and ready to go at a dreaded 5:30. Whoooohooo.  Which of course resulted in a much needed nap (for everyone) at 9:30.  Oh plans.  I will learn.  Kids have a sixth sense when you really need them to be well rested and on their A game.  Its part of God's way of humbling us.  I'm convinced :)  Anyway she did great after round 2 of her sleep and enjoyed the family and even tried all the casseroles . We are so thankful for our sweet girl that keeps us laughing.  And running.  And learning.  I am thankful for my patient man to do life with. It has been an eventful year but to step back and look at the Lord's provision. Thankful is an understatement.

4 Generations

a very tired E in her floral hat

kisses for Aunt C

always a fun time with Uncle JimJim

my girl