December Daily | 25

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." Luke 2:14

Merry Christmas!

We had a pretty good Christmas Day. We got up and checked out our stockings, ate waffles {and yogurt} for breakfast, and got ready for a special Christmas Day service at church. And, of all days for me to rush out without my camera - the day that one of BB's friends was getting baptized! {sigh}

After church, we came back home for a big Christmas lunch and some play time and rest time before heading over to Grami and Papa Snow's house - the SuperHeroes were definitely hard at work.


I realized, after it was all said it done, that I didn't go real crazy on the photos this year like I normally do... but I did go pretty heavy on the videos. I'm okay with that... because I kept having another verse from Luke run through my mind so much yesterday and today:

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19

I couldn't help but have a little bit of understanding of what Luke meant - I don't want to quickly forget all these little moments from the past two days. I want to remember them, love them, and hold them in my hands and declare them the special treasure that they truly are.

Merry Christmas, Here's to Many More!

December Daily | 3 {Nov/Dec Family Birthday Party}

December is a big month for birthdays in our family. Not only are we celebrating HIS birthday and the joy that His birth brings to the world, but we also celebrate Noah's birthday as well as my sister's, Ben's brother and sister, our SIL, Ben's Grandmother, and even my uncle {though, he's techinically November}. Today we had the November/December Birthday Party for the birthdays on my side of the family.

I can hardly believe that our little superhero is going to be FOUR in just a week. It's unreal.

As soon as he saw the finished cake {he was standing nearby the entire time I was decorating... mostly because I think he wanted some icing}, he exclaimed, "That's the coolest and best cake EVER, Mommy!"


I'm so grateful that little things like a decorated cake still rank up there as "cool". ♥

These two have a special love for their cousin Amanda. They are always SO happy to see her and she is always so willing to play whatever they want to play with them.

{The costume didn't come off the entire party. Or day Or weekend, for that matter.}

Aunt Jessie and Uncle Bud - the other two birthday peeps!

Ellie, who had been walking around the kitchen all day asking for "Take, Mommy. Pease! Take. I'own take, pease." finally got some cake too. ♥

Thanksgiving

I've got so much to be thankful for today, and right there at the top of the list is a husband who is back home with us.

Happy Thanksgiving and praise be to Him from whom all blessings and good gifts flow!

Lunch with Grami and Papa

Noah seems to be feeling a little better today - thankfully. Still doesn't seem like his usual self, but we'll take what we can get. This afternoon, the kids, Nana, and I picked up Grami and Papa Snow and took them to lunch. Fun and good food was had by all.

Before we left to get the kids down for their naps, we stepped outside to take a couple of photos of Grami and Papa and then some of them with the kiddos too.

It makes my heart happy.

What also makes my heart happy = two. more. days.

♥

Halloween Eve

The kids have been getting pretty excited about getting to dress up. Noah knows and understands that trick-or-treating means candy... and Ellie just understands candy. After naps today, Mom and I got the kids dressed into their costumes and we loaded into the Sequoia for a little trick-or-treating over at Grami and Papa's house.

I think Grami might have squealed and giggled a few times over the cuteness that is the SuperDuo.

And they definitely got excited over the candy that Grami let them put into their bags.

After we left Grami and Papa Snow's house, we picked up Papa and Aunt BB and headed over to Westmoore Community Church's fall festival. We don't go to church there, but since we were already dressed up and I didn't really plan to take the kids door to door tomorrow night, I figured we might as well hit up as many fall festivals as possible.


The kids had a blast. Noah wanted to play all the games and even wanted to get his face painted {big step from last year when I drew a beard on him for his pirate costume and he freaked out}.

Ellie, not to be outdone, didn't want to have her face painted until after she saw how Noah's turned out.

They were just way too cute for me to be able to handle!

Speaking of way-too-cute-to-handle, look whose hair can officially fit into a big girl ponytail {when still wet from a bath}?!

Here's a few video clips from Halloween Eve:

Sister Saturday

Sister Saturday, the things I don't want to forget:

• Mom and DaddyMan leaving early in the morning to go on their 35th wedding anniversary getaway to Dallas;


• Noah and Ellie's excitement at seeing Aunt BB and Aunt Jessie arrive at the house;


• Aunt Jessie's tears at Noah's tears when he realized that we were not staying with him for lunch at Aunt KK's {thanks again Aunt KK, for watching them while we dined out!};


• Aunt BB realizing that she forgot her wallet at home and the waiter telling her they had some dishes she could wash;


• skipping naptime for the kids and going to Grami and Papa's with the kids and Aunt BB to install their webcam;

• laughing with Aunt BB when she realized a text meant for Aunt Jessie somehow instead became her Facebook status, essentially inviting everyone over for game night;


• putting the kids to bed early since they were sleep-deprived and we were hungry;


• Aunt Jessie, the Scattergories Queen, being in last place at the halfway mark, only to win... by one point;


• Aunt BB staying the night!
  

♥

Sunday Visits

I ♥ Sunday visits with my grandparents.

Even when my kids don't want to cooperate for a picture.

The Septembers

Today was "The Septembers" birthday party. Grami, Ellie, Mom and Connie all have their birthdays in September, so we typically do a big family party for them. Truthfully, I just didn't feel up to throwing a second party for friends, so we used all the goodies we had bought for that party for the family party.

Nobody seemed to mind.

Being the youngest of the Septembers, she was definitely the attention getter. {Sorry Connie! Looks like Connie-fest has turned into Ellie-fest! ♥ }

Particularly when she loves a certain little Chipette doll as much as a certain Aunt was hoping that she would.

And it didn't hurt that she was also opening up presents that arrived today from her Daddy.

Or maybe it's just the fact that she was so darn cute that she was such an attention getter.

"The Septembers"

Meanwhile, while the adults were opening presents, the Little Ones were definitely having fun. {Don't worry, Noah got down as soon as I said "cake time" "Get down off the chair, Noah.".}

I'm still having a hard time believing she'll be two Monday. It's surreal!

We couldn't help but laugh when she immediately took her baby OUT of the toy pack and play and put herself in it. If only she'd stay as well in her own bed!

Happy Birthday Septembers!

77.

After taking the kids to school today, I stopped by KK's house to see Grami on her 77th birthday. KK had decorated for the occasion. ♥

Connie and Megan stopped by with cupcakes while I was there. Sweet treats and sweet kisses were had by all!

Happy Birthday Grami! We love you!

Deployment Gifts | Month Three {And a Party}

Ben requested that we give the kids their deployment gifts a couple of days early this month, so that he'd be able to stay awake for a while with them.

They LOVE getting their gifts from Daddy. And think the "close your eyes" part is super fun. Although Ellie usually can't contain her excitement and her eyes are almost always half-way closed while she bounces up and down on the bed.

Noah just adores his Batman and Ellie was hardly seen without her new jewelry all day.

Thank you, Daddy. We love and miss you!

♥

After naptime and dinner, we headed over to Aunt Connie and Mickey's house to celebrate Megan {Mae-Mae} turning four. I couldn't help but giggle when we didn't even make it through the front door before Amanda was passing out hugs to her very willing and elated to see her second-cousins.

Made me smile and remember a page from one of my favorite Cynthia Rylant books, The Relatives Came.

A certain little birthday girl, however, requested that no one sing her Happy Birthday. And then promptly turned on the shy routine when we belted it out.

As you can tell, Noah loves a birthday party... and wanted to have the front row seat for both blowing out the candles and opening presents.

Happy 4th Birthday Mae-Mae! We love you!