Christmas Day

Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord! Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas!

Santa visited our house last night and left us all some {big} goodies....

like a playhouse {remember the deal??! It's been in our attic since we moved! ha!} a desk, and a small kitchen {because I don't want to make one until I know they'll play with it!}.

He also brought lots of Tag books, VeggieTales {to bring our collection to near completion!}, a doctor set, and lots of extra goodies in our stockings as well.

Mommy Santa spoils our kids.

We spent the morning just playing with our new toys and enjoying the "Larry Piwate movie" from the comforts of the playhouse.

Oh... and brushing our teeth with Noah's new Thomas Spinbrush.

Ellie still isn't feeling too well... though I'm fairly convinced that it is her canines trying to come in since they are swollen and the fever hasn't returned.

Once Noah woke up from his afternoon nap, we put together a gingerbread house... which he named "Noah's Christmas house", "Santa's House", and "Noah's Cookie House".

They all work.

Daddy even got in on the fun... when he wasn't stealing the candies.

The finished product... not bad for our first gingerbread house!

I hope everyone had a good and blessed Christmas filled with fun, laughter, and joy as you remember the real reason we celebrate - the birth of our Newborn King!

♥

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve!

Around these parts, our tradition is to open Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. And, the first present... before dinner and baths? New PJs.

After finishing up dinner and baths, we read the real Christmas story of Christ's birth {from Ellie's Bible} and then started opening presents.

Noah had been waiting all day for this, but, much like last year, after each gift was opened, he needed to play with it. Before he could do anything else.

And poor Ellie... just before we put her down for bed, we realized she was running a fever. Please pray it's just her teeth!

{Don't laugh too hard at the saggy pj bottoms! Somehow I measured BOTH of their waists wrong!}

Ben was pretty excited about his big gift from me - a Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS and Heart Monitor watch for running!

And I'm totally in love with my new Jo Totes camera bag - yummy Clementine!

The kids are now in bed, Santa has already visited, and it's time for us to head to bed before the Little Ones wake up!

Merry Christmas Eve!

15 Years {And counting.}

Fifteen years ago today, at age 15, I was diagnosed with type one diabetes.

I don't think I could ever forget that day.

The weather had been horrible and for the previous two days, Mom and I had been going up to our doctor's office {the same one who delivered me} to have fasting blood sugars drawn. My boyfriend at the time {to whom, we will always be eternally grateful}, had talked Mom into taking me. Because while I was pleased with the nearly 30 pound weight loss over the span of about a month, it concerned him. And, once brought to my parent's attention, them as well. We had already been into his office once that morning to have blood drawn and then went to eat breakfast. My Grami and Papa Snow went with us back to Dr. Nickel's office to discuss the results... looking back, I'm pretty sure it's because Mom knew what was coming and needed a little extra support with her since Dad was at work.

I don't remember too much from the actual appointment, except flat out refusing to even consider shots. That night, I had planned a Christmas party at our house and I remember limiting myself on the number of cookies I ate... and being acutely aware of how much water and soda I was drinking. That Christmas wasn't ruined, but the diagnosis definitely put a damper on it - we didn't know much, didn't really know how to handle it, and were definitely still in shock and denial.

Life has changed in those 15 years.

We finally figured it all mostly out. I've had plenty of ups and downs {1999, can I get a witness??!}, literal highs and lows, and even two {big!} babies to boot. I've been through 4 {5?} pumps, countless syringes, and so many different blood glucose meters that I could probably wallpaper an entire room with all the test strips. Heck, just in the past 15 years we've gone from a meter that took nearly 3 minutes {and nearly a gallon of blood!} to one that barely requires a drop and can give a very accurate result in 5 seconds.

I'm also blessed beyond measure to have such supportive people in my life. A husband who doesn't complain {too much} when my pump is bleeping all night long or when I beg him to get me juice from the kitchen at 2am. Kids who are more than happy to take a break with Mommy when she is low to share a juice box. Or three. Family who have been there during all the highs and lows. Friends who live it and who really understand what you mean when you complain.

And... just because I truly laughed out loud {and nodded my head in agreement} when watching this:

Here's to living more years with diabetes, than without.

And to many more years of sharing cookies with these Little Ones.

Christmas Traditions: Cookies

Christmas cookies are a big tradition around our house. Ben has his favorites that his mom makes {thanks for the buckeyes - yum-o!}, and I can't even remember a time when my Mom didn't at least make cut-out cookies with us. Even my cousins get into the cookie-making with "Aunt Sis" - Morgan even won an award, years ago, for creating a picture of her making cookies with Mom! It's a tradition that I fully intend to keep with our kids - whether they are making them with Nana or with me.

I made the cookies last night after the kids went to bed, but the icing I made this morning, just after breakfast. Once Noah found out what I was doing, the only way to get him to leave me alone while I colored the icing was to give him the paddle from the mixer with a little bit of "icee" on it.

After putting Ellie down for her morning nap, we got to work. Clean hands and all.

Tip: If you are using decorator bags with your Little Ones, put a rubber band on the bag to keep the icing from seeping out the wrong end. You can thank me later.

"I looooove icee, Mommy. I loooove decoratn' cookies icee."

But tell him he can only have one cookie, since it is 10 in the morning?

Inn at Bethlehem = Tidmouth Sheds

Last year, we got the kids a Little People nativity set. It was a great investment and one of the things that I couldn't wait to get out for the kids when we were getting the house decorated for Christmas. I even bought a fun little Christmas storage box from Hobby Lobby to store it in {that way when it is not set up or being played with, there is a place to put it} and it has been named, by Noah, "the Jesus box".

Makes me smile, every time I think about it.

So this year, I decided to add to our nativity and got the Inn at Bethlehem set. It has been a big hit too... but in a totally different capacity. If you ask Noah where Jesus sleeps, he'll show you the stable. If you ask where Thomas sleeps....

he'll show you the Inn at Bethlehem Tidmouth Sheds.

"Mommy, it's Tidmouth Sheds! Look, see! It's the 'sheds!"

Yes, Sister, I think he's a little silly too!

I'm in Trouble.

We're probably amongst the many few that didn't stay up all night for the lunar eclipse. I wanted to, but I also needed sleep. We did, however, catch a lovely sunset on our way to dinner with the Carroll's. Noah told me the whole way home from Wal-mart,

"Mommy, look at sky! Pretty colors, Mommy! Pretty colors in the sky!"

I couldn't agree more, Buddy.

In other news, somebody taught her how to splash.

I'm not naming names or anything {NOAH}, but it looks like I'm in trouble.

Princess Ellie

Every time that I dress Ellie in a dress, Noah exclaims,

"Mommy, look! Ellie's a princess!"

You betcha she is, Buddy. {And bless your heart for knowing that so early!}


Though, maybe we should teach her to act like one?

***

Noah has been in love with "Candy J's" since he got a small one when we went to look at Christmas lights in OKC. Daddy let him have one this evening and not only did he need to go look at himself a million several times in the mirror, he readily allowed me to take his photo... as long as I showed him it immediately afterwards.

And, tonight, Noah had his first "sleepover". Erin and Josh came over so we could deliver our gifts to the family our Life Group adopted. When it was time for Noah to go to bed, Erin mentioned how Jadyn had been asking when she was going to get to have a sleep-over with Noah. Why not tonight? So, we whipped out the Cars sleeping bag, said prayers, doled out kisses, and turned out the lights. Erin warned me that Jadyn liked to talk... no worries here, because I knew Noah would too!

And he totally did. So much so that I think he wore Jadyn out!

Not much sleeping happened until it was time for Jadyn to go home, but that's okay. Noah's excitement at having one of his favorite friends try to go to sleep in his room was totally worth the later bedtime.

Trying It Out

This afternoon, Ben made some modification to Noah's Big Wheel in hopes that he'd be able to reach the pedals. Using some leftover wood from the media cabinet {it's painted, but still needs the drawers and doors made.}, Ben added wooden blocks to the pedals.

He could reach them if he kept the wheel straight.

Ellie wanted to try it out so bad too!

I think it's going to take a little work to help him really get how to pedal!

Later, Ben added a second block to each pedal, but Noah was much more content to just use his feet on the ground to push himself around.

I'm in no hurry for him to grow up though...

...cause this one is getting too big also.