Joy to the World!

Merry Christmas 2013!  Preparing for Christmas is my favorite time of year.  Especially with kids.  The Christmas programs themselves serve as my favorite Christmas gifts.  

Each year, the school commences the Christmas season with an all-school mass and nativity.  The Christmas nativity at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School is just beautiful.  No other words are necessary.  

The first grade class performs the Nativity each year.  I was able to help them get ready in the morning for their big debut.  

  

So proud of my cross-eyed sheep.  

The Kindergarten class sang beautiful songs with the preschool classes.  

This video is beautiful.  It is one of the longer videos that I have ever posted on my blog and it may take some time to load, but this song is just gorgeous and when you're watching your little babies participate in a Christmas program this lovely, the tears just can't help but to fall.  I will treasure this video forever.  

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One of my favorite jobs is to serve as a room mother for classroom parties.  This role has become more challenging now that we have two children in school.  I can't be in two places at the same time and thus, I have to make a choice between the classrooms for each party.  I selected Drew's classroom for the Christmas party so that we may also celebrate his birthday party at the same time.  

The Christmas party theme this year:  The Polar Express.  I adore this book and movie.    

In order to bring the book alive, we made a hot chocolate bar with yummy goodies to add on top (marshmallows, chocolate chips, chocolate covered pretzels, candy canes and whip cream) all wrapped up with a fancy straw.  

Since the kids on the Polar Express are all wearing their pajamas, we had to replicate that element too.  Hello Old Navy slippers!  Everyone got a pair of cozy slippers to put on while we drank hot chocolate and read our story.     

Then to wrap up the day, we wrote our letters to Santa.

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We enjoyed a Christmas concert at SPPCS early in December.  Enjoy the video!    

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We had a joyful Christmas.  Full of hugs for Grandpa.

Our family was also a bit 'under the weather' for Christmas.  First time that our entire family was sick at the same time.  Urg.  I had bronchitis and the boys tested positive for influenza (despite the flu shot).  We suspect that Dan had the flu too.  Everyone has long-since recovered, but not so much fun at our house for a few days.

Evan got his very own Nintendo 3DS.  He was thrilled.

And I'll leave you with one of my favorite pictures each year . . . the aftermath of it all.  Months of contemplation and thoughtful Christmas shopping all distributed wildly across the house.  Wrapping paper everywhere, batteries strewn all over the place, electronic toys half opened (because inevitably something else will distract the boys as they move from gift to gift).  Drives Dan crazy to let the chaos resonate one more minute than necessary, but I like to drink my coffee and slowly count these amazing blessings one by one.  What is the hurry?

Seven

December is a glorious month for us.  Full of Christmas joy and two children to celebrate birthdays.  Add a husband's birthday celebration in there and you have a crazy household.  And a crazy mom!  But the truth is that I wouldn't trade one minute of it and I thank God every day for the privilege of this amazing life.

On 12.26.06, God blessed me and Dan with the birth of our first child.  On 12.26.13, that little baby turned seven.  

SEVEN!  

A lot changes occur when you turn seven.  You don't have to go to the doctor every year for that "well-baby" check-up.  You are no longer considered a young child by the airlines (no more early boarding for those traveling with "young" children . . . . that is reserved for those under seven).  Before you are seven, many of the clothes you wear have a toddler "T" that follows all the sizes.   No more "T" to soften the blow of "this-kid's-getting-big."  We now shop for "boys medium."  

Seven amazing years have passed by since God made me a mother of this precious little boy.  My has he grown.  And so have we.  

Drew was born at 6:50 pm on 12.26.06.  Like clockwork, on his birthday each year, I subconsciously take note of the clock.  I feel anxious and aware that something big is about to occur and I recall that the anniversary of God's amazing gift of motherhood is about to occur.  I can't miss 6:50.  I take note of this precious minute every year and cannot do anything else until I pause to recognize the sacredness that is this very minute.   

So let's see . . . . what does a seven-year-old-boy like to do?  Let me take this opportunity to document and preserve the wonder ( . . . . and fear, angst, frustation, and deep, deep LOVE) that accompanies raising a seven-year-old-boy.  

Drew is busy.  He's been a busy little man for as long as I can remember.  This bus-i-ness is good; sometimes.  Other times, it gets him into trouble.  He is very excitable and literally you can see the energy seeping out of him through this trademark gesture of his (imagine both hands directly in front of his mouth shaking quickly with eyes wide open telling you that this boy is excited . . . or having a nervous breakdown, but thus far, luckily, it has just been excitement).  

Drew is very smart.  He is quick to pick up new concepts and his intuition amazes me.  Drew loves to draw.  He also loves to build legos.  And the kid can drive you crazy fighting with his brothers, but it is incredible how much his younger brothers look up to him (in their eyes, Drew is capable of anything).  Drew is very loyal to his friends, wants to watch way too much TV, is crazy about video games and wants nothing to do with vegetables.  Drew has recently demonstrated impressive goalie skills on his indoor soccer team, is a crazy picky eater, gets up super early every morning (no matter when he goes to bed), thinks that brushing his teeth is totally optional, has a very kind heart and I believe is destined to be a leader.  He loves his family and I'm proud to say that I know that he loves his mama.      

For Drew's seventh birthday, we were all set to invite his class to play laser tag, when I casually mentioned that a new lego store had just opened up at one of the St. Louis malls.  Drew's eyes grew huge.  I want to do that for my birthday instead!  I immediately called the Lego Store and learned that they don't have birthday parties (seriously?????!!!!).  What a bummer!  I told Drew that while we couldn't have a party there, we could take a small group of his friends and "go shopping" for legos and have dinner at the mall food court for his birthday.  He loved it and was drawn to idea of having such a "grown up" evening with his closest friends.  After our soccer game, we headed to the mall.  We arranged for Owen and Evan to have other plans so Dan and I could have our sole focus on Drew and his friends.   

Since Drew enjoys drawing so much, the theme of his birthday this year was art.  He received many art supplies, art classes from Grandma Patti and an art desk from Mommy and Daddy.  He asked Grandma Darlene for his own quilt and as expected (for a Grandma with a heart of gold), she delivered.  Drew snuggles with it every night.

In seven years, this boy has changed my world.  He has made me a better person and one that considers my every action because I know that a smart little observant boy is always watching.  And I want to make him glowingly proud; just as I am of him.  

Happy birthday my angel.  I love you more than words can say.  

Evan turns four.

Our littlest man turned four on December 30th.  Four years ago we spent New Year's Eve (2009) in the hospital after the arrival of our third precious baby boy and were so blessed to take a sweet (little) 9 pound 5 ounce healthy infant home from the hospital in the winter cold.  Today, this is the same little guy that digs his heels in and holds his own against two (much bigger) older brothers.  What Evan lacks in strength, he makes up for in sheer attitude and bossiness.  At four years old, Evan has an overwhelming amount of energy, has a full appetite and is a "skinny-mini."  Evan may talk a big game, but deep down, he thinks that his older brothers are amazing.  They can do anything.  Evan has told me that Drew and Owen are 'big' so they can beat up anyone they want.  Apparently, that is the hallmark of 'getting big.'  You can beat up whomever you like.      

We celebrated Evan's fourth birthday at the Waterloo Fire Department.  No, the Waterloo Fire Department is not in the birthday party business and no, we are not such connected people that limits don't exist for our kids' birthday celebrations (Dan may disagree with that statement based on the level of party planning . . . . ), but in our household, when you turn four, you get to have your first "friend party."  Please note that we're not just talking family birthday parties anymore; we're talking real friends convening at a chosen location to celebrate YOU!  And furthermore, when your birthday is in December and your mom loves to plan parties and secretly feels terribly sorry that your December birthday may be subject to the risk "holiday overshadowing," you win.  You win big.  You party firefighter style.   

Happy birthday to my little firefighter.  I love you so very much.   

God gave me the greatest gift of all picking me to be your Mommy.  You and your brothers (and Daddy, of course) are the greatest gifts I could ever receive.  

Enjoy the party!