Motherhood Is...{52}

Ever Changing

We made it through 2012! Can you believe it's over? I went back and looked at my first ever Motherhood post and oh my goodness. I only had 1 child. Lane had yet to fly in the clouds on a C-130. My brother was still at boot camp. His engagement was still new. I only had 2 nieces and 1 nephew on Lane's side of the family. I had no idea how much life could change in such a short time. I mean, I did...but wow! Looking back at it all makes me realize that we should never take anything for granted. Life moves at a rapid pace {and with kids it's even faster!} and it's hard to keep up. I'm thankful for the pictures that I've been taking through the year, and I'm even more thankful for the people that are in the pictures. They are my life. They make me who I am. Remember, as 2012 comes to an end, everything that you accomplished through the year and that life is ever changing! Happy 2013!!!!!

Motherhood Is...{51}

Awesome

I went shopping with Mimi on Christmas Eve afternoon. When we were on our way back home I noticed the church down the street from their house was having a live nativity scene out front. As soon as I walked in the door I made sure to grab Eden, put her jacket on, and head out the door. She loves all things animal, and she's starting to grasp the story of Christmas this year. The two things together were perfect! When we got to the nativity scene, she first noticed the animals, but then saw that the people wandering through didn't all look "normal" to her. She realized that they were Jesus' parents and that Jesus must be somewhere close. When she went to the manger to see him, Mary came over and picked him up to show her. {Eden was slightly disappointed that it was a doll, and not a real baby, but it wasn't too bad!} When I went back to look at this picture later I was just in awe. How awesome is it to have a picture of your child looking at the Baby Jesus being held by Mary? This is a moment that I hope to never forget. It's a moment that I hope she will always remember.

Fripp Christmas

This year we weren't able to make it to Fripp Island for our family reunion. Parker and Lane were both able to take off work, but at the end of the week {and then Lane was tasked to fly around the world and didn't go at all.} Karen and her family were able to go, but at the beginning of the week. Even though they could have gone, they were still missing out on things at home and they were having to squeeze the trip in. Since they weren't coming when anyone else was coming they decided to save the stress and not come to the east coast at all.

Mimi and Pop had already ordered our annual towels, so we got them this year for Christmas. We also had to miss out on our family picture that we usually take, so we made do and took pictures in front of the Christmas mantel with our beach towels. It wasn't quite the same, but we made do with what we had! It was good to be able to see everyone, even if it wasn't while we were enjoying the sun, sand, and water.

Christmas Madness!

Christmas is a season for giving as we remember the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. In coming years I plan on having Eden leave gifts under the tree for Santa to take back to his workshop to fix up for children who don't have toys, but right now we're doing this after Christmas. I think she grasps the idea and the reason better if we do it this way. Yesterday we went through her toy room and put some things in a bag to take to donate to children who don't have toys. My heart sank when Eden got sad at seeing them in the bag, but I was quickly relieved when I told her the toys were not going in the trash, but they were going to children who don't have toys. She immediately became happy and was very excited to give her toys to these children. I hope her heart remains generous and loving as she grows up.

This year we made room for some new toys because our kids were very spoiled at Christmas time. I've actually put some of the toys they got in a bag and will slowly pull new things out as we continue to add to our donation pile. Our kids got gifts from aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins, and friends! The people in our lives are very generous, and we are thankful for everything they do and give for our family.

Christmas Eve started with us going to Aunt Nana and Uncle Papa's house for dinner, followed by going to Grandma and Grandpa's house for the reading of T'was The Night Before Christmas. After that we headed home to put out cookies for Santa and head to bed. It was great to see so many people {even if I did feel a bit like a pin ball in the midst of a high scoring game!}

Cousin Picture: Top*Ansley, Josh, Owen, Avery holding Hunter. Bottom*Izzy, Eden, Alyn, Caroline, Adison, Holden.

Taking cookies to the table for Santa.

 When Christmas morning came, Eden was so excited to get up and see what Santa brought. She was sound asleep and we had to wake her up. When I told her it was time to get up and see what was downstairs she sat right up and was ready to head downstairs.

Parker's traditional picture with the babies. He did this with Eden on her first Christmas too!

Once we were done with gifts at Mimi and Pop's house we had brunch with Aunt Nana and Uncle Papa {who brought more presents} before heading to Grandma and Grandpa's house for presents and Christmas dinner. Opening gifts at their house was fun, and it lasted all day long. Grandma and Tommie sure know how to spoil kids that's for sure! The adults swapped Secret Santa gifts and it was a lot of fun. Each year we have a theme and this year we swapped thrift store gifts. People were forced to get creative and it was neat to see everything.

After Christmas we were able to spend some time with my sister and her family as they came into Atlanta. Of course we made sure to swap gifts while we were crossing paths and before Parker left for Norfolk.

Winter Wonderland

Pat and Paul did not disappoint this year! They put up their decorations and everything still looks great. We didn't have to go out looking for lights to see, we had our own little place to enjoy lights, sip hot chocolate or wine, and let the kids run wild while Christmas carols played in the back ground! Sara and Adam were able to bring Leah to join us, and we had the Daigle cousins there to enjoy the evening. Mimi and Pop were the ones who initiated the idea, so of course they came to join in the fun too. It's nice to be able to watch the kids enjoy the company of each other while the parents are able to relax and chat a little.

Skylar

Skylar and Bentley

Mackenzie

Leah and Sara

After we enjoyed Winter Wonderland to it's fullest, we went back to the Daigle home and tried to get some pictures of the kids all in their matching shirts. I put together some reindeer shirts for all the cousins to match. I finished them right before we left for Winter Wonderland even though I had hoped to make them and send them out at the beginning of the month. They all got to wear them, and that's what matters most!

I have a picture of Eden crawling away from the group picture at Grandma's house her first Christmas too!