A 15th Birthday and Christmas 2015

My Winter Solstice baby turned 15! I can hardly believe it. It's exciting and takes my breath away all at once. I think she had a really good birthday. Rhaevyn got her a pocket watch (to one of her favorite anime shows) and could hardly wait to have her open it. They had looked at it at least a month ago. Aeva had been back to the store and found that it was gone. Little did she know it was her sister who purchased it for her. She about flew across the room to hug Rhaevyn when she opened her package and realized what it was. Aeva decided that she wanted ice cream this year for her birthday.

We had a fun baking day. Rhaevyn made our molasses crinkle cookie batter because she rocks that one. The fudge didn't rock at all, but the Oreo truffles and chocolate crinkles were delicious. Tuesday we went and delivered the goodies to new friends that have been made in our new ward.

Myles and I saved a few Oreos and dipped them in chocolate and crushed candy canes. Meg had some ninja moves. Every time I turned around she had swiped another cookie to eat.
We watched our final Christmas movie on Christmas Eve; Polar Express. Before we started the movie I had the kids open up the Christmas present I had made for each of them. I'll admit, I just couldn't wait one more day!

They each got their very own unique quilt matching each child individually.
Elsa actually went shopping with me for her material. I told her it was for her cousin, but she reassured me that her cousin likes exactly what she likes, so it turned out alright. 

 I agonized over Aeva's material. I had to order it special online. I finally narrowed it down to Japanese chibi and fabric with all the Ghibli anime characters; plus her favorite colors. Her quilt really took on a mind of its own when I was putting it together.

Rhaevyn's was pretty easy, and the fabric was easy to find too. I did order one phat quarter special because I loved how it incorporated things from Dr. Who episodes over the years; from K9 to Fez.

 

 

I happened to come across  some dragon material by chance and knew at once that was for Myles. My friend who let me use her quilt machine said his was her most favorite. His has dragons, flames, and X's and O's for lots of hugs and kisses 'cause I love my sweet guy!

 

I had so much fun looking for fabric and making each quilt. I did all four in one month. It was a bit tricky trying to work late at night and make sure the kids didn't come into the kitchen while I was sewing, or working on Rhaevyn and Aeva's quilts while they were at YW. Then I had to quilt them together before my friend left on a trip for two months. Well worth all the long hours though ;)

And while we watched Polar Express we had hot cocoa.

Christmas started at 3am for some of us with stockings. I love seeing how excited the kids get...........especially the ones who  want to be Santa and help fill stockings.

 

 I think Myles's favorite gift was a Leatherman. Chris was given a used one at work by a coworker. It was a bit beat up and bent, but he took it into the Leatherman shop and they gave him a brand-new one. Myles was practically in tears. He couldn't believe his eyes!

 

We really had a wonderful Christmas; we had each other! We truly are blessed; and we were blessed to see, be a part of, and benefit from so many kindnesses and miracles not only this Christmas season but throughout 2015.

I want to end with this sweet note that Myles wrote to a friend from our old ward. He and his friend Sarah are a lot alike in personality and they are both home schooled. Her mother was just diagnosed with cancer that has spread throughout her body. I was thrilled to be able to go in and help clean her house and visit her at the hospital. Myles was trying to absorb what it means for Sarah to have her mom in the hospital and possibly not have her on earth for very much longer. We explained that only Heavenly Father knows what will happen. 

I just thought this was such a sweet offering of hope to his little friend. She wrote him back the most sweet and heartfelt note just pouring her little heart out. It made me cry. It was one of those sweet tender moments I felt very privileged to witness.

December: Week 3

This week we did another snowman art project using toilet paper tubes. The kids had a great time getting creative and even using the hot glue gun. Yay, for no one getting any burns from the hot glue!

We've beeen counting down the days until Christmas with our Christmas movies and Christmas stories. We watched a new (to the kids) Christmas movie this year, The Bishop's Wife. The kids really enjoyed that one. We've had fun with different treats to go along with our stories (chocolate orange and French cookies). Here are some of the coloring pages we've done to go along with the Christmas stories. Some of us got pretty creative with our coloring. 

Myles bought himself a watch last Saturday (thank you Grandma and Grandpa Lindsay). He loves it! Last Sunday he would periodically tell me the time, and during the week he was telling me military time. Now when I need to know the time I know who to ask!

 

This week a sweet friend stopped by with an angel ornament. She was sweet to just sit and cry with me.The past week or so has been a bit rough with the holidays and Christmas Eve approaching. Last year Christmas Eve was such a happy and exciting one, and boy we thought this year would look so different than it turned out. I honestly know how blessed I am, and I certainly wouldn't trade my troubles for another's, but it's still hard.
On a positive note, I had Chris move the elliptical into the house two weeks ago. It's crammed into our room, but it was time to face the music and not make anymore excuses. I haven't stepped foot on it since the end of February. Every time I thought about getting on it I thought about our sweet baby. I had been so good at exercising even through the morning sickness. So far I've done two weeks of C25K in one week, and it's really been a good thing. Lots of service got me through last month, and  I'm hoping some good exercise will get me through this month.

Today has been a bit of a lazy day. Chris is teaching Elsa to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the Ukulele, Myles and I played Legos and the card game War, and then we sat and watched I Love Lucy before dinner. The kids got a kick out of the episode with Harpo Marx. Now it's time for our story and movie, and everyone is looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow followed by a helping of no school.
Tomorrow is baking day. The kids each picked out a recipe for tomorrow. On the backing agenda: Molasses Crinkles, Oreo Truffles, Chocolate Crinkles, and fudge. Christmas music and baking Christmas treats with the kids.................can't get much better than that :)

I'll end with a few pictures of Elsa and Meg:

 All ready for church.

 

All ready to go help daddy out in the garage.

 

Waking up for church. I just got such a kick out of her hair. 

 

 The kids thought this was so funny; Meg hugging the condiments at lunch time. 

Wishing you all a very wonderful, magical, and miraculous Christmas!

Stormy Weather

This past week was quite eventful and fun-filled!!

Friday at lunch, Aeva serenaded us with this song. When she first started learning Japanese I introduced this song to her. This was one of my favorites growing up that I would hear on the 50's/60's radio station. Now she can sing it to me ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C35DrtPlUbc&index=14& list=PLDgZF1G6vB8F7X33Wz07pmxPLkkLb8oou


Our art projects this week were footprint reindeer and paper chain snowmen.

 

 

 I attempted a Christmas card:
 

 We had some wild weather here this past week................
rain (over 5 inches in 24 hours) and flooding, and on Thursday a lightening and thunder storm followed by hail and a tornado that touched down one mile from our home.
We started out with school work on Thursday, but when the winds picked up with major lightning and thunder, attention turned to what was going on outside. Then with the tornado, pictures of the aftermath, and news reports I decided to call it a day. There was no way to get attention back to schoolwork.

 

On Saturday Chris and Myles went to help with 100 other volunteers to clean up the mess left from the tornado.

Before .....

After.....



 Myles was a trooper. They helped out for about an hour and a half. He was soaked, but wanted to keep going. Chris decided they should head home though, and I got a warm shower ready for him with a warm towel and clothes straight from the dryer.

Some pictures from the tornado wreckage.............

 

 
 
 We had some fun with dressing up and lots of dancing going on this week.
Myles loves when this song comes on Pandora. This is "our" song.
He loves to dance with me when it comes on.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9G0-4TWwew

This is the "Presents Elf", so says Myles. 

 

Meg turned two on Sunday. I wish I could save time in a bottle sometimes. We had a lot of fun celebrating Meg and the joy she brings to our family. We love our little curly top!

 

 


 

 

 

 

Yesterday was her 2 year check up. She is tall for her age, but she is also pretty tiny weight-wise. She is a mix of Rhaevyn (who was always so tall) and Aeva ( our lightweight). She had to have some blood work done again. She is normally so good and doesn't cry, but it's been a while since she had her last blood draw. She started to cry, but there was another little one in there screaming. That took her attention off of herself, and she kept craning her neck to see the other little girl because she was so concerned about her. When we started to leave Meg kept looking at the little girl and asking "okay?" It was so cute. The lab ladies gave her a pretty bandage.............pink with a blue bow.
 

The kids are counting down the days until Friday..............the last day of schoolwork before Christmas break begins. I think we are all excited for the break, for Christmas, and for some lazy days:)
Lazy.......
I want to be out in the snow
with no work to be done

Under the warm covers
Stretching and yawning and letting the world go drifting by
I want to peep through the deep, tangled wildwood
Counting sheep 'til I sleep like a child would

With a great big valise full of books to read
Where it's peaceful while I'm killing time
Being lazy................