Review

On Christmas eve our little family did what we normally do at bed time.  Pajamas on.  Brush teeth.  Pile into our bed for Bible and prayer.  Wrestle over the blankets and who is laying where.  Don and I had reviewed together what our expectations for Christmas morning would look like.  The kids are getting older and so we knew we could change things a bit.  We knew though that we needed to tell them the night before what those expectations were.
When they come downstairs that they could immediately play with their gift from Santa, and open their stocking.  After that we would read the Christmas story before we opened any gifts.

In order to help cement it in, we decided they should tell us (besides were they really listening with all the fidgeting and giggling?).
So we asked what happens first and Sam took the lead on answering the questions:

"First we wake up"  Gotcha.  Good point.

"Okay, then what?"

"Then we come downstairs"  Ahhh!  Almost forgot that.  They have to come downstairs.

"What happens after you come down stairs?"

"Then we scream."

We all started laughing.

I'd like to say that it happened differently on Christmas morning, but it was exactly as he said.  First they woke up.  Then they came downstairs.  Lastly they screamed.

They did get our expectations, and it was a wonderful Christmas morning.  Even with the scream!

Happy Birthday Lovergirl

Today you are six years old!!!! We are so proud of you and the young lady you are becoming! Today mommy stood in your classroom while your friends sang happy birthday to you and choked back tears! My first baby is growing up before my eyes! You love your sister and brother so much and you want to teach them everything you know. You love Jesus more than anything else and are not afraid to say it! We are so proud of you!! You my little girl have been a fighter from the beginning and doing anything against the odds put against you! The little baby who should have spent time in the NICU, but instead was born screaming! The toddler who could barely see, but yet learned to walk and talk anyway. Now the girl who entered kindergarten reading WAY above your grade level. You impress us and your teachers every day.


*pictures coming when we celebrate this weekend*

Happy Birthday Trible!

Happy Birthday Little Girl! Love you so much!

Just minutes after she was born!

Going home from the hospital! Loved her hair sticking out thru her hat!!!

One year later......

Tubby in the sink! Still with ALL THAT HAIR!

Enjoying her breakfast birthday muffin!

Planning for Valentines Day

Last year we started a new Valentines tradition. Sort of out of necessity but it was fun none the less. Our sitters go out on Valentines day for dinner themselves so we typically go out on a different evening. However, we celebrate Valentines day as a family on the day. I'm looking forward to this year because it's on a Saturday. So I'm already planning ahead. For breakfast we'll have pancakes ~ Pink & White ones. Then I'll cut heart shapes out of each and insert into the opposite color. Dinner that night will be mini-burgers ~ which the kids LOVE. We use brown & serve rolls as the burger rolls and the kids have discovered French's Fried Onions to top them with! I'm still trying to come up with a 'side' for that evening. Dessert will be their favorite ~ Chocolate Dipped Strawberries! YUMM!

What fun things do you plan for Valentines day?

Anniversary

Yesterday was our 7th anniversary. We celebrated by a little shopping at Old Navy (I had a gift card) and then dinner at on of our favorite places ~ Federal Jacks We even managed to get there with out Trible! WOO HOO!

There was a small wait so we took some photo's. Now keep in mind I'm a mama who is still getting up every 2-3 hours at night and my allergies are just HORRID right now.

Apparently they're a little behind taking down the 'ol Christmas tree!!

Our appetizer (one of the two we shared) ~ Crab Cakes.

Aren't the pretty?

D's Seafood Paella
Now I'll admit I ordered my entree from the trational 'pub' menu....but it was still good!