Our neighbors had a get together for New Year's Eve last night.  They were so kind (and brave) to have everyone over.  The kids played and were able to stay awake until midnight when everyone cheered, "Happy New Year!!!" 
    May the year be one of happiness and love for you and yours.  God Bless You and have a Happy 2013! 

       Aaaaaaaand, Christmas is over.  Just like that...bam.  We have waited and been so excited for the day to come that it almost seems surreal that it's done and over with.  
        The worst part is, we haven't even sent our Christmas cards...scratch that...we haven't even DONE our Christmas cards yet.  
        Having four little ones, I wish we had the excuse of saying, "Ohhh, we've just been so busy," or "You know how it is..." but the truth is, EVERYONE is busy.  I don't care if you have four kids, eight kids, no kids...you're BUSY!  Life is life and it's usually flying by at about a thousand miles per hour.  
        No, our cards are sitting in a neat stack, ready to be sent - except for one thing.  Genius me bought cards that have a place for a photo on the front.  The problem is, it's literally next to impossible to get one picture where all four of the kids are good to go.  It's the age old dilemma and every year I SWEAR that we won't get photo cards again.  Guess what we got again...a nice big stack of blank front cards waiting for a picture.  Even better, the insides are already printed with the year 2012 - so they HAVE to be used this year.  Again...I'm a genius. 
       So...either one of four things can happen.  1. We can send very strange blank Christmas cards with no picture.  2. We can scratch the year 2012 out and use them for next year.  3. We can keep trying to get a "perfect picture" to use for this year - and send them out sometime by June...or...4. We can just use one of the hundreds of pictures that we've already tried.  Oh - and we've tried.  We've been to the beach, to the park, to see Santa, to Williamsburg...on and on we've tried to get that "Christmas card" shot.  Adam and I have even gotten in the picture thinking it would help...but - well, you can see for yourself how well that worked.  
       I hope that our family and friends won't be too upset with their "Merry Christmas, New Year's, Easter cards" this year.  We really are trying...I swear. 

    We recently went with my parents on a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia.  It was so nice and beautifully decorated for the holiday season.  
    Maybe I'm too much of a dreamer, but I couldn't help imagining how romantic it would have been to live back in the day with the dresses and the lifestyle.
    My Dad who used to be a history teacher quickly reminded me otherwise as we stepped over a pile of horse manure in the middle of the street.  He kept telling me how it was a very hard way of life...full of trials and struggles.
    My thoughts still wandered though, as we went into little stores, smelling of handmade soaps with beautifully sewn hats and aprons hanging about.
    In the afternoon, there was a parade of fifes and drums.  A large group of people dressed as soldiers marched down the main street playing a majestic song.  It was a sound and sight to behold.  As the parade  marched closer to us though, it was surprising to see how young many of the soldiers were.  My thoughts of a romantic way of life quickly turned into ones of sadness for how it must have been to have the innocence of children taken so often.  I put my arm around our kids and swallowed back tears as the musicians who were not too much older - marched by.  What must that have been like to watch such young children go to war?  
    The time in Williamsburg was a wonderful experience.  Even though I loved the romance and the feel of it all, it made me realize to be thankful for the time we live in now...and maybe just get some soaps in the gift shop.  

     We went to the Christmas Eve service last night at church and the kids were asked to be in the nativity scene.  They were pretty excited and couldn't wait to dress up.  Christian was a Wise Man, Ethan and Preston were Shepherds and Lauren Elizabeth was an Angel.  I went back to snap a picture of them before they went out.  

     The service began and one by one, they walked to the front of the church to stand with the other children around Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.  When everyone was in place, it was a sight to behold.  The  church sang "Away in a Manger" making it hard to keep a dry eye.  
    In the constant hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it was a good reminder to stop and take time to realize what Christmas is really about. 
    A baby boy was born to common people on a dark night.  He wasn't born in a palace of Kings and Queens, but in a stable...to a Carpenter and his wife.  He came to be the light of the world, which is still so very needed in this day.  
    When the service was over, we watched as the kids jumped in the car with eager anticipation.  It was hard to get them to go to bed last night as they whispered and giggled.  
    We hope you have a Wonderful Christmas and that you're able to take a minute or two to step out of the hustle and bustle of it all as well.  May your year will be blessed with faith and hope - and your days be filled with laughter and love.  Merry Christmas to you and yours.      

    We've been trying for nine years to have a good experience with Santa Claus.  Year after year, each time we've seen him, there's been at least one child crying, staring off into space, or just totally freaking out.   

    Nothing was able to prepare us for the reaction of our baby girl though.  When she came along, we had visions of her three big brothers sitting proudly with Santa, as she sweetly whispered in his ear... Ummmm, yeah.

    The trouble was, she didn't reserve her "love and affection" for the big man himself...she showed an equal amount of adoration for the Easter Bunny each year too.

    We had all but given up.  Adam and I went round and round on whether we should even try it again this Christmas.
    While we were at a store, there he was, so we decided to give it one last go.

    We stood in line and waited...and waited.  When the time finally came, all four kids ran through the barrier line to see Santa.  I grabbed Adam's arm and whispered, "Do you think she's going to do it?"  We watched as the two younger boys hopped up in his lap while our nine year old sat down beside him.  Lauren froze when she felt that she was too close - and went to her big brother Christian instead.

    Within the first few seconds, Christian leaned down and whispered something to Lauren.

    We don't know what he said, but out of nowhere, Lauren walked right up to Santa and got in his lap while her brothers grouped around her.

    We stood frozen and watched as she sat there for the first time with no fear.   

      We tried to keep as quiet as we could while they spent their few minutes with him.  Just before it was time to go, as her brothers gathered around, so help me she actually whispered something in his ear.

    As we walked away, we asked her what she said.  She stopped and looked up at us with wide eyes, "I told him I'm not scared of him anymore."  She reached up to take Adam's hand and began to walk again.  This time though, she had the biggest smile.

    

    Have you ever been to a preschool Christmas play?  Some people love them...others (like brothers and sisters) dread them.  No matter what, you can't escape the cute factor.  All of those little boys and girls singing and dancing their way through the recital.  
    Back in November, Preston's class was given speaking parts to learn for the play.  Preston was so excited and he practiced until he had his line down forwards and backwards.  He practiced during breakfast, while brushing his teeth, before bedtime, in the car...he could hardly wait for the big day.  He was going to be fantastic. 
    When the time came, we took our seats and waited.  Cameras began clicking away as the children took the stage.  Preston didn't look excited or happy...he didn't look scared though either.  He really didn't look much like - anything.  He just kind of stood there.  
      When the time came for his line we held our breath.  He had the microphone in front of him but didn't say a word...

    The little girl beside him took the mic and said the line..."Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and on Earth, Peace to those on whom His favor rests." 

    That was it.  Our mouths fell open as the microphone was passed to the next child.  She said the line perfectly and beautifully but I wanted to go hug him and tell him that everything was okay.  The rest of the songs were sung and the play went on...but then...something happened.  Out of nowhere, it began to snow.

    I don't know HOW they did it, but they had snow machines above the kids that turned on to create an enchanted world.  The kids didn't know about it...the teachers didn't even know about it.  Everyone cheered in awe - and then we saw Preston's face. 

        Full of wonder, he tried to catch the falling magic.  Suddenly, nothing else mattered...and it became the best Christmas pageant ever....even for brothers and sisters. 

    "I don't like him."  
    "Who?"
    "That little elf.  He keeps staring at us and it's creepy."
    This is the conversation our five year old son  - Preston, began around the first day we got a visit from an"Elf on the Shelf".  Our other three kids were ecstatic to read the book and wait to see where the elf would appear each morning...but not Preston.  For some reason, it really bothered him that this little guy hung around in new places each day just watching...always watching. 
    The older boys were reading the "Elf" book again in the living room.  When it came to the part that read how you can't "touch the elf" or he would lose his magic, Preston's wheels began to turn.  He got right up, walked across the room and reached his finger towards the elf.  Christian and Ethan began to scream..."NOOOOO!  You CAN'T TOUCH HIM PRESTON!!!"  - but it was too late.  -bink!-  One little finger pushed against one little elf leg right in the thigh as we waited for the earth to stop spinning.
    Preston's reaction grew into a huge smile as he felt like the problem was finally solved.  The older boys and our little girl climbed over each other to get to Preston first.  "WHY did you DO THAT PRESTON?!  Now he can't come back!"  
    Little Pret just shrugged his shoulders and walked away.  
    We'll have to see what becomes of the elf and figure out what he's going to do.  There will be three little ones who will be pretty upset if he never returns, but one five year old boy who couldn't be more relieved.

     Yesterday I wrote about loading the kids in the car to look for a Christmas tree "surprise" for Adam.  My plan was to get a tree and decorate it before he got home from work.  How was I going to get the tree on the car, bring it home, put it up and decorate it (with four kids) all by myself?  I hadn't really thought that far to be honest...but I knew I had to at least find the tree first.
     I went to one lot but they were sold out.  I drove to another and it looked to be empty too.  As I was about to drive off though, I happened to see a tree lying on the ground that was all wrapped up.  The lot was behind a little store so I pulled around to the front and asked a man if the tree was for sale. 
    "We don't have any trees left...sorry, they're all gone for the year."  I was confused and wondered what I had seen.  Maybe it was a bunch of branches all tied up?  It looked pretty big though.  I asked if maybe it was a tree that was being held for someone to pick up later.  The man was really nice and said, "Hon, I don't think there's ANYTHING back there but I'll go check."  
    A minute or two later he walked back around and shook his head.  "Well, you're right!  There's one more back there but it's a big one.  Do you know how you would carry it out of here?  I'll let you have it for 25 bucks if you want it."  (TWENTY FIVE BUCKS?!)  If I have to drag the thing on my back it would be worth it.  I promised that I would be back, then I waited for Adam to get home. 
    By now, Adam knows when I'm up to something because he says that I have some look in my eye - when he walked through the door that night, he just shook his head and said, "What is it?"  I told him to get in the car as the kids ran past him.  "Wait until you SEE IT Daddy!  It's HUGE!"  Adam shot a nervous look at me.  I explained what happened on our way to the tree lot but he kept saying, "For 25 dollars, it can't be that big of a tree." 
     As we pulled into the empty lot...there it was.  Adam slowly turned to look at me and muttered, "You have GOT to be kidding."  With the headlights shining on it, it looked even bigger.  The kids began to scream and I kept smiling saying, "Isn't it amazing?"  "Amazing?  Beatty, this thing won't even fit in our HOUSE!  I seriously don't even know how we're going to get it on top of the car!"  
    I asked if he wanted to call our neighbor Matt for help, but for some reason, Adam hates to ask people for help.  Taking his work shirt off and sizing the tree up he whispered, "I'll do it.  It will be fine." 
     He bent down in his t-shirt and khaki pants to lift it off the ground.  Getting it all the way up to his left shoulder, he gasped out, "Call Matt".
    Matt arrived in a little while and the two guys gave it a try.  The tree still wouldn't budge.  I ran into the little store where I found two other men who happened to be there and they were willing to help.  Between the four of them, the crazy huge Griswold tree was loaded on the top of our car and tightened down.  We got it home and measured it at 14 feet.  The branches at the base stretched out to be over eight feet across. 
    Adam tried to hand saw through the tree from about five feet up so he could carry the top half in the house.  Another neighbor ended up coming outside with a chainsaw to help with the rest.  
    Our 25 dollar humungo tree turned out to be fun for the family and neighborhood - with plenty of branches for decorations and wreaths to go around. 
    After everything was said and done, it taught me a good lesson in life...if you look for something with true intentions, you just never know what adventures you might find...even if that adventure only ends up being 25 dollars...well, 25 dollars and a whole lot of tree sap.

    There are two different types of people...those who like 'em real...and those that like them fake.  I go back and forth.  Adam swears that he doesn't care either way.  Trees...I'm talking about trees.
    We have gone round and round this year on whether to get a real Christmas tree.  We've had an artificial tree for years in the front window of our house.  Over the past few years though, we've gotten a real tree for our living room.  
    Adam and I both grew up with having an artificial tree so I guess we never thought much about it.  The first year that we actually got a real one though...we were hooked.  There was something about the feel of it...the smell.  When we walked into our home, that amazing scent would hit us, and the stress of the day would disappear. 
     Knowing that Christmas is only a week away, I knew it was time to make a decision.  I loaded the kids in the car to see what we could find to surprise Adam.  Ohhhhh, I don't know if "surprise" is the right word after what we found.  
    Come back tomorrow and I'll post pictures of what happened. 

     Much like almost everyone else, constant thoughts and emotions return to the shootings in Connecticut.  It's hard to turn on the TV, radio or the internet as the haunting images appear.  A sick and numbing feeling comes over me when it's time to send the kids to school.  
    I walked my son to his preschool class and had to fight the tears as I passed by room after room of beautiful children playing.  I wanted to take his hand and turn around to go home.  
      It's not possible to begin to comprehend what happened in that school.
      We have hugged and kissed the kids in ridiculous amounts since Friday.  We're trying to have fun with them but all the while feel a sadness as so many are suffering with an unconceivable loss.   
      Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and community of Newtown.  Psalm 61: 1 - 4