Merry Christmas 2016

Christmas Eve

The morning of Christmas Eve we signed up to ring the bell for the Salvation Army at Scheels.  I had not signed us up, just not really feeling like it this year...and while we were in Kansas City Scott insisted we still sign up and do it.  Another tradition kept amidst the hard.  It ended up being a wonderful way to get my mind off of me and choose joy.  I loved spreading joy to others and watching the boys do it as well.

some refused to wear the fun light necklaces we found...

Jack found Santa from last years foyer surprise and got him hooked up for the night...

We went to the traditional Christmas Eve service on the 24th.  Then we picked up PF Changs chinese for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner at home.  Made Jesus' Boston Creme Pie birthday cake and left a piece out for Santa since we didn't have any Christmas cookies to share...

selfie while waiting for the car...

Jack and Max made reindeer food, the boys wrote their letters to Santa...and they were off to bed. 

 Tommy

Max 

(Max went upstairs and grabbed one of the ornaments off of Drew's tree and 

copied it word for word lol)

 Drew

Jack

Santa

I will admit...I can be a Santa-freak...but ONLY if it is the REAL Santa.  All other Santas not so much.  But the REAL Santa...yes.  And he took last year off, for health reasons..but this year he was back and I may have cried when I learned this.  My friend Makila sent me a text with a pic she saw on IG with Santa and said..."Is this the real santa?  Is he back?"  And other than the fact that Santa didn't CALL me to tell me he was coming back...I thought it sure looks like him.  Sure enough...it was HIM!  (side note we did not GO last year to see the fake Santa...Scott kept saying to me "are you really NOT going to take Max to see Santa??"  my response...that ISN"T "Santa", he is an imposter)

We may have visited him a few times.  And I may have hugged him and cried for real when I saw him.  He had heard about my Mom...because well..he is Santa.  And so he knew that I was sad.

So grateful for him....I know it sounds corny, but really I am.  He loves Jesus, he loves kids, he loves sharing Christmas...

And yes we bring him a Christmas gift every year...golf balls.  He loves to golf when he takes a break from the Toy Factory.

And yes we went to see him when Tommy had JUST gotten home, and Santa couldn't believe Tommy had passed him up in height...

And yes...I went one day and visited him all by myself, no picture, because I was at the mall, there was no line and I could.  Sat and chatted for 20 minutes with him...

KC Birthday Tradition

For the past several years, Scott has taken me to Kansas City the day after my Birthday for an overnight getaway.  We go to the Plaza and walk around, enjoying the lights...have dinner at Houston's and just take in the peace and quiet.  Kind of the calm before the chaos of Christmas.  Most years he surprises me with this getaway...this year we talked about it.  He wasn't sure if I was up for going.  I said I was...and that I wanted to stick with this tradition.  Mom told me I could cry every day but I could NOT mope around...therefore going to KC was definitely NOT moping around.

Max had his Christmas party at school that morning so we planned on leaving right after that....the boys are so great home alone, which is really quite the blessing for us.  Tommy planned an afternoon with Max, a movie and a trip to Build a Bear...it would be his Christmas gift to Max.  

Scott and I snuck off late morning and enjoyed 3 hours of uninterrupted talk time...tears were shed by me.  It is a different year for me, as well as for Scott.  Both of us missing a parent...

We enjoyed the afternoon and evening...did our normal routine.  I loved walking through the streets holding hands and browsing.  Dinner at Houstons and a good nights rest, which hasn't been happening much lately for me...no 6 year old climbed into our bed in the middle of the night imagine that.  :)

We are grateful for our marriage and for each other.   These past couple of years have been so hard...we have been ships passing in the night many, many days.   There is no one else I would rather be going through this journey of life with than my Love.  He gets me...

Thankful for us. 

pictures from Max's class party...Jack snuck out of his study hall to help.  :)

One of Max's best friends Sammie...

 My dear friend Jen gave me this bracelet...it has been a great reminder to me...God will give me HIS strength.  I can't do it on my own strength

45

I turned 45 on December 20th...it was hard.  So much is hard right now.  It started with an email from Dad when I woke up.  Which was the best thing for me...as Mom was always the first one who called me on my birthday he wished me a happy birthday with a sweet note that included Mom in it.  So that was great...

...then Max told me that I should stay in bed as they were surprising me with "breakfast in bed".  So cute.  He snuggled with me while I heard the dishes banging in the kitchen.

Breakfast was served..bacon, eggs and "Grandpa's Little Rolls".  Max sat with me and ate part of my breakfast. The boys all sang to me and it was so sweet.  So many blessings in my bed that morning.

Tommy watched a Hallmark with me that morning while the other boys went to school.  :)  It was a sweet and quiet morning.  Then Tommy and I went to lunch together...and spent the afternoon shopping and just being together.  It was really perfect.  Scott had to work...

I came home to an angel food confetti cake baking in the oven.  I thought Scott had whipped it up, but I later found out Jack was the baker this year.

We snuck out for dinner at Zmariks noodle place...it was so nice.  The big boys all went to the DMC basketball game at my encouragement.  I was perfectly hap-py to be home, watching Hallmarks and snuggling with Jack and Max.

The boys each wrote me letters, which I am scanning and including here so that I have them in one place.  This is what I ask of the boys every birthday and Mother's day...I really am over gifts from them...I want to hear their hearts.

After the basketball game, the boys came home, we had cake, ice cream and strawberries....and the day was done.  It was as great as it could have been.  Never will be the same without my Mama here...but it can still be a wonderful day.

Some Instagram Posts from the day...