Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas around here.  Getting to relive all the excitement through your kids is just so much fun!

Whitney had a fun little party at school where they ate way too much sugar and had a book exchange.

 Christmas concert at school

Her buddy Emilie

Parade Downtown

Breakfast with Santa--Colin's first time meeting Santa went down in the books.  I mean when have you seen a one and a half year old hugging Santa!

Making Nanny's Sugar Cookies

Checkers break with Auntie Ann.

Tree Trimming at my parents house.

Gifts from my parents and Ann!

Whitney was in full gear this year and really into all that had to do with Christmas.   She wore this hat almost every day.

So we had to get Colin one too!  Quickly Colin got familiar with Santa and said, "Ho, Ho, Ho" all season!

 Every morning she would run down to find the elf and just think it was hilarious wherever he had camped out.  Then we had three advent activities that were next on the list.  She asked many questions about Santa and we often would play pretend it's Christmas morning.  So, when Christmas Eve came and she got very sick (probably the flu) and woke up forgetting it was even Christmas it was kind of sad.  But she quickly rallied and we had fun rushing down to see what Santa had brought.

Christmas Eve

Colin was super excited about his big Mickey Mouse!

The train set was the biggest hit with both of them.

Around 9am my parents and Marguerite came over for a big delicious breakfast!  We spent the next few hours leisurely opening gifts.  It was a wonderful Christmas morning.

The next day Sue and John came into town and we enjoyed another Christmas celebration.  Then the next day Casey and Jess joined us and spoiled the kids with some more wonderful gifts!

Super fun airport and airplane.

City Cafe lego set she asked for.

We have been enjoying all the fantastic gifts that everyone showered them with.  Finally some boy toys in this house!  

Uncle Casey being a good sport !

That Saturday my parents had a big party with the Butler, Ashbaugh and O'Neill families.  It was so fun to have my relatives all in one place!  

Christmas was a huge success this year.  We look forward to a crazier one next year!

Snow Day

As the snow is falling I am posting a few pictures from the first snow of the season.  The first time Colin really got to participate in all the fun!  Luckily, Tim has the flexibility to work from home and was able to take the kids out that day.  And he is home again today too!

Yes, Colin is wearing pink boots.

Sheer Delight!

3 Years Ago

3 years ago today Christine was born.  It was the most heartbreaking day of our lives.  Something a pregnant woman never expects to happen to them.  I can't explain what it feels like to carry a baby, give birth to a baby and hold a baby in your arms that you have to hand over and never see again.  I don't know how I even survived it.  But I did.

What I learned from her is that everything is out of our control and that life can change in a second.  That nothing is more important than your here and now. I want to say how grateful I am that it has made me stronger, made my relationship with Tim stronger and made me appreciate motherhood in a way I never would have otherwise.  

Today, January 10th, will always be a significant day.  But really, we think of her every single day and are reminded of how blessed we are.