November and December Updates

Yes, we're still here and doing well. Like many of you, the holidays are insanely busy for us. Going all the way back to November, here's what's been going on with us:

Early in November was the best weekend of the whole year - Retail Therapy! I spent the whole weekend with my mom and sisters in San Marcos shopping at the outlet malls and having fun together while Kyle and the kids had fun at home together. The next weekend, my mom had some of her cousins in town for a small family reunion, so we enjoyed spending time with family we don't see often.

We spent Thanksgiving up in Waco with my family and the kids had a great time. The backyard is plenty big enough for all the kids to run, play kickball, ride the tractor (riding lawnmower), swing, and jump in leaf piles. The night before Thanksgiving, we stopped in College Station to visit Santa's Wonderland. We love going there! The kids got a picture with Santa, rode ponies, played in snow (also known as soap suds being blown off the roof of a building), rode the mechanical bull, and drank hot chocolate on the hayride through the 100,000+ lights and displays. Besides the hayride, the mechanical bull was the favorite. Andy & Colin were both very proud that they didn't fall off (okay, it was on the slowest setting, but they don't need to know that!).

December has been it's usual crazy month around here. It actually SNOWED on December 4th! It almost never snows here and now we've gotten snow two years in a row! My kids are so spoiled and may mistakenly expect this every year! It didn't stick much so we couldn't really play in it or build a snowman like last year, but we did spend as much time as possible out in it for the few hours we had it. Andy & Colin loved it, but Ryan & Elizabeth weren't too impressed. They kept telling us they were cold. They did not show the proper appreciation for snow, but because of their age, we'll forgive them. :)

After the snow came the Christmas program at church where Kyle and Ryan played Joseph and little boy Jesus. They did a great job and we were very proud of Ryan, mainly because we expected him to cry and refuse to go on stage for 6 performances since he was up way past his bedtime for a week straight. But he surprised us and was a great little performer! Of course, he only had to be on-stage for 1 song while the 3 kings and their attendants brought him gifts, but he did good and looked so cute. Kyle did good and looked cute too! :)

This past week brought 2 birthday parties, all the kids' school Christmas parties and gift exchanges, and our Sunday school class party. Also, there is a baby explosion going on in our Sunday school class, so we've been busy welcoming the new additions and taking dinner to everyone. Since July, 5 babies have been born and 2 more are to come around New Year's, so congratulations to all the new and expanded families! We are very happy for them and love to hold all the little newborns - especially because then we get to hand them right back and happily get a full night's sleep. :)

Now we're facing Christmas in 6 more days and I am very happy to report that I am completely finished Christmas shopping AND wrapping! I'm so proud of myself and positively ecstatic that I do not have to shop today or next week - have I mentioned my intense dislike of crowds?! However, the work is never done, so instead of wrapping, I must move on to the grocery store, cleaning, and cooking. Still beats shopping.

Things we're looking forward to this week:
1. Service of Carol and Candles tomorrow night at church. Only Elizabeth and Ryan will be in the nursery for this service, which means it'll be fun and incredibly scary when Andy and Colin get to hold their very own candle. Even better, we hold our candles as we exit the church singing "Silent Night". I always thought it was really pretty until my kids came along. Now I find it hard to sing and enjoy the special moment around the growing panic I have that my children may bump into someone from behind (or someone's behind!) and light them on fire. Please say a prayer that they don't light themselves, anyone else, or any part of the church on fire! :)
2. Girls' Night Out for me! (Okay, I don't really think Kyle is looking forward to this as much as I am, but I'm the author of the blog.)
3. Delivering Christmas presents to our angel family from church (a needy family that our class provided gifts for and we want the kids to help deliver)
4. Putting on pj's, getting hot chocolate, and driving around to look at Christmas lights
5. Christmas Eve church service
6. Christmas Eve party at our house!
7. Christmas Day of course! I love love LOVE giving presents and there are several I cannot wait to give, both to our kids and our nieces and nephews!
8. And last but certainly not least, we get to see lots of family and friends soon that we don't see often. To Tyler, Tera, Ryan, Leslie, Joseph, Shelley, Michael and Claudia: we're excited to see you and all of your children!

And for one final plea, our youngest two are receiving a medium-sized climber for the backyard for Christmas. Since it's impossible to put together early since it's from Santa, we will be building it all night Christmas Eve. For those of you with absolutely nothing to do, feel free to come over and help so we can actually go to bed at some point! :)

Merry Christmas to all!