back to list-making

I've decided that if I'm going to blog somewhat regularly, it has to be in list form.  That is just the way I think, so here is a holiday list:  (remember I'm still on a holiday-induced high!)

1.  I'm thinking about doing a December Daily album this year.  Basically, you take a picture every day in December and put it in a little album with some journaling (and, of course, some cute embellishments).  It's a great way to document traditions, and I'm sure my kids would love looking back on it when they are older.  I think about doing this every year, but then I chicken out and tell myself that it's too hard to take a picture every day.  Pathetic.  So, this year I'm gearing up to do it!  I'm even going to start the album early so I just have to stick the picture on and write a little bit.  Easy-peasy.
2.  I'm so excited about our Christmas cards this year.  I've discovered the cards that have a picture on them AND let you write on them.  I wanted to do a Christmas letter this year, but all I had to do was type a paragraph and a few highlights of our year, and I was done! 
3.  I can't wait to dress my kids up for the holidays.  Especially Naomi.  She is too young to have an opinion, so I get to put her in whatever I want.  I'm going to enjoy every minute of dressing her up until she gets old enough to care.
4.  I'm REALLY excited about my birthday.  Even though it's close to Christmas (Dec 5), we always celebrate it.  I'm not too thrilled about turning 33, however.  It makes me wonder how soon I will want to ignore my birthdays...
and 5.  I got an early birthday present the other day - a beautiful scarf from my friend Kim.  It is warm and soft and a little bit shimmery, so it is perfect for me.  I keep imagining it as an accessory to every outfit I want to wear this winter.  I will definitely be getting a lot of use out of it.
Well, Mark is home early from his elder board meeting, so I'm going to go hang out with him for a little bit.  Have a great week and thanks for reading!

on a holiday-induced high

I absolutely love this time of year!  Even though I'm still struggling to get used to having three kids, and it's getting dark earlier every day, I am on a holiday-induced high.  I love getting together with family on Thanksgiving - eating all day and then playing games in the afternoon.  The kids play so nicely with their cousins.  It feels like a mini-vacation for us. 
And then there's Christmas.  I am in love with Christmas.  I look forward to it all year.  And then, the day after Christmas, I start thinking about next Christmas.  I think the reason I like this holiday so much is that it gives us an excuse to have extra family get-togethers. 
This year, I am excited to see Naomi's reaction to her first Christmas.  I'm sure she will love the twinkling lights, and try to eat her fair share of wrapping paper.  I will enjoy opening girl-themed gifts and taking a million pictures of her in a fancy-schmancy Christmas dress. 
The boys will so much fun because of their contagious enthusiasm.  They love opening the advent calendar every day, receiving stockings on St. Nichoas Day, and playing with their cousins during family get-togethers.  I love that Caleb asks so many questions about why Jesus came to earth to die for our sins.  He keeps reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas.
I could go on and on about Christmas, but right now I have a little boy who won't nap. 
Thanks for reading!

lazy this morning

Well, the boys are gone, and I'm at home with a baby who is supposed to be napping.  It is VBS week at church.  Caleb is participating in VBS, Mark is the speaker for the week, and Micah is going to the VBS childcare.  That leaves me at home with one cute little baby.  I have several things to accomplish this morning, and I haven't done anything yet except sit around and order things online.  I could do so much this week with the boys gone.  I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the prospect of trying to do so much.  I think first I'll take a little nap...

Well, so much for my blog...

Okay, it's officially been a YEAR since I last blogged.  A lot has happened in this last year.  I'll try to recap, but I'll probably forget half of what has happened.

First, and most importantly, last August we found out we were going to have another BABY.  Yes, you read that right, another baby.  This from the girl who said over and over that she was done.  I actually had several friends laugh when they found out.  I completely deserved it:)  Anyway, around the same time we found out, three of my other friends also found out that they were expecting.  Then, a most exciting thing happened.  All four of us found out we were having girls!  As my friend stated on her blog, "we thought we were boy-breeders", so we were stunned at this wonderful news.

On March 21, 2012, (three weeks early - usually I go late, so we were stunned by this too) I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with tons of dark curly hair.  (whose child is this anyway?)  We named her Naomi Noelle.  We brought her home and proceeded to fall more in love with her every day.  Her brothers have been so sweet with her.  It's been four months, and they still fawn over her constantly.

We also celebrated Micah's second birthday and Caleb's sixth birthday.  Mark and I celebrated our ninth anniversary. (kind of, I mean we had a new baby at the time)  The boys have been growing like weeds.  Caleb recently lost his two bottom front teeth, and Micah's vocabulary has been exploding.  He has been counting, identifying colors, and speaking in complete sentences.

Well, Naomi's crying to be fed, so I must go.  I'll try to come back and blog a bit more about our summer some other time.  Thanks for reading!