Sickness

It has been a rough week of sickness around here. I feel so bad for my poor kids! They have really suffered. Eli has had croup, a fever, coughing, and starting last night double ear infections. I ended up taking Cora to the ER on Tuesday night for an ear infection. She is a tough cookie, so to see her so miserable was shocking. She has bronchiolitis too. They have felt okay during the days, but the nights have been horrible. I am thankful that now they are both on medication we should see some results and some relief for them. There have been two nights this week that I have gotten 1-2 hrs of sleep (last night being one of them). I have to say, whenever I have had rough times this year, God always gives me beautiful weather to gain back my sanity and get some sunshine to brighten all of our spirits. We have had some great moments outside this week! We have gotten so many things on our "to do" list done and it feels great!

New Camera

My parents surprised me at Christmas with a new camera. I was shocked and SO excited! I now have a Rebel, and they also got me Photoshop and two books about both. I have started figuring everything out and it has been so much fun! I am definitely learning everytime I break it out and am getting better each time. I look forward to taking lots of pictures of my beautiful children! Here is my first practice run!

Merry Christmas!

We had a magical Christmas weekend at the farm. We got to have a white Christmas and it was beautiful! We took the kids sledding at my old high school (which was a tradition when we were kids). Eli was such a dare devil. He would go down half way and then let go and dive or roll down the hill. He had so much fun!! This was Cora's first time to go sledding. She ran around in her adorable boots saying "SNOW....SNOW...SNOW". She rode down with Brandon and although she looked petrified she said, "AGAIN!" After going down a couple of times she was done, but she did enjoy watching Eli and the other kids. Our weekend included playing in the snow, building a snowman, enjoying my mom's awesome cooking and steak fondue, leaving cookies and cheese for Santa and Santa Mouse, and opening presents. I should also mention our weekend also included a sleepless night up with Eli and a bad bout of croup and breathing trouble. It was scary, but he didn't let it get him down. We came home early in case he had more problems, but he slept great last night and just has a low fever today. Brandon has four days off this week, so we are enjoying family time and recovering from all the Christmas fun. Thank you God for sending your son for someone like me!

Away in the Manger

Cora has been listening to Eli sing non-stop over the past month. She loves to join in on the Christmas carols! Could these two be any cuter? They are my joy and I LOVE being home with them every single day!

Christmas Program

Eli had his first Christmas program at preschool! It was so exciting and fun! He was so excited for us to watch him sing at his "program". He got all dressed up and sang "Away in a Manger", "Angels We have Heard on High" and "We Wish you a Merry Christmas". When he walked out to go up on stage he was all smiles and so proud to see us watching. He did get a little shy and kind of sang the first song with his hand covering his mouth :-). After it was over he clapped with the rest of us. I was beaming with pride! The last two songs he sang more and made sure we were all watching the whole time. Afterwards, they had a cookie/punch reception and the kids got to see Santa. Cora wouldn't sit on his lap, but was happy to see him and get her candy cane. I can't believe Eli's almost four! He is just growing up so fast! He is still loving preschool and doing so well!

19 Months

Cora is another month older and one month closer to being the teenager she already acts like. She has turnd into quite the character! We pretty much spend our days laughing our heads off at her antics. She's all about the drama, teasing, and fun. At 19 months:

1. She has become extremely expressive. She makes the funniest faces. You can ask her to make any face (angry, sad, surprised, happy etc.) and she will oblige. I love her toothy grin and her cheesy faces.

2. She loves "tickling" and teasing us. Her tickling is more like scratching and punching our necks. She thinks it's hilarious to "trick" us.

3. She still loves Elmo videos.

4. She loves having her nails painted, wearing jewelry, picking out her clips for her hair, and picking out shoes to wear. She also loves to play with my makeup or put on some chapstick.

5. She talks all the time and will say and sing anything. She loves nursery rhymes and will say them a lot. She also loves singing ABC's, Away in the Manger, Pat-a-Cake, Praise Him, Itsy Bitsy Spider, etc.

6. Cora still is our little dancer. I love the fact that she will dance no matter where she is or what she is doing. She doesn't need music or a reason. She has the best moves and will copy anything we show her. It kills us! She still chooses Michael Jackson as the best songs to groove to.

7. She throws the food she doesn't like down to the dog to eat. Little stinker!

8. She can definitely play the part of the "bratty little sister" to Eli. They play nonstop, but she also knows exactly how to push his buttons. She will purposely dump his container of animals out, poke him, steal one of his toys he's playing with and run, etc.

9. She has enjoyed the Christmas lights, treats, etc. this month. She loves the "CHRISTMAS TREEEEEE" and is warming up to Santa. She gave Santa a high five the other day and loved the candy cane he gave her. She loved discovering snow for the first time the other day (she was a baby last year). Eli taught her how to eat it and make footprints.

10. Has started saying some hilarious things. The other day she hit Eli and I asked her "Who hit Eli?" She said, "Daddy did it!" She also ran up to me whimpering the other day and when I asked her "What's wrong?" She smiled and said, "I FAKING!" I also told her to tell Eli sorry about something and she said, "NO SORRY ELIJAH...NO SORRY!"

11. Our biggest accomplishment this month is the fact that she is PACIFIER FREE! Yesterday, was the first day we said, "Bye bye boppy". She is going to sleep fine (I still rock her with her Kitty), but was up at 4:30 this morning asking for the paci. We'll see how the next few days go, but I am very excited that it has already been a million times easier than I expected.

Christmas Season

The Christmas season is upon us and I couldn't be more thrilled. Having two older kids has been a blast! The kids have helped me go shopping and even picked out gifts for each other. Eli was SO excited to get Cora a gift. He picked her out a Hello Kitty nail polish and necklace and wrapped it himself. Cora picked Eli out a matchbox car, and she has already opened it herself once ;-). The kids had a blast decorating and picking out the tree. We put on Christmas music, drank hot cocoa, and enjoyed watching our two big kids put ornaments on the tree. Eli was especially excited to put on his homemade ornaments he did last year. Eli made everyone homemade presents out of wrapping paper and tape. It was so adorable! He made what he is calling "instruments". He also has been wrapping up the little plastic food from the play kitchen and putting them under the tree for Nana and Bum and others. My brother used to do the exact same thing when he was little. It is awesome having kids that can actually understand what Christmas is all about. Even Cora will yell, "JESUS!" if you ask who was born on Christmas day. I am doing a "Jesse Tree/Waiting Tree" with the kids this year. My Mom gave me one that she had made when we were kids. It's sort of like an advent calendar with a scripture reading and felt ornaments that have to do with the scriptures leading up to Christ's birth. The kids loved starting it last night. I made special cookies and a big meal to start it off. I almost have all my shopping done so we can focus this entire month to remembering and focusing on what this time is all about: Our incredible Father sending his beloved Son to this world to save us all. Praise God for this magical celebration!

Thanksgiving

Being with family was such a blessing on Thanskgiving! We all missed our grandparents that passed away this summer, but we know they were enjoying an even greater feast in Heaven. We spent a great week in Texas hot tubbing, playing at the Arbors, seeing Santa (which Cora hated), playing with all the toys, and spending time with family. The kids had a blast and were perfect travelers. No crying or whining either way! It was a blessing. Eli and Gavin played like brothers and fought like brothers :-) It was so fun to watch them play together and talk nonstop together. Eli didn't nap the entire time we were there and it made for some tired and cranky moments. Overall, though it was a great time. Brandon spent several days getting his parent's old van cleaned out and fixed up for our growing family. I am excited to have a vehicle that will actually hold three kids comfortably. I pray it lasts long! We sold my little red car and Brandon will take over the Escape. Looking forward to all the changes this upcoming year will bring! We have so much to be thankful for!