Quick

I am quickly trying to clean out, organize and decorate post-Christmas.  How about you??  Do you get the itch this time of year too?  For me, the sparser the better.
We like to bring out a mess of snowmen, a little sparkle, and our winter figurines.:)

We moved furniture around in a few rooms too.

These guys are missing limbs here and there, but still cute for winter.

The owl made the cut for after-Christmas-decor.

I'm sure I'll add in a few things, but for now it is nice to have a blank slate to work with.  It should be fun to come home to after vacation too.

Smothered with love.

Did I tell you we got a new camera for Christmas?  It is not a $500 camera, OK, or even a $300 camera, but I didn't have to hold still or try to catch them being still to get the pictures.  I am so grateful and excited.  Yay!

Christmas is for Kids

I'm taking a break from packing and such to pop in and say howdy.  We had a lovely Christmas and we're recovering from all the celebrating.

Each Christmas only gets more special as the kids are old enough to appreciate everything, Olivia especially. I can't get over how awestruck they are with every aspect of Christmas: each Nativity, display of Christmas lights, carol, Christmas book, and card. What a joy to watch them.

  The littlest nut has been congested and woke up with what looked like conjunctivitis yesterday morning.  I treated it with some breast milk and it cleared up almost immediately.  No joke!  Read this article to learn more.  And did you know urine works wonders for styes, athletes foot, and even the chance sea urchin sting?  Oh yes, we're speaking from personal experience.  Totally gross, but good to know!

 

Christmas Eve is spent with my family

The cousins- no caption needed!  Ha!

My handsome dudes

First Christmas!

Big Sister with her big girl Corolle doll!

Christmas Morning at our house

Peyton's new Ikea tent ($9.99, folks!)... this is their new favorite cozy spot

We spend Christmas afternoon at my in-laws

Our camera battery died, so we only got a couple pictures.

A more festive, beautiful setting, you could not ask for!

I heard this song Christmas afternoon on the way to their house.  I'm sure I've heard it before, but I really heard it Christmas day.  The second verse really resonated with me, I was flooded with emotion as I contemplated my King.  There has never been, nor will there ever be, anyone like Him!  I pray it ministers to you too! 

Happy New Year!  Lord Willing, the next time you see us we'll be sporting our sun-kissed faces!

Lyrics to "How Many Kings"

Follow the star to a place unexpected

Would you believe after all we’ve projected

A child in a manger

Lowly and small, the weakest of all

Unlikeliness hero, wrapped in his mothers shawl

Just a child

Is this who we’ve waited for?

Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

How many Gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that has torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn savior

All that we have whether costly or meek

Because we believe

Gold for his honor and frankincense for his pleasure

And myrrh for the cross he’ll suffer

Do you believe, is this who we’ve waited for?

It’s who we’ve waited for

How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

How many Gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that has torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only one did that for me

All for me

All for you

All for me

All for you

:)

David and I have been smiling and laughing about these things lately (it is very possible that we are just overly tired), but I'm going to share anyway.

Peyton's Wrangler bottom

The wranglers belonged to Olivia, and were so tight we had to put underwear on him so we could pull them up- in true cowboy fashion.  He loved them.  He walked around stoically, doing this do-si-do move with his foot out to the side and his heel down and toe up. 

Where does he get this stuff? 

Man, we laughed hard!

I propped up Julia here while I was putting things away and had to do a double take when I came back in... doesn't she look like a doll amongst the stuffed animals?

 She definitely has me smiling, so forgive me if I end up posting a weekly picture for a while.  I'm sure we'll look at these pictures in a few months and think she looked like an alien, but we are blinded by love, folks.

Kids and cozy spots!

Our house has warm lighting throughout, but for some reason the little nuts are drawn to this step light that Daddy installed in the dark hallway.  They lay here with blankets or sit and read.

I guess my Dad used to like to sit outside under the dryer vent as a kid.  That sounds cozy!

David and I got the giggles one night as we were noticing how our oldest loves to shorten everything...

"screwdriver" is "screwdrive"

"nativity" is "nativ"

"Mary" is "mar"

"diapers" have always been "diaps"

What in the world? 
What joy and entertainment they bring!

We pray you are captivated with wonder and love for the King of kings this Christmas season.  Merry, Merry Christmas!

P.S. I've got a hankering to do a little Christmas giveaway, but it is already Wednesday, so it might be a week late!

Hawaii- How it All Began

~Hawaii~

My parents honeymooned in Kona, Hawaii 32 years ago, and have been revisiting the spot ever since.  It was as teenagers that my siblings and I first joined them for a family vacation. 

My Dad and Mom made the vacation affordable by only going every few years, saving up their air miles for free airfare, squeezing into a condo or staying at thee oldest hotel on the Big Island (we equated the lodging/experience to that of camping), bringing our own groceries (my mom still brings frozen meat in coolers!), and not doing the typical tourist activities that cost money. 

After all, when you're in paradise, you really only need the sun, sand, water and a bathing suit.

Now that most of us are married, my parents have graciously and generously extended the invitation to our families.  Crazy-cool, huh?  We missed the trip two years ago, as Peyton was only a few weeks old, but we will be joining the clan for this trip after the first of the year!!!!  I have been looking forward to our vacation all year.  Olivia was 4 months old when we were there last and it was David's first time. 

What an absolute privilege to be able to leave the cold behind and soak up some vitamin D!

What I am looking forward to most: 

- getting Julia outside to see new things
- Olivia, Peyton, Daddy and Mama playing outside

- fresh produce- the markets are the best!

- SUN, I wish I didn't love it, but I really am a glutton for it

- exploring the island and visiting the historical sites

- a dinner at Bubba Gumps

- quality time with the ones I love

- the breathtaking beauty

- shaved ice

- sharing traditions, new experiences with the little nuts

- the warm ocean

- the slow pace of the island

Things we love about the Big Island:

- It is a quaint, family-friendly island, but still has a lot to do
- there is only a two-lane highway that goes around the whole island

- my parents appreciate how everything has stayed the same over the years (especially the first 20 years that they visited) and only recently did they get a Costco and Walmart

- cool history on the island- Mark Twain lived there and it is home to Parker Ranch (one of the largest and oldest cattle ranches in America)

We know we're a little crazy to be taking three kids four and under (and a newborn in that mix), but with such a great opportunity, can you blame us for going for it?  My doctor actually said it is an ideal time to take a vacation since newborns sleep so much. 

Sooooo... Hawaii or bust! :)

Red

I really love RED! 

It is the perfect color all year long- so rich and vibrant. 

It even makes a compost bucket look good. 

And a red lantern is fun

 Lovin' my red Ikea napkins from a friend

 But, nothing is better than red roses from my hubby

Olivia helped me put them in a vase and said, "I can't wait until I have a husband to bring me red roses." :)

Little of Everything

Hi there!  It feels like I have been away from the blog world for a while, but has it only been a week?  Did you miss me?  I missed you, so I am venturing back in my sleep-deprived/postpartum state... scary, folks!  I am going to cram a little bit of everything into this post, so hang tight and forgive me if this is messy. :)

First up, I can't believe Christmas is less than two weeks away.  It always comes so quickly, but this year has to be the fastestessst.

We are trying to do a few fun, but simple Christmas crafts each week.  Last week, we decorated the tree in the girls' room with pink and white paper chains and a glitter angel.

We also made these little marshmallow treats:

The supplies and snowmen were quickly gobbled up.

A bit more of my simple Christmas decor this year- a milk glass vase with clippings from our tree (I suppose I could have at least tucked in a few sprigs of red berries or something), but I'm liking the bare branches.

Our beautiful reason for keeping things low key this year:

She was three weeks old on Sunday and is starting to be awake a little more.  Big sister and brother are quite the caretakers, and come running from whatever corner of the house they are in if they detect her cry.
Do you see her sweet little beauty mark on her cheek?  There is much to love about her.

She continues to be so peaceful and happy.  I thought she was too young to smile??, but she has given me some pretty obvious ones.

I gave the little Chief his first big boy/clipper haircut last week.  He was laughing about how it tickled, and then after some time went on, he became concerned about all the hair sticking to him, and what in the world I was going to do about it!
Early this morning, I pointed out how hard the rain was 'hitting' the window as we were snuggling on the couch.  He jumped up from the couch, starting running to his room, and yelled over his shoulder, "I'll be right back, I'm going to get my sword and shoot that rain".  I guess he felt the need to fight back.  Boys! 

If you know my husband, you know he gets after it and can 'get er done'.  He is equally excellent at enjoying life and making it fun.  He has been such a blessing and help to me.  We are savoring the slower pace of winter (heck, we are practically hibernating- ha) and the precious time of having a baby again (during the extraordinary Christmas season no less). 

I love you, David!

We've also been birdwatching.  The chickadees love bathing in the fountain out back, which is sentimental for both of us as two of our grandparents loved chickadees and my grandpa built the fountain.

Last up, my friend, K'lyn shared this recipe last year with me and I think they will be a Christmas tradition.  They are best warm (like a fresh doughnut) and she had the wonderful idea of using puff pastry instead of making the dough.  Brilliant!  Simply roll out the puff pastry, sprinkle with the vanilla sugar, fold, sprinkle again, cut, and bake.

Starlight Crisps

There you have it, a little of EVERYTHING!!:)

Cool Christmas Freebie

My cousin shared this with me, so I wanted to pass it along to you! 

Go here to download and print the cute poster below.  I printed mine on photo paper and put it in a large white frame. 

And I guess my sister and I had cones on the brain this week (she made super cute ones with fabric) and I was inspired by some pine cone ones I saw at Target.  I collected a few fir cones and glued them onto a cone and painted it white.  Don't laugh!:)

The little owl is from Target (on sale for $7.19).

Popum and Nanny came down this week to meet Julia, so we all got together and made Christmas cookies.  Actually, Leah made cookies with the kids!  "Saint Leah"!

My pretty sister-in-law with my pretty baby girl:

I'll leave you with a festive Peyton quote from this week.  He met Santa and kept asking him, "Santa, can Rudolph guide your sleigh tonight?"  He is having so much fun with Christmas and Santa got a pretty big kick out of it too!:)