Joyful Chaos

Seven excited children ripping into Christmas presents left me a bit exhausted!  The kids had a great time at Grandma & Grandpas, but afterwards I needed a nap.  For the past 4 Christmases my family has added one child each year.  This year was Pete's first Christmas and next year we'll keep the streak going with our new baby girl.  It's fun to watch how our family continues to grow.

Merry Christmas!

The Tradition Continues

Christmas Eve, to me, means a lasagna dinner by candlelight.  I grew up with that tradition and I'm carrying it on. 

My favorite Christmas gift this year was perfect behavior from both the boys at the evening mass!  It was unbelievable!  Thank you Santa!  After mass the boys got to open one gift; The Night Before Christmas book. 

I got to open one gift also.  They gave me a pine smelling candle since I was disappointed that we couldn't find a real tree this year and had to settle for our artificial one. 

 

The next morning I woke up feeling horrible.  I had gotten the flu.  Of all the days to get sick, it had to be our Christmas morning!  I did not enjoy our gift opening or brunch as much as I had hoped.  But Andrew did...I guess that's what matters!

Dominic would have been happy if we stopped after the first gift.  They both received new trains in their stockings; Andrew got Gordon and Dominic got James.  This was all he cared about.  He finally has a train that is his very own and Andrew can't take it away!

Oh Pancake...

You are getting quite the personality.  You love to laugh and follow your big brother around, imitating his silly noises.  You are very cuddly.  Your favorite thing to do is burrow your head between my legs to get my attention and lay your head on my shoulder (or anyone else's who is holding you).

You are walking around to strong and steady, yet you want to be held all the time.  It's as if you know that your time as our baby is limited and you want to squeeze every ounce of attention from us before the new baby arrives. 

You love to play with cars and trains, just like Andrew, which has been causing some fighting between you two, as you are always taking the trains that the other is playing with.

You do this thing where you shake your head back and forth and roll your eyes at the most random times.  We all get a kick out if watching you!

 

We love you to pieces little Pancake!