pieces of me

tradition

each year shortly after thanksgiving we decorate our tree and each year there are new ornaments.  when we got married candy began the annual tradition of giving each child a christmas ornament that was representative of the past year.  it might be related to an activity that they had a great time participating in or related to a book that had caught their attention.  today she sometimes regrets starting that tradition because it can sometimes be very hard to decide what is the best ornament to get or, even worse, decide what would be perfect then be unable to find it. 

but each year she comes through.  and each year i think the kids are more excited than the last to see what was chosen for them.  it is an exciting kick off for our christmas season celebrations. 

after each new ornament is opened we then place them on the tree first.  then it becomes a wonderful stroll down memory lane as we unpack and hang up each ornament for each child from the previous years.  our tree has few decorations that are not related to a childhood memory.  as christmas, at least the tree, presents and santa, is really for kids it is a deep pleasure to open ornaments from years past and talk about what was going on in each child's life at the time the gift was given.  if you asked any one of them what they got for christmas last year or any year for that matter they would be hard pressed to give you and answer.  but if you asked them what ornaments are their's and what is the meaning and memory behind that they can talk and laugh for hours. 

tradition.  it binds us together by reminding us that we have a shared past, shared memories, shared love.

catching up

as i sat down to write this post to catch up on the happenings of the holidays i started looking for pictures for the post. just going thur our pictures for the month of december overwhelmed me so much.  gosh....we were so busy.  i hope i can summarize our holiday season for you.  to start the holidays each year i have a tradition i started with the children when pat and i first got married.  each year on the day we put up our christmas tree they get to open a new ornament that represents what they have done/into that year.  when they eventually leave home they can take their ornaments with them to help their own collection for their tree.  hopefully the ornaments will bring back great memories for them.  i am getting a little sad thinking about this because this was my year to "give up" patrick's box and let him take them.  i love this tradition but it also brings home the reality that when they get their box they are grown and no longer in our home. :(  guess i should just enjoy the time i have now and worry about that later - pat would laugh at that because i can't just let it go and worry later i have to worry now!

love that they just love this!!!

in early december i was in target with will and we walked by the christmas section and he started yelling "hoUSe...hoUSe.... make hoUSe" when i turned to him he was pointing at a gingerbread house......so you know i had to get it and boy did they have a blast decorating it.  it was heaven for will because what more could a little boy ask for than to play with sugar icing and yum-yums.

next we had hannah and emmy's school parties.  will was able to go with me and loved every minute of the parties.  not only did he get his very own plate of food but he was also given the gifts that the teachers had for the students.  talk about spoiled.  it is unbelievable.

laura attended the black and white affair for the high school.  it is a fund raising dance for the prom. she had such fun.  the funny thing was when her "date" came over to take some pics with her, will was not a happy camper.  he kept going up to waura and making her hold him.  so cute.....guess i won't have to worry about many boys getting to close to her as long as her little brother is near.  maybe we should have her take him on her dates....hummmm that's an idea!


then the preparations for santa began with the making of sugar cookies and reindeer food. you know rudolph can't find the house without the magic reindeer food sprinkled on the ground.




the magic food worked because rudolph did find the house.  the kids were up bright and early dragging mom and dad out of the bed so they could open all of their gifts.  everyone was very happy except mom and dad whose fingers were very sore from all of the twist ties! :)  we chilled for most of the day and had a lovely dinner with all of the kids.                      then it happened.............everyone got sick with the exception of dad and laura.  we decided to travel anyway and boy was it miserable.  we made it to gramma's house very late wednesday night  ~ just in time for hannah to throwup her dinner.   we were so scared we would get gramma sick, but she was such a great sport.  she said if she got sick she would just be sick for a few days and then it would be over.  no big deal.  well after that mishap noone else came down with it so we were fine.  we then made our rounds to montgomery and back home in time for my birthday.   

i think i have successfully summed up our holiday happenings.  you are a trooper if you made it through this post.  :) 

early christmas

i know this post seems a little out of order since it is already after christmas and i have not posted about our christmas adventures, but i have wanted to share with you our early christmas from the kids.  funny thing is that they didn't even know that their little adventure was such a present to their parents.  it all began when laura decided to have all the siblings (expect for will) go ice skating together.  so on saturday before christmas mg, patrick, laura, hannah, emmy and ben loaded up in the van with ben driving and headed to knoxville to go ice staking.  hannah and emmy were sooooo excited since they had never been before and have been dying to go for years. (i know, we are such bad parents for not taken them)  well from the report and what little pics that were taken a great time was had by all. 

patrick and ben helping emmy

laura helping hannah
what more could parents ask for than for all of their children to love each other and want to spend time together.  my christmas was complete at that moment.  our children could never give us such a wonderful gift as they did that day.  the knowledge that they love each other and will always be there for one another is the most precious gift a parent could ever ask for.  thanks kiddos for making our lives complete!!!