It is December
Well, maybe we need some warming up...
So let's go see....
SANTA!
Please look at how proud Woody is <3
Three Happy Kiddos!
Woody is asking for: a Paw Patrol Pup House, On-the-go Numbers set, and a backpack like Daddy's
Gaines is asking for: the last toy he saw on TV Paw Patrol Jungle set and Super Wing toys
She is asking for peace on earth...
Or maybe for her brothers to not wrestle so close to her
Geez Mom, if you're going to make us take pictures, can you make sure they are in focus!?
Aunt Savanna and Uncle Jake babysat while we did some Christmas shopping. Gaines is quite the fan.
But then he remembers that he is two and hasn't had a tantrum in thirty minutes
Going to her third birthday party in two weeks!
Post-nap hair
Saint Woody asleep with his devotional and bible
Everything was going well until everything wasn't. One Tuesday, I was about to pick up the boys from preschool and I felt so sick. I felt like I had the flu, but without the cold symptoms. It hurt to move. Sweet Brooks came home, but was about to fly out of town, so my amazing parents drove up to help out. By the time they got here on Wednesday, I was doing better and felt bad they had come over. However, Thursday I woke up with full-blown mastitis. Ugh. I couldn't have made it without them!
When Mommy is sick, you get to wear two pajama shirts, make a total mess, and cover yourself in stickers!
When Mommy feels better, she goes on a crazy cleaning spree and throws out 1/3 of your toys!
I was so excited to go to Woody's Class Christmas program, as well as both of the boys' parties. Woody has really loved church choir this year and had been singing the songs from his music class at school for weeks.
Baby Sister wearing her festive outfit from Mimi
Blogger is being weird with my videos, but he did so good! I am proud of how he is coming out of his shell and becoming more comfortable with unfamiliar situations.
At his class party, he told me to leave as soon as I got there. Typical. I did manage to get a picture of him. (Of course, when I showed him this picture last weekend, he said, "Oh, that is me at my party, and I cried because you left me." Cue momma tears! I felt so bad!)
At Gaines's party, His class was so cute with their festive antlers!
My three Christmas cookies
Yum yum yum
He really is an 80 year old in a 4 year old's body
Last weekend we traveled to Alabama to celebrate Christmas with my family. On Saturday, it was just my parents, siblings, nieces, nephew, and us. The boys were so excited to see their cousins. Gaines was being extra silly, so I had to snap some pictures.
You can see more pictures on Sister's blog here
Ready for Sunday!
On Sunday, aunt and uncle, grandmother, cousins, and their families joined us. I only see them a few times a year, and it is always extra special.
My precious Maw-Maw with her TEN great grandchildren (and #11 is on the way!)
After we said our good-byes, we left the boys with the Harvards for some special Christmas fun with Mimi and Papa. They have been busy...
...making cookies (and biscuits and banana bread!)
...Visiting Bass Pro Shop (and the actual zoo)...
...going to four different parks...
... more Bass Pro Shop (and adding things to their Christmas wish lists)...
...and beating Mimi at card games!
But oh my goodness, I miss them!
Thankfully they come home tomorrow.
Mae Stanley and I have had a lot of bonding time. She is the happiest baby on the block!
My friend, Alyssa, gave her a little Christmas doll in her goody bag from her son's birthday party. Mae Stanley loves it! She looks for it, and it can always get a smile from her.
Holding her baby <3
We've done quite a bit of shopping.
Shopping with a sleeping baby is a tad easier than with a two and four year old!
And we are trying to learn to take a bottle.
We are on our third type of bottle.
Mae Stanley = Not Impressed
Our Christmas Card 2016
Even with all the craziness of December...travel, parties, sickness, and shopping, Woody says it best- "It's Baby Jesus's Birthday!" Don't get me wrong, he is VERY in to Santa and VERY in to what Santa is going to bring him. But sometimes, he says the sweetest things that are a reminder about the wonderful gift of a tiny baby who was sent to be the Savior of this world. Our world is very broken. It is easy to turn a blind eye to the hardships, because the pain seems to big to face. But this baby. This baby that was born in a manger came to save this broken world. He is bigger than all the pain, hurt, and sadness. He is the Healer, the Joy, the Prince of Peace. He is the best gift we could ever receive.
I hope you and your families have a very Merry Christmas.