Back to "Normal"

Tomorrow it's officially back to "normal" for us.  Both kids go back to school and activities start back up again and life starts to get busy again.  This break has really been so nice and relaxing and full of great times with friends and family.  I haven't set an alarm for two weeks!!  I just hope it works tomorrow morning.  HA!  Our house feels a little empty tonight as we are just back to the four of us.  In fact, I think Trip and Mady are feeling it too because they have both gotten out of bed and come downstairs with some crazy excuse at least 5 times each tonight.  We loved having Pitty, Grumpa, Aunt Betsy, Kaki and Grandad here to celebrate Christmas with us.  It means so much to me for so many of the people we love to be here at one time, and especially to celebrate the birth of our Savior!  The kids even slept until 7:30 a.m. on Christmas morning!  We were all shocked!  Then, we got to celebrate with the rest of my side of the family.  It is so fun to watch the cousins playing together!  They have such a great time and get along really well.  I know Mady is excited that Graham and Katie are fostering a girl, because now she is no longer outnumbered by the boys.  We just need Vera to grow up fast!  :-)

Our annual family toy giveaway was a HUGE success this year!  After each Christmas, we have Trip and Mady sort through their toys and pick some to give away.  Each year, it amazes TJ and I at the things they fight over giving away, the things they cling to that they haven't played with in months.  But, this year, they were on a roll.  They were even willing to giveaways somethings I didn't want gone yet!  It was so sweet to see their hearts so willing to give to those less fortunate than they are.  After we got all cleaned up and back in order after Christmas, our precious friends, the Guerards came over to celebrate the New Year.  This is one of my favorite traditions.  The kids do an early NYE celebration with a kid dinner, sparklers and movie, and then, it's grown up time with a nice steak dinner and wine and fun while we ring in the new year.  We have been doing this since Mady and their youngest, Parker, were babies and I hope we continue it even until they are teens!  TJ and I also took each child on a date night during their break.  Trip and I went to play video games.  The best part was him winning a little Smurf from one of those toy grab games.  I couldn't believe he actually snagged something!  TJ took Mady to an art studio for some painting.  What a perfect date for the two creative folks in our family.  Their paintings turned out great!



Here are some pictures from last few weeks!

Singing at a local nursing home

Mady's Christmas program

Mady's Christmas party

Trip reading to me at his Christmas party

Santa in the neighborhood

Pitty and Grumpa

Aunt Betsy!

Hugs on Christmas morning!

Kaki and Grandad

Fun presents with Nick and Nolan

Slumber party with the Guerards

Video game date

So talented!

Last week, our Pastor preached about putting away Christmas.  And, he shared with the children during the Children's Message that even though their parents are putting away all the Christmas decorations and friends and family have gone back home, that doesn't mean that we need to put Christmas away.  He told the kids that Christmas can and should live in our hearts all year long as we worship our Lord and remember the special day and the special way that He came down from heaven to be in our world!  Trip keeps reminding us all of that this week as we took down all the decorations and started to get ready to get back to "normal."  So, our new normal is CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY!!  Sounds good to me.