What are you doing, NYE?

I love this video from Zooey Deschanel singing this song about plans for New Year's Eve.

Let's face it. I pretty much like anything that Zooey Deschanel does. But, this is pretty good, right?

So, what are you doing on New Year's Eve? We'll be ringing in the New Year according to East Coast time so we can celebrate but get the kids to bed on time and be okay for church the next morning. Doesn't that sound grown up and mature?

I mean, it would be fun to go out and get dressed up and celebrate, but it's fun to be where we are in life right now. It's chaotic and crazy and loud and I try to remember that it's not going to last very long. There will be years ahead for going out and not worrying about babysitting.

But, really, I'll be tired by then and will enjoy just being at home then, too. 

Christmas pictures

I snapped a few pictures before the Christmas eve service. Patrick wanted this to be finished quickly!

Pretty cute one here, Maggie was behind me making silly faces at him and he gave us a little, bitty smile!

She's such a cute little elf!

Copper's first Christmas picture!

Ears

This guy loves to put things in his ears.

We first noticed it when he started requesting his "bee" to go to sleep. "Bee" looks just like Maggie's "quame"  and was given to Patrick. "Bee" is a blue blankie with a silk lining and he loves to sleep with it at night.

Patrick will take the tips of "bee" and put it in his ear. He will rub it around his ear and it just seems to comfort him when he is relaxing.

The funny thing is that this has transferred to other items now. In the car, he will take the strap of his car seat and put it in his ear. He will take off his boot and put the shoelace tip in his ear.

Tonight, he was playing with Copper and grabbed his tail. He sat down and put Copper's tail in his ear. Copper didn't appreciate this at all.

Twas the night before Christmas

And all through the house
2 year old little boys dressed up in Santa pajamas weren't quiet as a mouse

He found a light saber and he was rocking this Santa/Jedi look, don't ya think?

Santa Paws

Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of a wiggly, all black puppy? Do you know much harder it is when you want him to wear this adorable santa beard and hat? Doesn't he look like he wants to kill someone?

Christmas eve service

For the first time since we've been here, we had a Christmas eve service. As a child, we usually went to a Christmas eve service and I remember singing songs by candlelight and the choir walking down the aisle while singing. I loved the Christmas eve service this year, too. It felt familiar and nice to slow down in the middle of Christmas chaos and celebrate the birth of our savior.

To up the cuteness factor even more, the kids sang "Go tell it on the mountain" at the beginning of the service. Maggie's in the back row wearing the pink Santa hat.

Owen started off the singing by reciting scripture. He got a little nervous and it was really cute. You can hear him say that he was scared in video. The kids were so cute and as I watched them sing, I had to fight off the tears.  There were 2 of Maggie's classmates in the group singing. They don't go to our church, but come each Wednesday night to our church. Jesse does a great job with this group of kids each week. Maggie and her classmates  begged to sit together after the service and they were so cute sitting together all on our little row. They were hugging and wishing each other Merry Christmas and begging for playdates at the end of the service.

Most of the people at the service were people who don't normally attend our church. Out of the 80 people there, I probably knew 30 of them. They were mostly family members there to see the kids singing or just looking for a Christmas eve service.

I loved every part of it and singing next to Maggie as she nervously held her candle was a great way to end the service. I hope each of you had a merry Christmas eve, too.

Merry Christmas

I probably say this every year, but this year was one of the best Christmases. My kids were so stinkin' excited and it's easy to be happy when they are this excited and thankful and happy.

Here's a glimpse into our world. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas too.