December

December was busy as always.  Worshipful.  Fun with three kids.  I have to pinch myself as I keep saying three kids.  

Very last minute went to NYC with bestie Leslie Pine.  She mentioned in passing about going on a girls' weekend to get away.  I mentioned to Derek and he emphatically insisted.  So much so that we went on the weekend of Leslie's and Derek's birthdays because no other weekend would work.  That's sweet love from the hubby!  Of course my parents were around all weekend so he had plenty of time off to count as a turnaround gift as well.  Love you, Mom and Dad.


I didn't take my camera.  We slept in, went to bed at a reasonable time, sat and ate three meals a day (and not a single one was a bust!), shopped til we dropped, enjoyed every second of it.  I saw Wicked again...loved it just as much as the first time!

Two photos with my phone, neither that great.  Fergie was promoting a book at Bloomingdales.  The store fronts at Christmas time are so fun to see as well.

 Rockefeller City Christmas Tree on our way to Wicked. All of NYC wore black coats and every face looked haggard and grumpy.  Not us Texans...I wore a purple jacket and Leslie wore a green one, that I actually borrowed the last time I went to NYC, back in '09.  And we always had a smile on our face.  No kids to take care of, taking a shower as long as we want, you get the drift.  Much needed weekend of catching my breath.

On a rainy afternoon my kids woke up at 5pm and I last minute decided to get the yearly Santa photo in.  Yes, we don't celebrate Santa, but we do take photos with him!  Levi & Lexi already knew he wasn't real, though at times I am pretty sure Levi was hopeful.  Poor kids getting this dreary family for their forever home.  :-)


Santa moved down by Dillard's at Memorial City Mall.  And what an update - it was awesome!  Interactive games, cool lights and backdrops, you name it.

 Didn't even scan this, just took a photo with my phone.  It's all I've got some days.

Lexi was fine until she started forward.  Starts to bawl!  Then cries for Bubba, her Justin, to hold her in his lap.  Then we move her to his side.  So precious and warmed my heart watching my JT be big brother.  We eventually got three smiles.  And yes, Levi has on red socks.

 Interactive games.

 The huge reindeer.

 Ho. Ho. Ho.

Due to the size of the kids' main gifts from us, we decided on a rather warm December weekend to give their gifts to them early, both to maximize car space and take advantage of the weather.

Levi on the EZ rider.  I admit it's not as fun as I hoped, and since we have played with a different toy from two friends he enjoyed more.  But he couldn't reach what we gave Justin, so alas, here it is.  It has since been used much more, and also carries things when they are doing projects in the yard.  Like yesterday, taking Daddy's screwdrivers into the front yard to puncture ant piles with.  Nice.

 Out of order.  Wearing shorts and t-shirts in December!

 Lexi got a new Skootch like the big boys.  But since has fallen due to being run over.  The kids all know to park their ride-ons far from Mommy's car so I don't run over it.  It fell prey to not completing the task recently, along with our Kettler trike, and has since fallen into unusable territory.  I am very disappointed as we are standing by our guns that no toy shall be replaced.  She loved it, but, well, it was short lived.

 The green machine.  Many adult has also played with this thing.  We love it.

That afternoon the younger two had a school playdate, so we went and let Derek and Justin go to the golf course.  I last minute decided to visit my cousin, Clay, at the Rainforest Forest Cafe in Katy where he works on weekends.  We first stopped at the Bass Pro Shops and visited Santa again.

 Then we ate under the thunderstorms and big gorillas.  The kids weren't quite as scared as this was their second time to the place.  We got to have Clay as our server, which was super fun!

Christ Community Church, fondly called CCC, had their kids' Christmas program.  Rachel Paxton helped orchestrate all of it, and I somehow forgot my camera.  Levi & Justin were shepherds.  Justin's brown head is right behind Levi singing.

 Love love how our church uses Children Desiring God curriculum to point our kids to Jesus and not the main character of the story, which so many curriculum do.  Another way our church is great at being intentional.  Praise Jesus we found it!  And yes, we wore these shirts and dress a lot.  It it ain't broke..

Friendship School had a Christmas celebration.  Levi and Lexi would be singing the songs when I would pick them up for school the month before.  Levi casually mentioned he was playing Santa, once again fitting for a kid who wanted to believe in the thought of Santa.  When we showed up we had no idea that he had such a major role!

 They were doing the Night Before Christmas, and Levi had a 4 minute monologue ending with calling out Dancer, Prancer, etc.

 I was so proud of my little public speaker!  Yet another strength I had no idea he possessed.

 Love the pillow additives.

 My handsome Santa

 Lexi and I attempted to curl her hair before the big show.  And then I was at a loss on how to put in a bow.  Still trying out this girl hair thing!  But the curls held great and I know I can fix my daughter's hair for special occasions when needed.

 There were a lot of songs sung by the Elves.

 I forever have this photo ingrained in my mind.  When I check on my kids at night, sleeping, all the sin, disobedience, frustrations, impatience, etc. of the day fade away.  My heart quickens when I am reminded just how small these kids are.

 Mrs. Beth, Levi, & Mrs. Lisa

 Mrs. Melody, Lexi, & Mrs. Sandra.  My kids LOVE their teachers!

Hunter's Creek also had a Christmas program.  We had just three days before made the decision to move schools in January.  More on that later.  So we knew it was his last week at HCE.

Right before we left these two were playing "getting married".

The kids sung, no lie, over 50 songs.

And after awhile all the parents were looking around wondering when the kids would sing something they knew.  They sang a lot of Hanukkah songs and changed "We Wish you a Merry Christmas" to "We Wish you a Happy Holidays".   Needless to say I was thrilled when it was over.

 Goofs after the concert

 Justin with one of his favorite ladies, Ella Sophia.  Twin giants of the class.

 With some more buddies.

The next day was the Christmas party and last day before Christmas break.  Levi & Lexi got to tag along as I had signed up to help.  Lots of sugar consumed.  Lots of hugs as we left.  All the kids were so sweet as it hit them that Justin wasn't coming back after the break.  Many emotions that day.

The next day we woke up and Levi and I had a sweet moment in the kitchen.  He looked at me, sighed, and said it felt so good to be adopted.  We hugged and just sat there for a moment as we both relished in God's goodness.  I then started talking about our next week and all the traditions we do with extended family, etc.  About an hour later I found him crumpled in a corner sobbing over his foster sister that he missed.  Broke my heart.  So many emotions in one day.  So we made her a card and sent it on her way.  Which started a chain of letters being exchanged over the next few weeks.

We then packed the car and headed to Greg and Pam's house.  The annual Smorby Christmas would take place and then all the Smith crew would head to Waco for Christmas.

We drew names for the kids, and Derek and I opted out of the exchange.  Gifts are not that high on either love tank, but we enjoy watching the kids.  Ginger drew Justin and gave him the Narnia collection.  Clay was heard to mutter, "Books?  What kind of gift is that?"  Let me tell you, once Justin got over the shock that it wasn't Legos, we have loved this!  Makes me remember reading this as a kid.  Though I read it as a kid, I stopped around book 5 or 6.  Since they have changed the series to being Chronological.  Justin and I started with the Magician's Nephew, which was 6th in the older version.  I had never read it.  I truly loved who Narnia was created.  I feel as if every believer should read it.  I was teary reading it to Justin.  It was absolutely beautiful!

 Daniel's love for his slippers was short lived.  He wanted them off the minute they were put on.

 Lexi got her first set of girl Legos.

Yes, Justin got close to the pool and got wet, so we changed into shorts last minute.

 Lots of gag gifts are given "in honor" of someone else who never put their name on the unsuspecting gift.  Makes for many laughs.

My kids favorite of the day..Shane's gifts.  Pedro, or something like that.

 He literally was cleaning out his fridge, found rock hard potatoes...

 ...put faces on them and gave them to the boys.

 Much much laughter.

No, not a potato, but looks like one!

 Someone lovingly gave me this number.

 We attempted a quick group photo.  Ginger getting her mommy-ness in gear as she is expecting in July!  No one knew at this time, but she was helping make sure yet another Michaelis didn't get too wet.

 It started off overcast in the ten minutes we tried to organize this.

 The natives were stirring as I was getting my setting ready.

 The sun popped it's lovely head out and started to blind many.

 Then I jumped in and left Kayla to do the rest.

 Sometimes goofy photos are best

 Aaron looks a little wicked in these photos.

 Snagged this from Valerie.  Sums it up best.

We then got in the car to drive to Waco.  The following day Elise grabbed some snowballs from a promotion Antioch was doing through Bahama Bucks.  While me one encounter with the place was a total bust with my Midway crew, I will say the snowballs help make me not cringe quite as much when hearing the words.

Daniel had a fever and watched from the car.  He missed out on some fun at first while we waited for him to be fever free.

 The entire holiday I took photos on automatic.  And was disappointed at the blurriness!  I should know better but got lazy.  I think only one person is in focus on this hilarious photo of the snowball crazies.

 Getting ready to start

 Ironically it was the one warm day before the cold front came in.

 It ended in tears for one Little Miss, but a good time was had by all.

 Some had a little too much fun.

 Even daddy was throwing some lefties.

 Uncle Shane keeping a safe distance.

 Christmas Eve morning we woke up and went and celebrated Christmas with the Michaelis'.  Lexi got a horse.

 And all three got new bikes to keep in Waco for when we are in town.  Such a great gift!

 They were bigger than the ones at home so they could grow into them.

 Justin had a list he brought home from school with five things he wanted for Christmas.  All five were news to me.  One on the list...stuffed animals kittens.  Right after a JJ Watts uniform and a Wii.  Huh.

My brothers almost went out last minute on Christmas Eve to buy Justin a Wii and surprise us all.  But after watching him play with Levi, and watching it turn him into another person altogether (and not a good one at that), they made the decision that maybe it was best we didn't own one.

 Love that this says adopt me at the top of it.

 Then we went out in the cold to ride the bikes.

 Grandpa got on his bike as well.

 Looking a little small there, Big D.

 Even Grandma got on her bike to take a spin.

 We went in for stocking gifts, which is Grandma's specialty.

 It was great to see Uncle Kevin.

 We love seeing our grandparents!

 We went to my parent's church that night and came home to put on our jammies.  Justin didn't have any Christmas pajamas, and the week before I noticed the absence.  So I last minute caved and got everyone these.  And since I got them so big everyone has been wearing them all winter.

 We then had a Jesus party.  Lexi had been talking about this for weeks.

 Daniel sneaking a lick on that gluten goodness.

 Justin's creative seat.

 The next morning was so fun.  Reading the Christmas story, having my three wake up Daniel in his crib as he gleefully jumped up at the party in his room.  Watching three kids on Christmas morning was such a joy.

 Birdie out two of Daddy's baseball cards in the boys stockings.  Not sure if Levi even knew Daddy was a Dodger before that moment.  Sleepy Derek was thrilled at the spotlight, I'm sure.

 Shane wondering what the cornstarch was for.

 Aunt Elise bought Lexi some pink goodness that she didn't want to put down.

 Daniel trying out his train ride on from us.

 The kids made daddy coupons for him to use.  Like go on a bike ride, have a slumber party (which he cashed in with Lexi already), go to the golf course, make a snowman in Utah, etc.

 Lexi & Aunt Elise

 The much anticipated JJ Watts uniform.

 Aaron was heard to have said, "Christmas is so much more fun with kids."

 Um yes, Uncle Shane did happen to buy books that made noises.

 Levi got lots of cars.

 Justin shooting the crazy nerf gun...

 ...that Uncle Aaron bought...for Daniel!  Indian giver!  :-)

 Shane doing bracelets with Lexi, which was his gift to her.

 All the kids, including adult ones, got marshmallow guns.

 Walking Daniel the dog around

 The kids table at Christmas.  So thankful my grandparents were able to come in from Tyler.

 And we somehow got everything home.  With the kids up top, of course.

 Would have been quieter if that had happened, but no, the gifts made it back in the carrier.

New Year's Eve was fun.  Can't exactly remember what we did.  We laid low as we packed for our ski trip two days later.  Justin was watching a bowl game and punched his eye while cheering. 

 Lexi dressed and diapered her horse.  And gave it a Lego block of grass as well.

Everyone was using the new doll bed.

It was sweet explaining the Christmas story to Levi and Lexi.  All the details, with the advent calendars that all the kids would excitedly want to open each morning, and decorating the Christmas tree, and buying ornaments with the kids' names on them for EVERY year they were born (just like brother Justin), all of it.  The Lord is faithful as he richly blessed us in 2012...and forward!