Things to Remember

I am realizing just how much my boys are growing these days not just by how they look but what they say.

Here are a few examples for Jayce: (and how he is becoming his father)!

Each time I am going to the store, I'll tell him to help me remember the 3-4 things we need to get. Well, BOY DOES HE! And, BOY is he just like his daddy! The minute I start to look at something else, "Mom, that is not on the list!"

Alright and then ya know how there is always some project we moms are working on around the house, always something we think we could do to make it a little better... So, I've been saving the last year or so for mainly house things and I'm always on the "prowl" for good deals and looking on line at sales for a new type of furniture or light fixture or rug, etc.... It hit me that maybe I am a little too much when my 4 year old said to me, "Mom, why do you think we need new leather couches when we already have leather couches? What is wrong with ours? Later, he said, "Mom why do you always want new stuff?" Well, I tried to answer that in the best way for him to understand and boy was it hard! I said, you know how you always want new toys, even though you have old ones???? But, we cannot always get new toys just because we want them. OUCH!

Then, I was all excited about these new plants I'd gotten for a few spots I needed them in the house and Jayce walked in right after I set them up and declared, "MOM, this room is a DISASTER, no more plants!"

the card

OK, so here is what taking a Christmas card is really like... and it doesn't even include my other memory card full of trying...when at the clubhouse and Gabe was chasing the cat around the whole time... sweet Jayce sure was ready! He tried so hard!

and one more Christmas

AND THEN, we had Christmas one more time with mimi, papa and Grandma Shirley! We were so excited that they were able to come for a visit the Sunday after Christmas! Grandma Shirley had never been to our house so we were really glad she made it! The boys loved opening MORE gifts and most of all hanging out with their mimi, papa and Grandma Shirley!

Christmas Day

And FINALLY... Christmas day! I told Jay last night as I got these pictures together, that it's no wonder I was so tired by Christmas! I think I had 11 different events to post pictures from that all happened in a 2 week span! Love Christmas... but also glad to slow down a bit!

All the kids slept together and came down Christmas morning... all but Gabe that is... Jay decided at 1:30 when Gabe was still trying to get out of his pack n play to take him on home.. They arrived that morning to see what Santa had brought and I think we all got a better night's sleep that way than if he would have stayed... traveling days are over until he's transitioned to the big boy bed successfully :)

Happy Birthday Jesus Party

Here is our good friend Tara's annual Happy Birthday Jesus party! She read us the Christmas story and we all sang Happy Birthday to Jesus! The kids always get a little confused about why Jesus is not at the party, it's so cute!

Jayce's School Christmas Concert and Party

Jayce did an awesome job singing in the school Christmas concert! My favorite was "Happy Birthday Jesus," and how they get so high when they sing "It's all about YOU!!!" Too cute...

I have really enjoyed getting to be Jayce's room mom this year! It means I get to be at and help with all the parties and get to know all the kiddos... I love to see them in action and feel like I know a little more about what his day is like there! He is pictured with his buddy Nathan who he says is his bestest friend there and also Halley, who he says he wants to marry..(along with 10 others):) It would actually be good though b/c her mom is my hair stylist, maybe I could get a discount if we were family!

Christmas Eve at the McLaughlins

Christmas Eve... we started with dinner at 4, yummy prime rib Nanny made! Then the fam (excluding us) headed to church for the Christmas Eve service... There is not a nursery however and we did not think Gabe was quite ready for it this year! So, we headed to see our Aunt Will (dad's aunt) in the nursing home for a Christmas visit. That night, we wait for everyone to arrive to do our family gifts... Ended around midnight.. then we do our "thang" once the kids are down.. it is so much fun but a really late night! All worth it when the kids walk down the stairs in the morning though :)

McLaughlin Family Ornament Exchange