Christmas

The children are nestled all snug in their beds as visions of Christmas day dance in their heads. I cannot believe the day is almost over. It started out very early. . .12:30 am. Why? Because both Madeline and Ryan have terrible colds and coughs. We were up again from 4-5am, but the festivities did not begin until a little after 7am. As soon as Madeline woke up she asked if Santa had come. I told her that he had and she immediately starting jumping up and down and saying yea! I carried Ryan down the stairs and Daddy carried Madeline down the stairs with their eyes covered. Madeline was SO excited to see the presents. So far she seems most excited about the Cinderella doll set that Santa brought. Mommy and Daddy bought Madeline ballet slippers and dance lessons to begin in January, and Ryan got a train set, which he loves.

We then moved into the kitchen for homemade waffles and finished the morning watching Frosty and playing with the new toys. During naptime Matt and I both got to work out, which was good after my peanut butter and jelly waffle sandwich for lunch. . .if you have never tried it, you should because it is DELICIOUS! And after naptime we headed out for dinner with Pete, Tara, Julia and Paul. They graciously still wanted us to come over even though Madeline and Ryan have a nasty cold/virus. Dinner was delicious, dessert was even better, and time with the four of them was the best! We had a crown rib roast, vanilla sweet potatoes, garlic roasted asparagus, and onion-parsley bread. And dessert was a wonderful cake from the Blue Moon Bakery, a chocolate cake layered with a hazelnut mousse and Fangelico liquor, iced with chocolate buttercream and chocolate ganache.

Poor Madeline quickly deteriorated when we sat down for dinner. For some reason, eating triggered a coughing spell that lasted for an hour. At first we thought she was exagerating the cough, but we were quickly proved wrong when not even the offer of sucking her thumb or having dessert gave her the strength to stop coughing. I'm really hoping tonight is a better night, as we have had three rough nights in a row and I am exhausted.

Something cute. Madeline woke up from her nap before Ryan and I told her that when I went for my run she could watch a show. So right before my run I started a show for her and was chatting with her on the couch. She got annoyed that I was talking during the show and said, "Mommy, you really need to go work out now". Ha, ha, ha.

The only bummer of the day were the guilt trips from my family for not coming for Christmas. Here I am 31 years old with a family of my own and my mom is still laying guilt trips on me!!! Madeline and Ryan, when you read this one day, call me on it if I ever lay a guilt trip on you for not visiting me for holidays.

Matt and I feel so blessed today and so grateful for the birth of Jesus, our Savior. We pray there will be a day when Madeline and Ryan call on the name of Jesus as their Lord and Savior and delight in celebrating his birth.

Oh, Daddy got Mommy something very special for Christmas. A coupon book with all sorts of things Mommy can redeem from Daddy. It was very thoughtful and creative. The best gift I have received since we got married!!!

This boy is too cute for his own good! Here he is playing at Southpoint.

How precious! Matt and I loved walking behind them and watching them hold hands. They can be so sweet together.

RyRy on a sugar high. Can you tell that someone got a Pez dispenser in his stocking? Did you know that one can eat all the candy in the dispenser in 60 seconds or less? :)

Daddy teaching Ryan and Madeline how to use their Pez dispensers. . .yes, Daddy did sneak a few for himself, but the poor guy had not yet had his cup of coffee and was desperate.

Madeline is so excited about the Cinderella toy she just opened.

Our silly girl. . .always looking for a laugh.

Ry playing with his train set. He LOVES it.

Visit with Santa

Prior to yesterday afternoon, Ry was scared to get near Santa, but after a high five he was eager to sit on his lap and babble.  There is something unique about this Santa, that one cannot see from the picture. . .this Santa actually has LONG, curly, blondish hair hanging down the back of his suite.  Very unique. . .  We had a Christmas filled day yesterday including shopping, visiting Santa, wrapping presents and a Christmas party with friends.  I'll have to post more pictures after church.