Moving On

Christmas was relaxing and a whirlwind of activity all in one this year. D had to work on Christmas morning from 8am until 12pm, so it made for a different beginning to the festivities. We slept over my parents' house on Christmas Eve since we were up late with dinner and grandparent gifts. My grandparents go to each of their kids' homes and hand out their presents on Christmas Eve and Christmas; our time is Christmas Eve night.

M enjoyed all the hustle and bustle, but it's always hustling and bustling at my parents' house with a different combination of the same people, so I wasn't sure he thought anything was different. Until Christmas night when he didn't want to go to bed, but instead played with the Play-doh oven set from Uncle Nicky Nick and Auntie Kristina. And then he finally got into the gift-opening thing--with his uncles and aunties gifts! Going back to Christmas morning though...

It was like any other morning, really, but with lots of anticipation for a fun day. Dad, Mom, M, and I all hung around doing whatever last minute things that needed doing. Dad and M hung out downstairs in Dad's new (and rapidly expanding!) workshop. They'll hang out down there for an hour at a time, it's quite cute to behold. Dad just talks to M like an apprentice, explaining what he's doing, letting him help out when possible, and letting him see what it's like to build (because that's his newest fascination!). I see lots of woodworking projects in their future! D got out of work on time and then we packed up and went to D's parents house for Christmas dinner and presents. M loved playing with his cousin Ari. He loves her so much, it's quite funny to see. He'll always be hugging her and trying to kiss her and play with whatever she's playing with. Basically, endlessly annoying the poor girl. But she's a good sport, which is probably why he loves her so much!

M had a TON of presents to open from D's parents and his aunts and uncles, which would be any kids dream. Except it was torture for him because he had to stay still and he didn't really understand the whole present-opening procedure (at that time!). So we helped him out a bit! He really enjoyed playing with whatever he could get his hands on after it was opened, though!




These pictures are courtesy of Sara and Tony because our camera's battery died on Christmas Eve night. Dad let me use his camera while we were there, so when I get those pictures off of his camera, I'll post them!

We left around 5pm to go to my house for dessert and more socializing and more present-opening late into the night. I forgot to mention that D took Christmas Eve off since he was working on Christmas and it was such a treat to have him around all day. Wednesday night we went downstairs, turned on a Christmas-y movie, and wrapped gifts. Thursday, the three of us had a leisurely day together before heading over Mom and Dad's for dinner. I think I'll request he do that each year from now on!

It's snowing quite vigorously right now, so our New Year's Eve dinner plans at Mom and Dad's are up in the air right now. Although Weatherman Dave assures me that the advisory will be lifted around 3pm and all can resume as normal. We shall see!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

REALLY yummy cookie recipe: Pillsbury's Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies. I modified it a bit to make it more healthy: made my own brownie mix and used chocolate chips instead of frosting. To make it even healthier, I could have used organic cream cheese and used the chocolate chunks I made the other day (but I had a handful of store-bought chocolate chips that needed to be used). Anyway, it was the perfect cookie for D (at least in my opinion) because he loves Buckeyes (the peanut butter and chocolate center of this cookie) and brownies. He was expecting just the buckeyes, so it threw him off a bit, but he recovered nicely and had three. Mom was another one who was taken by these little cookies. I won't tell you how many she had ;).

Couples' Gifts: The reason I made the above-mentioned cookies (along with chicken pot pie and salad) was because Dad and Mom were coming over for dinner and to give us our couples' gifts. It's a tradition they started last year and it goes like this: they go to each of our (mine, Ryan's, and Nick's) houses and give us gifts they picked out for our home. We got some pretty nifty things again this year, including FLEECE sheets for our bed. A friend of Mom's recommended them to her, so she decided to try them out. She loved them and insists that we will, too. Can't wait to try them out in this 20 degree weather!

Micah: has yet another cold. He was well for a grand total of five days before getting a runny nose and a cough again. I think we're going to go into hibernation after Christmas. Maybe that's why the bears do it, to avoid colds. D made him some tea, along with the rest of us, after dinner. He included some dried sage, chamomille, and honey in the concoction and M drank it all. I'm going to make him some of this syrup (natural version of a cough syrup) as soon as I get one more ingredient. If you have a cold, don't go near Micah because he will catch it and we'll have to put up with him. Actually, he's the happiest, non-caring-that-he's-sick sick child I know, but still, stay away :).

Speaking of herbs: I signed up for a free online course to learn some basics. Herbs can be more powerful than conventional medicine with none of the weird side effects. We'll see how much I actually get into it, but I'd like to know some basics (especially about garlic, cinnamon, ginger, and chili powder).

IKEA: has a free breakfast/kids eat free all day the day after Christmas. We just might spend all day there and save on our grocery bill since our Little Man can eat and eat and eat. We're also in the market for a 4 or five shelf bookshelf for the living room, to relieve some of the clutter that tends to pile up in the form of books. Mom says we're crazy to go there the day after Christmas, but I'll be crazy for a free breakfast and a nicely-priced bookshelf.

I started reading: Shepherd's Abiding today. It's the last book in the Mitford series, but it's about Christmas, so I wanted to read it now. I don't usually do fiction anymore because I literally have a list of 144 non-fiction books that I want to read, but I wanted to take a break and do something a bit mindless to counteract the busyness that is my life right now. I'm enjoying it.

Another thing on my To Do list: is, after the New Year, to go through this house and write down all the storage items I would need to make everything less cluttered and piled-up around here. I've found/been given some really nice wicker baskets, but they've already found a home. And I need some plastic bins for outgrown clothes, crafty items, etc. I'm looking forward to it at this point, so it's motivating me to do it. Hopefully the motivation will last when it's time to actually do it!

I rented a Christmas-y movie from the library and am torn between watching that or MI-5 with David. So very sad!

Oh, and David got his two staples removed today. By a coworker. During work hours.

A year ago......ironically enough, these writing tools are some of M's favorite items to play with at Grammy/Grampa's!

Micah: took a four, yes FOUR, hour nap yesterday after church. It's not easy being him, I guess. He went right to bed and slept the entire night, too, so no ill effects from the nap. D and I took full advantage and grabbed a two-hour nap ourselves. We were still recovering from The Weekend Event.

The Weekend Event: Four hours of our Saturday were spent in the ER because D fell down my parents' stairs. Which isn't anything that hasn't happened to the rest of us before (multiple times, actually!), but of course D had to go above and beyond. He managed two falls, actually. During the first, he was carrying M down the stairs and slipped and fell. He held on to Micah (thank God!!!) and M was perfectly fine, just a bit shook up. But having that extra thirty pounds and no way to grab onto a railing knocked the wind out of David. He was sitting on the second-from-the-bottom step and said he needed a minute to catch his breath. So we all turned to go into the kitchen and a few seconds later D passed out and fell off the stairs! That's when he got the gash on his head that needed two staples and the cut on his lip that didn't need some ointment. The resident said his one of his front teeth looked cracked, but the doctor checked it out and didn't think it was a big deal, maybe just cracked enamel. We're giving it a few days so see if anything transpires. The moment I freaked out (Mom said she still has my DAVID! scream seered in her head and Dad said the look on my face was something he never wants to see again...oops!) was when I turned around and saw D lying on his back, his eyes open but not seeing, his glasses a few inches from his face, and his body convulsing. That's when I screamed and panicked, all the while holding Micah, so naturally he freaked out, too. The Lord was good, though, because everything could have been far worse and injuries could have been far more extensive (which I don't forget for a second), but D was able to go to church the next day (and tell his story 33 more times!). He's not even taking any pain meds, which is amazing since the doctors prescribed some pretty strong stuff in anticipation of lots of pain. The sorest part of his body is the most-likely-cracked rib on his backside, but it only hurts when pressed. He's functioning like nothing ever happened. We are all just amazed that D held on to M instead of letting go, which is a natural reflex. He's amazing! Dad insisted we sleep over Saturday night and Ryan and Yana came by to see how we were doing. I told D that was enough excitement out of him to last a lifetime.

Micah: coughs on demand now. He's so entertaining, not that this is a new development, but he mimics words and actions and does a lot of creative play now. Dad had him downstairs in his new workshop (formally known as the basement, known to Micah as just "downstairs") for half an hour the other day. They were building and using tools and just having a grand ol' time together. Ever since Dad let Micah help him install a cabinet door that he made for their new TV stand, M has been "fixing" and using "tools" all the time. Anything that's laying around has the potential to become a tool (with sound effects), even an old Salad Shooter! It's fun to see what he'll choose as the Tool of the Day. It certainly won't be one of his many store-bought toys (which have since been packed away!), but it's usually an old dish soap container, something out of the recycle bin under the sink, an old spice bottle, anything that catches his fancy.

This week: is completely booked. I was organizing my week yesterday and was amazed to see that every day/night had something going on. All fun stuff (dinner with a friend, birthday dinner for my grandma, a cookie swap with church friends, and D's 30th bday party), but I need to prepare for a few of them (like make the cookies and organize D's party stuff) and I'm almost worried I won't have the time to do everything how I would like. Anyway, it'll all get done, it has to!

D: just texted me (I'm loving this texting thing!!) and said he got his free birthday burger from Ruby Tuesday. That's where we'll be headed next Monday on his birthday! :) It'll be part of our 20%...we try to eat 80% good and that last 20% is our going out to eat once a week or eating over people's houses who don't eat like we do, the occasional Big Y donut that fulfilled a specific craving, etc. It works out great and I'd venture to say we're more like 90/10 most weeks (but not these upcoming holiday ones!).

First Sled Ride: didn't enamor Micah. He wasn't all about the snow for some reason...maybe because he fell in it without any gloves for his first experience? Anyway, he warmed (warmed?) up to it as the days went on. After I took this picture, Dad, Mom, and Yana came to pick us up so we could hang out at Dad and Mom's for the day. Ryan and Yana lost power (we didn't) and since we live two seconds from them, Dad swung by, shoveled a path to our front door for the mailman, loaded us into the car, and off we went. It was a very fun day, needless to say.

The next day: Dad and Mom arrived at our house with a snowblower. Dad has been telling us to get one for a while, but D didn't feel it was necessary enough to buy one. However, he happily accepted the one that was bought for him :). This way, if D isn't able to clear the snow before work, I can at least clear some with the snowblower. There's still snow on our driveway from last week, ugh. We gladly (and thankfully!) welcome this new addition to our family!!

First Candy Cane: which I'm sure won't be the last...


We've made it to: the story of Rahab in our Advent devos so far. Interesting to see God's plan for a Savior start way back at Creation and work its way to the point where Jesus could be born in a manger in Bethlehem at the perfect time, which we celebrate at Christmas. And continue on to the cross where Jesus died in our place and still continue on to his resurrection and ascension into Heaven where He waits for those who accepted His gift. Gives me chills just thinking about it. Maybe this Christmas song is a new favorite because I have a baby boy of my own, or maybe it's because it really makes me think, but either way, I've enjoyed singing it to Micah (since singing is our new nap/bedtime ritual, in place of Baby Einstein!):

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know,
that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered,
will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know
your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know,
that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby,
you've kissed the face of God.

The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know,
that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding, is the great I AM.

It has been a jammed-packed weekend so far, but we’re getting a lot done, so it’s a fruitful weekend as well. It all started, for me, on Friday afternoon when Uncle Nicky Nick came over to watch Little Man while I went on errands. I had a few stores in one area to go to and decided not to torture Micah by bringing/dragging him along. He’s great company on shopping trips, but I knew this was going to be a long one. So thankfully Nick was around and willing to entertain. I spent exactly two hours in the dollar store. Yes, it can be done. I got some paper goods for D’s party, some fun stocking stuffers for my parents’ stockings, a few Christmas-wrapping related items, and a few other cool finds (like Christmas CDs that were themed: one was all piano, the others were bells, choral, harp, string, etc. They are awesome, especially for $1!). I also made a quick stop at TJMaxx that was in the same plaza and at Walmart a mile down the road. Boy, did I feel accomplished!

When I got back, Ryan called and wanted to take Little Man for a few hours. It seemed like it was going to work out, but it ended up not. However, Ryan, Yana, and Rita ended up coming over (with some yummy, homemade Chicken Noodle Soup!) and visiting for a few hours. I was in the middle of making Baked Apple French Toast which was also yummy…and brownies from scratch, a treat for D. M enjoyed the company, of course, but since he didn’t have a second nap (even though Nick tried very hard!), he turned in early. Having the night to ourselves, D and I (what else??) watched an episode of MI-5, read, computered, and read our Advent devotions (these are really neat devos that you read for the month of December, which take you from Creation to Revelation showing you God’s plan of salvation in all that he did throughout history. We’re enjoying them!).

The next morning, M was up earlier than usual because of his early bedtime. I should mention that he woke up with a stuffy nose on Thursday and it has progressed into a stuffy nose with a cough. He has slept great at night, except for last night. And that could have been from the three hour nap he had into the early evening! But I get ahead of myself…

D was relieved to hear Yana say that she wanted to go shopping with me on Saturday when they were over on Friday night. I rarely go to Bristol, so when I do, I pack as many errands as I can into the trip. There are some really great stores out there; however it just seems to far away with a toddler in tow and napping schedules, playtime schedules, etc. My poor, pregnant sister-in-law won’t be asking to come with me anywhere anytime soon: we were gone for about three hours (this is when M decided to take his three-hour nap!) and we went to a total of five (six, including the post office inside of Shop Rite) store. Here, I’ll list them: Walmart, Shop Rite/post office, a secret stop involving a Christmas present of a family member so I won’t mention the name, Dollar Tree (yes, another dollar store visit. I even managed to find more stuff, including these little gems):

...and our last stop was Once Upon a Child. They were having a one-day blowout clearance sale (I only go there for the sales): 10am to 2pm blue star tags were 50% off, 2:01-5pm 60% off, 5:01-8pm 70% off. Yana and I got 60% off of our items. I always buy ahead, so now I got M 2T winter clothes that will probably end up fitting him during the end of this winter, since most of the time he’s in between 18 and 24 months. Yana got some cute things for my little niece. Inexpensive baby/toddler clothes in great condition = two big bags full of clothing. My other sister-in-law Kristina gave a coupon and a gift card to the store, both of which I used…thanks to both her and Nick for an awesome birthday gift :)

When we finally made our way home, it was just about time to start making our way over to Mom and Dad’s. They were going to watch M while D and I went out to dinner and then Yana and Ryan were going to take over the babysitting duties so Mom, Dad, D, and I could go to a cello concert at church. What a fun night! I signed D and me up for Red Robin’s birthday club Friday afternoon with the hope of finding D’s get-a-free-burger-for-your-bday coupon in his inbox by Saturday. RR didn’t fail me, and each of us also received a $3 off your next meal coupon. We’ve only been there one other time and I don’t remember being excited about it, but it definitely ranks up there as a restaurant we’ll be visiting again soon. You can sign up for your own birthday coupon here. We had time to kill before the cello concert, so D dropped me off for a quick, secret errand at the mall before heading off to church. And then the (free) cello concert. Wow, it was so well done and David thoroughly enjoyed himself, since classical music holds a special place in his heart. He was humming and tapping along pretty much the entire time.


It was snowing throughout most of the day. Yep, you read correctly: snowing. It was beautiful and by the time we got out of the cello concert, everything was lightly coated with snow. M was mesmerized by it:

I have a lot more respect for people who prepare entire Thanksgiving dinners. I made stuffing from scratch, two green bean casseroles (made the cream of mushroom soup from scratch), a HUGE dish of apple crisp, and candied sweet potatoes, and I was worn out by our 1pm dinnertime! (I made Thanksgiving Morning Muffins, in addition to everything else, as a new tradition. I might make them the night before from now on!) But it was worth it, everyone seemed to enjoy the food...I certainly enjoyed all the food as evidenced by the two plate-fulls I had. Oh, D had this clever idea to video our day up until dessert. He videoed it all from his Mac:

After dinner, we just lounged around, visited with family, and relaxed! It was really nice; holidays are usually hectic, so it was a treat to lay down and rest for a bit before dessert! Especially with all the babysitters hanging around :)

Everyone left pretty early, so Dad, Mom, Ry, Yana, D, and I hung out for a bit. Micah was in bed by this point. We planned on sleeping over because Mom, Yana, and I were going to go shopping in the morning while Uncle RyRy, Grandpa, and M hung out. I eeked TWO episodes of MI-5 out of David before bed, although poor guy fell asleep halfway through the second one and we had to rewatch before we went on to the next episode a few days later. He also had to work the next day, which was a bummer, but someone had to! He's working Christmas morning, too, but took Christmas Eve off. Someone offered to switch with him: she'd work Christmas morning and D would work Saturday and Sunday mornings and she'd make up another short call later on. We agreed to leave it as it was, though.