anniversary card

My mom watched the boys for us on our date night, and the boys made us cards over at her house. This seriously melted my heart!

Christmas morning

Christmas morning started at 6 am. (perfect. still dark, but not too early!) Brayden came in and told us Santa came. Kosty was still sleeping soundly, so I went out with Brayden to look at the tree. He was worried that Kosty would not get what he asked Santa for because he had a few naughty days before Christmas. I mean, he was really worried. So, he carefully examined the gifts and a big smile spread across his face when he told me that a certain present looked and felt like a Nintendo DS (what kosty asked Santa for). He was so relieved that Santa pulled through for Kosty! We started out having them open their gifts to each other. Kosty got Brayden a Mario blanket and a red Club penguin puffle. Brayden got Kosty a Lego construction truck. It was sweet to take them shopping for each other and see what they chose. Brayden got his DJ Hero Wii game from Santa, and he was thrilled. Kosty was thrilled to see that he got his green DS. We spent the next couple hours building Lego's and setting up games, and then we packed up and went to Jer's parents for Christmas breakfast. We spent a few hours there, everyone played DJ Hero, Uncle Mark helped Kosty build his intense lego alligator, I got a little nap, and then we headed to my Dad's house.

playing his new shiny green DS...

playing DJ Hero...it was the hit of Christmas. We brought it over to Jer's parents where everyone took turns playing.

Me on the turntables & brayden rapping, ha.

at my Dad's house. Kosty was SO excited that Nana & Pappy got him a Dippin Dots maker. They got Brayden Creationary and Great Nana got them both pillow pets :)

I feel like I totally failed at the picture taking this year :( I got the beginning & the end but nothing really in the middle. I usually over take pictures and I was trying not to, but I think I way under did it. I remember a few times I thought I should snap a few but then hated the thought of saying "everybody get together and smile!!" so next year I hope to take more pics of the in between stuff no matter if people are looking or not. I'm also hoping I have a better camera next year, mine had some major blurry moments and it will not take dark inside shots!

It was a wonderful Christmas!

christmas countdown

We spent Christmas Eve at my Mom's house eating potato soup & opening gifts. Then we went home, put cookies and milk out for Santa, sprinkled the reindeer food on the grass and read a Luke 2 and a Christmas book. I wanted to sip hot chocolate and go look at all the Christmas lights but both the kids begged us to just put them to bed! They were so excited for the next morning!

we enjoyed another year with "Elfie", our Elf on the Shelf. This is the best tradition and I'm so glad we started it a couple years ago! The kids run out of their room in the morning to see where he landed. Jer and I even get pretty attached and are always sad to see him leave on Christmas eve.

pizza mart & temple lights, so very crowded that night...

Kosty drew the top picture (him kicking brayden to the ground while brayden is saying "no!") and Brayden made a sad face when he realized what the picture entailed. A few minutes later, Kosty set another picture on his lap. This time they were holding hands and smiling with a darling heart above their heads. (I love when he draws hearts, don't know why but there is something so cute about it).

ah, the gingerbread house. Jer called me a scrooge when he found me standing over the garbage with it the very next day. I don't like this kind of clutter in the kitchen! But; it stayed until Christmas.

with Madison after the concert....aw, they are the cutest!

Kosty had a Christmas concert for his school. The first song was "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas." He started out with a bang, smiling, singing, doing all the hand motions, but that all came to a screeching halt when he realized how many people were watching. He got so embarrassed. It was so sad! He sang a few words from the next few songs, but with a very solemn face. We loved your singing, Kosty!

A few nights ago, jer and I put the boys to bed and then went in the family room to watch a show. We came into our room later that night, and here is what we found. Who sleeps in a perfectly straight line like that!? Gosh, he's cute.

time.

Time is something I used to think there was never enough of. Now, I have a lot more. And next year when Kosty goes to all day school, I will have even more. I constantly think about the best ways to use my time. Sometimes I think I fill it very well (running, mopping, laundry, and blurbing--wednesday). But then there was Tuesday: staying in my pajamas all day long with a heating pack on my cramps and a remote in my hand. Loser.

This year is great. I have 3 hours daily of alone time. Housework, running, volunteering, planning lessons, reading, grocery shopping, blogging, bill paying, etc etc etc--have kept me plenty busy.

Next year will be different. I will have 8-3 everyday to myself, not what I had pictured. My mind is heavy with ideas of whether I should get a part time job or go back to school. I feel like that is more than enough time to for the regular mom stuff and I will want to be more productive. I didn't plan on this free time coming to me so soon. I wish it didn't. I had 'planned' on spending at least 5 more years having kids and not worrying about what else to spend my time doing. I would so much rather be spending my time doing what I love the very most: raising babies. hmpf.

But, life is strange. I am on His timetable and goodness I don't understand it sometimes, but I have to keep the faith that He knows me best. He knows what I need best. He knows best.

So for now, I'm open to brilliant suggestions (in the job or school realm).

**don't get me wrong...I know so many of you are thinking how 'lucky' I am to have extra time. It definitely is something to look forward to when your last baby goes to school; when you are done with having babies.

kosty put his whole body into one of my pajama pant legs, and i laughed so hard. Check out that figure! I swear we feed him. I don't know where it goes, cause he is just skin and bones.

So many posts to catch up on and I haven't even downloaded one Christmas pic...good thing school starts this week, ok not really, the break has flown by and we haven't been bored once. sad to see it go...