Scenes from a Christmas

Another Christmas has come and gone.

More memories made to add to the ever growing collection.

I loved that Christmas fell on a Sunday this year.

And I loved that all my children cooperated for a post church Christmas picture.  Even Lexi was good!

Every year when I peruse through the pictures I've just taken of Christmas, I always think- 

"These look exactly like the pictures I took last year!"

This year there was one noticeable difference.

I don't remember seeing this adorable face in any of my previous Christmas pictures.  

So, except for the fact that we've added an extra face to the collage of pictures

and except for the melancholy realization that all my kids look older, 

the pictures taken this year ARE exactly the same as Christmas's past.

Same Christmas Eve Party at my parents.

Food, family, fun and frivolity.  We'll have a huge helping of each please.

The Christmas Eve party ALWAYS consists of:

• A yummy dinner.

• A song or two.

Actually it's more like 50 songs, but singing and Sullivans go hand in hand.  Didn't you know that!

 

• The nativity play is a MUST.

This year we added shepherd wives, a star, a camel, cows, and sheep to the mix-every grandkid needs a part!

I was too busy videoing that these were the only two pictures I took,
but I have to say that my little sheep and angel were the cutest of the bunch!

• The cousin gift exchange.

Excitement and Smiles all around!  Chloe could NOT wait!

• Grandma's Gift.

My mom has 32 grandkids and every year she makes them something unique and just for them.

After the presents have been opened, we all dash out the door to get home.

This year Janie was SO worried we hadn't left grandma's early enough and she knew Santa had already come.
"I don't want to see my presents when I walk in the door!  I want to see them when I wake up!"
It took a lot of reassurance and a glimpse at Uncle Marky's phone (it was tracking Santa) to show her he hadn't made it to our house yet.

At home it's time for everyone to get in their Christmas PJs and smile for the pajama picture we take every year.

And just like the other years, I snap a million pictures.

And the very BEST one is this.

And then it's off to bed so Santa can FINALLY come!

This year our little Chloe did not want to go to bed.  Jared and I tried very unsuccessfully to get her to go to sleep.  

"If you don't go to bed, Santa won't be able to come.  Don't you want your presents from Santa?"

Her response to us (while jumping on the couch I might add).

"Oh, Santa just LOVES little children.  He'll wait until I go to bed and then he'll come back for me!"

And she was right.  Santa does love little children and he did come.

The rest of the day was spent at church and with family.

And in true tradition, I forgot to take pictures of our very lovely Christmas dinner at Jared's brother's home.  

I don't think anyone took any pictures.  But sitting and eating and visiting was a fabulous way to end the day.

And just like that another Christmas had past.

Same pictures, same traditions, same everything.

And I'm already looking forward to next year.

Day # 24 I Am Thankful For. . . .

THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH FAMILY!

This is Thanksgiving 2011 at my mom and dad's house.
There are a lot of us and it can get pretty crazy.
But, nothing beats being together with family.
I LOVE it!
The only thing that could have made it better was for far away family members to be there.

Two random Things from Thanksgiving day that made me Happy:

1.  This picture of Lexi.
     I know it's blurry, but I love it.

2.  These adorable turkey place cards my niece made up for everybody.
     Isn't that cute!

Hope you had a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Day # 14 I Am Thankful For. . . .

THE PIANO TEACHER (aka MY MOM)

My kids have the best piano teacher in the world.

She started teaching at fifteen.

(HER piano teacher had too many students and asked if she could help her out--at 15 years old!)

She's super talented.

Oh yea, she's also my mom.

I am SO spoiled!

The kids piano lessons are FREE.

AND I don't even have to drive them anywhere-she comes to me.

Yep.  I know it.  I am one lucky girl.

THANKS MOM!
You are the very best.

Day # 12 I Am Thankful For. . . .

MOMENTS LIKE THIS!
 I never take for granted little moments like this.

My sister stopped by this afternoon.
Both of our husbands are away in Vegas to see the Thunderbirds at Nellis AirForce Base.
We decided to treat ourselves to Brick Oven Pizza and let the kids have some time to play.

Her darling Meg and my little Lexi are just 6 months apart.

I know their going to be best buddies when they get older!

When Jared and I lived away from our families, we missed out on times like this.

Just a night to hang out with cousins and get some pizza.

I LOVE that we aren't missing out anymore!

Day # 11 I Am Thankful For. . . .

THIS VETERAN!

This is my Grandpa.
He was in the 65th Infantry Division under General Patton.

I've been thinking a lot about him today.

A few years ago I discovered THESE!

Letters that my grandparents wrote to each other during WWII.

I am so grateful that my grandma saved them.

I wasn't very close to my paternal grandparents, but I feel reconnected with them as I read their letters.

They both made great sacrifices during that time and I know that it forever changed them.

And I have to say their letters have forever changed me.

Day # 10 I Am Thankful For. . . .

TEMPLES!
(especially forever families)

I feel so very blessed to have been sealed to Jared in the temple.
I am so thankful for the knowledge that my family will still belong to me even after I have left this life.

These are some pictures we took up at Temple Square just a few weeks before Lexi was born.

Temple Square is such a beautiful place to walk around and just be together.

Together Forever.   Sounds just about perfect to me.

Introducing Our Newest Little Lady.....

Lexi Jae

Our little Lexi arrived on Thursday, May 12th at 12:18 pm. She was 6 lbs 15 ounces and 18 1/2 inches long.

She has completely won me over.   Number Six just might be the sweetest!

Here's how her story began:

The Tuesday before she was born I was at the hospital being monitored for decreased fetal movement. On the monitor the baby looked great, but because I had an anterior placenta I wasn't feeling her move very often.  It had been about 17 LONG hours that I had last felt her move, so the doctor wanted to make sure she was doing okay. Luckily the monitor was showing a strong heartbeat and FINALLY while at the hospital I felt her move. 
After that little scare I told Jared that I could hang in there until the 18th (if you know me-you know I struggle a teensy bit mentally at the end of a pregnancy).  No problem as long as she was doing good, but to my SURPRISE my doctor (Dr. N) didn't want me to have to come in every other day and be monitored.  So he asked  if I wanted to be induced on Thursday.  Hmmm... let me think about it.. . .  OF COURSE!

So Thursday morning bright and early (and 6 days before my due date) Jared and I headed off to the hospital.  And I didn't even have to get my blood pressure high to make my induction happen!

We got to the hospital about six in the morning and finally at around 7:45 I was being dripped with my miracle drug. (Whoever invented pitocin is going to get a BIG high five from me in heaven!)

Things were going just like my other five labors:
* Water broken--CHECK!
* IV in--CHECK!
*Antibiotics for Strep B being dripped into that IV--CHECK!
*Pitocin doing its thing--CHECK!
*Epidural in--CHECK!
*Waiting for the epidural magic to kick in-- umm... not to much.

At first it seemed like all was well.  That incredible feeling of total numbness was working its way on up and then it just stopped.  I kept thinking -- "it's going to start working better any minute now" - "It's not too bad-I can handle this for a little bit longer."

However, my amazing nurse (Emily) realized that not all was well and grabbed the anaesthesiologist for me before he went in for a C Section.   And bless his soul he really wanted to make sure I felt NOTHING!  Which is pretty much what happened as far as my legs were concerned.  A "little" overdosed, but hey I'm not complaining!

Just a few minutes after my overdose Emily (my nurse remember) came hurrying in.
And that is where the chaos began.

Emily had just checked me a few minutes earlier (I was a 5 and everything was okay)  But the next thing I knew was I was being put on oxygen, the baby was getting an internal monitor put on, and I was being told to move from side to side (easier said than done when you've just been paralyzed and can move as well as a beached whale).  Lexi's heart rate was DROPPING, dropping with each contraction and I could tell Emily was a little panicked.

When she went to put the monitor on Lexi's head she said no wonder your epidural wasn't working you're dilating FAST!  I was a 9 almost a 10 and Lexi was ready to come out.  Emily's panic turned from baby not doing well to I hope the doctor can get here in time.  At that point I started to relax knowing things were turning out just like my other labors. 
*Baby is coming now!--CHECK!
*Don't push!--CHECK!
*Wait for the doctor--CHECK!

 Dr. N walked into the room just then.  Got his gown on and told me I could push in just a second.  I laughed and told him I really hoped I could (remember-me & my temporarily paralysis).  Luckily  half of a push later (if even that) and our little lady Lexi made her grand entrance into the world.