Say CHEESE!

I mean really?

So, I think social media has made me more anxious than I already am( if that's even humanly possible). I look around on FB, Pinterest & blogs and see peoples holidays PERFECT. Their kids not only saw Santa in matching monogrammed outfits, but they also hosted holiday parties, went on a vacation, got their kids ridiculous amounts of expensive toys and made handmade Christmas presents for their kids teachers. I mean REALLY?? In reality holidays around here, and I expect for a lot of people is survival. Bryan works 14+ hours 6 days a week during December... Leaving me alone with two hooligans. We tried to be generous with our family gifts and so I neither had the money nor energy to make gifts for my kids teachers or my friends. We not only didn't host a party, but didn't make it to the ones we were invited to. Our house looks like Toys R Us threw up. We went to the hospital to see both of our new nieces, but only lasted till meltdowns began.

Maybe if i didn't check social media i wouldn't feel like a Christmas failure. Unfortunately its human nature, especially for women, to compare. But I do have a choice and I will chose to see the success of this holiday

1) we are all still alive and somewhat clean
2) Ethan can pick out and say baby jesus and mama Mary in the nativity
3) we have a new appreciation for how hard daddy works to provide for us
4) we may not have made the parties, but we spent the time bonding as a family
5) we didn't see santa, but we spent time laughing and screaming at the choochoos at the mall instead

I, Sarah, am a horrible comparer. It gets me in trouble a lot. But God asks to have a thankful heart. And a thankful heart turns into a happy heart. And boy do i have loads to be thankful for!!!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Chaos.. I mean Christmas

It's the holidays around here and I love/hate it. I love that we are celebrating the birth of Christ, I love the joy on the kids faces, I love Santa and Christmas trees.. but I could do with out the stress and chaos for sure. Bryan and I are working to take a day at a time and taking all the oppurtunities we can to enjoy the moment.

 

This year Ethan is old enough to enjoy the wonder of Northpark this winter. The trains at Northpark was PERFECT for a little boy that loves ChooChoos. He runs around like a little crazy person pointing and screaming "CHOO CHOO CHOO CHOO CHOO!" Mom came with us one time and the playground went again. He gets just as excited no matter how many times he goes. I hope always get this excited abotu the little things.

 

Trains with Moke

 

Northpark also has Storytime with Santa, Grinch and a new addition of the puppet show. It's so cute and perfect for toddlers. It lasts about 5 minutes and the kids can sit the stroller and relax. Dana, Tara, Norma Lisa and the kiddos went up today. It certainly was an event to get the toddlers and babies to behave. I like Carter trying to get out of the stroller. 

 Tyler and Ethan BOTH love the tree. I wasn't going to put one up this year thinking that it was just going to be torn down (which it has been).. but the tree is small and falling apart so I don't care. We decided not to put up the ornaments (which is a great idea since Ethan likes to pull the tree down), so I made paperchains and Ethan helped me to put them up. Then we strung them from the ceiling of the dining room.

 

 It's been nice outside so we are out in the yard- A LOT! Ethan is not fan of the hat or the jacket, but now he knows when he puts them on that he gets to go "side."

 

We have loved finding a church we love, Christ Church Plano. But this past Sunday, we needed some family time with all 4 of us. So we skipped church and headed to Pancake house- where Ethan ate way more than Bryan or myself. =) Both boys love eating with us... they love the treat of chocolate milk out of a straw and placemats with Mickey Mouse on them. It's the little things you know

 

 

Now that Tyler is working on sitting up we have gotten a lot of the toys out and SOMEONE is getting a "tad" jealous and yelling "MINE! a lot.. oh lovely.

I dont mean to brag- but SERIOUSLY! I have the worlds cutest children. SERIOUSLY!!! We had a special treat of eating lunch with the Bloems and Bridgette loved playing with the "baby" and Tyler loved her. PeekaBoo has never been so fun.

It continues to dawn on me that Tyler is my last baby. There are days when I want both of my boys to be "big" and be able to talk and take care of themselves. But then I stop and realize it wont be too long from now when neither of the boys will want me to rock them to sleep, snuggle on the couch, or help them out of bed.. so I am soaking in every second.