Christmas and more!

I don't even know where to begin when trying to describe our Holidays this year. The word 'Chaotic' definitely comes to mind though. The Thursday night before Christmas we celebrated at my mom's house where Kylie was spoiled rotten with toys from Polly Pockets, Squinkies, Craft projects, a Leapster Explorer and more. Even I got spoiled with the surprise of a Kindle, and a gift card to a very 'swanky' movie theater. Unfortunately, we found out that morning that Beck had an ear infection, so he stayed home with dad in hopes that he could rest up for our day of travel the following afternoon.

Beck did pretty well on the plane ride with me, but unfortunately, Ky and J's flights were delayed getting in, making it a grand total of almost 10 hrs. of flying for them! (gotta love using free southwest tickets!) A day later, J was at the doctors in Pitt after being up all night with Kylie, who had decided she didn't want Beck to get all the attention and ended up with an ear infection herself. What FUN!!!

Even with all the sickness and delayed flights, it was amazing to spend time with family, and watch Kylie hang out with her cousin Jacob, whom she LOVES! Here are a couple pictures from various activities!

Kylie and Jacob just being strange =)

Love this picture of the two cousins resting with Papap...

Uncle Keith and Casey with the kiddos...

Group shot...

Kylie and Jacob in Papap's Workshop putting together some of their Christmas Goodies...

An amazing dinner and time away from the kids! J's parents surprised us with a night in Pitt. at a restaurant with an AMAZING VIEW!

View from our table at dinner!

Kylie outside sledding..

Getting ready for a winter walk in the woods...

Beck playing with his toys...

Ready to open gifts...

I think Beck's fave. part of the trip was dancing and watching Uncle Keith play his guitar! This kid LOVES music!

It's the thought that counts...

Jason was determined to do a gingerbread house with Kylie this year, since she enjoyed it so much a couple years ago. We borrowed my mom's kit, that you make from scratch, and went to work. One could say the end result wasn't very successful. Here are a couple pics of the first attempt...

Jason, trying everything, even toothpicks to keep this poor house together...

One determined dad...

Nonetheless, Kylie enjoyed decorating the trees and gingerbread people...

Rolling out the dough before things started to go down hill...

While in Pitt visiting J's family, luckily his mom came to the rescue and Kylie was able to fully enjoy a successful gingerbread making experience...

The final product...

Kylie hard at work, trying to decide what to put where...

It was a group effort...

Beck takes Daddy to music class...

Beckham has recently learned what the word, 'ouchie' means. so now, anytime he hurts himself, he puts his hands to his head and says, 'ouch'...its pretty funny.

This week some friends of ours came over for a quick mid-week play date. Here is Ky and Sophia playing makeup. in the end, their faces were both covered in lip gloss...yuck! but they had a blast!

Beck showing his friend Jesse how the music table works...

This week, Jason took Thursday off to come and check out Beck's 'Cherish music together' class that I've been taking him to the past couple of months. Here are a couple pics of the two of them throughout class. As you can imagine, it wasn't an ideal setting for Jason, but he was a trooper, and I'm just glad he was able to see the joy it brings my lil' man.

Putting the bells up...

Jammin' out with dad!

sitting on the drum, like he knows he's not suppose to...

Ky's Christmas Program

Beckham, who would much rather be outside, regardless of the temp, than stuck inside...

How's that for a face?

This past week we had a neighbor watch Beck so Jason and I could both attend Kylie's Christmas Program. We had been working diligently for two months on her one line she had to recite. She did a great job on their dance, knew all the hand motions, and did wonderful saying her lines. You could tell the teachers were worried about them speaking loud enough, because they all grabbed the microphone when it was their turn and yelled....seriously, there is nothing like listening to 22 screechy 4 yr. old voices yell into a microphone. You couldn't decipher 90% of what was said, but still, she had a blast!

Kylie is third from the right...and yes, she's the only one who's in a jean skirt and tights b/c she refused to wear jeans...what can i say, she is def. my kid.

This is the younger two's class, who came out dancing, dressed as dalmations, to 'who let the dogs out'. it was so cute i had to take a picture
The stage...
Before heading backstage to be with her classmates

Very excited about her special night.

Life in pictures...

Kylie is getting involved in the 'snowball fight' that took place at Gateway Community Church's first annual Family Christmas Party. We had a blast!

Even Beck had fun crawling around and throwing a couple.

The kiddos in their p.j.s waiting on some popcorn and hot chocolate!

Mommy's kisses

This look makes me laugh..i believe kylie said something funny...

A daddy's job is never done...

Beck found the wrapper of an icecream bar in the trash and decided he wasn't done with it, but he couldn't get it back out...

My main man =)

After a snack..and by the looks on Beck's face, guessing it was something chocolate-y

Getting ready for church one Sunday morning...

Ready to be santa's helper this year!

Two funny stories...

I have two funny stories I forgot to post that I must share, if for no other reason than the fact that they made me laugh.

The other night, Jason and I were sitting at the dinner table having a 'heated' debate, over what I don't even remember now, but Kylie was walking around the table with her arms up in this defensive position muttering over and over, "whoa...calm down now, settle down now, whoa.." Well, we ignored her, because we already know she's a complete weirdo from time to time. Well, a couple minutes later, the argument becomes a little more intense, J raises his voice to say something and Kylie yells out, "Jason and Ba-rook (yeah, she makes my name 2 syllables for some reason) Release you mind!" And she said it in this hippie, zen, I'm as high as a kite voice, and then just froze and stared at us. Of course, we look at her and just crack up at how completely random she can be. I can't figure out what is more interesting, the fact that my 4 yr. old deemed it fitting to use our first names, or the curiosity of where the saying 'release your mind' came from, and what the heck it meant.

Anyways, at that time, we found Beck underneath the table singing to himself and it was one of those moments, few and far between, where I thought to myself...yeah, i can do three of these.

On to story number two...I was at home with Beck, holding a paper towel that needed thrown away. He kept trying to grab it from me so I told him, "no, its trash. it needs to go in the garbage." he got this look in his eyes, took the paper towel, crawled himself to the kitchen, opened the pantry, pulled up on the trash, and threw it away. I was so astonished at his ability to understand me that I clapped and cheered because I was so impressed. WELL, that was MY BAD! Ever since then (this was a couple days ago) it is not surprising to go to throw something away and find toys in the garbage, socks in the garbage, barbies in the garbage. I guess he enjoyed my cheering so much so, that EVERYTHING now goes to the trash: My little ponies, bouncy balls, crayons while kylie is trying to color...

I asked J how it felt to have to worry about both the dog and his son getting into the trash.

anyways, just a couple stories that will turn to memories I will cherish forever!

Hello...its been a LONG time...

So, yeah....I haven't written in quite a while. I wish I could say I've just been lazy, or tired, or I could use the fact that we have just a lil' while to go before the troops increase in size by one, but truth be told...I've been avoiding...why might you ask? well, mainly to update on Kylie's progress.

I want so bad to say that all the miserableness that came with her eye surgery is over, that we're completely healed and ready to move forward, but we're simply not. Ky went in for surgery on the 19th of November. And for whatever reason, we were under the assumption that the recovery would take about a week and she'd be back to her normal self. Well, today is the 6th of December, about 3 weeks post-op, and we're still waiting patiently for a full recovery. She has come a LONG way...this is true, but we're not done yet. Her eyes are still bloody, one more than the other, and she's still experiencing double vision (although the objects are moving closer together, another sign that the process is not over) But as a mom, I'm just ready for her to see normally again. I'm ready to put this chapter behind us and move on to something else. Regardless of how prepared we were...and I do believe we were...there is NOTHING that can prepare you as a parent going into a situation where your child goes through that. At least, that is my opinion. The surgery process was a lot rougher than I had anticipated, Kylie had MAJOR problems coming out from being put under, so much that they ended up putting her back to sleep because they couldn't calm her hysterical kicking and screaming (by far the scariest 20 minutes of my life)...and I could go into more detail, but its not fun for me. and I could post pics, but those aren't fun either. They don't define Ky, or represent who she is, or show all the beauty that is inside. So, we're doing a lot of praying for patience, and God's healing hand, and we've been very fortunate that he has had his arms wrapped around us for this process thus far. Kylie has been a complete trooper, as usual. I just love my little girl so much!

Update on the pregnancy: I went back in to the docs for my 28 weeks check up almost two weeks ago, did my glucose test (I don't know why, but that process always almost makes me sick), and just did a quick check up. The heart rate sounded great, still measuring a little bigger than normal, but all in all, we're moving along quite nicely. The interesting part to the apt. was this: At 28 weeks, I had put on 17 lbs., which is a good healthy amt., but at my heaviest with Beck, I put on only 17 lbs., and I still had 12 weeks to go with this pregnancy at the time. Its just crazy how different each baby process can be. Take for example, the differences in fetal movement. Kylie was a calm mover, and her favorite move was poking out of one side and sliding across the length of my stomach to the other side. Her movements were calm, although fairly consistent. Beck, on the other hand, would almost hurt me daily with his random thrashing about. He battled hiccups almost daily, and loved to get up right under my ribs. With this pregnancy, there are multiple hours in a row where this baby doesn't move at all. In fact, the only time he moves is when I'm not moving. Whenever I sit down to rest or sleep, he'll gently reposition himself for all of 10 sec. and then he's done again. I'm hoping this is a sign that he'll be a calm one, but you never do know till they get here....

Christmas is right around the corner and I've never been as prepared as I am this year. Most of the shopping is done! The decorating is done! And we're ready for our trip up north to go see J's family. Kylie has her fingers crossed that she'll get to play in some snow...and I'm even curious how Beck will react if indeed we get to find out.

Kylie's school Christmas program is tomorrow night. She's very excited, as are we, and I'm hoping she does well reciting her one line that we've been working on for TWO months now!