Peace

This is peace to me. Pure, complete, deep, restoring peace. Isn't it amazing how just watching a baby sleep can stir such feelings? Another gift I am in awe of.

Fun-filled Days

We've had an eventful couple weeks. It started off early last week with a very special visit from our best friends from pilot training. They drove down with their three kiddos from California and we were able to get together twice during their couple days in town. It was super fun....all 10 of us! Last time we were all together, I believe we both just had one kiddo a piece, both around a year and a half. So fun to catch up and see the growing families in person.

On the 23rd, my parents arrived in town to spend Christmas with us. The boys were beyond excited to see "the Grandma with the pond" as Thomas called her and their very special "Great Sleeping Bear." We still have a couple more days together. It's been a wonderful time so far. We all attended church together on Christmas Eve. A tradition that started in my family that Ronnie and I have continued in ours. Our church is pretty casual, but I love dressing the kids up for Christmas Eve church. Okay, I admit, it was especially fun to dress up my doll baby this year! You gotta love the coat and hat my mom's friend sent her!

The 23rd also marked Gabrie's three month birthday. A smiley photo to mark the day! She's definitely had a growth spurt to mark the occasion as well. Feeling a little sad watching my teeny tiny one disappear before my very eyes.

I'll plan to get some of the Christmas photos uploaded in my next post. Still sifting through them as I'm in my pj's in most of them and not really wanting them displayed all over the world! :) My best present this year....a little girl who arrived a few months prior to the holiday. But I'd take her early or any day. One of the three best gifts I've ever been given. These came without wrapping, required very special handling, but have filled my heart to capacity with an all-encompassing love. Only a glorious Father could give such precious gifts.

Time, Grandma, and Our Favorite First-Grader

Okay, so despite my best intentions, I'm obviously not as diligent a blogger as I thought I'd be. Yes, this still seems to be the easiest way to update everyone (and so therefore, the best), but I had high hopes of finding time to post at least once a week. Already failed and think I just started this venture a month ago. I'm enjoying the kiddos tremendously, but getting to the computer to share it with you all is not happening as frequently as I had planned. I'll keep trying! In the meantime, you may get multiple ventures in one post (like this one).

Ronnie's mom spent several days with us the week before last. It was her first time meeting Gabriella. I try my best to be a "fly on the wall" at these moments of sheer Grandma bliss. It was great fun to see them together. Of course, the boys were thrilled to have Grandma here as well. Clay even asked for Ronnie and I to "go on vacation or at least a date" so he and his siblings could have Grandma all to themselves. :) Some photos of Grandma love.

Clayton also had an eventful last week of school before Christmas vacation. He was chosen as Student of the Month for December and I was invited to the ceremony at chapel on Wednesday morning. (Well, Ronnie and I were both invited. Sidebar--he was TDY in Houston for the week. Yes, I survived and even thrived, if I do say so myself, alone with all three kiddos for the first time! A taste of things to come I'm sure with Weapons School starting in a couple weeks.) Getting back to Clay....his award said he was being recognized for "kindness to others and being a good Christian example." As a parent, I must say, I'm so glad he's learning and growing academically, but nothing warms my heart more than raising a kind child who loves the Lord. Thank you, Jesus! Sorry the photos are blurry. I obviously didn't hold the camera steady as I was holding a sleeping baby girl in my other arm--one who's almost too big to be held with one arm anymore!

Our Little Man

Thomas had his preschool Christmas program on Saturday afternoon. As you can see, he was terribly cute in his shirt and tie! His first tie, a snowman tie that Clay wore in his Pre-K Christmas program, and boy was he excited to wear it. He sang beautifully and loudly! Even others in the back like us told him they could hear him singing. Quite a difference from his older brother who always seemed to be struck with a case of stage-freight at showtime. The funniest and most endearing part of the program came just at the end of the first song. He had been doing the movements to the song lyrics and in the process, his shirt came untucked. He started to get upset, so his teacher rushed up on stage and tried to tuck him back in. It didn't work well enough and so in the lull between the first and second song, I hear my little guy crying, "I want my Daddy!" who was upfront video-taping the program. Well, hero Daddy saved the day! The shirt was tucked back in and he was right back on stage singing and smiling! He's not my sensitive one, so was a bit surprised by this scene, but to me, it's just plain precious and sweetly funny!

Unhappy Thanksgiving and Happier Days!

So despite the pictures, we had a very nice Thanksgiving. It was just our family of five (I like saying that!), so it was relatively quiet. (A house can only be so quiet with 6 and 3 year old boys!) But we had a fabulous meal, followed by our little traditions of talking about things we're thankful for (my favorite answer this year, Thomas shouting, "Potatoes!") and driving downtown to see the Christmas lights that decorate a park.

I really wanted to get a photo of Gab in her pretty Thanksgiving dress and bib to mark the occasion. But this was as good as it got! She and I spent half the day in our pajamas preparing the meal and by the time she wasn't napping or we weren't eating or driving downtown, she was spent. I took the photos anyway, just for the sake of posterity.

So here are a couple photos from just the other day to prove she really is a happy baby! She even tried to laugh tonight, but no sound aside from a little squeak at the end of this huge smile was to be heard! Too cute!

My most endearing comment of the week so far was courtesy of Thomas. He told me yesterday that he was glad Gaby was out of my tummy. "I'm happy she's here," he said. Me too, Thomas, me too.