Our Aweful Beautiful Life

It's so hard for me to believe that another Christmas season has come and nearly gone. What a fun Christmas we had this year. The kids are at SUCH a fun age. They loved waking each morning to find where Kid the elf had landed on his return trip from Santa. He often reminded the kids to do good deeds for others, which was a welcome change to just simply encouraging good behavior. We talked a lot about giving more than receiving and sharing our blessings with others. Hopefully we can continue this tradition. We kicked off Christmas eve by heading to my parents for the Hall side Christmas. The kids looked adorable all dressed to match in their Sunday best, and they did a relatively good job of staying clean through our Christmas dinner! We went to the 6pm Children's Mass at Sacred Heart, then back home to open gifts and enjoy family. Here's our night through pictures. Our family Jason didn't get the goofy memo! God father picture! Testing the camera. So...

If you're from the greater Lafayette area and are a fan of country music -- then you've surely heard the Bob Rorhman used car jingle. It's pretty catchy. So catchy, that my 5 year old knows it. Because I haven't stopped giggling at the cuteness (aka, ridiculousness) of this video since we wrapped our video shoot...I wanted to capture it here. FUN evening! Thank God for sugar highs and goofy kids (some nights....anyway!) PS. Don't judge my vocals/twangy-ness. We were having fun.

I'd seen this idea on Pinterest, and thought -- its easy, cheap & fun - let's try it out! So last week, Jason and I came up with a game plan, and surprised the kids. I had the tickets printed, and snuck them up under their covers. We covertly put them to bed at 7:45...and they were not happy. It was a kicking, screaming, sobbing trip to bed. Jason and I just grinned... He led them upstairs and read to them in our bed, while I popped popcorn and made hot chocolate. I got on my coat & shoes, and snuck up the stairs just as they were finishing their books. Again a fight to go to bed, but then...wait, what's this? You should have seen their eyes when they asked "When will we go?" and Jason said, "How about right now?" :) Then downstairs to find more surprises... A ticket puncher too -- just like the Polar Express... No shoes required! We loaded up, Keaton too -- then headed down to Battle Ground to see the lights ! S...

Let the games begin! What a fun weekend of Christmas celebrations with extended family! Friday night we lazed around home -- we needed to stock up energy for the days to follow. Saturday was a whirlwind trip to Lafayette for last minute supplies, baby formula and haircuts for the big kids. Jason was working and it was cold and rainy, so Keaton got some cuddle time with Aunt Jess and the girls. That evening, we kicked off the Christmas season with the Stockment Christmas at Grandma Pat's. I didn't get a lot of good pictures -- I tossed my camera to Jason and asked him to take some pictures...but when the kids started opening gifts, he handed me my phone back. So I was handling three kids, gifts, and picture duty. Well done, honey, well done. Here's what we did capture. Em opening her new jammies! Colton was excited to find new snowbibs -- "I needed these Mom, will these go down over my boots?" Keaton got a new outfit along with an Elmer Fud/Cousin E...

Colton - we're never quite prepared for what's going to come out of your mouth. Everyday is an adventure with you. You are smart beyond your years -- which sometimes causes you to get into trouble. What has been my mantra lately? "Colton. Just focus on being 5. Okay?" -- trust me, one day you'll miss the carefree days of 5...so don't wish them away being too much like the big boys! Until I can convince you of that, thank you for occasionally reminding me you are 5 with the things you say. Sweet innocence. Monday night we did random acts of kindness in our community. It was wonderful! I found a website that encouraged acts of kindness and gave wonderful ideas. I emailed a few of Colton's classmates Mom's whom I am friends with, and with a few candy canes in hand, and the cute little candy cane tags we printed out -- we set off to "light up our community". The kids were great -- they'd knock on the door, shout Merry Christmas, sing Jin...