Christmas Time!

What a whirlwind Christmas week we just experienced!  (Well, really Christmas Season!)  I kept planning out a big post with lots of pictures to document the fun and excitement, but the new year is fast approaching now over and I've got to just get something down on paper.  And whatever pics I can manage to upload (unedited, unfiltered, unorganized).  New Year's Resolution is to get this old blog back on track (and print it - don't I say that every single year!?)

First, JB's little school had a couple of Christmas events that warmed our hearts and put big smiles on our faces.  He had a Christmas party one Friday which Maryn and I attended.  So stinkin' cute.  (Sissy is soooooo ready for school!)

The school also had a Christmas Program the next Friday, and JB's class wore elf hats (for the first few minutes, at least) and sang "Baby Jesus"*. Can I brag on the little man for a bit? JB knew every single word to the two verse song, and now sings it for every blessing at dinnertime.  He did GREAT.

(JB did so well during his song, but quickly became bored with sitting up there for the others' songs. Fortunately my dad sat up front taking pictures and convinced him to stay put/got these funny pictures.)

My parents got to attend the Christmas program because they were here for 13 days!!  So much fun!! Ms. Leron came for Christmas, so the children enjoyed all of their grandparents under one roof.  How special is that?

We spent Christmas Eve visiting neighbors and resting (as we spent Christmas Eve Eve in the ER with JB - he is fine, but suffered from a case of epididymitis.  Won't go into details for his privacy, of course!)  Christmas Eve services at our church were so lovely.  That evening we put out reindeer food and cookies for Santa!  Snowflake (our Elf on the Shelf) had left the children matching PJs for Christmas and, hello, so adorable.

Santa (plus the g-parents and other friends and family) spoiled the kids again this year!  JB got a trampoline, a helicopter and some bear slippers from Santa, and Maryn received her very own chair, some bunny slippers, and an educational toy that beautifully coordinated with the colors in her room. So snazzy, that Santa!

Okay, get ready for picture overload!  I'm pulling from both mine and my dad's cameras here.

I had the privilege of cooking Christmas dinner WHICH I ABSOLUTELY ADORED!!!  Everyone kept saying they felt bad that I cooked so much, but no one understood that cooking for others is a Merry Christmas to me!  James used a reverse sear method on a beef tenderloin, and I made white acre peas, a salad, and cornbread sausage dressing. Not to brag, but James says it's the best dressing he ever had.  Southern Living, FTW.

A lovely Christmas!  Our first one in the new house in our new little town.  We are so blessed to have spent it with our family, celebrating Christmas and the birth of our Lord and Savior.

* Baby Jesus, Baby Jesus

Please don't cry, Please don't cry!

Don't you know we love you, Don't you know we love you,

Very much, Very Much.

Baby Jesus, Baby Jesus,

Born to Us, Born to Us!

You came down to save us, You came down to save us,

Amen. Amen. 

Maryn Elizabeth - 16 Months Old

This sweet little girl - another month has passed and Miss Maryn continues to grow every day. I looked at her face recently and thought "goodness, she doesn't even look like a baby anymore!" Her face is maturing (and many times she's making funny faces at us when we look at her. It's her new thing.)

A few fun facts on our girl this month:

• Four more teeth finally broke through, BUT they are her 4 back molars?? POOR GIRL! She handled it like a champ but I know she felt pain.  For those keeping track, she now has her two top lateral incisors (fangs), her center bottom teeth, and four molars.  Our pediatric dentist friend confirmed that this is most definitely a unique and unusual pattern (although no concerns yet about our baby vampire).

• Someone hit the "fast forward" button on our little gal this month - she is so busy.  And into everything.  EVERYTHING.  She can destroy a room, remove everything from a cabinet or drawer, or get into something dangerous in a matter of seconds.  She also tries (or demands) to do, ride, try or climb whatever her brother is doing, riding, trying, climbing, etc. I give her a few months before she can climb to the top of the swingset, Lord help us... Someone asked me the other day "how do you get anything done with her around" and the answer is "I don't"  :) Please remember if/when you see my house.

• Both of my kids must be late talkers because we are still waiting on words from Maryn. She very clearly says (100 times a day) "Enda".  She'll also say "Da Da".  That is all.  She will screech and point to successfully get what she wants.
• Maryn still sleeps from 7-7:30 to 7-7:30, rarely ever waking up.  She also maintains two nice long naps a day, although will easily skip them if she needs to because of family adventures. Truly the most go-with-the-flow toddler (as long as she is "flowing" with us.)  

• Maryn still drinks two bottles of milk a day, and...I know...the doctor told us to drop that by 15 months.  Oh well.  She eats so many different foods and gets a gold star at the dinner table. She is at her angriest when someone is eating in front of her and won't share. 
• We punted the paci issue, too.  I mean, it's not like she even has teeth to mess up at this point! Maryn loves to sleep with one in her mouth and one in her hand (and she alternates them every so often).  She's still very good about keeping them in her crib, but if she finds one in the house she believes it's fair game and pops it in.

I'm looking forward to a quiet 17th month this January, just enjoying my little girl (and her big brother). She is changing so fast and I must soak up every minute!

(We had two days of downpours this weekend, although the temperatures were nice and mild.  The kiddos loved to splash!  Poor Maryn has such tiny feet that we can't find any galoshes that will fit her. This is why I'm letting our child play barefoot in the rainwater!)  

Happy New Year!

We celebrated the end of 2016 and rung in 2017 with family and friends in Atlanta. We started Friday night with a late night date night in Buckhead, barely staying awake for our 9pm reservation (but thank goodness we did - DELICIOUS!)

Saturday night - New Year's Eve - was another late (but fun) night. A small house party at the McLeod's grew to 16 people, and our kids had as much fun as the adults. These old neighborhood friends are just the best!!

JB and Mac had so much fun together. So much laughter and chasing and building.

Maryn tried to keep up best that she could. Bless her heart, she loves those boys and wants to be a part of their fun!

At midnight (the kids were down, don't worry!) we toasted to the New Year.

New Year's Day we got to see more friends (the Murphys) plus the rest of the immediate Sasser family. Greens, black eyed peas and ribs - we should be in good shape for 2017!

My prayer for this year is twofold: for blessings upon this family, but also for God to show us where we may be a blessing to others. Here's to 2017!!