Saturday, December 25, 2010

Awww.....Christmas

I love my family. I love Christmas. Today is great. Daniel, Xiaolan, Ruth and Don are here spending Christmas with us this year. I miss my family, but I am enjoying time with Dave's family just as much. Last night we read the Christmas story, left cookies and milk for Santa, had the girls write letters to Santa, let the girls open one present, attended an awesome Christmas Eve service, had meatball soup and biscuits with family and shared previous Christmas memories with one another. After the girls went to bed, the adults watched "A Christmas Story". What a blessing Christmas Eve was.

This morning, we slowly and leisurely unveiled the items in our stockings, ate breakfast casserole, opened presents, listened to Christmas music, ate candy and enjoyed each other's company. I've already snoozed, and the girls are now snoozing. Since it cooled off last night, I hope that Dave will light a fire soon. We plan to eat steak and shrimp scampi among other things this evening. It's been a nice Christmas. I love all my gifts!! Thanks, family. Thank you, Lord!!!

I hope to get the girls to write a letter to Jesus today, continue to celebrate the fact that we are commemorating His birth, and maybe go for a walk. It might also be nice to shower sometime too.....

But for now, even though it's long, I'd like to share Julia's letter to Santa with you:

Dear Santa, How have you been? Have you had a nice summer? How has it been? I've been extra good this week. Did you make sure Jesus' lives in your heart? I'd like you to tell your mommy that you have your milk..--Your mommy, Mrs. Claus. Ever so quick, hurry there's a monster! I want you to please sing songs. I want you to sing songs and play. I love you so much, that I wanted you to come here and have cookies. Love, Julia


Dear Mrs.Claus, I hope you be so kind to Santa Claus. I hope that you can bring presents. I really want a baby with blonde hair. I wanted you to do something that is so kind. Say "Dear Santa Claus, how have you been?" I want you to bring lots of presents for my mom and Aunt Xiaolan, and Uncle Daniel and to my daddy and Granny and Papa Don and every one in the whole land who talks. But not everyone that doesn't talk. I love you. Goodbye, Julia.

And Lydia's letter:

Dear Santa, Do you talk to God? Oooh! Eeee! Love, Lydia

(I don't know where they get this stuff!!!!)

We have been blessed to attend a lot of Christmas parties this year, and have enjoyed this wonderful, busy December. I need to get a lot of pictures on here soon from this month, but I'm not sure it will be today. I would love to hear how your December went. Merry, merry, merry Christmas!!! Love, Amber

Monday, December 20, 2010

Why?

Not too long ago, I posted about my friend who found out she was having triplets. In October, she had three preemie babies who were eventually very healthy. But, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. One of the babies went to be with Jesus today. How does this happen? Why does this happen? It's so hard to understand. I know that God is Sovereign and he works all things together for his good. But somehow, sometimes, in the midst of that, our hearts get broken. And sometimes life just sucks. I'm sure the crevice of brokeness in my heart is nothing compared to the vast abyss of ache that Sabrina feels. That just makes me ache all the more. Please join me in prayer for the Hay family, and their other 4 children. Only the Father, who was there when his own son died, can understand how the Hay's feel right now. I love them dearly. -Amber.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

In Love with Jesus

Dave and I took Julia to see our church Christmas production on Sunday. Julia loved it and did a pretty good job paying attention the whole time. (Little Lyddie isn't quite old enough to come, so she had to go to child care.) The musical started out with an act featuring toy characters, and Santa--who came flying in from the balcony at one point in the show. It was very exciting. Next, the choir sang some wonderful Christmas songs with beautiful solos and the kids choir accompanying at one time. The last act of the show portrayed Jesus' life from infant hood to death on the cross, and then resurrection from the grave. There were angels on cables hanging from the sky, and a lot of other neat effects involved. The message was intentional and powerful.


The funny thing is that after the show, Julia was dead-set and determined on meeting Jesus as soon as possible. I thought it was interesting that she wasn't caught up on meeting Santa, the toy princess, the angels or the much-loved ballerina. She really wanted to meet Jesus. I tried to explain to her that the man playing Jesus was an actor, but I'm pretty sure my explanations fell on deaf ears.

We went out of the sanctuary doors, looking forward to meeting some characters. We met some of the angels, and other characters, including the toy princess. But, Julia was still most excited to meet Jesus. Finally, we found where Jesus was located. When Julia saw him she shouted his name in excitement and ran up to him to hug his legs. When he picked her up for a hug around the neck and a picture, Julia gave him a peck right on the cheek. "Jesus" was overjoyed at her enthusiasm for him. It was super sweet.

Here's to hoping all of us are as excited as Julia to meet Jesus this Christmas season!! Love, Amber

Friday, December 10, 2010

The hustle and the bustle

With Christmas quickly approaching, things have definitely been busy around here!! Julia had a princess party for her fourth birthday, we've opened presents from relatives, been to Christmas parties, decorated for Christmas, dropped my sister and her infant son off at the airport to return to their home in Cheyenne Wyoming, baked cookies and enjoyed other festive eateries. I am exhausted and already sick of rich foods. But, don't let me lead you astray. My Christmas spirit is still in full swing and looking forward to all that the month of December has in store. We have church functions, worship of our Lord, more parties, more presents, family time and fun to look forward to. I just love this time of year!

Here is a picture of our princess before her party:


Here she is with her Cinderella dress on:

 Below is a picture of a cute and very pouty Snow White:
 I tried to tell her it's not her party, and she can't cry...even if she wants to....but she didn't listen.

Princess party cake:
 I love the picture below. On the right, we have our neighbor girl, in the middle Julia, and on the left, we have Lydia. It's looks like she's saying, "Whatch'u looking at, fool?"
 The next day, we decided it would be best to go ahead and rip into the presents that Grandma Christie and Grandpa Dan sent for us and the girls.
 Cute pink coat!!!
 Here is Julia showing off one of the adorable outfits her grandparents sent. She actually really loved all the clothes despite her unhappy look in this photo.
Thanks Grandma Christie and Grandpa Dan!!! We all loved our presents!! Merry Christmas to you!

 Happy Baby Josiah!
Julia got to hold Josiah a lot while he was here. Julia loved it....Josiah, not so much.
Lydia also got some time with her little cousin.
 
Another cute cousin shot.
 
Dave and Josiah

This is one of the last times I got to kiss Josiah before his mom made him go home with her. So not fair!

I like this pic of me and my sis. We don't think to take a lot of them, so I am glad to have this one. (I'm glad Josiah was there too.)



Bye Aubrey and Josiah, we miss you! We also miss Mimi and Papa, Uncle Andy and Uncle Alex!!! Come back and visit soon!

For Christmas, we get to have more family in town. We look forward to seeing Dave's mom and step-dad, and Dave's brother, Daniel, and our sister-in-law, Xiaolan. We'll have one more Christmas get-together in January in Norman, Ok before the season is totally wrapped up for us. Have I ever mentioned on this blog that I love the holidays? 

Before I sign off, I'll add a few Julia-isms and a Lydia-ism.

Julia to Aubrey: So, you got to pick out your baby at the hospital? Josiah was the baby you picked?

Lydia: Dear God, thank you for Santa Claus coming to town.

Me: Julia, when we stop at the gas station, I'll buy you milk or juice-one or the other.
Julia: Mom, I want one, but not the other.

Aren't they the cutest? Thanks for reading! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!!!!! -Amber





Friday, December 3, 2010

Stop the Clock!!!

AAAHH! How did this happen? My oldest baby girl is turning four tomorrow!! Stop the clock. Say it ain't so. REWIND!

It's not that I don't want Julia to grow up. It's just that I don't want it to happen so quickly!!!! I just need like a year and a half longer to get used to her being 3. Then we can move on to her being four. --Then we can start thinking about how she's going to go to school someday. --Then we can start the transition from babyhood to childhood. I know Julia hasn't really been a baby for about 3 years now, but she still has that sweet little baby face with the chubbyish cheeks. I don't want that to go away. I don't want her to grow so fast!!

Dear Julia,

You'll always be my baby.

Love, Mom.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Gobble, Gobble.

I'm sad that I haven't gotten a chance to get on here sooner. Thanksgiving has long come and gone. It feels like this blog is out of date already, but I have two really good excuses. 1st excuse: Dave had our computer out of commission for several days. 2nd excuse: I am still enjoying family, and haven't had a lot of time to sit down lately. Andy, Aubrey and Josiah got to fly in the Monday before Thanksgiving. Andy flew out last Monday, but Aubrey and Josiah are still here!! Isn't that fun? I'm so glad they got to stay.
In addition to my sister and her family being here for Thanksgiving, my parents and brother got to come as well. I am so glad that they all got to be here. We have done Christmas with my family on Thanksgiving for the last few years, and this year was no exception. Thursday, Thanksgiving Day: eat a lot of wonderful food. Friday after Thanksgiving: open presents and decorate for Christmas. It's great.
I have a few pictures of the cute cousins:
Bath time.

 Time for a walk.

 Time to cook.
We deemed Wednesday as baking day. This is how it started.

This was one of the results of baking day.

 This is what our turkey soaked in Wednesday night.

 
 Here is what the turkey looked like after it had been soaked all night and baked for 4.5 hours.

 Hors de oeuvres
Basically this could have been our lunch.
Family Time!
Starting on the right, you can see Aunt Aubrey's head, then Julia's, Baby Josiah, then Lydie Lou, and Uncle Andy. Isn't pre-bed time one of the best times?
Baby Jo.

For some reason, I didn't get a lot of pictures of us opening presents, but I did get this one of Julia with her new Cinderella play set. She looks like she is underwhelmed by her present. But, in acuality, she was just underwhelmed by me telling her to take a picture before I opened it for her. She kept saying, "I love it, I love my Cinderella." Her discolored lips are thanks to the m&m's she got to eat during the entire gift giving extravaganza.

Also during the last week, we went black Friday shopping, went to church, visited a favorite Tex-Mex restaurant, and got pictures taken by my friend, Sarah Craig. Her business is called Fish Lips Photography, and she's awesome. Click on her name for a sneek peek. 

I hope to update more later! Thanks for reading ya'll. Love ya! -Amber