christmas 2014

Drew and I were hopeful (again) that they would feel better in the morning so we set up Christmas morning one more time for a do-over.

Yay!  The next morning they were both feeling so much better and were really excited for gifts and our Christmas.  :-)

Stockings are always a big hit and this year was no different.  Candy for the win!

Hadley was really into opening gifts this Christmas.  I think her birthday was great practice.  She kept holding up boxes and saying "what inside?  Let's see!"  It was so cute - haha!

This was easily the year of the Ninja Turtle.  Between Asher's birthday and Christmas our house has become turtle central.

I love these people, my people, even when they can't smile, won't look, or are too busy combing My Little Pony hair to take a picture.

It was a pretty rough Christmas this year.  Being sick is the worst, but we're so grateful to have had a second chance at Christmas morning for these sweet kids.  Merry Christmas!

pre-christmas 2014

This year we headed to New Jersey to enjoy Christmas with Drew's family.  It was our first big car trip in quite while so everyone was pretty excited.  Can't you tell?

We got there the Saturday before Christmas to give us a chance to see all of the boy cousins - Asher was thrilled to be with "his guys."  He loves being with the big kids and they are so sweet to include him when they play.

A little later I told Asher and his cousin to "get together and smile" in another part of the room and when Hadley heard me she hustled over to the tree and got in position.  Except…no one was taking pictures there.  Bless her heart, she was so confused.  ha!

Since we left home so many days before Christmas we didn't get to all the fun things I had planned.  Luckily there was some free time in NJ so one afternoon we made cookies.  My goal was to replicate the trees done by The Doughmestic Housewife.  I call nailed it.  ;-)

Unfortunately, after Tuesday things went downhill quickly.  Hadley got really sick on Christmas Eve day and Asher wasn't feeling so great either.  Since they were both under the weather Drew and I decided to miss the family Christmas Eve celebration.  It was such a big disappointment - this get-together is the main reason we traveled up for the holiday - but the kids needed us so what can you do?

Hoping they would be better after a good night's rest (and a Christmas miracle, maybe??) we went ahead with the Christmas prep.  Bitty baby got a new bed and it needed some assembly.  Luckily a couple elves were available for the job.

The next morning the kids were even worse.  104 fevers, super lethargic, and just miserable.  There isn't anything more pathetic than kids who are too sick to want to open Christmas presents.  :-(

With them both being so sick Drew and I decided that the best thing would be to go home.  Everyone feels better in their own beds, right?  We hit the road early Christmas morning with all the presents in tow and spent the day driving down 95.  Luckily we made it without any "incidents" and the kids did really well.  They both still had high fevers - yuck.  To be continued…

visiting santa

We don't talk about Santa very much in our house since we want to make sure that the kids grow up with a firm understanding of the true reason for Christmas, but Asher has shown a lot of interest in him this year - presumably because of his exposure at school and from watching "Elf," of course.  Drew and I don't have a problem with Santa as long as he stays fairly low key so we decided to take the kiddos to visit the big guy.  Asher was SO excited and couldn't wait to see Santa in real life.

Hadley typically hates characters in costumes, so I was worried that she'd freak out.  I was really surprised when she sat right with him and listened to everything that he and Asher were talking about.  Must have been the combination of Asher trusting him and the fact that he was a person (and not some big animal mascot or whatnot) that made it ok for her.

We took the kids to Bass Pro and it was fantastic!  They let me take my own pictures and their Santa was really sweet with the kids.  Does anyone else get creeped out by the angry looking Santas??  I was so grateful that this guy was jolly (as he should be).

I love how children are so anxious to believe in things.  There's a reason God tells us to come to Him like a little child.  Living this excitement through them is the best.

Love my babies, love Christmas.

And to all a good night.

frozen on ice

Last May I got an email that Disney's Frozen on Ice would be coming to our town in December.  Both of the kids love Frozen and it was going to be showing on Asher's birthday so I booked our tickets!  It was basically forever ago that I bought the tickets so as the date got closer it got more and more exciting.  First up, a stop for bagels!

We decided to surprise the kids with the show and I thought Hadley's dress might tip them off, but when you're 5 and 2 wearing a costume out and about it totally normal.  I love how neither of them thought it was weird that Hadley was wearing her Anna dress out to breakfast that morning. Kids are so easy to surprise.

When we got there both of them were completely overwhelmed by all the excitement.  Bless their deer-in-headlights looks.  ha!

I've never seen a Disney on Ice show myself so I was pretty excited too!

It was such a fun show and we all loved it.  Great way to start Asher's birthday!!

happy birthday asher

Asher Thomas, you are FIVE years old!

Daddy and I were just saying the other day how we feel like 5 is a big deal.  Four and under is still a toddler or baby, but 5, oh my, 5 is big boy territory.

You've been acting more and more like the big boy that you are every day.  You go to school 4 mornings a week, have friends, help with the dishes, choose your own clothes, use the iPad, buckle the top buckle in your booster seat, and can write your name and all the ABCs.

It seems like just yesterday you were a tiny guy.

We've had so much fun over these past 5 years and I know that's just going to continue the older you get!

Even though you're getting older and more independent, you still love to feel loved and come to us for hugs and snuggles.  The fact that you get really excited to see us makes my mama heart so happy.  :-)

You love to read stories and seem to remember everything!  When I miss a sentence or even just mix up some words you are quick to correct me.  Hopefully soon you will be reading to me!

Asher you have come leaps and bounds in your eating.  You used to be the PICKIEST eater - and while there are still lots of things that you don't like you are excellent about trying everything I serve.

You're the funniest kid I know and have a great imagination!  I never know what you'll say and I love that you keep me on my toes.  Even your teachers were telling me about the funny things you say at school.

Every day you and Hadley become better friends.  At first you weren't sure what to do with her, but now that she's bigger you play together all the time.  She misses her 'baba' when you're at school and if she isn't with me to pick you up you always ask where she is.  Hadley really looks up to you and feels so special when you give her attention.  When we come to get you at school you always insist that all of your friends come over to see your sister.  You're a great big brother!

At age 5, Asher…

goes to preschool 4 mornings a week with Miss Denise and Miss Pam
knows his ABCs, numbers and is starting to read and do basic math
loves Ninja Turtles, pirates, and Buzz Lightyear
would play iPad until his brain melted away, if we'd let him
is starting to eat us out of house and home
LOVES water.  Seriously drinks cup after cup of water every day.
tries to talk and negotiate his way out of stuff that he doesn't want to do
is too funny!

Daddy, Hadley and I love you so very much Asher.  We are so blessed that God chose us to entrust with you.  You are an amazing boy and we love your heart!