Christmas 2021

Merry Christmas!

We had a sweet simple Christmas at home together. The days leading up to it were a nice break from needing to get the kids to and from school. Westin and Bennett played really well together, and fought really well together... :) They always seem to need to get back in a groove together when the have a stretch of time of not going to school. I love when they're home.

Michael had Thursday and Friday off. Katie brought her boys up on Thursday and we made gingerbread men and snowflakes and had soup for lunch outside in unseasonably warm weather. The boys have so much fun all together. On Friday we went on our first out of the house adventure and took the boys to Sing 2. I really don't want to take Asher anywhere during this RSV and Covid season, but we found a theater with roomy spaced out seats and I nursed him 100% of the movie and he had a pretty cozy, protected outing. Camden was the harder to handle little man during the show... he wasn't too entertained during the more emotional scenes and was mostly there for the snacks and songs haha.

Christmas Eve was sweet together! Honestly it feels like we're just getting by right now, but all things considered, I feel like we're doing well. The crazy hits Michael and me harder at different moments, and then we tell each other how they won't be so little and exhausting forever and we'll miss parts later. We had salmon on Christmas Eve and roast beef on Christmas and no one really liked Christmas dinner haha. We haven't ironed out solid food traditions around Christmas quite yet, but we do always do a sausage and egg casserole for breakfast with cinnamon rolls. Sally froze some cinnamon rolls when she was here for Thanksgiving and I was so grateful to pull those out and not make a batch this Christmas. We walked toffee around to some neighbors on Christmas Eve as well and I'm so grateful for our sweet neighborhood.

The boys were so excited about Legos on Christmas. I texted my sister that I can't wait until we have kids who are old enough to just chill and do a puzzle with me and not need to be out of the house to not be crazy all the time. Then that afternoon Camden and Asher napped at the same time and I did legos with Westin and Bennett for an hour, and it was just so joyful for me. They were so much fun and loved doing that with me and Michael so much, and I just realized my dreams are closer than I realized and there are moments of what I need already to be had right now if I just recognize them and breathe off the stress of crying babies and screaming toddlers :) We just need more sleep. But we'll get it someday.

Westin loved that Santa ate cookies and that he brought a kid kayak. I LOVED Westin's self-illustrated and written Pete the Cat and his Wonderful Christmas book that he made me, plus his cute calendar that the First Graders made together. He's a thoughtful gift giver and I love him for it. Bennett was so excited to open his Daniel Tiger book and both boys loved their fighter jets from their Walker cousins.

I love having a Sunday after Christmas to watch our church service full of songs and have the crazy behind us and just take a pause again to reflect on the why of all this season. I cried every time I watched or listened to Far Away by the National Parks, especially holding Asher during that song and knowing this is my last little Christmas time baby. A newborn by a Christmas tree is as close as I get to Jesus in this world, I'm pretty sure. Just the sweetest feeling.

We're looking forward to another week with the boys home and more Legos to build :)

 

Ready for Christmas Break

We are ready for Christmas break!

Bennett was home all week doing virtual school because of a Covid case in his class. Westin loved his Friday pajama day and holiday party, but REALLY loved receiving a Shining Star award from his teacher on Thursday for the value Respecting Others. Such a little stud and we love him. Camden is still his dad's sidekick, but he slept through the night 4 times this week which is 4 times more than the other weeks since we've brought home Asher, sooo he's extra cute right now. Asher had a SUPER good night one night this week, and struggled through the others, but a conversation with my friend Becca helped the struggle seem a little more sacred and a little less tired. We still tired :)

Michael is studying away. I'm keeping my head above water and soaking in the now while dreaming of less crazy days and nights. We made our annual toffee plus a new kind of cookie, and the boys played outside more than we ever expected to be able to play outside in December. Weird weather but we'll take the bonus playtime. My sweet neighbor drove Westin to school in the mornings and picked him up with Bennett in the afternoons. I worried so much about getting through the rest of the school weeks before Christmas break with tiny Asher and I just look back at all the help I had with that with so much gratitude. 

Now we have two weeks to take it easy more, fight more, watch TV more, bake more, enjoy each other more, go a little more crazy, and just try to find the magic amid the chaos. Because it's for sure there! This stage is incredibly busy but when I look at all my Christmas cards coming in from friends I love so, so much, and their kids are so much bigger than when I last saw them, it really does make me choke up. These sweet little people are figuring out so many things, and helping them is a big job. I love these boys with my whole heart.

Here we go into Christmas break!

I get a brown paper bag out every single time I make toffee. It always needs to cook longer than I think it does, and the bag keeps me stirring :)

Ali gifted me a Lillie Eats and Tells Crunchwrap book and some wraps for a postpartum gift and I just love her for it. Lunch looks a lot better when I put effort into it but it's hard to do these days!

Warm enough to send them outside with their peanut butter and honey lunch so there's less crumbs inside :)

Our Shining Star boy

He was so excited about this award. Such a cute first grader.

My favorite night this week was when Asher and I skipped big kid bedtime,
and cuddled by the fire and Christmas tree. So sweet of Michael to put the kids to bed without me so I can have these sweet moments.

Tender mercy when Asher fell asleep in this chair for the first time while I was cutting the boys hair.
Oh those haircuts.

Snowmen String Cheese for Westin's class party

Nursing sessions often involve a lot of little boys and a lot of books.

This corner of my house usually remains untouched by my kids,
so when I eat a little sweet treat after lunch I like to come in here and eat it...
less stress for a minute :)

Santa hat day at school.

Rosie found the book at Deseret Book!
I've LOVED loved loved messages from friends finding my book during this season.
This has been a big goal for a long time and it makes me so happy right now.

So many creations at school...
this is a director's camera.

Bennett is so sweet to Asher. And to everyone.

Camden wanted in on virtual school.