Traditions, New and Old

Where to start... sorry it's been so long we've been busy around here. First, the nasty flu that's going around struck our house the week before Christmas. Fisher had no idea what the whole throwing up thing was all about, poor kid! It was one of the saddest things I've ever seen. I feel like it was an expereince that brought me to the next level in parenthood though. I am a big baby when I'm sick and I absolutely HATE throwing up more than anything on earth, but all I wanted to do is trade places with the little guy instead of having to see him have to go through all that. Andy got it for a day and it missed me entirely (Praise the Lord). Noah's been a little under the weather, not like Fisher had it though. Both boys are kind of recovering from the respiratory "gunk" that came with that nasty virus!

Then there was Christmas, we had a super time visiting all over Northern Michigan. Saturday morning the 23rd, we caught up with some of my high schoool girlfriends and their families. It was funny to see how we've multiplied. Seeing each other is a tradition I hope that we continue, we all really enjoy it, I think. The husbands even did a great job of mingling while us girls got caught up.

Saturday afternoon, we went to my Grandma B's (Dad's Mom), Grandma continued the tradition of homemade noodles and yorkshire pudding, YUMMY! Another tradition is the singing of the 12 days of Christmas- it's interesting to me that there's not a single decent singer out of the whole bunch of us! You know what though, even though we all complain about singing, it just wouldn't be Christmas without that silly song!

Sunday we headed to Andy's parents after church, we had a great time there too. Lots and lots of delicious food and great company, it's so sweet to see my boys with their cousins. Fisher talks about them all the time and I'm reminded that he just doesn't get to see them often enough. Andy's mom has made stockings for each member of the family, so this year she unveiled Noah's stocking for the first time. Afterward, we went to church in Fife Lake before heading home sunday evening.

My favorite Christmas surprise was walking in to our house Sunday night with the kids asleep in our arms to find a Christmas Tree in our living room and a slew of presents underneath. With being so busy watching the kids while Andy finished up the roofing project every weekend I'd neglected to put up a Christmas Tree this year. I'd felt dissapointed about it and really had intended to get one up, but time got away from me. My parents picked up a tree for us and brought it up on Christmas Eve while we were at Andy's parents. It was the most beautiful tree I'd ever seen when I walked in that night, it took my breath away. Thanks guys, that's a memory I will never forget! It was fun to expereince the "magic" of Christmas like that.

Monday we got to spend Christmas at our own home for the first time. It was nice. My parents, sister, and Grandma Schettek came up. It was fun for me to make the egg dish and cinamon rolls my mom always makes for breakfast on Christmas morning. Again, we stuffed ourselves silly and recieved far more gifts than we deserve. This year we'll have to retire the stockings my mom made for my sister and I so many years ago, the seams are blowing out from years of being stuffed so full.

The boys had so many gifts over those three days that Andy and I decided that we'd hold off on the gifts that we had for the two of them. Fisher has gotten a couple in the last couple of days but still has an unopened one and a stocking under the tree. Maybe we'll adopt a tradition of keeping some gifts for opening gradually between Christmas and New Year's. That way he gets a chance to play with each one.

That's what is special to me about Christmas Time; sharing the moments and traditions with those we love. I hope I can create Christmas moments for my boys that they come to cherish in years to come.

Iwill try to post some pictures later, but for now you'll have to come up with your own mental snapshots. Much love to you all in the New Year.

'Tis the Season, Birthday Time That Is

My Baby is two (the oldest one), how did that happen? I can't believe it! I admit he's well into toddlerhood, but it seems like just yesterday I was staring into those big dark eyes for the first time. But actually yesterday he was "working" at his tool bench just like Daddy (his favorite birthday present from Andy and I). We have had a whirlwind of birthday going on this week. He's had friends over and last weekend we went to Andy's parents to celebrate with Miss Jayden, wednesday we went to the Burger King Playground to celebrate with my parents and sister, and sunday we'll conclude our birthday week with my Dad's side of the family when Fisher gets to celebrate with Ben. What a lucky Boy! Fisher News:

• Fisher LOVES books. I had read about 15 to him already that morning so I suggested that he read the book to Elmo, so that's what he's doing, those are Elmo's beady little eyes in the corner of the photo.
• He's counting to 10 then we skips to sixteen, seventeen
• If you ask him what time it is, he always says "Sixteen"
• He's started singing his ABC's (sometimes skips a few, and I think he thinks LMNOP is one letter all rolled together) pretty darn cute though.
• The highlight of my day is our bedtime prayers when he seems to remember to pray for EVERYONE he knows (I think he's a prayer warior, others may argue that he's procrastining going to sleep)

Baby Noah News:

• He's smiling and giggling all the time, he thinks his brother is very amusing (and Fisher enjoys the audience)
• We tried a little rice cereal, he doesn't seem to mind it much, but I'm in no hurry to start a whole lot of food, I had forgotten what a pain that can be, nursing is so much more convenient. The doctors say there's no nutritional need for it until 6 months anyway.
• He really likes to lay on his tummy and play with the toys in front of him. That's what he's doing in this picture.
  

Andy and I are doing well. I'm working at the pool on saturday mornings for a few hours teaching swimming lessons for a little extra cash. It's fun and gives Andy a little opportuninty to hang with the boys while I'm gone. Andy's wrapping up on the roof. It's been a duanting project, but well worth it. Oh, I hear Noah, time to get back to the boys. Talk to you all soon! Take Care!