So where should I begin...Lilly turned 6 October 31st! I can hardly believe it. She is growing up so fast, some days faster than I can keep track of. We had cake and ice cream with just family at our house. I swear each year we say we are cutting back on gifts, and do, somehow she comes out with more! She is really into the newest Disney movie, Brave, so she got her dress this summer and was practicing archery for months outside. I made her cake again this year and got the official stamp of approval for decorating cakes from her! She has such a great birthday and afterwards we went trick or treating. IT was sooo cold and rainy this year for that. So we didn't stay out more than prob half hour with the kids. Lilly was a southern belle and Van was a puppy. He actually wore part of Lilly's old costume from when she was 4 and she had matching pants with the top. We just put him in the top, which was of course to big, and then just some black pants. He loved it!!
Soon after her birthday celebration it seemed as if things went straight down the toilet, no pun intended! WE are got very very sick for just about the entire month of November and December! We all got hit with a really nasty stomach bug that was going around like you wouldn't believe! I started with it and no lie, within 2 hours of me throwing up, Lilly started then half hour later Antho started and an hour after that it was on to Vance. I kept thinking we were some sort of those comedies where one person starts puking and everyone else starts seconds later. I have never seen something hit so hard so quickly. Needless to say that the entire night was filled with throwing up and tons of washing bedding, bowls, trashcans etc. Ugh worst night ever. That bug stuck around for about 2- 3 weeks. After that bug, there was always something going around our house. I could not bare to watch the reports anymore on how this has been the absolute worst year ever for the flu and virusus. In December, there was probably only about 1 week that we were ALL healthy. So it was a pretty rough couple months for us and it did not make it easy at all for being the holiday season. My poor babies!
The kids had an awesome Christmas! Van absolutely LOVED opening his gifts. So much that he thought every single gift, including ones at my parents house, were for him. Even if they weren't his he assumed he would be opening them LOL Aunt Anna and Uncle Kyle were able to visit for a short time at Christmas. IT was so awesome to see them. Lilly and Van really miss Aunt Anna while she is living in New England. They love when she is around to play. So does Mommy!
It is so hard to constantly be in a state of mind of "blessed" or "thankfulness" but I am really trying hard to be like that...And as each holiday or special occasion comes around I am reminded of it, but there are not enough birthdays, holidays, reunions, celebrations to do that so this year I am trying to wake up each morning thanking the Lord for all his mercy and blessings to me and my family. I know I often complain or more so worry about how often Van gets sick or seems to catch SOMETHING all the time!!!! But I am reminded to cast all my cares and worries on HIM. Each day is a gift from heaven that I am here on this earth with my children and my family. My children do not have any life threatening diseases, do not have tubes or machines hooked up to them to help them live, have 2 arms, legs, etc...that in itself should be enough to help me stay in a positive mind set. So all I can say is that, I am only human. One mom. One daughter. One sister. One wife. One aunt. One person. So yes, there will be many mistakes I make, many people I disappoint, many times I will let down fail those I love...But I get back up and try again. try to live a holy life, where I can make my kids proud, my husband proud but most of all my Lord proud. I truly am blessed to have so much and so many in my life. Here are some pics from Christmas.
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They are growing up so fast! I can hardly believe Van is going to be 2 in a month! I swear, but it seems as if he is growing up at a speed way more faster than Lilly did. Impossible, I know, but still seems that way!
We haven't had too much snow this winter, more than last year though, but the kids were able to take a few days and go sledding. It was so very cold out the times we went so we didn't stay out too long but they still had such a fun time. Although I am not convinced it was worth the hour + it took to get them ready and get out the door...until I look at these photos. Van refused to be pulled back up the hill in a sled. He was adamant about walking up. And it was a very steep hill! He only held Papa's hand the last 20 feet! Big Boy!!! Where as Lilly was perfectly fine crawling back up LOL
I was quite surprised at how much Van really enjoyed the experience. He hated that we had to leave and never showed a bit of hesitation when we were on the sled. I guess that's boys for ya. Lilly and I took a few tumbles as we rolled at the bottom of the hills, but nothing that scared her too much. I could feel my whole body go right into the "Mama Bear" protection mode when I knew we were gonna tip and roll! My legs wrapped around her body as I tucked her into a fetal position as best as I could in the split seconds we had to 'prepare' as if to shield her from the hard hit we would soon endure on the frozen ground. They love the snow though, cold wet and slick, children after my own heart with my winter babies!!! Rosy cheeks and red hands, nothing that can't be warmed up with some hot chocolate and Mama's Love <3
But, no sooner did Christmas end, it was back to school and off to planning Valentine's parties. Amazing at how time flies the busier you are.
Van January 2013 age: almost 2 Lilly January 2009 age: 2 yr 3 month
