The End of the Year

What a year it has been! I must admit I don't remember too much before May. It was then that we started planning for the possibility of a move down to the lower 48. Things didn't really kick into gear until June, leaving me one month to pack. This was no ordinary move; it was the most mentally strenuous move I have made to date. Having three kids and being away from family willing to help was a challange. Praise God for the awesome friends from Anchorage First AG who stepped in to assist. Gil and Rosi took all three of my kids to McDonald's Playland for a few hours one day. Jeanna Allen took them to lunch and a park on another occasion, giving me an opportunity to pack unhindered. Gil and Rosi also came over to help move our stuff into storage, along with a co-worker of Nick's.

The most challenging part was figuring out what could be packed in the van to be shipped two weeks before the move....things that would be absolutely necessary when we arrived, but that we could do without for the last two weeks. (Not exactly an easy task.) Then I had to figure on what we could pack in two suitcases and four carry-ons, cramming every available inch (keeping the suitcases under 50 pounds). Everything else, except what we took to Goodwill, gave to friends, sold, or junked, was to be packed into storage until we could get it three months after we moved.

But since we have made the move, we have been able to attend and participate with our families in Angie and Steve's wedding, family reunion camping, Nick's and Ethan's birthday parties, Lisa and Brian's wedding, Thanksgiving, and Christmas! How wonderful, how indescribably awesome that has been.

Joey started Kindergarten in September and we both love his school and his teacher. He is blossoming in knowledge and quickly learning how to read and spell. In fact, Nick and I have to watch what we spell in his hearing, because he may just sound it out.

I know I haven't posted anything about Christmas yet...but it has taken me so long to recover. We were blessed to be able to spend time with both sides of the family all weekend long, and while we never really felt rushed, it was a lot of activity and heightened emotions, particularly for the boys. We are all suffering from some stage of a cold, which is also wiping out our energy. So forgive me for the delay in posting about our most wonderful holiday. Although it is now only 11:15pm, I am beyond exhausted. We let the two older boys stay up late to celebrate New Year's, so they just got in bed 30 minutes ago. I will have to keep this short, promise pictures at a later date, and head to bed myself.

I pray everyone has a blessed New Year.

Merry Christmas Eve

I'm sorry that it has been so long, again, but I have been crazy busy....without actually doing anything. The last couple weeks were plagued with fevers, Christmas progams and church and school, Christmas shopping, wrapping, and packing.

We head out in a couple hours to head home for Christmas for the first time in four years. To say that I am excited in a gross understatement. The kids are also excited. We have already written our note to Santa to remind him that we will be at Nanny and Papa Buddy's tonight. The kids' stockings are packed so they can be "hung" tonight.

We have a very busy weekend planned, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It won't be stressful (hopefully), just busy. Tonight we head straight for Mary and Chuck's. Chuck just lost his mom last week so it will be especially nice to spend time with him and his kids. We were unable to make it to the service on Monday, which is why Nick was able to get half of today off. We will stay for the afternoon and have dinner with them.

We were also invited to spend Christmas Eve with Paul. Since we won't be able to make it to dinner, we are hoping to make it for dessert on our way home. It will be really nice to see them.

Then we will head home to Mom and Dad's to put the kids to bed. Last year was almost impossible to get the boys to sleep. I'm hoping tonight will be a bit different. I hope that between the long drive to Portland and the running around we will do tonight, will exhaust the boys so much that they will go right to sleep. We have lots to unload to put under the tree tonight, and a couple of rather large gifts that have to be assembled. I also have a couple pumpkin cheesecakes to make. I haven't decided whether to bake them tonight or early tomorrow....but I'm leaning towards tonight so they can refrigerate over night.

On Christmas morning, we will have our personal family Christmas in the morning. The rest of the day will be spent out in Portland visiting Mary and Chuck again, as well as Grandmama and that side of the family.

We will celebrate Christmas with my side of the family on Saturday. I'm looking forward to watching all the cousins together. Then on Sunday, we will spend the morning in church before packing up and heading home.

It is nice having Joey home for Christmas vacation and I look forward to having another week with him before he has to return to the grindstone. He loves school, and I'm sure he will be ready to go back, but for now, he is enjoying being home.

Well....I've got to finish the packing so everything is ready when Nick gets home from work to load us up.

Have a very Merry Christmas!!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Joey and Nick had their Christmas programs at church today. It was the cutest thing, and I'm amazed my heart didn't burst with all my pride.
The pre-schoolers sang two songs; the first was accompanied by the kids ringing bells. Nick rang his bell very well, but never opened his mouth! But he sure looked cute standing up on that stage. They sang for both services, but by the time it was time for Nick to sing again, he didn't want to stand. So he sat with his legs stretched out straight, leaning back with his elbow on the riser above him, and ringing his bells with the other hand. I couldn't stop laughing, and neither could the rest of the church. I saw kind-hearted pointing and smiling up at the big screen in the direction of my son. Rather than wanted to shrink through the floor, I wanted to stand up and shout that he was my son! But I didn't.
Joey did well in his program too, both services. I video taped it, but our camera is kind of acting up and I didn't have a great angle sitting on the floor near the front of the stage. The church will have DVDs available on Wednesday, so I will get a copy to share so that everyone can see. I'm hoping that they make a DVD out of the second service (and they probably will because there were many more kids than at the first service) because I want to see Nick lazin' about on stage.

After nap time, Joey was teaching Nick a portion of one of his songs. I was upstairs doing laundry and heard them downstairs and was cracking up. So I made a little clip of them. Nick, as you can see, has more energy than should be legal and won't quit bouncing, but if you listen close, you can hear him sing along. Actually, it's more of a one-word echo throughout the song! I know I say it a lot, but I just can't get over how incredibly adorable my kids are!

This Is Joey

hi, my name is joey.  i am in kindergarten.  i can read and count.  i like to build.  i like my teacher. i will play with my friend damion.

love, joey

(Joey typed this message almost entirely on his own.  I assisted with spelling very minimally, and only occasionally helped with letter location. I am so proud of my son.)

More Hair

We are getting ready for Christmas programs this week.  Today, Joey had a dress rehearsal for his program at church tomorrow.  It will be so cute.  While he was on stage singing, Ethan and Nick ran around the entire sanctuary, no matter how many times I told them to stay close.  They really were very well behaved even if they did tend to wander.  And cute as ever.  All the other parents enjoyed watching them.  I got lots of "you've got your hands full" comments. Each time I hear that, I think of Angie and how empty my hands are compared to hers, and how enjoyable it is to have my hands as full as they are.
On Thursday afternoon, Joey has a recital at school that I am looking forward to very much.  He will perform with the other afternoon kinders, so it will be a smaller, more focused group.  I will try to get some video of both performances, but it may be a bit difficult.  Nick will be with me at church tomorrow, but he won't be able to come on Thursday, so I will have a busy time trying to keep the boys sat down long enough for me to get video.  We'll see.  Que sera.

Here are a couple pictures of my other handsome boys after their haircuts.  Joey wanted a mohawk, so the lady styled his hair for him.  I think it is very cute. (And I'm not a mohawk fan!)  She also kept a lock of Ethan's hair and is going to send me a "First Haircut" Cerificate.  How cute is that!  I can't wait to get it.

First Haircut

I don't have any time, I am supposed to be headed out the door, but I wanted to get a few pictures up of Ethan's first haircut.  The salon I went to was great!  It was geared specifically for kids and the lady was so good.  Ethan did a wonderful job, only reaching for me a couple times.  Nick and Joey also got haircuts, and they look great, too.  I will post more pictures later, but here are some of Ethan.