Who would've thunk!

 Tonight was our Christmas program at church.  It was the twins 1st program, and I realized it was the 1st time Steve and I had been to this particular service at our church.  Since Brooke didn't go to church we would alternate Sundays that we'd attend.  Sometimes we'd just stay home.  It was hard not to go together. 

Tonight we sat in church with both of our parents and Miss Dawn.  It was a candle light service, so it was dim.  The shortest kid there, was our's.  And the tall kids, were ours :)  The kids started singing and there was this LOUD, SHOUTING child giving it her all.  I laughed and laughed, then the tears started coming.  She was doing it!!!  She was there!  Miss Dawn leaned over, crying as well, and said, "she's up there!"  Brookie was so so proud of herself.  She had been practicing those songs for weeks (ask any of us, we've heard them :)  I assumed she'd be more shy when she got in front of people, but she was not.  She gave it her gusto!!!  Sometimes the smallest one's have something to prove!!

The rest of the girls did amazing as well!!!  Macy had those motions down, but she was looking for the older ones every once in awhile.  Needed the comfort of her older sisters :)  Megan and Ash weren't super excited about it (they thought they were too old)  but you are never too old to glorify our Lord!  And they smiled and did just that.  Leah volunteered to help out with the younger kids.  I said to Steve, I just got the best Christmas Present.  All 5 kids in the program!  Steve said, "I didn't think I'd ever see this day."  We are blessed by the best gift ever!  Children! 

I do have to add, Brooke continued to sing all night.  "A rat a tat tat, and a thump thump thump, Noah built a great big ark. Get on the ark is gonna rain, here come the animals to bite you."

 

Steve and I were like, "What did you say?"  So she sang it again.  We then asked her, "Isn't it, here come the animals 2 by 2?"  Nope, TOO BITE YOU!  Oh brother, we have work to do. 

And yes, the twins have matching dresses. Leah told me it was ok as long as she didn't have to match them :)  They still think it's cool so I'm going to enjoy it for a little longer.

Merry Christmas!  Hug your family, Love them, and don't get caught up in the worldly version of Christmas.  It's so much more!  What an amazing celebration of Life, Peace and Joy! God is SOOOO SOOOO Good!!

Parenthood

There is a tv Steve and I like. Parenthood.  It's about families and their lives.  Last night had many "issues" going on, as usual.  Steve and I were zoned in on 1 circumstance.  A mother of 3 has cancer.  And due to her chemo she had a bad infection and was in ICU on Christmas eve.  They told her husband she might not make it. He cried, asking God not to take her.  (That's the short version).  Steve and I sat there intently watching, I had tears streaming down my face and Brooke just STARRED at me.  You could tell she wanted to say, "what is your problem?"  
Steve laughed at her.  We talked about if she'll ever understand the magnitude of emotions we have because of her.  Will she ever understand 4 years ago, Christmas eve we uttered those same words to God.  Do we want her to understand?  She already thinks she's a princess, that information may not help the situation :)
But that's the past.  We are happy it's not now and thankful we have that situation to build off of who we are today.
Still have the stomach flu flying around this house.  I must admit my sympathy meter is getting low.  Most of my girls are not really whiny when they are sick, so that's good. It appears the last kid has it today, so hopefully we'll be good to go by tomorrow.
Brooke tends to hold onto the symptoms longer.  She is no longer dry heaving, but the other end is flowing quit freely.  We've gone WEEKS+ backwards on the feeding.  We are thankful she still has the button because it's gotten good use this week.  We were down to 2 feedings a day, but now we are back up to anything we can get in her. For some reason she will only eat ham right now (I assume it's the salt content she likes).  Maybe we'll try some bacon today.  However, she acts ok.  That's the main thing :)

(Notice there is no picture of Leah.  I was worried she would never talk to me again hehe,)

(These 2 are acting well.  Wild and crazy as always :)

 

Blessings to everyone!  Christmas is just around the corner.  Have a great time enjoying each other and remembering the reason we all gather together.  If you get annoyed with the parties/people and are too busy, please take time to be thankful you have people to get together with and love. 

A "peace" of tranquility........

 Tuesday night, I tucked in the girls.  There were MANY tears.  And the conclusion was, "mom never goes away for more than a night."  Megan was certain she was going to not get up for school, and a couple were wondering what they were going to eat.  I think they all forgot they have a VERY capable dad.  Steve just said, "go, have fun and relax."
Wednesday morning we were off!  Myself and 2 friends, left to Florida.  (I laughed because when I saw this picture I said, "I look like a banana."  When Steve saw the picture he said, "you look like a banana."  HELP we are thinking alike :)

Our car!  Yes a car! No minivan  for a few days.  I must say we didn't even get lost.  Maybe a few wrong turns but not actually lost :)

 

 Oh the view!  I called my mom one morning and said, "I am sitting on your lanai, drinking coffee and doing devotions.  I think I am in heaven!"  She agreed, it's a place of peace.

This is for my brother :)  We have an addiction to this juice in Florida.  We use to ship it home (before all the crazy regulations)  It's amazing, better than dessert

 Another favorite!  I LOVE crab!  It was not quite as much fun eating it without Steve laughing at me the whole time, but it was still good.  It just like melts in your mouth.

 A friend I found.  It looks like a worm and was the size of a worm but it was a black snake with an orange ring around it's head.  I'm easily entertained :)

 Another friend!

 What I came home too.  Our joke is every time I leave (even for a night) someone pukes.  Well, Missi and I decided Saturday we didn't want to catch the early am flight home (too early, we wanted to sleep)  So we caught the 6pm flight home.  It appears by 3:30p Steve had 2 girls vomiting (well Brooke was trying).  Oh boy!   What a man!  It was a rough night for Macy but I was glad I got to be here for her.  And she's appearing feistier. 

 As I put girls to bed last night Megan said, "you are not allowed to leave again. We need you."  Macy told me today, "Megan picked up everything around here, because no one else wanted too."  Ahhhh the truth. 

Brooke's comment was, "I had fun while you are gone.  You can go away again." 

 

It was so nice to be wanted, but it was also so nice to know the one I thought needed me, is doing ok without me.  It was amazing to rest, relax.  What a gift from my family and God. Blessed!!!