Dry Run

Last year we ran the Tacky Light Run...in the pouring down 40 degree rain. It was fun, sort of. What I could see of it through my poncho. The lights were so pretty, though, even in the rain. I remember thinking though that if it was raining this year I was going ot have to miss out on the Christmas lights.

Thankfully the weather was pretty much perfect this time around. No ponchos needed. It was chilly, but once we got moving we weren't even cold. There was lots of crazy people wearing sparkling antlers and chrismas blinkie things to distract you, as well. The lights in the neighborhood we ran through were all out, too. These people know how to tacky up a house.

This time the kids were there waiting at the finish line with my mom, so naturally they confiscated all the blinkie Christmas paraphernalia we had aquired from our race packets and along the run. Said blinkie things blinked all the way home from the race and literally gave me about 46 heart attacks thinking we were being pulled over by the cops.

I think next year, we may even drag them along with us. Merrick asked could he run it with us next year. (Although 4 miles might be a bit much for him. And do I really want to take 4 kids on a 4 mile run in the dark? Kinda.) Obviously half of them would be in a stroller...and then I'd have to borrow another stroller and make Billy push it for the other half of them. So maybe I should discuss this with him first. But I've got a whole year to talk him into it.

In the Crib

Amaryllis usually sleeps in her swing. She's been sleeping in there since she was about a month old. The month before that she slept in my bed. I don't mind snuggling with a tiny little baby...but she was never very snuggly and then that little reflux thing happened and she just cried and sniffled all night. So the swing was one way to keep her propped up to try and help with the reflux.

The other day though, said swing just...stopped...working. It was 4 months old. Really?! We called Fisher-Price and they are replacing the motor. That's what I thought. Our old swing lasted through three babies and a enough D batteries to power a space station. It finally died after Jericho. But that might have been a lot of weight to swing after Tirzah lived in it for the first half year of her life. Anyway, it was way too expensive and new to give up the ghost.

That said, there really wasn't anywhere for her to sleep except for in the non-swinging swing, or the crib she's never used. We tried the crib. The first night was not so great. But I can't tell if that was the crib's fault or Amaryllis. I'm going with Amaryllis...who has never slept through the night yet in her 5 months on this earth. (YESI'MTIRED.) She still wants to eat at least once per night, but often just wakes up to screech like an animal until we get up and wrap her up in a blanket, say a few choice words, and beg her to please for the love go to sleep.

The second night in the crib was much better. I think. I might have just slept through it and Billy dealt with her. Who even knows anymore. But I think at this point we wont be going back to the swing even once we do get it fixed, except maybe for her naps. She does still nap in the non-swinging swing. Fancy pants is a creature of habit, so we don't want to throw her too many curve balls at once.

Christmas Card Season

I've never been one to send Christmas cards. I maybe did it one time before I was even married? But I do love getting them. (I feel like this makes me some kind of Christmas card hypocrite.) I also love taking pictures that I know are going to be used to spread a little Christmas cheer, in the form of those cards I don't send.

I get to see this adorable family a couple times per year. It's always a good time, with fun chats and cute kiddos, and of course a picture or two. This year we've added a member to the Christmas card roster...and good grief those blue eyes will just knock you down. Too cute! I love catching up with these guys. :) I hope that they have a wonderful holiday!

This is another sweet family I get to see several times a year. They aren't too bad looking themselves! Those two boys are the cutest, and I love the energy they bring to each session. They are both growing entirely too fast.

I love catching up with these guys as well, and am grateful for the chance to hang out as well as take their pictures. Photo shoots where you feel like you're just hanging out with old friends are definitely my favorite.

Hope that each of these families have a wonderful holiday...can't wait to see them next Spring! :)

Evergreen

"Cuz, honey, your soul will never grow old. It's evergreen."

This time of year is always a mix of weary and fun for me. I don't like the gray, cold weather, (it may seem dramatic, but it really wears me down emotionally and physically) but I do love Christmas. I was listening to a song the other day that included the above lyrics, and it kind of reassured me in a way. So many things change with the seasons: myself, my kids, our circumstances, our location, our circle of friends, ideas and opinions, etc. I go through seasons I don't like, holding on for better ones, hoping to make it through with grace and strength.

A lot of times I'm afraid of the changes, the seasons, and of the maturing you can't avoid. But I think this made me realize that some things don't change. My soul is secure, and I know where I belong. The seasons can't wear it away, or run it out. The One who created the seasons is also the one who molded my soul, and He is the constant that sustains it all.

Well, thanks.

Last week pretty much flew by. I know I said I was taking a break from life...but really I think the only thing I took a break from was homeschooling. We had a great, but very busy week.

We spent most of Wednesday and Thursday out at my parents' house. We celebrate thanksgiving on Wednesday, and then hang out and eat leftovers and watch football on Thursday. There also might have been a little foosball with a 2 year old thrown in there, too. Game face pictured below.

After all the Thanksgiving festivities, we even did a little black Friday shopping. I can count the times I've shopped on black Friday on zero fingers. I am not much of a shopper, and I don't particularly do large groups of people, and I'm typically a cheap skate. Those don't add up to a good black friday shopper. But...I went. And I shopped. (And yes, I took the smiling, chatting, drooling 4 month old with me.)

As you can see on my "break" there wasn't any closing of the eyes allowed. People who close their eyed get squished under a 40 pound 2 year old who likes to pry your eyeballs open. He also likes to wear pajamas that don't match, obviously.

One of our family traditions around the holidays is shooting. None of us really hunt or anything, but we do love to take out a target or two. This year we repurposed all those pumpkins I made Billy carry out of the patch. They explode in a really gratifying way if you hit them just right. It's fun to sample the array of guns everyone brings with them. There was even a cannon. Kidding, but one of my bro-in-laws guns kind of sounded like one. It was responsible for the demise of quite a few of those pumpkins.

We even managed to fit in a sisters' (and their various husbands/boyfriends) movie night, and finally got to see Mockingjay. (So good!) It takes some strategizing to figure out what to do with all those kids we have. If any of my siblings besides me and Amanda decide to start having babies we'll need to hire a day care center just to make sisters' night happen.

 

I am pretty thankful for the break last week. It was good to mix up the normal routine and do some fun stuff. Fun is kind of scarce in the mom scene ya know. And busy isn't always exhausting...for those of us who don't spend our mornings prying people's eyelids open, that is.