Andrew.....

December.

I love December.

I love that in the beginning of the month we get to celebrate Drew. I am filled with so many emotions with the beginning of this month. December brings memories filled with love, joy, and gratitude. I ponder and savor the sweet moments we had in December seven years ago when we were blessed to meet our Andrew for the very first time. I remember the phone call, the excitement, the nervousness, the tears, the fear, and the deep down feeling in my heart knowing that this sweet boy was meant to be a part of our forever family. We brought this little blue eyed, joy filled, feeding tubed, sweet boy home. Looking back I cannot believe I thought we were ready...and that anyone trusted us with little person who needed so much love, attention, and care. But we did it. We survived. We loved. We grew. We were never letting go. I love celebrating Drew's birthday and the start of adding to our forever family.

This year was big for Drew. The big E-I-G-H-T. He has been so excited about his baptism for months....

Drew practiced getting baptized with Dad. Grammy, Poppie and Grandma came for the big day. We were surprised by Shannon and Aly!!!!! Aly had said months previous that for her birthday (turning 17) all she wanted was to come for Drew's baptism. She is an amazing girl. My parents flew Shannon and Aly out for the baptism as a surprise. It was SO fun! We were very surprised and loved having them here.

We celebrated his birthday the week before his baptism. He wanted chocolate cake with chocolate icing.  He has been begging for a DS since school first started and he saw some older kids playing on one on the bus. Cute kid thought Santa was still going to bring him one too...so he would have two! e clarified that one!  We all had lunch together at school the day before his birthday. He wanted Freddy's. He loves their fries and custard shakes.

Thankful

Bedtime family prayer

".......Thank you that Dad was kind of good today...."

Yes Carter, I too am glad that Dad was "kind of good" today. *smile* I think these kids like having their dad home for a few days!! Bry and I had a hard time controlling our giggles after that one. We explained that we loved his prayer and he just makes our hearts so happy.

Thanksgiving 2013

Somehow when we have Baker gatherings I am so caught up in all the fun that I forget to take pictures and I hate myself for it!  We were able to celebrate Thanksgiving this year with Greg and Holly in their new home. Thanksgiving is always a trick with my little ones because they never eat...anything....besides maybe jell-o and a roll. I think I have mentally prepped enough now and stash snacks for the end of the night when they get hungry.

We arrived right on time with piping hot foot. I really thought I could not have timed things any better. I had my homemade sourdough stuffing, deviled eggs, rolls, and sweet potatoes. We arrived only to find out one of my cute nieces or nephews had turned off the oven with the turkey and they were not sure how long it had been on or off! It was no big deal though. The kids played for a couple hours and we ate a bit later and it was all still wonderful!

After we were done eating we headed to Brig and Camille's for more family fun and pies. The kids played more and the adults were able to visit. I love having such a big, close extended family. The kids loves their cousins and we are so blessed to all live so close to one another!

Thanksgiving 2013 was one to remember. We are so blessed.

Red Ribbon Week

Pajama Day

Rock Star Day

(Carter requested to take a picture with Maylee and how could I say no!)

"Boot" Day. Not really sure about this one, but Carter wore some hiking type boots and we called it good. Drew was good with normal shoes since he knows he feels better with his brace one so that was good news!

Wear a red shirt day was great minus Carter's crabby attitude. He really wanted to wear red pants too, but I just couldn't let that happen, hence a very grumpy Carter.

Twin Day! Carter's teacher sent a note home with what she was going to wear so I matched the boys to each other and to her and called it good.  We had so much fun with themed days this past week!

Halloween 2013

Halloween is not my favorite holiday. In fact, I really do not like it all that much...scary stuff, candy, more scary stuff and more candy. Ugh. BUT I do love dressing up my kids and how much fun they have!!! Drew finally decided on a skeleton and, bless his heart, loved the idea of a skeleton sweatshirt. Easy Peasy! Carter was DEAD SET on Peter Pan and I just didn't want to the headache of making that one so we cheated and bought it at the Disney Store and he was happy as a clam (whatever that means!) Maylee was true to her girly self and chose Cinderella. Hailee heard one bit about it and wanted the same. Of course Shelley is a crafty girl and made Hailee the prettiest, sparkliest tutu costume ever....so I had to try to do the same. Five hours and we had a winner! Maylee loved it!

They had a blast at the church Trunk or Treat. Shelley and Liz and their families joined in the crazy fun and the kids had a blast! Drew was so excited to be able to be off on his own to play games and trunk or treat. Carter was pumped about the games and loved the 3-legged race, even if they did come in last. Maylee loved all the attention....of course.

Carter had a party at school that I helped with and then we got to watch the parade. All the kindergarteners were dalmatians and it was SO cute! Drew loved seeing all the costumes and did great walking with through the parade. Maylee enjoyed every minute as well.

Halloween night we headed out to trick or treat (this was only AFTER teaching preschool in the AM, Carter's class party, school parade, stop home for snacks, Drew's physical therapy, fast dinner, costume dressings, and finally heading out the door.) Bry was out of town so the festivities were done solo, but things went well. The kids lasted over an hour and got SO MUCH CANDY. Come to find out Maylee was hanging around the doors afterwards asking for "one more candy". Little stinker!!!!!!!!! I was a bit embarrassed, but apparently the neighbors loved it. We will nip that in the bud for next year for sure!

The candy has now been all put away and the kids have mostly forgotten about it (thank goodness). We had some serious sugar monsters going on over here. Next year we are definitely doing the candy buy back!!! I am glad this holiday is over and we can move on to Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Primary Program

The Primary Program comes around every year. This year was a bit different since I am the primary secretary and had to help a bit in the planning and executing of it all. Andrew and Carter had practiced their parts and songs. I worked on the program and seating arrangement with my friends and all was ready to go. I hold my breath every year hoping I will get to sit and watch the entire thing, but this year was another to remember...

Bryan was up on the stand with his class (Drew's class), Carter sat with his class and Maylee and I sat on the front row. Carter's class had new teachers and he was sitting by his friends so they were a bit wiggly and Carter may or may not have spent most of the the program with his back towards the congregation, arms draped over the wall, and being everything but super reverent. Andrew was his usual self when we are out of the normal routine of things. He was wiggly, touching his friends, and having a hard time following directions up on the stand. After trying to parent from the bench (NOT EFFECTIVE) he clawed the air at me and threw a punch or two in my direction. I called him down once and chatted with him. *sigh* Didn't work. Little Maylee sat with my friend on the front row and I got to go sit with Drew up on the stand.

He was not happy. It took some convincing, but he sat on my lap and laced his fingers through mine. I held that little boy. He was still distracted and wiggly, but we sat, he sang, and he made it through the entire thing.

By the end I was tired and so glad it was over, but I wouldn't have missed those moments for anything. Afterwards an older gentleman came up to me and told me what a wonderful mom I am which touched my heart, but on my way out the door I was stopped by a woman. She hugged me. She told me how special my sweet Drew is and what a special spirit he is and how lucky we are to have one another. We hugged and cried. I need those moments to remind me how special our sweet boy is and how blessed we are to have in him our family.

Crazy Hair Day

Their colors were picked and after a late night run to Party City the night before, Crazy Hair Day was a success!!! I had some very happy, crazy-haired kids on my hands. 

Happenings

Just a couple little moments in our little life in our little bubble I don't want to forget....

My kids do climb...sometimes, just never out of their cribs...hence I kick them out of a crib when they are 4. Maylee still has 6 months bless her heart!!

Carter thought it would be funny to put on Maylee's jammies. It was.

Maylee loves to have play dates. I love having a backyard and cooler weather for them to play in.

Maylee thought she needed to "work" like me. Love her and her little imagination!