I'm back?

Apparently, I need to schedule a break every year for the holidays. Somehow I wind up being so busy that everything that is non-essential is pushed completely off my plate. I assumed after I got back in town I would just right back on the blogging wagon, but instead I found myself completely overwhelmed by unpacking and getting back into the swing of things.

And well, here we are. Two months later.

There have been so many little things I have wanted to blog lately but I can't even remember half of them. But I'll try to post more consistently now. I know all 2 of you that read this will be very glad :)

I feel like I've been *so* busy lately, but honestly 90% of my time is spent potty training and retrieving Piper from places she's not supposed to be.

A picture recap:

Lots of fun attempts for family pictures at Christmas

This one isn't half bad! 4 generations.

Cheese

Cheese #2

Chuck and I had FOUR NIGHTS without the kids after Christmas. And this is the only photo proof-

Fantasy in Lights

The sweet gift Jade made for Chuck and I at MDO.

Piper loves some necklaces.

I've been learning to sew.

The girls are "great" helpers :)

And love taking baths.

First bloody nose (second followed the next week...)

Joint nap boycott.

Cute piggy tails

And some sister love.

Not sure what's coming up from the blog in terms of me writing, but I am starting a photo course Sunday and I intend to post some of my pictures here. I can't wait to learn how to actually use my camera!

Advent in our house

Growing up, I had about 5,000 Christmas traditions. You might think I'm exaggerating, but Chuck would assure you I am not. And I am equally attached to each of these traditions... none of them is negotiable. Christmas is such a special time of year that everything can become a tradition, even the most mundane thing. So of course I have put a lot of thought into what I want to become traditions in my house. Some things were no brainers- each girl will have a Hallmark series Christmas ornament, and they will each have their own (small) tree. But others were more difficult. How are we going to teach Jade (and Piper, when she's old enough) the *real* meaning of Christmas? How will we balance Santa and the commercialism that comes with Christmas with Christ's birth and giving?

We are doing Santa with the girls... I have no issue with people that don't, or with people that do. I totally think you can have a Christ-centered Christmas and still believe in Santa. That's what we hope to do in our home... teach the girls that this is a magical time of year because of the birth of Christ and that we celebrate that by giving to others... and receiving graciously.

One of the ways that we are making sure Jade knows this time of year is special is the Advent calendar. I grew up doing Advent in my church (we were Methodist), but haven't gone to a church that celebrated it since then. But I figure that since it's basically just a countdown to Christmas that it's something that we could easily do in our home on a daily basis. Last year, I bought the printable Advent calendar from Naptime Diaries. I read her blog and love all of her prints! Instead of buying a new one every year, I laminated it so that we could re-use it every year and just adjust the activities based on the ages of the girls.

Right now, we have them all hanging up and we flip over a new card every day. Jade knows that we are counting down to Jesus' birthday and really enjoys flipping the card over. We then read a passage from the Bible- I am using this list. Honestly, it's completely over Jade's head and she accordingly doesn't care about it at all. But I don't really care- I think it's important to read the "real" Bible to her sometimes and I know she's getting the Christmas story in other ways. 

After we read our verse, I tell her what our special Advent activity is for the day. Some days, it's a small gift, but most of the time it's some sort of activity. Making cookies and delivering them to the neighbors is one activity. This weekend she was supposed to go on a date with Chuck (which she normally loves) but she said no, so we all went to Barnes and Noble and read books and got some hot chocolate. I'm being pretty flexible, because some days are just crazy and I don't get the activity done, but so far we're doing pretty well and she's enjoying it.

Also, at bedtime every night, we're letting her unwrap a Christmas book and reading that one to her. Most of our Christmas books are about the real Christmas story, so we're starting our day with the Advent verses and ending them with a book about Christmas.

So that's how we're "doing" Advent and Christmas here. I am loving sharing this time of year with her now that's she's old enough to really start to "get" it.

I finally added Piper's picture and stats to her one-year post if you're interested.

Halloween

It's 10:15 at night, and although for most people that's not very late, for me it is. Pathetic, I know. Pathetic or not, I'm tired but didn't want to go to bed without posting some pictures from halloween.

Yesterday was Jade's first time trick or treating. Last year, she did a trunk or treat at our church but didn't even know what candy was and just chewed on the outside of the packages because they made fun crinkly noises. The actual night of halloween, I just let her pass out candy with me, which she had fun with.

But man, did she love trick or treating yesterday. I really didn't expect to go to very many houses- she was walking and I thought she would get tired, or cold, or something, but after about the 8th house she said "I LIKE trick or treating" in this really excited voice and we just couldn't turn around. I honestly don't know that she's ever volunteered information that she likes something. I generally have to prompt her: "Jade, was that fun?" "Yes mama, lots of fun." But "I LIKE trick or treating" was all on her own.

She was super brave and would even go up to houses by herself if there were other kids there. If she had to knock on the door, mama or daddy had to go with her because she can't quite knock loudly enough :)

This year, the girls were a butterfly and a ladybug. I enjoyed deciding what they would be and just being able to tell Jade "you're gonna be a butterfly!" with an excited voice so that she would think it was the best thing ever. I don't expect it to work again next year.

Oh, and Piper was just along for the ride last night. Chuck didn't want me to wear her because "no one will be able to tell she's a ladybug", so he carried her the whole way crazy guy.

4th of July

Our 4th this year was a little different. We had no clue what was going on around town during the day, but knew we didn't want to just sit at the hotel with the kids all day. A friend told Chuck about a parade in a local city, so we attempted to make it to that. Unfortunately, by the time we got loaded in the car, we realized it was too late to go so I just started driving while Chuck looked up somewhere to go on his phone. Another city had a children's parade a little later so we headed up there.

Of course, every other kid in the parade was ready for the parade. As in, riding decorated bikes (or even power wheels). We didn't care though because I really thought Jade would think it was fun. So we threw her on Chuck's shoulder's and just walked through it. When that was over Jade declared she was "very hungry" and since the "freedom fest" only had nachos to offer (really??) we headed to Sonic. Where Jade ate absolutely nothing, for the record.

After lunch, both kids passed out in the car and we drove around rather aimlessly for a bit. Thankfully, an old friend of Chuck's texted and invited us over to his house! They were at their neighborhood pool, so Jade got to swim and then we went back to their house for burgers and hot dogs. Jade had fun playing with their kids and it was so nice to talk to another mom for a bit!

We didn't get to see any fireworks... but the day was a complete success despite that! I'm so grateful for an Air Force family that can help you to feel at home even when you're living out of your suitcase.

A few pictures from the day:

Before we headed out. Jade's "cheese" face.

Yes, Piper is wearing the same outfit Jade wore last year at 14 months.

Jade exploring the carnival with her blanky and purse.

The parade is starting!

Our competition

Happy girl waiting on Sister to wake up

Jade LOVES the water!

Piper being an angel baby and sleeping in a (borrowed) stroller at the pool

Easter- egg hunt

Like I said here, we had a great Easter. It was so nice to have my parents in town and I love that Jade is getting old enough to really enjoy stuff like this. I can't wait until both the girls are, but I'm trying not to wish this time away and be really present in this moment so I won't talk too much about that :)

After we scrubbed all the egg dye off and Jade took a nap, we let her hunt eggs. She had SO much fun. In fact, she demanded that we hide them multiple times and was not very happy when I cut her off after 4 times. And for the record, she was hunting the dyed eggs so it wasn't like she was enjoying it because she was getting candy. She was getting nothing. Except for eggs. Yeah.

Very excited when she first came outside

Found one!

Smelling the flowers :)

Another one smelling the flowers- it doesn't get much cuter than this

Very excited!

Easter- dyeing eggs

We had a great Easter around here. My parents came to town the Thursday before and stayed through the weekend. Jade is at the age where she doesn't quite understand what's happening yet, but she knows that it's something exciting and gets excited about it.

Sunday morning, I told her it was Easter Sunday (she has a book explaining Easter- in a very simple way- so she kind of gets that) and we had an Easter basket downstairs for her with some presents and she said "Christmas tree?" So apparently she remembers more than I think she does! Of course the rest of the day she kept asking for the Christmas tree. Oh well, I tried :)

Somehow, I have no pictures of her "opening" her Easter basket. Honestly, it wasn't all that thrilling- she mostly wanted to play with Piper's. But I do have pictures of her dyeing eggs. I decided to just strip her down and let her have fun and I'm so glad I did because she had a blast. Just a couple highlights:

The beginning- one cup and using the "spoon"

Piper watching :)

Getting dirty...

Licking the spoon

Not a fan

Towards the end: 3 cups, an egg in each hand.

Basically every egg was put in every color and they all looked camouflaged by the end, but she had a great time. Later that day, we did an egg hunt in the front yard and took family pictures, which I'll post soon. 

We made sure to tell her about what Easter is all about, but I can't wait until she's a little older and we can do some more hands-on activities for Easter. Easter should be just as big of a deal as Christmas and I want to treat it that way in our house. I want my girls to know how big of a deal it is and how we need to

spend that day reflecting and being thankful for all of the amazing gifts Jesus has given us.

Christmas

I'm just going to stop apologizing for posts being late, because right now they're all late so yall better get used to it for the time being. I'll catch up soon enough and all will be well.

Christmas this year was amazing for a few different reasons. Number one, Jade was old enough to really get excited. She still doesn't really get the anticipation of it, but when she came downstairs Christmas morning she was so very excited and started playing with her toys right away.

Number two, we had a brand new baby in the family and it was so good to be reminded of what a true gift really is.

Number three, my parents were in town, which was so nice because we were able to be with family without any of the stress of traveling with two little ones.

We kept things pretty low key since Piper was(is) so young and was keeping us all so busy. Decorations were minimal and we didn't go anywhere other than church on Christmas Eve. But I really enjoyed that and think that more people should slow down for the holidays to give themselves time to focus on the One that it is all about.

Here's a bit of a photo dump of our time around the holidays :)

She loved wearing the Santa hat. Only it was WAY too big. 

The best we could do. But I like it :) 

My favorite family picture of us. Ever. 

After church, we lost the dress. This is Jade and Chuck reading "The Night Before Christmas". 

Piper was very excited Christmas morning.

Can't you tell?

The gifts before Jade got there.

Monkeys love to play the piano.

Giving Elmo a bath in her kitchen sink.

Bit of a break?

Maybe I should have told you guys before I took a break- but I have a feeling this is the middle, so don't be surprised if posting is scarce for a while.

I'll still do my "jade grows up" and "35 weeks" post this week, but that might be it. I'm exhausted and have so much to do and the blog has become a source of stress, which is not what I want it to be.

So until I feel more like myself, I'll leave you with a few iPhone photos of Jade as Pebbles at our churches fall festival last night :)







- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pumpkin patch

Last year, we "found" a pumpkin patch near Williamsburg. This weekend, the weather was gorgeous so we got together with some friends and took Jade and Olivia (their little girl) for a little mini trip. Jade was certainly more impressed with everything than she was last year.

I realized right as we were leaving the house that the battery was about to die. And then realized that I had no idea where the charger was. So these pictures are a mixture of photos from the "real" camera and my cell. Because of that, we didn't get a picture of the 3 of us or very many in general. But the charger has now been found!

"What? You put me in this thing and just expect me to smile?"

No, that is not Chuck. Olivia is trying to escape from my wagon.

Olivia succeeded in her escape so I am now pulling an empty wagon.

Apparently she just wanted to sit with Jade. Happy girl.

Jade was enjoying herself :)

Pumpkins are very exciting.

Looking at the tractor pulling us for the hay ride.

The corn maze... one of them was going the wrong way :)

She rounded the corner and Chuck was there and she got SO excited!

All in all, it was a great day. Jade had a really good time and I love that we have family traditions now. We debated over whether or not to go because we have SO much that we need to get done at the house, but I know we made the right decision. This is the stuff we're going to remember in 10 years... not the fact that the floors needed to be cleaned and the nursery wasn't finished.