Poopy Christmas Eve. . .

The holidays are always busy aren't they? We started the holiday season with some friends. . .and as you can see from the below, the kids were super happy! I'm sure it was was the company too. Mia and Mylee are such sweethearts and their mom is the one who was there for me every minute of our journey to bringing Gracyn home.

 

 

 

 

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Then, you get to Christmas Eve. So, the "Poopy" part of it is sort of gross story. Gracyn has now officially pooped 3 times in tub! I know, "too much information" - That would be once in Taiwan and twice with Peyton in the tub with her at home! Well, the first time, DH yelled for me and just stared at the tub watching me do my Mommy duty. Peyton was yelling, "eeeew," and and was dripping wet but out of the water, and Gracyn was still in the tub with her poopy wondering why all the excitement. I proceeded to use one of those "no drip water on your face" thingy-ma-bobbers" that you use to rinse their hair off with to scoop the poop and dump it in the toilet. DH managed to do it the second time, and well, the clip below is Peyton's "poopy" reenactment performed on Christmas Eve. . .which well, sort of foreshadowed our evening. . .

 

Will Christmas Eve be Grumpy or Happy? Peyton won. . .

 

Gracyn was tired, so ended up not really doing much on Christmas Eve, and I think it was all a little overwhelming. I was heartbroken. No fun Christmas Eve pictures for her very first Christmas home. . . I was literally in tears. I forced myself to get a picture of the kids, even though she was screaming and unhappy, and then after she was half dressed in her PJ's I got one more - just so I could remember her Santa outfit that I've had in her closet for an entire year! The matching skirt was still too big so I even sewed in the waistband while watching them in the tub. . .oh well. . .No Santa for the kids at daycare - Santa got lost, or as their teacher told them, Rudolph must have broken his leg. . .and no fun Christmas Eve pictures. . .but, I will say, Christmas day was much, much better. . .stay tuned - there is a happier ending.

The lovely photo op of my two kids on Christmas Eve in the spare bedroom of DH's 88-year old Grandmother's home. . .

 

The half-dressed kid that gave me a shot I can live with. . .

 

Was I expecting too much? Probably. . .Just like that Halloween picture I had to have of the kiddos on the porch, I expected to have one of the kids in front of the tree together on Christmas Eve. . .I know, I need to let it go - They're kids. . .we're all human. . .But seriously, was I the only mom that wanted things "just so" on their child's first Christmas home? And for me, while growing up, Christmas Eve was the FUN night. . .

I've so enjoyed reading everyone's cute and happy posts! Mine will follow soon. I think we may even make you laugh.

*Disclosure: If you made it this far, let me say, Thanks for following along - and if there's a spelling error, well, Spell Check on Blogger is on vacation and not working tonight. . .and quite frankly, I'm too tired to re-read what I've written. Good night!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas!
Wishing each and every one of you a Christmas full of joy.

 

 

 

As part of a challenge from our Pastor, we cut Christmas spending, and enjoyed giving back. This year we were blessed to meet Baby Destanee and her mom this year through an Adopt-a-Family program through Loaves and Fishes. Peyton and Gracyn adopted 4 children off the tree through our church program, and through work, I adopted Jose Luis, who was one adorably chubby 2 year old!

I post about this not because we want a "pat on the back" for doing a good job, but to share this amazing experience with you. To praise God for saving people like Destanee and her mom. Destanee's mom confided in us and shared how the Lord has blessed her. She now has housing, furniture, and a job program. Their home was so warm and full of life, and their tree was beautifully decorated. With the economy in the state that it is in, many programs went without financial support this year. If you feel God calling on you to provide for those in need, please don't ignore the signs. Do respond to the needs as He has responded to us. God is so great, isn't he?

Galatians 5:6
". . .the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

 

 

 

Naughty or Nice?

Oh Christmas Tree. . .
This year hardly any ornaments were put on the tree. We decided to keep it simple and only decorated with our Asian Themed ornaments and of course, Peyton's and Gracyn's. Taking the tree down will be super easy since hardly anything came out of the boxes! I also need to find a tree topper that I love and will stand straight up. I've had a bear, who was too chubby and would fall over, I've had a star, and then there was the angel, now that we're in a ranch home, our ceilings are low so tall pretty options are out of the question. . .I think my ribbon toppers have always been the easiest. Maybe I'll get one up there before family comes over! I welcome any and all suggestions for my tree topper!

 

 

 

Last year we decided to start the "lights on the house" tradition. We want to make sure that Santa and his reindeer can find their way through the dark starry night. Not to mention, I just love the way it makes our house look like a home, warm and welcoming for the holidays. Watching the kids' eyes light up is priceless!

 

They certainly look more naughty than nice! Don't you think?

 

Let me translate here for you. Peyton's wish list includes Hannah Montana, a horse, and one of those game things you hold in your hands and push buttons (while ignoring your parents). Gracyn's wish list includes anything chocolate, and unlimited bath time.

 

I thought it would be fun to save their "hands" with their letters. First Christmas as siblings!

 

Tonight, we leave cookies out for Santa and in the morning, the kids will get to see what awaits them in their stockings! Do you hear the bells ringing? Santa and his reindeer are in flight, so be sure to be good and stay in bed tonight!

Do you believe in Santa? Mom's gifts to me keep giving.

Growing up I had a stocking my mom made by hand for me. It's the same stocking that hangs in my home today. As a child, days before Christmas I'd leave out cookies and milk, and magically Santa would leave behind treats for me. I'll never forget the one year I walked away from my stocking disappointed. Santa had forgotten me. My mom saw me sulking and asked me what was wrong - perhaps I had been naughty and not so nice so nothing was left for me. To my surprise, awaited a little Twinkle Stars pendant (Hello Kitty characters, do you remember them?) that had slipped all they way down into the toe of my stocking. I was short back then too, so I couldn't reach it. Whew - I guess I was a good girl after all! Just for the record, I believed in Santa until I was 12. No joke. No older siblings to spoil the fun, and even when kids would tell me otherwise, I continued to believe. The trinkets left by Santa while growing up made for great memories, so starting a few days before Christmas, Santa will be leaving trinkets and treats for Peyton and Gracyn. I'm so excited!

We have a total of 8 stockings across the mantle this year. I opted to not use the fireplace so I could see all of them in a row. One I tried to make for Peyton because I wanted to be like my mom, but my mother-in-law had to make it! One for my mom who rests in Heaven. Mom's is the smallest one because she made all of ours, and did her own last - just like her, always thinking of others. One with a solider on it for my Dad, mine, Darryl's (I made it for him when we were dating and hand sewed the stars that make up his name!), Peyton's, Morgan Fay's, and Graycn's. . .Morgan Fay. . .yes, who is Morgan Fay? She is the angel in China, named after my mom, that we await. She is the one who lead us to Taiwan, and opened our hearts to a toddler, and ultimately lead us to Gracyn. Our LID for China, 8.28.06, Gracyn's date of birth, 8.25.06. . .we departed for Taiwan on 8.28.08. . .and on one of Gracyn's forms her birthday was incorrectly listed as 8.28.06. Fate? It's all in His hands.

 

The other tradition I treasure is my annual ornament collection. And for some years, well, there's a couple ornaments per year - but the collection my mom started in the 80's for me was my Frosty Friends series. . .When my mom died, I kept the tradition alive, and still continue to add to the collection. So, for Peyton, he has the "Cool Decade" series, and Gracyn has the "Snow Buddies" series.

 

 

Mom - Thanks for the stocking, it continues to be used every Christmas and I will treasure it forever. Thanks for the stuffing my stocking and for making my childhood delightful! I'll be sure to carry on the tradition.

Morgan Fay - Thanks for being born in our hearts so that Gracyn could become a part of our family. If it is in His Plan, our arms will be wide open waiting for you sweet pea!

2 Reindeer, a Panda, and a Monkey. . .

 

 

That's what we ended up with after a trip to Build-a-Bear with Jake's family. . .Why is that place called Build-a-Bear anyhow? We didn't build ANY bears. . .Peyton decided on a reindeer, which meant Gracyn had no choice in the matter and he decided she had to get the matching "sister" version - A cute panda was for N, I think chosen by her mommy, and the Monkey N made for Jake, who's in Taiwan waiting to come home. Just like Peyton, Jake was born in the year of the Monkey! Watch out Staci - they really do climb around like monkeys! BTW, Peyton's Reindeer plays Jingle Bell Rock if you press one hand, and HANNAH MONTANA on the other!!! What was the one accessory he picked out for his Reindeer? You guessed it - a pacifier!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to all of you for sharing your holiday traditions! I enjoyed reading them all, and have been thinking about adding or changing some of ours because yours sound so great! I didn't see a lot of "Santa" traditions - cookies and milk for the big guy? Any flour laced boots to leave "snow tracks" from Santa? Ringing of jingle bells while kiddos lie awake in bed? I know Santa's not the real reason we celebrate Christmas, just wondering what you do to keep your kids, kids at heart.

15 days to go and we haven't finished the tree - but I think we might just pretend we're done. It's pretty much decorated, just need to hang Gracyn's ornaments. Gracyn by the way, is finally "almost" sleeping through the night! PTL! She's also becoming a Daddy's girl. Thank you for all of your prayers. She has fewer and fewer melt downs, and is really starting to let her personality shine through! She has been caught on several occasions now hitting her brother, and fighting back. They still get along great, but when she wants something, watch out Peyt! She understands Time Out - so if we ask her, "Do you want Time Out?" - She opens her eyes real wide and shakes her head, no. She can say "sorry" to Peyton by gently touching him with her hand. According to my dad, she's sneaky, like Peyton. Sometimes I think they couldn't be more alike if they shared DNA. Unless you look at their dinner plates that is - Gracyn loves her meat and veggies - will even pick out green beans to eat. Peyton on the other hand, well, let's just say he's a " all rice" kinda guy.