Christmas Day

We had a delightful Christmas Eve celebration with Grandpa and Mutti and Uncle Fritz and Aunt Christy and the boys. The celebration was complete with a delicious Christmas Tea, caroling to neighbors, acting out the Christmas Carol (with our 7 children 6 and under!), lots of special stories, and jammies from Santa.

After we got home and had the children in bed we got the house ready for Christmas Day: we put baby Jesus in the manger, filled the stockings, just got everything ready for the day. Crawled into bed around 12:00 or 1:00. At 2:30 Thomas wakes up screaming, which is very uncharacteristic of him, and he told us his ear hurt. Tom had had a cold for about two weeks and he did feel quite warm so I heated some olive oil and garlic for him. We have only had one other ear infection, which was with Abigail, and she was in horrible pain for three days until we started her on an antibiotic. So, I thought I would stay ahead of the game and call the doctor and see if he could call a prescription in right then and we could start Thomas on it. So I call. I got through to the doctor. Mother that I am, I hadn't thought about it being Christmas Eve, and around 3:00 am. I apologize profusely when I hear his voice and then I tell him the symptoms, extended cold and a sudden fever. He asks me what the temperature was. I hadn't even thought to check. I had a sobbing boy and I thought we could give him medicine and wake up better. The doctor said to take him to Children's Emergency. I put little sick Thomas James in the bath with me, his little body relaxed and we slipped him in our bed where he slept until morning.

Abbie was the first one awake on Christmas morning with all the twinkles and zest due the day. It was 6:00. Precious Daddy put festive music on and started a cozy fire while I got dressed and put lots of make up on! ;) Hmmm, I see now that we didn't do a very good job of capturing the day on film for future generations. Anyway, these are what we have. The first picture is kind-of funny because our batteries were VERY low and the camera kept shutting off. Well, it finally took and then I couldn't get it on again. The picture of Grandma Barnes is thanks to Abbie

Christmas Fun

Here is Rudolph and Rudolphina! (aka, Jon Joe and Abbie) :)


Every year we enjoy going down to the Hotel del Coronado and enjoying their Christmas flair. This year we enjoyed a yummy dinner across the street at La Salsa before heading over to the "Del".

Here you can see a brother and sister enjoying each other's company as they await their quesadilla and taco dinner.


Our family in front of the larger-than-life Christmas tree.


Here is Abbie's version of the Hotel del's Christmas tree. ;)

Decorating

A few weeks ago we decorated our tree. It has been so fun to have Elizabeth be a part of all the twinkling fun! We got a four-foot tree and put it on a table, out of her reach. We always have a "tea" dinner with spiced apple cider and lots of yummy finger foods. When we were getting ready for our decorating party Jonathan said the music, tree, and yummy smells "brought back such good memories". How special to get to create memories and enjoy the delight rhythm of the passage of time together.

Getting ready...

We were getting ready for our Christmas picture and wanted to take The Picture in our new garden area. Here are some pictures that helped us pick the location.

Grandpa Tom with Elizabeth

Elizabeth took a little nap in her Grandpa's arms. Very sweet.

Driveway pictures...

We had the driveway poured a few weeks ago. It is Yosemite Brown and we love it! Here is the man who did the work, Tony,with Joe and Jonathan.

Mirrors

Today Joe and I were laughing about how our children are so much like us. Laughing tongue-in-cheek. Normally when you look in the mirror you smile, fix any blemishes, then go on your merry way. Any uncomfortable, inconvenient, irritable, or sinful attitudes can be glossed over and "normalized" as we jump into our busy day.

Not so with my children. If they are not feeling happy on the inside--boy do you know it! Crying, demanding, screaming. Ugh. Do they know that I have those feelings too??? The character that was supposed to be developed in my life just isn't there. I can't believe how the areas of my life that I struggle with the most I am supposed to help my children grow in.

I have been feeling alarmed with how little there is of me, when I need to have so much to guide my little family with throughout the day. I think I am entering into the second half of the sophomoric period of my life. (Greek words sophos, meaning "wise", and moros, meaning "fool").

There is a quote by Elisabeth Elliot that I find particularly applicable to how I am feeling at this stage:

"The process of shaping the child...shapes also the mother herself.
Reverence for her sacred burden calls her to all that is pure and good, that she
may teach primarily by her own humble, daily example."

Those are soothing words for me. I used to like to think that I was well on my way to being shaped--maybe I was even almost dry? But now, to see this process called motherhood unfold as I care for and mother my children, I have a greater need, a greater longing, to know God's pureness and goodness so that I can teach those to my children. No, don't look to me for the answers, I am very thin and weak. But thank God that He gives answers. May I look to Him in His word for that character when my "little mirrors" reflect the real me.