The Eber Christmas Songs 2004-2011

I'm so excited b/c Kurtis was able to retrieve all the lost files from our old computer.  It died last winter and we thought we had lost old pictures and the Christmas letters that I write each year!  But Kurtis is my hero and managed to salvage everything.  So here they are: The Eber Family Christmas cards from 2004 to present.  I had to laugh at some of them b/c I'd forgotten what I wrote.  I hope you enjoy them too!

2004 

     T’was the Sonogram After Christmas

T’was two weeks after Christmas & all through the home

The only creature stirring was Floyd, who did roam

The stockings were hung on a lone TV tray

With signs that St. Nick had soon passed our way

We had no children yet to snug in their beds

But we had our own visions dancing in our heads

And I in a doctor’s gown and Kurtis in jeans

Had just settled down in front of the sonogram screen

And what to our wondering eyes did appear

But our unborn child who we are awaiting so dear

With a little beebob on our bundle of joy

we knew in a moment it must be a BOY!

The love, the excitement, the joy all came

But now we need to think of a really good name.

Samuel or Edward or Daniel will do

Or Joseph or Robert are another two

Now there is still four months of growth in my belly

But it already shakes like a bowl full of jelly

Until the day when our little one comes into sight

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!

2005

It Came Upon an Eber Christmas

(to the tune of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear)

It came upon a Christmas Day

A glorious Sunday morn

That Sammy woke to celebrate

The first Christmas since he’d been born

Peace on the earth, goodwill to Floyd

The blessed beagle dog

For when the Christmas supper’s laid

He and Kurtis will eat like hogs

For Greta, the Christmas time is nice

To share with her house full of boys

How exciting it will be to watch Sammy

Play with all his new toys

We send glad tidings this holiday

To all of our loved ones so dear

We wish you all a Merry Christmas

And a very Happy New Year

2006

The Eber Christmas Carol

Sung to the tune of “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

O little town of New Carlisle, how still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep as Christmastime draws neigh.

Yet in the Eber household the laughter overflows

As Sammy now is eighteen months, he keeps us on our toes.

Kurtis is still working hard and now attends grad school

To get his MBA degree and prove that he’s no fool.

And don’t forget Floyd Beagle who also took a class

To show he’s an obedient dog.  Thank goodness, he really passed!

Greta is now six months along carrying a baby girl.

But come the spring, she will bring the baby into the world.

Sammy is learning lots of things-climbing and throwing balls

And says a whole new bunch of words.  His favorite is “Papaw”!

Our year has been a blessed one.  We’re grateful for many things.

As the kids grow, I can’t dream of what the next year will bring.

But to our friends and family, we wish you love and cheer.

As Christmastime is coming fast…

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Love,

Kurtis, Greta, Sammy, Belly Baby, and Floyd Beagle

2007

The Eber Family Christmas Song 2007

(To the tune of “The First Noel”)

The Eber house is full of joy

With our little girl and our growing boy

Sam is tall and strong, full of energy

And his birthday in May will make him 3

Isabel, Isabel was born this year

And she is full of smiles and cheer

Kurtis works really hard on his MBA

Greta prays hard for his graduation day!

The kids make us laugh and wear us out

But that’s what a family is all about

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

From us Ebers, we wish you well!!!

Merry Christmas and all our love---

Kurtis, Greta, Sammy, and Izzy  (and Floyd the beagle)

2008

The 2008 Eber Christmas Song

(to the tune of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”)

Hark the Herald angels sing of the joy that Christmas brings

The Eber home is full of love; we’re thankful for our Lord above

Kurtis goes to school for his MBA, leads boy scouts and works each day.

Greta’s busy being the mom; she still likes to sing around the home.

Love our children with all our might; Our family is our greatest delight.

Sammy is now three years old; has a strong will and can be bold.

He goes to school and loves to swim, gives big hugs and has a sweet grin.

Isabel is almost two, likes to think she rules the roost!

She’s a princess-truly so.  She bosses Daddy to and fro.

Hark the herald angels sing.

Love to all and good tidings!!!

2009

Eber Family Christmas Song 2009

(to tune of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”)

We’ll be home for Christmas

You can count on me

We’re still resting from having Kalen and now we’re parents of 3

Samuel’s 4 years old now, Isabel is 2

Joseph Kalen’s our new baby boy to love the whole year through.

Kurtis is working at Riverside, still getting his MBA

This time next year he’ll be done with school—we can’t wait for that day!

Greta spends the day with the little ones and teaches voice lessons from home

It might not seem like much, but with kids and such, there isn’t much time to roam!

Samuel is still in swimming and likes to go to preschool

Isabel started swimming as well and thinks it’s pretty cool

Both are very excited about their new baby brother

Christmas this year will be of good cheer because of how much we love each other!

Merry Christmas and God bless to all this season!

Love,

Kurtis, Greta, Sammy, Isabel, and Kalen

And FloydJ

2010

The Eber Christmas Song 2010

(to the tune of “O Holy Night”)

O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining

It is the time for the Eber Christmas Song

Long have you waited with much anticipation

To see how the past year has gone.

Kurtis finished school and got his MBA

Our joy was overflowing for that awaited day.

He worked so hard to further his education.

O Joy and Relief and oh, how proud we are of him.

Oh Kurtis is a graduate!

O Holy Night-a blessed day!

Sam is five years old and goes to kindergarten.

He really likes his new teachers and friends.

This fall he played soccer and now is in swimming.

Who knows what else he will try when that ends!

Isabel is three and started in gymnastics.

She’s really good with somersaults and on beam.

It took a lot of work but she now uses the potty.

It really wasn’t as easy as it seems to get her trained.

Oh Izzy is potty trained!

O Holy Night-a blessed day!

Little Kalen is growing and just had his birthday.

He’s a busy guy for a one year old.

He started walking early and now he really runs.

He loves music and is a jolly soul!

Greta is busy keeping everyone in line.

She also gives voice lessons in her spare time.

The kids love our new house.  Their favorite is the basement.

It brings them so much joy to ride their bikes and run around.

Let’s not forget our beagle!

O Blessed Floyd, he’s still our pet.

Oh Merry Christmas from the Ebers!

O Holy Night, God Bless our friendsJ

2011

The Eber Family Christmas Song 2011

(To the tune of “We Three Kings”)

We the Ebers of New Carlisle are, bearing news of our year thus far.

We’ve been busy, practically dizzy.  Our lives are way above par.

Oh, oh, Sam’s in first grade and rides the bus.

Over Pokemon he’ll make a fuss.

He swims at the Y.  He’s a real funny guy.

He’s such a delight to us.

Isabel has started preschool.  She loves her classmates; she thinks they are cool.

She still does gymnastics; we think she’s fantastic.  She is the princess who rules.

Oh, oh, Kalen is two and likes lots of cars.

If it has wheels, he will drive it real far.

He’s running, not walking.  I wish he were talking.

Kalen is an energetic star!

Kurtis still works for Riverside.  With the H.O.A., he works alongside.

Greta teaches the little ones music that’s lots of fun.

We help each other to not get too tired.

Oh, oh, our family highlight was a few months ago. 

We went to Florida and left O-hi-o!

We got to see Mickey; it wasn’t that tricky!

In a few years, we might again go!

Oh, oh, Star of wonder, star of light

We wish you a Christmas so merry and bright!

We send this song with love and hope from above

Merry Christmas and to all a good night!

the kids being cute

The other day I was working on flip charts for music in Primary.  Isabel, who loves to sing, decided to use my flip charts and mimic leading the music.  She did a pretty good job of it and I was able to get to the camera in time to get it on video.

I also got Kalen trying to talk to me.  He didn't want to be left out when his sister was cheesin' for the camera.

just a thought

As I got ready for bed last night, I had an errant thought.  One I've had before but never shared.  Sammy and Isabel are 22 months apart in age.  That means for two whole months, namely March and April, they are only one year apart.  So when people ask me how old my children are, I have to say "well, Sam is 6, Izzy is 5, and Kalen is 2."  For some reason this annoys me to no end.  I hate the idea of people thinking that I just popped one out right after the other.  Especially because that really isn't the case.  Popping one out takes a lot of effort and planning on our part. So, okay, technically that isn't true with Isabel.  She took no planning and caught us completely by surprise (hence the 22 months apart thing) but I digress.  ANYWAY, so whenever this two month time period comes around, I find myself rounding up my children's ages. For instance I will say "oh, Sam will be 7 in May, Izzy is 5, and Kalen is 2."  I know that sounds weird but that's what I do....am I being anal or making too much of something?  Does anyone else do this I wonder?

Isabel's fifth birthday

For Isabel's birthday this year, I feel as though we celebrated for an entire week.  First she got tickets to see Disney Princesses Live on Stage and went with Mamaw (my mom), Mommy and Izzy.  Just us girls!  Mamaw even splurged and got her a princess purse, a light up wand, and we each got pink lemonade in matching princess cups! And that all happened five days before her birthday!

Most of the pictures are pretty blurry b/c I can't work the buttons on my camera but I wanted to include a few for posterity's sake:)
Next, on Isabel's actual birthday, Aunt Tara came over and brought presents from Aunt Tara and Aunt Becky.  She got a bath toy with Ariel and an Ariel barbie doll and Rapunzel barbie doll.  She also had lunch with Ma and Pa (Mamaw and Papaw) and received the ultimate gift--an American Girl doll that she named Isabel Evelyn (b/c the doll was made to look like her).

On the day after her actual birthday, she had a birthday dinner with both sets of grandparents.  Grandma and Grandpa Eber got her a zhuzhu princess carriage and a lunchbox that says Isabella on it. Yes, we know her name is Isabel but they only had Isabella at the store so I'm now on a creative mission to cover up the "la"!
Lastly, the Saturday after her birthday we had a Dora birthday party with friends. Normally I try to make/decorate the cake but this year I cheated and bought a cake.  But I did plan all the games we played.  We started by calling for "The Map" who told us which way to go--1) Crayon Corner (where we colored Dora pictures)   2) the Troll Bridge (where we solved his riddle of how to spell the birthday girl's name)  and 3)Gift Grove (where we opened Isabel's presents).  Along the way we stopped to "reach up and catch" Explorer Stars and Pin the tale on Swiper before he swiped all our stuff.  Lastly we had cake, ice cream, and then played dress up with MANY princess dresses.  Once we were dressed up, we had to have a runway show to show off.  Even Kalen got into the festivities and dressed as Spiderman to escort the ladies.  He did end up in a pair of heels though:)  Enjoy!

Just another day in paradise

I'm sitting at the kitchen table, writing out bills when an odor wafts over from the living room.  I instinctively recognize that smell....Kalen's diaper.  It never ends.  Nevermind the fact that I changed his diaper 15 minutes ago.  Now he has a nice, fresh, new diaper in which to do his dirty deed. It makes him feel good to have a clean diaper to soil.  Alas, motherhood! 
As I write out yet another bill, I watch the amount in our checking account quickly dwindle before my very eyes.  The excitement of the oncoming paycheck is only thrilling b/c it will finally alleviate the mound of bills piling on top of the kitchen counter.  Alas, motherhood!
I watch my children sit in front of the TV, watching Tom and Jerry and wonder "should I feel guilty that the TV is on usually 6-8 hours a day, though they probably only watch it for 2 of those hours. At least the homework is done, right? Alas, motherhood!
How did I ever feel it would be glamorous?  Why did I not envision endless diapers, dinners preparing to be made...every....single...day, bills that always seem to come back each month, laundry that will NEVER END (even after I'm dead).  I probably sound pretty ungrateful or, dare I say, whiny!  But the truth is that I am grateful....but I'm also a mom.  My job never ends, my chores are repeated daily (sometimes hourly), and I'm just not one of those women that can always see the positive.  Oh, don't get me wrong, I see the positive often enough and never would I trade dirty diapers for no diapers at all (if it means no little ones).  I'll even take the laundry if it means my kids and husband are taken care of.  And never would I allow someone else to take care of my crew!  They are mine....heart and soul and I love that I'm the person for them. So why am I ranting on about this.....
Well, for one reason, I haven't written in my blog lately and knew I needed to do it. And let's face it, I didn't necessarily having anything exciting to write about....why?  Alas, motherhood!
Secondly, I figure if I'm feeling this way, then there is a good chance someone else is too....so why not share?  And hopefully, that someone else will feel a little better when they have to change that dirty diaper.
Thirdly, I've been a funk lately.  I've grumbled that I feel like the Lord isn't giving me what I want.  And maybe he isn't.  But he's given me more than just what I need.  He's given me a WHOLE LOT more than I deserve.  What do you ask is this uber-special gift that I've been overwhelmingly blessed with.....Alas, MOTHERHOOD!
And while I would like to elaborate further, I need to go change a diaper, fold four loads of laundry, and put dinner in the oven....
Ah, Alas, motherhood!

Kalen speak

So one of my biggest concerns in life right now is Kalen talking.  Oh, he says a few things here and there but for a two year old he doesn't really "talk".  He jabbers quite a bit and everyone smiles when he looks at them and says "a-dug-dug-a-dug-a-dug".  Some have referred me to speech delays and such and I've been there with Sam so I know what they are saying but we've talked to the pediatrician and she thinks it will come in time.  But for now, especially recently, I've discovered how to interpret Kalen speak, for instance:
"say" is Sam
"where" is pacifier (as in "where is my pacifier")
"MOM" is any adult near him that can give him what he wants
"go, go" is car or any vehicle really
"whoo-whoo" is a train or tractor
"is" is Isabel
"dog go" is Floyd, play with me
"Mom, mom" is Mommy (that's me)
I guess it will come in time and as a mom I need to learn not to worry so much.  It's been fun trying to pick up his phrases and trying to decipher the code that is Kalen.  I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world.  He is after all MY stinker!

I wonder if Mom ever....

My mom is just the best lady I know and I figure that if I turn out to be half the mom she is, then I'll be doin' pretty well for my kids.  But this week, mommydom has kicked my heiny and I can't help but wonder if Mom ever thought.....
1."it's okay to let the dog eat the kids' crumbs off the floor.  this way I don't have to vacuum"
2. "If I just throw this stuff away, I won't have to clean up the piles books, toys, papers, 'insert 
     anything here'."
3. "If wetwipes are good enough to clean their bottoms, they're good enough to clean the toilet."
4. "Potatoes are vegetables so french fries and applesauce will do for fruit/vegetable portion of dinner."
5. "Wow!  I'm in jeans and a top, not sweats---I'm going fancy today!"
6. "I'm glad my hair is long enough for a ponytail.  I can postpone a shower for the day and sleep an extra 15
     minutes."
7. "I wonder if I let the two little ones just fight this out which one will win in the end?"
8. "Forget the price of gas!  Driving 20 minutes to the nearest Taco Bell for dinner is worth it!"
9. "Laundry, schmaundry...it won't wrinkle THAT much if we just live out of the baskets."