Christmas Rundown 2012

Well, this is just a little post to keep for the kids so when Sam is 20, he can look back at this and realize just how awesome Christmas was as a kid, even if we didn't have tons of money.  Here's hoping that maybe when Sam is 20, we WILL have tons of money....but I won't hold my breath!

On Dec.22nd we had Christmas with my family at our house.  We did just a small lunch with lunch meat, chips, and cookies!  The kids were super excited to open presents b/c my brother had shown up the week before and left all his wrapped presents at our house.  My beloved children had to see those presents under the tree for an entire week before they were allowed to open them. So when everyone arrived, we opened presents first.  That's not something we usually do but I couldn't stand making them wait longer.  Sam got a drumset and camcorder from my parents, a hexbug from Becky, and Joe and Karrie got him Pokemon Conquest for DS and $5!  Isabel got a doll, a pram for the doll, an Ariel bathset, an Ariel playset, and a Princess Cupcake game.  Kalen got a Hotwheels Bike, several Big Boots figures/vehicles and a Mickey Mouse DVD!  The best response was when Dad brought in his bike and Kalen exclaimed "For me!?  I love my motorcycle!"  That is now what he calls it!  Sam also jumped up and down repeatedly screaming "oh my, oh my, thank you!" for the drumset!  It was a fun day indeed!  Zeke got a box of diapers and some little things here and there.  Kurtis got a Sam's club membership and I got a lava lamp!

Christmas Eve was spent with Kurtis' family.  The kids and some adults went carolling after dinner and as tradition, Grandpa Eber read the birth story of Christ from scriptures.  We really enjoyed our time with them.  Sam got a new card game called Skip Bo, Isabel got a Ariel Play Dough set and Kalen got some airplanes!  Zeke got another box of diapers and we're super excited about that!

On Christmas morning we were shocked that the children slept until 8am!  Even Izzy came and climbed in bed with us.  I asked her if Santa came and left presents and she said "yeah, I saw them on my way to your room"  and then she curled up next to Daddy and went back to sleep.  When the boys woke up, everyone went out to the tree.  By the time I got out of the bathroom, Isabel had opened everyone's stockings....including mine!  They were so excited!  Sam really made out with "Skylanders Giants for Wii", a Bakugan Dragonoid, a Star Wars Lego carrying case and the present he's been begging for: an R/C Air Hogs helicopter!  The funny thing was that Kurtis couldn't get the helicopter to fly until he gave Kalen a turn to try and sure enough, the 3yo figured out how to make the thing fly!  Izzy got a Cinderella Castle dollhouse that looks just like the one in DisneyWorld, a giraffe blanket, a Christmas dress with matching dress for her American Girl doll, and Dora Gymnastic video!  Kalen got a talking dumptruck, a Lego set for his age, a HotWheels semi that carries other Hotwheels and shoots them out the front, and a Chase Transformer.  He spent most of Christmas morning going from gift to gift shouting "open this!  open this!"  Zeke finally got some toys from Santa!  A doggie blankey, a mirror that lays on the floor for when he practices belly time and a music box that connects to his crib!  Daddy got a Brooklyn Nets t-shirt and Jason Mraz CD and Mommy got a Notre Dame t-shirt and a t-shirt that says "Aggies!" on it (you have to know the story behind that one).
After we opened our presents and got ready for the day, we went to Springboro Police Dept and had lunch with Papaw, Mamaw and Aunt Fern.  My dad had to work for the holiday and it was so nice to just go and spend a little time with him.  Kalen loved seeing the Police cars and seeing Papaw as a police officer!  They even turned on the lights and sirens on the cruiser!!!  It may be a new family tradition.  My dad often talks about how the older officers would work on Christmas morning so Dad could be there with us when we were younger.  And now he does it for the other younger officers!  I'm so proud of my dad for that.  I was also proud of my kids for being willing to give up "play time with our new toys" to go spend time with Papaw!  It really is the best part of the holidays!

words of wisdom by Sam

Daddy told Sam that if he made the Naughty list by Santa, he would only get coal for Christmas.
Sam: "I'm okay with getting coal for Christmas!  Wanna know why?  B/c then I can put it in my rock collection!"
He's ever the optimist!

While Kalen chases him around the house, hitting him with a plastic sword:
Sam: "it doesn't hurt me when he hits me with the sword...unless he hits my head....or my neck...and my hand!"

who says girls are the only ones who dress for the holidays?

When you have a baby at the end of November, you tend to receive  A LOT of Christmas outfits!  Here are just a few that Zeke has received this year or as hand-me-downs from Kalen who was also born at the end of November:)  More will be forthcoming!

This is an outfit from Sheri Blunck!

This Santa outfit is from Cindy Floyd.  There are Santa faces on the feet and tush!

This is from Sheri Blunck

This is an outfit that Penny DeFino bought for Kalen.  It is super warm!

Zeke's first bath

Gotta embarass him when he's older:  Zeke's first bath was Thursday.  He slept for five hours afterwards so from here on out we will be bathing him at like 10pm!

On my own....

It's been a little over two weeks since Zeke was born and I am spoiled.  Since Sammy was a c-section (and all my other children have been born by c-section), Kurtis has always taken two weeks off of work and stayed home with me.  Part of it is to allow me to heal and part is b/c I'm not supposed to drive for two weeks.  It's hard to get around when you can't drive.  It is so nice to have my husband around for two whole weeks after giving birth esp. since I have a hard time moving the first week at least.  I know I'm spoiled.  Most women don't get this luxury!  But I find that when it's time for the hubs to go back to work, I'm scared out of my mind!
As of Monday, Kurtis goes back to the daily grind and I find myself now fully responsible for four kids without my tag team partner.  Now the positive is that Sam and Izzy will be at school for part of the day but even that is only for three days before they are on Christmas Break!  I will now be responsible for picking up and dropping off for school and managing the rambuncitious three year old and newborn!  Can I do it?  Probably.  Will it kill me?  Let's hope not!  Will I pass out from sheer exhaustion by the time Kurtis walks in the door at night?  Most definitely!  But I am thankful for the time I've had his help.
Allow me a moment to brag about my husband's unbelievable-ness!  Not only has he taken the two weeks off of work.  Not only did he stay in the hospital with me the entire four days.  Not only has he helped me in and out of the shower.  Not only has he taken Kalen everywhere b/c I'm not allowed to pick him up.  Not only has he done the grocery shopping and household chores.  Did I mention that I have yet had to feed the baby in the middle of the night b/c Kurtis has gotten up with the baby for EVERY nighttime feeding since he was born?!  He's just unbelievable!  He's for sure and certain a keeper and yes, I'm spoiled!  I know it!
So let's be honest..I'm the mom of four beautiful children and I have a hot and hunky husband who does way too much for me!  I must've done something right in my life to be soooo blessed:)

Today's Isabel-ism

Isabel, while coloring, "hey Mom, is this Nico?" 
Mommy: "is what Nico?" 
Isabel: "you know, Nico! in the rainbow!!" 
Mommy: "you mean 'indigo'?"
Isabel: "wait!  Nico is ingo?  how do you say it?"
Mommy: "In-di-go"

flying through the air with the greatest of ease!

So Kalen has shown a tremendous amount of interest involving Zeke. I've tried to encourage it b/c we were worried that Kalen would be jealous, etc.  Every single day he asks to hold the baby at least once.  He'll say things like "baby's eyes open" and "he likes me!"  All which make me laugh at his enthusiasm.  Last Friday Kalen asked to hold baby and I said yes.  He assumed the position on the couch with his legs sticking out and his arms outstretched ready to hold the little guy.  I stood in front of him for when he got tired.  But even as I stood there, I was not prepared for Kalen to say "I done!" and then proceed to fling his little (one week old) brother into the air!  Luckily, Zeke rolled over onto the couch cushion beside Kalen instead of landing on the floor in front of the couch!  The truly sad thing is that had this happened to my first child, I would've been mortified.  As this is my fourth child, I laughed it off, grateful that Zeke landed on the couch and I was nearby to rescue him immediately.  I'm learning quickly not to sweat the small stuff.  After all, kids are made of nerf!