Catching up

I suck. I have neglected this blog for so long I don’t even know where to begin. I hate that there are memories I haven’t recorded and are probably lost forever. I need to get back into documenting life with the boys. I have done well taking pictures of them but I want them to have more. I want them to have stories in my words. I hope they will appreciate this blog as much as I do.

I guess Christmas is as good a place to start as any...

How awful am I? I didn’t take one picture at Christmas. We didn’t even get our camcorder out. Nothing. We’ve got no record it ever happened. The only picture I got out of the entire holiday season was from when we visited Santa at the mall. I must say Santa looked great. So perfect.  So authentic.

I will love this picture forever.

I barely got this picture though. A few days before this shot, we went to see a movie at the mall with Linc’s friends, Chipwrecked. I think that’s what it was called. It was an Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. Anyway, we saw Santa. I asked the kids if they wanted to visit with him but they said no. They kind of circled him and stared but there was no way they were getting close.

After the movie, I asked again and again was told no. So oh well. You can’t force them without having a scene, right? So we went home.

A few days passed and back to the mall we went to buy some gifts.  But this time as we pass by Santa, Lincoln asks to see him. Well alright, let’s do it! So we waited in line and the boys did awesome. Xander actually got a little nervous right when we first met him but as you can see he relaxed enough to take a picture. Linc told Santa what he wanted, a nerf gun, and I don’t think Xander said a word. I didn’t mind, at least he was brave enough to be next to him.

Christmas was awesome. Linc did get his nerf gun and also a bed tent to go over his bed. He went to bed and during the night Santa magically placed it over him while he was sleeping. He was so bewildered. Xander got a bike from Santa as well as a blue fish from Daddy.  Before Christmas when we would ask him what he wanted for Christmas, he would only say a blue fish. So Ron went and got him a Chinese fighting fish. It is a pretty little fish. His name is Gaga. (Don’t ask me.)

Overall, we had a great holiday season. My Mom was here for Christmas and then my Dad came into town for a few days afterwards. We barely saw midnight on New Year’s and then life went back to the usual grind with school and work.

Right now things are normal, normal, normal and we couldn’t be any happier.

More later...

Thanksgiving

The start of my favorite time of year.  Now that I have children, it's better.  Their excitement makes it even more special! 

This year I'm going to start Elf on a Shelf.  He's a rambunctious little elf who has been assigned by Santa to watch over your family and report back to him each night about who has been naughty or nice that day. Each morning after the elf gets back from making his report, the boys will have to find him and see what kind of mess he's got himself into.  I've seen some cute ideas, like riding a toy bicycle or building a lego house or he's in flour on the counter making snow angels.  The ideas are endless and I think the boys will love to wake up every morning to find the elf.

First I need to get the elf ... details.

Anyway, I'll leave you with some Thanksgiving photos.  I got to take some of my family.

My niece, Lucy.

My niece, Grace.

Grace, Lucy and Lincoln.

My SIL, Summer and my niece, Lily.

Angel Donor

I feel terrible.  Xander's third Liver-versary came and went and I feel I didn't make a lot of hoopla on the blog.   I want everyone to know that it was a big deal.  We all reflected on what happened that day three years ago.  We thanked God and Xander's angel donor for saving his life.  We celebrated the beautiful life that was lost and the beautiful life that was saved.  This day is almost a bigger deal than his birthday.

While I don't have pictures of the party or the cupcakes, I do have pics from the day following his anniversary.  Xander and I went out together to release balloons in honor of his angel donor.  One for every year he has been gone. 

Xander and I talked about his angel donor that day.  He doesn't totally understand yet.  He does know he has a new liver and that someone very special gave it to him. 

Wish Trip, pt. 2

This is Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of our wish trip.  On Monday we went to Universal.  I didn't bring the camera but there were wonderful volunteers at night taking pics.

Every Monday night in October, Give Kid the World celebrates Halloween!   Universal sent over their characters for the kids to get pictures with them.

 

 

This is Tuesday.  We went to Magic Kingdom for the day and came home to Give Kids the World's outside barbeque by the pool.  Mayor Clayton was so nice to sit and draw with the kids for a while.

Wednesday we stayed at Give Kids the World.  Here the boys are ready for breakfast.

Here comes our ride!

Rusty was chillin' outside on this morning.  He's usually in the Castle of Miracles.  Must have needed some fresh air.  :-)

Racing all over.

Thank you, MAW!

Ol' Elmer is a snorer.

The sprayground is awesome.

Wednesday morning they have horseback riding. 

After horseback riding, we did Xander's star.  Every child, who has been sick, gets a star placed on the ceiling in the Castle of Miracles.  We'll be able to see his star every time we visit.  It will be there forever.

It's really awesome.

Same room as above.

Xander's star.

Xander puts his star in the star box and at night the star fairy places it on the ceiling.  (pics later) 

Next we played dino putt putt.  It was Xander's favorite thing to do.  Universal designed the course.

And then the boys played with the trains. 

We also went fishing!

I have no idea what they were looking at.  :-)  Probably some fishies.

Eww.

More to come!