Project 365, Week 52

The last week of the year...Christmas and then quiet. It was a special time with family, celebrating in our new house, which works just as we'd hoped for a large crowd. We are so very blessed.

December 24

Since K had to work on Christmas, the kids opened gifts from us and each other on Christmas Eve morning. It was really sweet to see how much effort and thought they put into giving.

We went to the candlelight service at church and then Amy's for dinner. It was a super special evening.

December 25
Cousins (just missing the Texas Six)!

December 26
Cousins came for dinner and a dance party. :)

December 27
Nineteen!

December 28
It was a pain, but this girl finally got her permit. When we got in the car after she passed she said, "Thanks for pushing me, Mom." Ha!

Later, all the kids and I went bowling with our foster care agency. Then we spent a couple hours in the Apple store getting my phone fixed after a week and another couple hours fitting horse-riding equipment.

December 29

Company-wide training and a general sadness that tax season is just about here.

J's horse show was local so we stopped by to watch her compete. She placed 3rd and qualified for regionals.

I had a lovely dinner out with a couple neighbor ladies...of the three of us, I've been here the longest, a whole five months. :) I'm so thankful to be in our community.

December 30
The new R2D2 BopIt has been popular since Christmas.

Project 365, Week 51

This was a full week with lots of Christmas countdown/prep/celebration. It was also the countdown to the end of the year, the deadline for lots of things work-related for Shaun and I. I worked to keep the "reason for the season" in mind.

December 17

In anticipation of K moving out on January 1, we started swapping bedrooms, now each kid will have their own space.

December 18
I had a vision for this large wall in our "game room" to be a cousin wall, filled with prints of some of our favorite people in the world.

Shaun measured it out precisely, never once complaining or even sighing, although hanging pictures is a despised job.

December 19
Couple more photos to choose, but mostly done! :)

We picked up the new-to-us ping pong table that we bought the kids for Christmas...its been a hit!

December 20
It was so sweet to watch the kids excitedly and thoughtfully shop for each other and wrap.

December 21
Christmas party at youth group with a "Great Gatsby" theme....they looked amazing and so grown up! While they were there, Shaun and I attended a neighborhood party...it was a nice time of connecting with neighbors who we are working on making friends (pictures got lost on my phone).

December 22
Shaun's sister hosted Christmas, which is always a special time, and this year with more kids than ever! :)

December 23
The morning after Christmas means Lego construction. :)

project 365, Week 50

It was a pretty regular week, just busy with work and Christmas prep.

December 10

Tough life around here for the kids.

December 11
The 8th grade had their winter concert, later joined by the highschool. Avery was the prettiest one. :)

December 12
Despite the cold, I've been going for a short walk after the girls get on the bus.

December 14
Ginger the dog.

December 15
Game day. And barn day and all the other things a Saturday holds.

December 16
I was asked to take pictures for the women's ministry Christmas party. My favorite part was hanging out with my nephew who volunteered on the tech crew. He's a delight!

Project 365, Week 49

I try to take joy in all things but sometimes my life exhausts me. This was one of those weeks. Lots of goodness and lots of challenges.  You know...life!

December 3

Such an honor to celebrate my dad and another year of life. So much of the person I am is because of his constant love and sacrifice. Its also SO much fun to hang out with my siblings. They're just really amazing people.

In a lapse of judgement, I braved the mall with the kids, trying to find Avery a dress to wear for her school concert. Aidan's going to make a good shopping husband some day...so much patience!

December 4
Tough day in the parenting department...Aiden was a champ, stepping up and helping out at therapy.

December 5
Aiden and I enjoy studying Junior Bible Quiz questions together.

December 6
The kids had a half day so we brought them to the office...they love setting up camp where wifi available, unlike home.

One of the boys Aiden has most connected with in his new class moved into our neighborhood this day. I went over and met the parents and brought their boys and their dog back to our house so they could move without distraction. We are so happy Aiden has a buddy to hang with!

December 7
Cold and beautiful morning. I was with the dog, walking and praying out loud. Ginger got a little too far ahead so I called out to her, "Jesus!". Oops!!

I'm trying to wrap presents as they arrive so snooping kids aren't successful. :)

December 8
Little man doesn't do the best sleeping at night. What's been working is if we sleep downstairs with him. He sleeps on one couch, Shaun or I sleep on the other. That's the best way for the rest of the house to sleep through the crying. He sure is sweet though!

Long story, but Aiden has been averse to basketball for a while. Finally this year we told him he didn't have to play. Meanwhile, at his new school, he's been playing basketball at recess everyday and is enjoying it and wants to improve his game. So I called and got him on a waiting list and eventually he got a call. This was his first game with a very "green" rec team. Aiden scored a quarter of the points (of 8 ;).

Amanda helped me in the toddler class and had the kids belly-laughing.

We snagged a couple cousins for a sleepover!

This photo took my breath away, thinking that in a few shorts years this will be Avery with her own child. She is SO gifted with kids.

December 9
Is there a much sweeter relationship than cousins??

More cousins! :)

When I got home from bringing the baby back to his mom I found Aiden and E all snuggled up together. He makes my heart flutter and also I adore her hair.

December's 10 on 10

Last year J regularly missed her bus and I would need to drop what I was doing and drive her. Finally, I warned that if she missed the bus again, she would take the city bus (which has a pretty decent schedule because her highschool is near UCONN). She hadn't missed since, except for a fluke this morning. Even though it through off my entire morning, I enjoyed driving the three girls to their respective schools.

I always try to clean up the kitchen before I leave for the day...makes me feel better knowing the spiders and dog are enjoying the peacefulness of a clean space. ;)

I have a drinking problem...all the things have a unique purpose and it all makes perfect sense to me. :)

Yes, I am.

Amanda needed to chat, so we took the dog and braved the cold.

Dinner!

J's barn is 20 minutes away and I dislike the drive since its close to nothing and the round trip takes so long, but I've enjoyed the Christmas lights this month. This house's light display is my favorite along the route.

Avery had a chorus rehearsal to prepare for the next day's concert so I waited in the pick up line.

Last spring the girls were given the gift of a new social worker who cares and does what she says she'll do. J had asked her if there was a way to track down childhood photos from a previous home. Miraculously, she delivered a box of photos from some of their childhood. I selected a bunch of them, scanned them and created a book, one for each of the girls as a Christmas gift.

Ended a running-around day watching a little Monday night football with Avery, laughing at some funny memes she found.