December 2009 (FINALLY UPDATED!)

So December was a fantastic month. I love December. The holidays, the food, the smells the sounds... I am a holiday lover and probably considered slightly insane when it comes to my decorations, etc. Unfortunately this year I didn't really get around to doing as much as I would have liked for the simple fact that 1) Jasper is mobile and into everything 2) I'm too tired LOL to get it ALL out and put it ALL away 3) there isn't room in this house for everything 4) We didn't set up on Thanksgiving Day like we usually do so I already felt 'behind'. (Not that I minded that we couldn't set up because I'd much rather have the company!)

I forgot to post Jade's birthday invitation, so here it is:

I also forgot to post Jaz’s 10 month photo shoot so here's one of my favorite pictures:

The month started out with a bang.

Jeramis signed his FINAL re-enlistment papers.

(6 years until we retire! Woottt!) It was really neat because Jordan and Jade were able to come with me to watch him. It’s a short little thing, really, but the importance of it is huge. The kids enjoyed seeing it. It was great.

At the beginning of the month we got the tree up and out, found all the 'baby-safe' ornaments and decorations and started putting the house together. Jordan and Jade love decorating almost as much as I do so it was fun to watch them get excited. Then we got the lights outside too. I think this is a ‘minimal’ year for us with decorating.

We got our first little dusting of snow at the beginning of the month. The kids were so excited and they stood at the window watching the flakes fall.

Watching them, I had to snap this photo because I realized that they were lined up youngest to oldest as they looked out the window. (Crazy, ehh?) Jasper loves the window. It’s one of his favorite perches in the house.

We did our traditional Gingerbread House.

The kids love to decorate their house and it is fun to watch them as they ‘create’ their design. I like to let them decide what to do and then let them go crazy.

If they need a little help I’ll lend a hand but I mostly try to stay out of it. They did a great job.

Jaz loves to climb up in Jeramis lap. When he comes home Jasper will crawl or toddle over to him so he can get his cuddles.

If we’d known the ‘dusting’ of snow we got was a little teaser for the big storm to come we probably would have ignored it. We got hit hard! Here are some pictures of the insane amount of snow that blanketed our area.

(Jasper peering out at the snow)

(The snow was so high it was coming in our door... more amazing considering that our step out is pretty steep)

(Stepping out the door to the porch)

(Going down the stairs to our front door {on the side of the house} It covered Jade's legs and in areas was up to her waist)

(This was the measurement on our porch)

I walked down to the beach to take some photos... the snow was up to the seat of the benches.

Snow days aren't complete without a SNOW FIGHT! Jeramis joined in the fun :)

Where is Jasper while we play in the snow?

Standing at the window wishing to come out and play too... We tossed him some snowballs, which earned us giggles.

Of course, we had to make a snowman !

Jeramis would take Jasper so I could go out with the kids in the snow (I enjoy the snow more than he does!) So when we'd come inside we'd find the 'boys' on the couch.

When we couldn't go outside the kids would keep busy indoors. Low and behold I don't think I need to buy them toys anymore... give a kid a box and...

... it becomes a 'sled' or a house, a car, a pirate ship, a puppet stage... you name it. With all the gifts being mailed to us we had a lot of boxes. Jasper is fascinated by boxes so he likes to climb on them, pull the tape off, open them up, put toys in them, etc. His favorite thing is to climb up on them and bounce... don't ask me, I haven't a clue. This photo a snapped was of the kids pushing Jasper around the living room floor in his 'boat'.

My early Christmas gift (to myself LOL) was this Little People Nativity. I love nativities and have several that I put out every Christmas. 3 of them are really small, meant for tiny hands... but not baby hands. The others are fragile enough I was concerned they'd break so I was feeling a bit blue that we wouldn't have a nativity out... then I saw this on the shelf and it just hopped into my cart and ran itself down the check stand... really, honest, it wasn't me... it was the nativity! All December the kids enjoyed setting it up, playing with it and watching Jasper with it. I wish I could say he was in awe of it... nope, he just liked to eat the pieces... that's okay with me!

The kids ended up their last 2 days of school (before winter break) off. So I took them to see Saint Nicolas! The three of them sit on his lap here in a photo a snapped myself (although I did have to buy a package in order to take any photos)

… and I wonder if this is the first and only year where we’ll have all 3 believers… we’ll have to wait and see. Jasper didn’t quite like Santa at first but once the bigger kids giggled a little he softened up. He just seemed a tad confused. HAHA!

We did our traditional ‘Christmas light drive’ where we go around a look for all the lights and pick our favorite houses decorated up. The city actually does a great job lighting up for the holidays and so we always feel in the spirit no matter where we drive.

Christmas eve we had our traditional meat, cheese, veggies and sparkling cider feast. The kids love this and it’s fun and easy for me.

Then Jeramis got his guitar out and played while we sang Christmas carols… that is until Jasper decided that he was meant to play guitar too. (About 3 carols in… LOL) It was great. I love those moments. It is the times when we, as a family, are gathered together, sharing simple things. Ahh, they are tugging at my heartstrings!

True to his nature, Jordan could not fall asleep for all the anticipation and excitement. At 2:30 a.m. Santa still hadn’t visited us because he was laying awake in bed.

Somewhere between 2:30 and 4:30 Santa came…. How do we know he came between those hours? Because Christmas day dawned very early for me when I heard the pitter patter of little feet while feeding Jasper. After getting him back down I went upstairs to discover Jordan and Jade with their stockings and gifts from Santa... They had their pillows and blankets and were ‘sleeping’ next to them… (They were awake!) So I let them share their excitement with me and then told them they had to go back to bed until the clock said 7 am. They did but I can tell you they watched their clocks UNTIL the very moment they turned over from 6:59 to 7:00. After getting up, showering and getting dressed (my tradition) I was ready to face opening the gifts. We all gathered around the tree and got started. I think Jade and Jordan had as much fun opening their gifts as they did watching Jasper try to open his.

Jasper loved the boxes. He liked to try to rip the paper but once he realized he could climb on the boxes it was all over.

We got a little surprise from Michiko and Masako who sent us a wonderful package with a darling outfit for Jasper, some tea and candies and an awesome hat for Jordan and cool scarf for Jade. Both Jade and Jordan were so excited about their Japanese gifts! (Thank you so much Michiko and Masako!!)

All the gifts were a huge hit. For the family members reading the blog – THANK YOU – the kids were so thrilled by all the things that were sent to them.

(Jordan holding his and Jade's Zhu Zhu Pets)

(Jade with her Marshmellow Gun - both kids got one.)

In honor of the holiday’s I took Jaz’s 11 month photos decked out in holiday garb. It’s getting harder and harder to get him to hold still for me! Hah.

(Jade figured out that she fit inside this box. So she would climb inside and then Jaz would climb on top and bounce around... then she'd make a noise and he'd try to figure out where it was coming from until she popped out or he lifted the box lid. Very fun times for them.)

We were lucky to have Jeramis home for the week following Christmas.

We celebrated my birthday on the 30^th by going out to a delicious dinner at Sakura.

We were joined by our good friends here and it was extra special to share the birthday with them. Jeramis and the kids were amazing and remembered to get me some great things. I loved the cake they got and it was so nice to come home and have a slice. A funny little side note… the kids were asking me about my birthday and Jordan said, “How old are you going to be again?” and I had to pause and think about it during which time Jade said, “You don’t know how old you are!?” It wasn’t that I didn’t know but, come on! You know how it is! When you’re “old” like me you don’t quite keep track the same way you do when you’re 7 or 10… LOL. So we had a little chuckle over all that.

Yes, I’m 32. I do know this.

New Years Eve was also nice. Rebecca, Josh and Tristan have moved back out here and they came over for a while to celebrate with us. It is the first New Years I’ve had with anyone from my family in over 13 years! We enjoyed it, as did the kids. Jasper didn’t make it to midnight but he came close (11:30!) Everyone else made it and we watched the ball drop in NY and then we had our toast and then cleaned up and headed to bed. (Exhausted)

Happy 2010! I'll be back to update January and get a start on February hopefully!