Last Monday night some of us girls from our small group met up at Wal-Mart and did some shopping for our Christmas project. Between our two small groups, we were able to collect quite a bit of money and used it to get a lot of groceries for our food pantry and some baby gifts (including a crib and mattress) for a family in our church that are expecting a new baby soon. It took us about 3 hours to do the shopping and unloading everything and I was so thankful for everyone's generosity with their time and money. We didn't want the family knowing who purchased the items for them, so we left it at the church for them to pick up and they were so grateful. They have had a rough time in the past and are really trying to turn their lives around-it is neat to see what God is doing in their lives.
With the snow and cold, comes more work for Andrew. He has been so busy trying to get work done in the office along with cutting ice for his cows. This involves driving out to his pasture (around 40 minutes each way) every day during sub-freezing temperatures to cut ice. He also put out some hay a day or two. He would sometimes try to go over the lunch hour and would have a willing helper to go along with him-Lincoln.
Wednesday night we had our small group Christmas dinner. I had not been feeling that well since Thanksgiving and on Wednesday I was getting short of breath. My dad gave me an inhaler that seemed to work a bit. And once everything was ready to go for the dinner and everyone was here, I grabbed a bite to eat, sat down at the table, and stayed there the rest of the evening. It was great to just take a break for a bit and visit with everyone. Sure, the kids destroyed parts of the house, but it was worth it. And people were so nice to try to help pick up some before they left. I didn't even bother with the playroom until a few days later. I do wish I had gotten some pictures of everyone though.
By Thursday, I was exhausted. I had given up on working out after swimming on Monday and running on Tuesday and just being beat down afterwards. It definitely wasn't doing me any good and I knew rest would be the better option. Luckily the twins are mesmerized with The Polar Express right now and I could turn that on to keep them entertained while I tried to get other stuff done.
Including stuff for their birthday party. Even though not many people were going to be there, I still liked the Buddy the Elf theme and had fun ideas for it. But I wasn't able to get it all done until the day before though. The evening before their birthday was Lincoln's Christmas program. Actually, the year they were born we had Ellie's Christmas program the night before they were born. I thought Lincoln would be good to go for his program since he had been singing the songs around the house, but I was wrong. First of all, we couldn't even see him since he was on the front row, but off to the side, so the teachers sitting in the front row completely covered him. Plus, people get there earlier and earlier each year (this is actually our 6th year of programs at Faith Lutheran) so we were towards the back. So I decided to go over to the side to see if I could get a picture of him and realized that he ended up just sitting down by his teacher and stayed there until the last song of the program when they brought out the bells. Ashlyn did a good job though :-).
This isn't from a certain day, but this is what Ellie has been spending a lot of time doing. Her student teacher at school has been helping the girls learn how to do different ones and she loves it.
So Friday was the big day for the twins. What joy they have brought to our lives. I never thought I would have twins and I think the thought intimidated me. But I am so glad God decided to bless us with them. Sure they are a little more work, but they are so worth it. They just make us smile and our hearts full. They can be pretty funny and entertaining. And to see them interact and take care of each other is so special. Of course they can fight like crazy too. Their birthday brought sleet/snow. So I am glad that no one planned on coming back for the party, because they probably wouldn't have been able to make it anyways. Andrew's parents weren't even able to make it in because the roads were bad. My parents and Molly did make it over though and we had a fun party. It was kind of low key too, which was nice since I still wasn't feeling htat great. Andrew grilled hamburgers out in the snow-I should have gotten a picture of that. So we enjoyed dinner and then they opened their presents. Both sets of grandparents went in with us on getting them four-wheelers and they loved them. We kept them in the family room that night and next day and they loved to just sit on them. I haven't even charged the batteries yet. They now sit down in the basement for them to hang out on until we can get them outside. My dad gave them John Deere hats and Miles loved his from the beginning. He likes to wear it backwards. Bennett wouldn't put his on for a while, but Miles finally got it on him. They were so cute After presents it was cupcake time which they thoroughly enjoyed. I think they each had two. Overall it was a great 2nd birthday for some fun little boys! And the older three convinced my parents to take them home for a sleepover. They got to build a snowman and get in the hot tub. What fun.
Andrew worked at the office on Saturday and then he and Jackson headed out to help Matthew and Kristin move their big items into their new house. I can't tell you now what I did at home, but I know there were so many things on my to-do list. And the kids had a lot of fun playing outside. That evening we ordered some Colton's to take out to Matthew and Kristin's, along with some freezer meals for them thanks to some small group folks. We also celebrated Mary's birthday which was the next day. It was nice to see Ainsley again and get to see more of their house. It is beautiful with a beautiful view of the snowy woods. The kids had fun exploring the new house while us adults visited a bit. I had picked up some cupcakes to celebrate Mary's birthday and in the midst of all the stuff I packed up to take out there, I forgot the cupcakes. I did remember her gift though. I made a "What a Difference a Day Makes" print on burlap and framed it. I liked the way it turned out and I think she did too.
Andrew had a busy morning at church on Sunday since he had to do the communion message at both services and work the booth at the second. I ended up staying home with Jackson and the twins since Jackson had a slight fever. He slept quite a bit the day before, even out at Matthew and Kristin's, and seemed a little under the weather. I thought we better be safe and just stay home. After some Tylenol and rest, he was better by the end of the day. I spent the day working on some Christmas presents and doing a lot of laundry. Between washing sheets and multiple layers/outfits from the snow I think I did around 10 loads. We had dinner at my parents which was great. Then it was back home to work on some more stuff. I ended up staying up until 2, but got a lot done including a canvas for Ainsley and my tags for the neighbor gifts and teacher gifts
Monday was my cooking day. I made cookies for our small group cookie exchange and bagged them up with the recipe attached. I also worked on our neighbor gifts-peppermint rice krispie treats and chocolate dipped pretzels. While I was working on that, Lincoln rearranged our nativity a bit and took some creative license with it.
I had all the neighbor gifts packaged up and ready to go when the kids got home so they could deliver them. But they had homework to get done first and then they wanted to go sledding for a bit. Andrew came home from work a little early, so he took Jackson down the street to deliver a few while Lincoln and Ellie delivered the ones close to our house.
That night I was able to finish up the teacher gifts of fleece blankets and Starbucks gift cards so Jackson and Ellie could write in the cards. And Ellie helped me out by putting together the favor bags she is supposed to bring to her Christmas party on Friday. So little, by little, these things are getting done. I hope to have it all done soon and then move on to my wrapping.
Tuesday I was able to finish up some projects that morning and afternoon. I also took the twins to their 2 year check-up and all was well. I think Bennett weighed 25 lbs and Miles was 25lbs 2oz, which put them in the 30th percentile for their weight. I can't remember their heights but they were very similar and put them in the 50th percentile for the height. They each got one shot and my dad actually stayed in the room to hold Miles while he got his. They cried a bit but were soon over it. Now we don't have to go back until they are heading to kindergarten.
Tuesday night we surprised the kids with the Christmas Express. I got the hot chocolate ready and put it in the fridge in the basement. I had a bag of cookies and treats for each kid and set them out in the car after I picked them up from Elevate. So that night, I brought my Cocomotion into the office and heated up the hot chocolate, put the tickets on the kids' pillows, filled up the cups and put them in a box to get them out to the car. I went ahead and started the car and got the Polar Express music going while Andrew sent them to bed. They were so excited when they found their tickets and that we got to do it again. Andrew got the twins in the car. I gave them tickets too and Miles didn't let go of his for quite a while. Andrew punched the other kids' tickets as the came out to the car and we were on hour way. Kirksville doesn't have a lot to offer as far as lights, but they still loved. They were singing along to the music and bouncing around. The neighborhood near Andrew's office had a few good houses and our grand finale is a house near my parents' neighborhood that has everything set to music the plays on a certain radio station. The kids really enjoy it. And the convinced us to stop by my parents for a quick visit. At some point there, Miles dropped his ticket, but he had held onto up until that point. And then he took it home with him and to bed.
So that gets me caught up to today. Molly actually came over today to watch the kids so I can hopefully get a lot of wrapping done. And I get to enjoy a little evening out tonight at our small group cookie exchange with just the girls from a couple different small groups.
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