as the month already comes to an end...

I wish December would go by slower. I get frustrated every year at how much we have to cram into one month. By the time Christmas Day is over, I'm wondering what happened to the 1st 24 days of the month; its crazy. And every year it gets worse. Our play group has done some fun things this month. We've been busy all week with fun activities to do with them! I do love all the festivities. I wish we could do this stuff more than just one month out of the year. This morning, I actually thought about doing various "December" type stuff in different months. I'm not sure if it would be fun or just weird though, so I have to think it over. Maybe doing something like making different months with different themes. February is the love month already, then maybe March could be the "craft month" and so on. I'll keep mulling it over. 


I'm very anxious for Christmas Day to get here! I can't wait to see the excitement from our kids. To see Kara really enjoy Christmas this year, since she's old enough to open present and sort of get it. It amazes me that the kids do not touch the wrapped gifts under the tree. I put them there several days ago and all 3 of them have stayed away from them. When I told the kids I was surprised about it, Ethan replied with "well, they're wrapped for Christmas." I guess to him, the wrapping makes them untouchable. 
This year we're doing something we've never done before - we're going to make a cake and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus! The kids have been learning a lot about Jesus' birth in Sunday School and Ethan came up with the idea last week. He said "even though Jesus wasn't really born in December, it would be fun to have a cake and sing because we're so happy he was born." And we agree. Without His birth (no matter when it was) we wouldn't have the hope we have today! 


I finished my Christmas menu and I'm very excited about trying all new recipes this year. I'm using my Susan Branch Christmas cookbook and I cannot wait to see how they turn out. I think I'm most thrilled about the cranberry, pear chicken and the sweet potato casserole. Yum. I'm hungry just thinking about it. Still working out the desert menu. I've never had to do much baking because my Mom does most of it. I know, I sound like such a baby... I'm finally having to grow up and its been good for me. Also its been showing me how thankful I am for my Mom and for all the hard work she puts into the holidays every year. Its a huge sacrifice and a way she shows her family, tangibly that she loves us. I'm afraid our family would be very dull w/out her. I'm excited to use some family recipes this year and super excited to cook with my kids. Rachel loves, loves, loves to cook, so she and I have a baking day scheduled for tomorrow (Christmas Eve). 


Oh, Kara has begun a new phase. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Okay, fine - I hate it. She has learned to grab things from her siblings, scream when they try to get them back from her and to say "mine!" I knew this day would come, just wished it was farther out. She's going to be quite the little "pistol" I think. She is very, very sweet and such a cuddler, but she can be quite the stubborn little thing as well. She does NOT back down easily. 
What always makes Jason and I laugh (I know, we're mean parents) is when Ethan and Rachel are both in tears over something Kara has done to them. The baby... terrorizing the big kids. I was telling Ethan how I found this to be ironic and he said "Well, I can't slap her because she's our baby and I love her." Ha! I guess since Rachel is no longer a baby he feels the freedom to use force. 


I love being a Mom. I adore my kids and love the things God teaches me about myself, through them. They're 3 amazing little people and I feel so blessed to be their Mommy. And I'm glad they know it. Glad they are sure of 2 things in life - God loves them and cares for them daily, and their Daddy and I feel so blessed to be their parents.
The other day Ethan told me he thinks I should have 3 more kids. I didn't answer him right away and he smiled and said "I know you'll want 3 more because you think we're pretty great." ... and he's right about that :)