Maison Kay Turns 8!

That's my Girl!

Every birthday with each child I say I can't believe it.  And, I mean it.  Maison is eight...WOW!  Where did the time go?  

When I think of this little bundle of energy, there are a few pieces of that contradictory personality that have remained constant and true for her entire life. She is intense.  As a newborn she cried with an intensity that made the nurses in the hospital ask if I had done illegal drugs while I was pregnant.  At 3 she taught herself to ride her bike without training wheels.  Now she has very intense phases of obsessions.  For example, we just survived a major round of germaphobia that resulted in bleeding hands and ridiculously intense lines of thought about the passing of germs from one surface to another.  Maison has always been busy.  She walked really early, continues to be the worst sleeper in the family, and hops from one task to the next leaving a wake of disaster in her path.  She is happy.  Maison had a smile as a baby that truly stopped strangers in their tracks.  While it is now more reserved in public, there is an inner sparkle in those dimples that still melts my heart.  Maison is ornery.  If she think she can get away with pushing the boundaries, she will probably try it.  She is brutally honest too, so she will come clean later, but there isn't much that would surprise me with her.  Maison is particular.  She likes certain things certain ways, and you can't change her mind.  Ever!  I learned that as a baby when I tried every Num-Num known to man to find one she liked.  That attitude continues today in her clothes and food.  Even in her taste in boys...

As a baby I would rock her and tell her that I have loved her so hard.  I still mean it.  I love her with every bit of me, even when it isn't easy.  I always will.  I know we have a long rough road ahead of us.  I know it won't be easy.  Loving her hard will be what gets us through.  I know when we meet again on the other side of growing up, I am going to love the woman she is.  I can't wait to meet her.  

But...I will happily wait a good 10 years for her to get here.  Until then I will savor every day with my beautiful little girl.

Wonderful Life!

It is the time of year for feeling blessed and thankful. It is also the time of year for complete craziness! Between errands to accomplish all your Christmas plans and kids too hyped up on sugar and Santa, December is full of long days and harried nights. Even with all the extra activity and responsibilities, I love Christmas time! We try and fill our down time with traditions we all enjoy. Gingerbread houses, sugar cookies, and painting ornaments are a yearly favorite. It gives purpose to their creativity and they love to show off their work. I admit, if does make life a little difficult for me. Those activities are messy, but I love spending creative time with them. It is good for the soul, I think. My collection of ornaments are priceless too. Knox's ornaments are my favorites. He has only participated the last 2 years and has made a black dog bone (3 years old) and a black reindeer (4 years old). The happy little kid LOVES black! They really add a festive sparkle to the tree. :) Carson and Maison have started making some pretty ornaments, but love looking back at ones from years before. I do too. This year's December marathon was complicated with Jeremy's out of town work schedule. While he isn't the most helpful around the house, an extra driver always comes in handy. The kids and I ran ourselves ragged getting to practices, school functions and getting shopping done. We are adjusting to this new life of him being gone a lot. Of course we miss him, but it isn't quite as scary anymore. Actually, I might just be too tired to care anymore. With bad weather plaguing December, visits from the grandparents have been cancelled and this looks like the first Christmas we will spend without seeing anyone. We are still 3 days out and it is a little lonely. I miss family gatherings so much, especially at Christmas, but Jeremy's work schedule makes it hard to go anywhere right now. Our hearts will be on the other side of the state for sure this year. I gave each of the kids $20 this year to do their shopping and endured a few hours at the Dollar Tree, Five Below and Target to mark everyone off their list. It was so much fun though. They were so excited and thoughtful in their shopping. Knox was the funniest. He bought my mom a squirt bottle for her hair. He bought me a bottle of shower cleaner. Poppa he got a car cleaning brush. It is funny how their little minds work. For the most part they were right on. Carson was very financially savvy in his approach to shopping. Maison was extremely thoughtful and sweet. When we got home they wrapped all their treasures and are so excited to give them. They are in the spirit of the season for sure. Update: It is well past Christmas now. But, it was a wonderful day! The kids were thrilled with their gifts. Carson worked a deal with Santa to trade his Kindle Fire for a new generation Ipod Touch. Maison asked for and received her own Kindle Fire in a cool black case with rockin' pink headphones. Knox got his sandbox. It is built and waiting for nice weather in the garage. Jeremy got me a nice surprise...a pretty silver diamond bangle bracelet. He got the short end of the stick with some odds and ends like an alarm clock, Atari, and Chiefs shirt. The kids excitedly delivered their gifts to everyone. We all got a great laugh out of it. So fun!
 Christmas break ended a week later than expected due to very snowy weather-12inches. We LOVED the extra time at home and used it to rest, sled, and enjoy our time together. The bad part was the bitter cold. We didn't get to really enjoy the snow because it was below or near zero for days. Being big snow fans, we loved every minute of the winter weather adventure!
We rang in the New Year with some new friends. First we ran by a house party of a friend of Maison's. Then we met the Brecht's for dinner and conversation. We ALL made it to midnight. The kids committed to some much needed resolutions, that have since been forgotten, I am sure. It is just amazing how fast time flies when you are having fun. With our busy schedule, I feel like I blink and a month has gone by. I pray 2014 continues to bless us with health, happiness, and opportunity.

We LOVE Phelps and his tricks!

Gingerbread houses are always a mess! But fun for everyone, except Mom! :)

Wrapping special presents for everyone!  He was so funny!

First ice skating adventure...ended with Raegan getting 3 stitches. :(

Sugar cookies! YUM!

Phelp's Christmas Eve grand finale before returning to the North Pole.  

Merry Christmas!

Christmas morning...

We love our Grandma's!

Pa and Poppa too!

Brothers having fun in the snow.

WE LOVE DUB!