Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

I have spent the last couple of days getting caught up posting on the blog. Thankfully, there's a feature that enables me to sneak a couple of posts in where they belong (as in, I had not yet posted pictures from a beautiful walk in the woods from October!!).  This blog serves as a sort of memory book for me since otherwise things get piled into a box in my closet.

I really have no regrets, though.  I spent much time trying to savor this Christmas season. I purposely got up early to enjoy sitting by the light of the Christmas tree, being reminded of the true Light of this world.  It was a different Christmas...the first without my beautiful grandparents. For as many years as I can remember, I have set up Santa's workshop at their house. Sure, it made keeping things hidden easier, but even more wonderful was the time spent at my grandparents' home.  This year, I instead set up shop at my Aunt & Uncle's home, & it was wonderful to get to spend time with them. It was a good reminder that the best way to honor old traditions when they are no longer possible is to create new ones inspired by the old.

Kaelee took Kaya to see her first Nutcracker performance.  I love that my older children spend special time with their younger siblings.

Trash the Kitchen, 2014 Edition (aka frosting the cutouts!)

This is the best gift...a full house....

...and all of our children in one place.

The obligatory Christmas morning picture on the steps had to be relocated to the basement stairs this year to fit everyone.  How fun is it that they ALL slept in the basement together to keep up with tradition since none of the bedrooms would accommodate everyone?!

It's so fun to watch the kids play together with new toys.

This year we avoided most electronics & went for interactive toys.

Grandma blessed everyone with matching aprons.

These two were especially thrilled because they love helping in the kitchen.

Every year since our first visit to the zoo lights six years ago we say we're going to go again, but it just doesn't happen for one reason or another.  This year, we had planned to go once Kearsten arrived home only to have to cancel the plans due to the flu.  Instead of giving up the plan altogether, we went after Christmas on New Year's Eve Eve.  I'm so glad we did!!

Big brothers really are the best!

For New Year's Eve, Kaelee bought the kids all kinds of fun stuff to get into the spirit of things.

They were so glad when Kaelee finally returned from her dinner date to spend the evening ringing in the new year.

Somehow, Kendi got Daddy to sport some sparkles & a crown.

Getting ready for the new year was fun, but this family was super-stoked for New Year's Day & the big game...We are Buckeyes through & through!!

Family Time = Crazy Times = The Best of Times!!!

making some decisions & changes

Sorry for the quiet again.  Lots of things happening around here since my last post about the hard & the beautiful stuff.

We've made some decisions about some changes we are making as a family.  It's nothing I ever thought I could or would do, but we are taking the plunge into homeschooling our 2 littlest punkins.

I am beyond words at how supportive Kemeri's school has been of our decision. They have truly invested themselves in understanding not just her educational needs, but her emotional ones as well.  She will continue to receive her therapies, but now they will come to our home.

And I will do my best to continue the good work they've been doing to help her catch up while also pouring all I have into this little one's heart to help her understand that family is forever.

We have already started converting the "green room" (it used to be painted green...it now has green furniture, so it's still considered the green room) into a place that houses some basic preschool materials.  I am so thankful for all of the online resources, other homeschooling moms, & especially my oldest daughters, who are both teachers, for inspiration.

We decided that both girls would benefit from being at home, & Kendi has loved it.  Kemeri has had a trial run since we've battled some illness, but as of today, we are official (we had an IEP meeting at her school & discussed the new arrangements).

Truth be told, I'm a little nervous.  Those doubts of "what if I'm horrible at this?" can so easily creep in.  But then I remind myself that motherhood has taken me out of my comfort zone time & again as I have sought to do things in each of my children's best interest.  Right now, we believe it is in these sweet girls' best interest to work on establishing confidence in the fact they are an amazingly special part of our family.  We pray that they find strength in that knowledge that inspires them to spread their wings & follow their dreams as they grow.

hunting for the perfect tree

It's always a favorite...the trip to the Christmas tree farm.  This year, we ventured to a different place where every tree is the same price.  We found ourselves underestimating the size of trees out in the field one too many times, which is a bit of a problem when trees are priced by the foot.

I'm pretty sure we looked at every single tree at least twice.  It was a pretty mild day, so I think we were just enjoying being outside.

Somehow, Daddy has discovered the "selfie".

Kendi was fascinated by trees just her size.

I had to convince the people that this would not fit in the living room.  Like I said, we are notorious for underestimating.

I told you, he's all about the selfie.

We finally agreed on one!  We were walking in circles for so long that Kyler had to leave for work. This was still going to be too tall for our 8-foot ceilings, but I couldn't convince anyone of this.

Kendi was insistent on helping Daddy.  Sure enough, this beauty was not fitting in Dad's trunk, so we had to recruit Kam & Dante to take Dante's car (which has a roof rack) to go get the tree.  I must confess that I found this scene hilarious.  I'm not sure the picture does the ridiculousness of this justice! 

I was ready with my measuring tape, & sure enough, it was a 9-footer.  Kam & I got down to the business of making adjustments so we could get the tree in the house.

Gus thinks he's helping.

Somehow, I managed to not take a picture of the tree until after Santa had come, but it was a beautiful part of our home for Christmas.