Saturday, December 31, 2016

New Years 2016

This guy was *just a little* excited at 11:15 when we told him it was 2017.

Asleep by midnight...while Lily "hid" from the fireworks...

Wrapping up 2016. 
It feels different.
Most years I really anticipate the fresh start, and the whole new year that looms ahead.
This New Years, I really was struggling and I couldn't put my finger on it until today.
I'm not seeing a new year full of new things. I'm just seeing a new year full of 365 days that I won't have with my sister.
It feels daunting, and overwhelming. 
I'm determined to lean on the Lord in this next year.
I'm determined to allow Him to be my strength and not lean on my own understanding, because, frankly, I don't understand what happened and why.

I do know that my hope in the Lord is my anchor.  And I do know that His plan is perfect, and that someday we will have answers.
And I do know that in this next year my prayer is that everything I say or do will bring glory to my Lord.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Christmas's (Plural) and After

Per the norm, we had multiple Christmas's. 
Starting with Christmas Eve Eve, Brynn read the Christmas Story, and we celebrated with cousins, second cousins and third cousins.

 
 Then Christmas Eve with the other cousins...

 
 
Christmas Morning was full of excitement for the kids.  They were appreciative of the gifts, which was nice! I actually think that this years gifts were the best ones! And since it was sunday, we got to go to church and worship together too, which was really fun.




 
I'm excited to see what she does with this!

A Lego Pirate Chess set made this kid happy!

The Christmas Day with my parents, which was subdued and different, but not terrible.


The "men" played a pretty intense game of chess.  I didn't know who would get mad and throw the board at the wall first....


A new bike for Mr Deets!
 
A day of building to finish this castle.....
 
He made it until 8:45.  Long day for this happy 6 year old!


And then Christmas with the other side a few days later that included crafts, and kids projects and games during dinner.

 
There were lots of wonderful gifts during all those gatherings, but some of my favorite moments were when I could just sit and think about what a special season it is, and how thankful I am for all the ones in the past that haven't been tainted with grief.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm very thankful for this one too, but its a different kind of thankful.  A reflective kind. 

Brynn holed up and read in her new robe for days until she finished her book, and then played with her new camera!


Hours of trying to solve this Rubix Cube...

The calm after the storm.

And this is real life here. I love everything about this.  He's playing with his chess set.  She's trying to get him to look at the camera, and Nolan wants her attentions.  Always.


Saturday, December 17, 2016

Exploratorium

Cannon got to go with his buddy and explore the exploratorium.  They had a blast.  Geeked out all day and filled their noodles with lots of new information that will no doubt be talked about for weeks.


He spent the entire day learning...and came home with (wait for it...) 6 packs of silly putty.  Can't wait to see what he does with that....

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

December Christmas Prep...

Tree hunting went well. The kids chopped it down, and we got it put up within a few days...

 
 
 

 
 
 Lots of fun days with special treats building up to the holidays...
 

The elf is back...and sometimes he's a little bit mischevious.  Especially when a certain 10 year old boy has something to do with it.
 
Holiday Home Tour went without a hitch this year.  Sarah and the girls came up to join us.  Always fun showing our little town to others....
 
Ugly Christmas Sweater with our Sunday School class. Lots of fun and laughs, and some pretty stellar white elephant gifts....
 
 
Wrapping gifts for homeschool life skills. Win Win for me...and the dogs still love that Brynn is home each day to give them attention!

 
 Maeves' first Handbell performance and the Christmas Program at School.  I cried. As usual.
 

Loving my little Christmas Tree collection.  Each one different and each one something that caught my eye.
 

Anticipation grows for the "big day" in the kids.  The adults are trying to muster up some cheer, knowing that this will be a hard day for us all missing Christi.
 

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Monterey

We got free tickets to the Aquarium through the homeschool days, and so we had the opportunity to go down and stay the night and explore Cannery Row, and the Aquarium!
It was a perfect little break in the business of December.  The kids were super happy to miss school, and I loved taking them and exploring with them.






He was totally over checking out all the shops on Cannery Row.  Can you tell?











 Having some much needed time in the bible before the activities of the day.








 I have this same picture with just me and Brynn from a long time ago.  How times have changed....




 Bubba Gumps restaurant.  A first for all of us!
One last swim before we hit the road home!