Christmas Celebration (part 2)

We headed back down to Harper on the 23rd, since I had to work on Christmas Eve.  Bummer, huh?  Too bad everyone can't have a week and a half Christmas break!  I had to keep telling myself it still wasn't as bad as working at the hospital, and having to work a 12 hour Christmas Eve or Christmas Day shift!

 

 I got off work, changed and we headed to church for the Christmas Eve service.  My absolute favorite service of the entire year.  Lyle got to wear this adorable little suit that was Zach's when he was little.  He looked so handsome! :) 

 

We made snacks for supper, and Lyle got to wear his Christmas pajama pants that I made for him.  He went to bed a little later than normal, with promises that Ho-Ho was coming.  Some friends of ours came over to shoot fireworks off at midnight (a tradition of his wife's from Bolivia) and drink eggnog.  I don't know if our noise woke Lyle up or he just wasn't feeling good, but he was so upset.  We tried several things to get him settled back down, and ended up watching some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse at 1:30 in the morning.  At least everyone slept in on Christmas morning!  Lyle got to open his stocking from Santa on Christmas morning, and was so excited for his "kitty" in his stocking! 

 

 

We enjoyed Christmas Day with our cousins complete with ugly sweaters (which I don't have a picture of, sorry!).  Lyle is in love with his Duck Dynasty 4-wheeler!  Zach and I had to work Thursday and Friday, but enjoyed time with family in the evenings.  We did our big Christmas with the Bauer side on Saturday, complete with stockings in the morning, a wonderful lunch, and present giving in the afternoon. 

 

We had time to play some new games this Christmas that were so much fun!  Thanks-a-lot, 5-Second Rule, and Say Anything were my favorites! 

 

It is amazing how blessed we are, especially with our family.  I cannot imagine life without them! 

Winter Wonderland

We have been celebrating Christmas since Saturday, and still have a weekend to go!  We are blessed to live close to both of our families, but it takes a little coordinating to find a time for everyone to be together.  I always have such a full heart after spending time with our family, and feel more relaxed (although a little more tired, since Lyle's sleep has been thrown waay off track) after our time with them.  

After driving through ice on our way to Wichita, the boys headed to the K-STATE basketball game, while the girls baked cookies and played with the kid's at my sister's house.  

It took great restraint for Lyle not to "crash" Zoe's tower every time.  

Zach told Lyle to lick the frosting off of the cookie first.  Lyle can probably use the excuse, "But Dad told me to!" most of the time, and it would be true. lol. I am in trouble!

We headed up to my parent's house after supper, through some pretty awful weather.  We had to stop in the middle of the highway to break ice off our windshield and wipers after they completely froze and quit working.  It was so dark (an inch of ice over our headlights didn't help) and we were driving straight into the snow.  Next time we'll believe my husband when he says, "Maybe we should get going!"  Everyone made it safe and sound, and we woke up the next morning to a beautiful Winter Wonderland!

Christmas Celebration (part one)

 1.  Family gathered around the dinner table

2.  Presents that take up half of the room

3.  Helping Gigi open a gift

 4.  Lyle and Uncle Mike!   

5.  Mike and Steph made a 16 1/2 hour drive to be with us this year!

6.  Love my brother!

7.  Playing with Auntie Steph

 8.  Loving on Aunt Barbie and Tucker

9.  Zach and the boys

10.  Lyle playing with my favorite nativity puzzle from when we were little

11.  A weekend with family isn't complete without a game or two!

It was so special to include traditions in the weekend we had been doing since I was little.  My mom read "The Night Before Christmas," the kids got to open one present on "Christmas Eve," and my Dad read us the Christmas story from the bible.  It's the little things.

A Season of Busy

It seems like our life is always in a season of busy.  And Christmas time seems to take the cake for being extra busy.  Most of what makes it so busy is fun.  Shopping, making, and wrapping presents.  Baking extra goodies for parties.  Decorating the tree.  I love the Christmas season and everything that goes with it.  As I was filling out my calendar at work yesterday, I had a moment of panic.  Christmas is in two weeks.  And we are starting Christmas with my family early, so everything for Christmas really has to be done by Friday, the 20th.  I started making a mental list of all of the projects I had to get done between now and then.  Mostly projects that can only make any sort of decent progress after Lyle goes to bed.  How in the world am I going to get all that done in a week and a half.

  

I have this bad habit of looking ahead at my calender, filling it up with duties and appointments, then feeling like the time is basically gone because I have filled it up already.  Then I stress to fit everything in, and I don't enjoy any of it.  

I had some blaring reminders yesterday and today, that although we all have responsibilites that must get done, we can also choose an attitude of joy through it all.  A sermon from church a couple months ago keeps coming to mind.  It was all about busyness.  Taking a look at what fills our plate.  How often when someone asks us how life is going, do we respond with "busy."  And it's almost as if we don't say "busy," then something is wrong.  We can't always control the busyness of life, but we can change our mental attitude of busyness.  We can be present in the moment, instead of worrying about the next place we need to go.  I can sit and play tractors with Lyle without thinking about the list of things I'm going to do after he goes to bed.  I can be grateful for the new ministry of the preschool at our church, and the work that we are doing to make that happen, instead of wishing I was at home instead of at another meeting.  So much of life is about the attitude we have towards it.

So here is to sitting in the glow of the lights of the Christmas tree, smiling with love for my family as I sit at my sewing machine crafting their presents, and soaking up every moment of the Christmas season I love so much.    

Thanksgiving

We had such a great Thanksgiving weekend.  Full of family and food.  Just how we like it. :)

We started out the weekend on Wednesday night with Zach's family.  We enjoyed soup and probably the most amazing grilled cheese ever.  Next time you make grilled cheese do the following:  1.  Make it on Texas toast. 2.  Cut slices of regular Velveeta and White Cheddar Velveeta.  3.  Dip it in Tomato Basil soup. Ah-mazeing.  We followed supper up with peach and chocolate peppermint homemade ice cream (no one said you can only make it in the summer!).

Helping Auntie Kodi make cherry turnovers.  He's a Pro.  You couldn't tell which ones he folded smashed. lol

I had so much fun helping in the kitchen this year, and loved having twenty extra hands to occupy the little man.  We spent the day cooking, watching the Macy's parade (I protested very loudly if anyone tried to change the channel!), searching the best amazon deals, shooting the pumpkins that were no longer needed for my fall porch decorations, and watching movies.  A great day.  And the weekend was just beginning! :)

We spent most of Friday around the house.  I was able to finish sewing the front of my stocking, and figured out how to sew Lyle's.  While Lyle went for a tractor ride with Papa, I helped decorate the Christmas tree.  Ohhh one of my most favorite things.  When everyone had gathered again, we headed up to Hesston to spend the rest of the weekend with my family.

Gotta get our hat on to go drive the tractor

Charlie enjoying an after-dinner...who are we kidding...enjoying an all day snooze!

Saturday my sister and I helped my mom make Thanksgiving dinner.  The rest of the day was spent watching the cousins play, a trip to Stone Creek Nursery for the girls to ooh and ahh over the Christmas decorations, and a trip out to the woods for the boys to shoot guns.  We threw lots of football watching in there too. 

Happy Thanksgiving!  

Sunday morning we were able to go with my parents and my brother to church, although I spent most of the service in the nursery with Lyle.  Sitting still and being quiet are not his strengths.  We enjoyed lunch at home, and a nap for Lyle, then headed home.  

Pulled in to the gas station at home with 0 miles left to go on the tank. Might have cut that a little close!

Five on Friday: Dates, Laughter, and Mud

I am linking up again with some fabulous ladies for Five on Friday.  Join the link-up and share your top five for the week!

 

1.  Zach and I had dentist appointments yesterday, and since we get up with Wichita BY OURSELVES almost never, we made a date night out of it.  We went to The Warren IMAX and saw "Ender's Game."  My poor husband had not been to a movie since my birthday in July.  That long without going to a movie is like 20 years to him.  Sorry babe, we'll try to do better.  It was really good, especially since I knew nothing about it before we went.  We did a little shopping, picked up Chipotle, and headed home to tuck the little man into bed.  It's funny how easy it is to forget how fun a date night can be. 

 

 

2.  I decided to try to make Christmas stockings this year.  The first year we were married, I bought stockings with our names for Zach, Charlie, and I.  And now it just seems strange that our dog has a matching stocking, but our son does not.  I ordered the patterns and fabric....and I'm hoping I didn't overestimate my sewing skills.  We'll find out soon enough! :)
 

A couple of the fabric choices

 

3.  I have Monday off of work for Veteran's Day, making this a fabulous 3-day weekend!  Whoop-whoop!  We are going out to dinner for my mother-in-law's birthday tonight, and I am so looking forward to it!  And Sunday night Zach and I have tickets to see Brian Regan.  His show was great last time, and this will make, hold onto your seats, TWO date nights in one week.  Oh my, we are getting crazy over here!

 

4.  The colder the weather gets, the more chapped my lips and hands get. (Let's be honest, my hands are always awful from washing them at work 50 times a day, but they are especially bad in the winter.)  These are my favorite chapstick and lotion.  Anyone have different favorites that work miracles? 

 

We discovered this in Hawaii and it is beyond amazing.  The banana is the best (but don't worry, it doesn't taste super banana-y).  I haven't seen it anywhere around here, but you can order it online. 

 

The best for your hands and it smells so good!  From Bath and Body Works

5.  And because most of my readers REALLY care about Lyle the most.... one last picture to get you through. :)

Who can make this sweet muddy boy stay outside?? Jumping in mud puddles is the best.

 

Half-way Through

Is half-way through the week too late to talk about the weekend?  Not around here!  Some weeks that's just how it is.  It also means we are half-way to the next weekend.  Whoop!  

Usually during the week I wake Lyle up at seven to get ready to go out to Annie's.  I always wonder a little bit, if I didn't have to wake him up, how long he would really sleep.  Well, apparently he thinks Saturdays are something to get up and be excited about, because he was up bright and early at six!  So much for momma sleepin in!  But I got a lot of the house cleaned before Zach got up, so at least we made it worth while!

Saturday evening we headed up to a birthday party for one of Zach's good friends, Dan.  We had not seen them in so long, and it was great to catch up with everyone.  

Lyle and his friend Kohen.  Thanks to many trucks brought by Tara, they did great!
(Sorry about the excavator to the head!)

I am always amazed at what a small world it is, and how God brings different people into your life at different times.  This group is full of random connections that all fit together perfectly.  I went to high school with Dan, but did not really know until I started dating Zach, since he and Zach were good friends from college.  I knew Chad in high school, and we were pretty good friends in college (though we went to different schools).  I went to college with his wife Tara, but did not really know her until she started dating Chad.  Dan's sister and husband were there, and she was in my sister's class in high school.  See!  All connected.  Times like these we wished we lived closer to Wichita, and could get together with people more often.  But we love our small town life, and just need to make an effort to see people regardless of the distance.

We headed up to Hesston afterwards to spend the night and Sunday with my family.

Puzzles with Gigi

Such big kids...eating at their own table!

I'm going to have to stop calling him "Baby Eric"!

  My brother Jeff was home for the weekend, and my sister and her family came up for Sunday afternoon.  It was such a nice day of catching up on all the latest happenings, and letting the cousins play.  Nothing makes my heart happier than a day with family.    

Shoving leaves through the cracks

Miss Zo swinging

Trunk or Treat

This post is an overload of pictures, but I couldn't help myself! We had trunk or treat this weekend at church (where people decorate their car trunks and park them together in the church parking lot, then the kids trick or treat at each car). It was a blast! The afternoon turned out rainy and I was not thrilled about needing to set up in the cold rain, but it stopped just in time! 

Navigating the maze

I didn't even get a picture of our trunk! :( We did a beach theme, with beach towels as the back drop, sand in the bottom with toys, and a cooler full of candy. It was so fun to see everyone else's ideas too. But you can't tell how creative everyone was because I was too obsessed with taking pictures of Lyle Lyle Crocodile! 

Dressed up with Papa!

Sharing our sucker with Grammy

Lyle was so excited everyone was giving him candy! And that Mom was letting him eat it! Lol

Some of our youth group kids

Love my family!

Eighteen Months

Our boy is one and a half!  How can that be?  I just finished your one-year photo book and it crazy to see the differences from a year ago! 

 

Eating bugles the right way!

There has not been a lot of change in the size department lately.  You weigh about 24 1/2 lbs. (50th percentile) and are about 31 1/2 inches (35 th percentile). Here's to hoping you still gain some of your Dad's height!  I think this is the first time in your life you have ever fit into age-appropriate clothes.  It seems so strange!

Your loves this past month or so have turned from basketball (and getting really good at catching a football) to the farm.  You love everything about the farm.  Every time we are in the car you ask "bomb bom-bine??" (Meaning where's the combine?) And you don't just ask it once. This question is on repeat. Sometimes we drive out of the way to make you happy. :) You also ask for the tractor and Papa (who takes you for rides in the combine and tractor). You still love to be outside.

 

You are getting the hang of coloring and putting puzzles together. You LOVE stickers (stick-sticks) and this is our secret weapon to keep you sitting still in church or at a restaurant.

You have learned all kinds of new words and are pretty good at communicating. You are so sweet when you say "hi" "bye" "night night" or "love you" in your cute high pitched voice.  You definitely still make friends everywhere! Most of the time you like to pray at supper (unless you decide to be shy) and then you throw your hands up in the air at then end and say "amen!" 

You  are such a good helper! You are good at picking up your toys, and like to help refill Charlie's food and water bowl. You especially like to give Charlie treats but we have to put a limit on that! You love to help Mama cook and we try to let you help as much as possible.

 

Helping Grammy sew

 

You are a very ornery boy! You love to tease and know what makes Mom and Dad laugh (which usually makes it hard to keep a straight face if you are in trouble.) I ask you for a kiss before bed, and you giggle and try to get out of my reach...but always give up in the end :) You have the best laugh...you go crazy when we tickle you! 

 

 

Although sometimes you wear us out, we are so grateful for the joy you bring into our lives.  We are excited to see what you learn and discover in the next few months, and are excited to celebrate holidays where you understand at least a little bit of what is going on!  We love you!

Five on Friday

1.  Painted nails. I have painted my nails twice this week. Write it down in the records books people.

2.  Lunch and shopping. I am meeting my mom and sister tomorrow to go out for my mom's birthday. We are leaving the kiddos at home, and I can't wait for some girl time!

3.  Friday Morning. We had an immunization conference for work two days in Wichita this week and I ended up with some overtime. So I am staying home this morning, and heading in after lunch.  A morning full of drinking coffee, bible study, sewing, and catching up on Grey's Anatomy.  That's my kind of Friday!

4. Gifts. I have been "Pinterest Inspired" lately! I am starting to make a list of projects...some to get done quickly and some to make for presents for Christmas. So excited! Maybe I'll make a stop at Hobby Lobby on my way home on Saturday! 

5.  Our small group is doing the Beth Moore study, "Esther."  This is my first Beth Moore study and I have always heard good things.  Excited to get going!

Enjoy your Friday!!!!