{SNAPSHOTS}

from OURS to YOURS

mommy-hood

i love being a mom to my 3

but at the end of the day

i feel like our gingerbread house

a little saggy...

a little disheveled...

and a lot picked over...

first {LITTLE} snow

hooray!!!

next time, we'll take 12 inches...PLEASE!!

First Speech

The week before Thanksgiving, David gave his first little speech.

He wrote the speech himself (I helped him tweak it a tiny bit),
and was VERY excited to give it!  Clearly his father's son...I am not a fan of public speaking!!

Love it!!

Christmas Story

stream of consciousness

Hubs is in a different time zone this week.  

Not much real conversation going on around here...

We did talk this morning.  

It ended with me hanging up (on him).  

Will I ever outgrow my childish ways? Hmm.

I'm on my 4th outfit of the day, all legit, 

not a result of a "I don't have anything to wear" rampage.  

I do believe I have outgrown that.  Thankfully.  

Luca is still in his pj's from this morning, so that cancels out one of mine.  

Speaking of clothes, 

I ended up with EIGHTEEN unmatched socks after today's laundry was done.  

Seriously??

Ugh. Boys. Urine. 

I am seriously contemplating copying my friend 

(mom of 4 now grown boys), 

and enforcing a "sit to pee" rule.  

Seems emasculating? 

After cleaning yellow off of hard to reach places today, 

I think they can deal.  

And while we're on the topic, 

When will my little guy will outgrow the need to have a BM 5x a day? 

I mean it's a good day if he only has 2.  

We had a little chat last night while I changed #5.

I asked if he could please curb the urge.  

So far it's worked.  

He's only gone once, although I think I'm smelling something?

I put away some maternity jeans today.  

I let a friend borrow them, 

and a month or so ago as I was putting them in the attic, 

they just looked so cozy that I decided to wear them.  

Very unflattering, but so comfy.  

Comfy = comfortable.  

Not good.  

Proof = the extra lbs that have crept on the past few weeks.  

 To the attic they go!

Only two ornaments broken today.  

Not bad, although if that's our daily average between now and Christmas, 

that will be bad. 

After we dropped off David at school this morning, 

Xan said, "now it's just you, me and Luca."  

Then he said, "remember mom, when it was just you and me? 

Before Luca came out of your belly?  

Dad was at work, David was at school, and it was just you and me."  

I do remember that, my sweet angel.  

Are you sure you want to go to school next year?

tree hunt

Saturday we went with the fam to get Christmas trees
it was wonderfully crisp (I admit, I'm a fan of Winter)

Luca looked adorable in his Italian hat

Uncle Trav gave tree cart rides

hide-n-seek

found you!

I think everyone took a turn chasing after this guy

seriously, this kid loves to run full speed in the "wrong direction"

"tweat, tweat, tweat, tweat, tweat!!"

(just thought I'd share with you the escalation of Luca's requests)

the happy crew (minus Josiah and Jack)

 schick chicks

hot chocolate, and then home to decorate

fun, fun!!

US

my very talented sister 

(as in I think all of the talent in our family gene pool went to her, 

and skipped right over me :)

took some pics of our little fam last week

Luca was not cooperative--running away every chance he got, and then screaming when we tried to hold him 

(except of course when J was taking picture of Mark and I--then he was all over us)  

Xan was just pouty and kept taking his sweater half off--

but despite that, I really love them

this is our daily reality right now, after all :)

THANK YOU for taking your time to bless us (and so many) 

with your gifts...I love you

(I held back my faves since I haven't decided on my Christmas card yet)

Nanny??

this guy can count to 10 in Spanish

my friend jokingly asked if he had a Hispanic nanny

umm...well...actually, her name is Dora

she's super affordable

:)

Patience

yesterday I lost my patience

I got angry--through gritted teeth I muttered some ridiculous threat

as I marched my Xan to the car

I got in the car, and turned to see my sweet boy in tears

crushed by my unkind words

.honestly, I was heartbroken.

I asked forgiveness and assured him of my love

but am still saddened that I can't take back my words, my tone, my actions

the last few months I've been aware, more than ever

of the way my sin affects others

my heart has been grieved 

but I've also been aware more than ever of my Savior

and His unending and undeserved patience towards me

I couldn't earn it if I tried

and I'm finding freedom in living in His forgiveness

His righteousness for my filth

miraculous GRACE

luvins

trick or treat

daddy's boy