Gymboree Triplets

"Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve.  Middle age is when you're forced to."

I bought the girls matching outfits to wear on Christmas.  We were hoping to get some really nice pictures to frame.  Camryn had other ideas.  She is usually so good about pictures, but that day she didn't want any part of it.  I guess she was tired and there was so much going on that day.  We will try another time.  Chloe was wishing that Gracie could have been in the picture with them - maybe another time.  When they come back, I will be very happy to buy 4 dresses.

Best Gifts

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other."
We had our family Christmas party today.  My parents, brother, sister-in-law and their family and our kids were here for breakfast this morning.  We had so much good food and it was fun being together.  There were 28 of us all together.  We took turns on Skype with our "far away family."   I think that they had a good time talking to everyone.

Around 1 o'clock, Camryn went for a nap.  Chloe and Cali went home, they only live 2 blocks away, for their nap.  Around 3 we opened our presents.  The kids were so excited and just tore into the paper.  I  loved watching them.  Camryn did  a good job for only being 18 months old.  Cali and Chloe's eyes were sparkling.  The boys tried to play it cool, but we know they enjoyed themselves.  Christmas is over for another year, whew!!  I'm sleepin' in tomorrow.

Blessings

"Tradition: sit with husband in a room lit only by tree lights and remember that our blessings outnumber the lights."

Christmas Eve

"Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance - each beautiful, unique and too soon gone."

Christopher, Carla and the kids came for Christmas Eve dinner tonight.  The kids were so excited and it seemed as if I gave them "jumping beans" for dinner.  Later, we went to the Candlelight Service at their church.  They boys read the Christmas Story to the congregation.  Chloe sat up front so she could "see better".  When we lit the candles, I let Cali have mine.  Her eyes just lit up, she was precious.  I haven't seen her sit that still EVER!  She really wanted to blow it out, but waited until it was time.  The kids really made our Christmas Eve special.  We will see Camryn on Sunday.  It's already Christmas in the UAE.  Maybe we'll stay up until midnight and give them a call.  It should be around 9 AM there.  I'm sure the kids will be up by then. Merry Christmas Eve!!

Cookies

"I wish I could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month."

The kids were helping make cookies.  They have big plans for Christmas Day and will be having lots of new friends to celebrate with.  It will be 80 degrees on Saturday so that is something else that will be new this year. We will really miss them, but will try to skype to say "Merry Christmas."

Snow Queens

"May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope; The spirit of Christmas which is peace; The heart of Christmas which is love."

The girls love making Christmas crafts.  We decided to make some "snow queens."  They had such a good time using all the beads and glitter to make their snowmen look like "snow queens."   Chloe even needed to put earrings  and a necklace on her.

Fwosty!!

"This is the message of Christmas:  We are never alone."

Camryn just loves Frosty.  She talks about him all the time and gets so excited when she sees him.  Every night they drive her around the neighborhood to see the lights.  She loves all of it and the small Frostys, Santas, Angles, Deer and colored lights.  However, her very favorite is the huge 12' Frosty.  She goes absolutely nuts over and screams  "Fwosty".  She also tells you what color all the lights are! Good thing Snowmen last all winter.

My Baby Is 30!!

"As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is."

Today is Troy's 30th bithday, I can't believe it!  He is such a good son, brother, uncle, husband and father.  We are so proud of him.  He teaches math, coaches college soccer and is working on becoming a principal, very busy, but always finds time for family.

The grandkids can't understand why I call him my "baby", because he isn't a baby.  As far as I'm concerned, he will always be my baby, no matter what.  I think all you Moms out there understand where I comin' from, don't ya?!!  Happy Birthday Troy.  Love you.

Sing Along With Mickey

"Christmas is the day that holds all time together."

Cali loves Mickey Mouse.  This Mickey sings a Christmas tune.  Every day she talks about going to Disney World.

Her Favorite Color Is Green

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time."
My "Dumpling" loves the color green and always has.  Funny, it's her Mommy and Daddy's favorite color also.  She always picks things that are green and always chooses the green chair to sit it.  Wearing green is a must, even when it comes to ballet!

Love you little girl and green is one of my favorite colors too.
Of course I had problems scanning this picture also.

First Christmas

"Christmas is the day that holds all time together."

This will be my little "J Birds"  first Christmas and we won't be with him to celebrate.  Makes me want to cry, but I'm sure we will Skype with them and they'll send us lots of pictures.  He is such a precious baby and I can still "smell" his hair as if I just held him today.  Love you baby J and please don't grow a whole lot until I see you in March.

I had to scan this picture and had a lot of trouble getting it done, as you can tell.  We call him J Bird because he is named after my dad.   Everyone calls my dad, J Bird.  So far, 3 great grandsons have been given his name - Carter Jack, Samuel Jack and Jack Joseph.  Any more coming?!!!

Spaghetti Face

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."

It looks like my "Enchilada" is trying to keep with the Christmas colors by having spaghetti sauce smeared all over his face.  Sure looks like enjoyed his dinner.  I miss him so much.  He has the sweetest little voice.  When he says "mammam"  I just want to melt.

Squeak Squeak!

"There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries."

I bought Camryn some "squeaky shoes"  from a fundraiser for The Pearl River Outreach in China.  It was run through one of the adoption websites.  Families donated clothing, shoes etc. to sell.   Prices were cheap and it was a good cause.  The person donating the goods mailed you your selection.  We got lucky and were sent many  more shoes that we paid for.  She told me that she had extra and just wanted my granddaughter to enjoy them.

I was so excited for Camryn to try them on.  She LOVES shoes!!  However, when she took her first step and the shoes squeaked, she stopped dead in her tracks and just looked at me.  She didn't know what to do and was afraid to take another step.  When I brought shoes home from our trip to China, all the girls loved them and just ran and ran to hear them squeak.  Not Camryn, she wanted them off!  I tried several times but she just didn't like them.  When Troy came home, he got her to try them again and now she loves them too.  Running "fast" like she does, really makes them squeak.

Busy Little Hands

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."

Last week the girls and I have started making a few Christmas decorations.  Every day they want to do a new project, so I need to go prepared.

Just to let you know,  Messiah Men won the National Title on saturday.  Unfortunately, the women lost their battle.  I am so proud of both teams and their coaches.  YEAH FALCONS!!

Iron Sharpens Iron

"Respect your fellow human being, disagree with them honestly, enjoy their friendship, explore your thoughts about one another candidly, work together for a common goal and help one another achieve."

My son and daughter-in-law both coach soccer at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa.  Both the men and women's teams are at the Final Four in Texas this week.  The mens team won this afternoon 4-1 and will play in the National Finals tomorrow afternoon.  The womens team  will be playing any minute in the semis, let's hope they advance to the Final Round also.

Last year they took Camryn along to Texas.  It was hard for them  to dedicate their time to the team and the baby.  This year, they let her home with us.  I was there Tuesday and Wednesday.  Bethany's parents came  for Thursday and Friday.  We will go back to finish the job Saturday and Sunday.  It's been fun for us, but I'm sure Troy and Bethany are missing their little girl.  So far, so good with Camryn.  We'll see what the weekend has to bring.    GO MESSIAH!!!

Big Sister

"How do people make it through life without a big sister?"

"Dumpling" is such a good big sister.  She truly loves her baby brother and enjoys taking care of him.  Her other brother is already bigger than she is and I have no doubt that this one will be too.  She says that her brothers will be big like daddy, but she is going to be like her mommy, short and sweet!

Far-Away Smiles

"A smile can brighten the darkest day."

I love getting these pictures from the UAE.  It just makes my day go so much better!!

A Quiet Thanksgiving Day

"Each day you wake up you have a choice:  You can have a good day or you can have a bad one.  So you  might as well have a good one."

We had a quiet and relaxing day.  It started out with  being very cold and sleeting.  The weather didn't stop my parents from driving down so that we could skype to  the UAE.
Around 9:15 they were on line and my "Dumpling" greeted us with her sunglasses on. It was 85 degrees there, so she had the right idea.  We saw Baby "J",  he now weighs almost 17 pounds and  still has his dark black hair.  After that, we lost contact and had to connect again.  We could hear them but not see them.  Luckily they could hear and see us.

Now that they have their new phone number we talk to them several times a week.  It's better, but I still want to hold my babies. 

Later that day, we went to Troy and Bethanys for dinner.  Camryn was so precious and all dressed up for the holiday.  We had ham and turkey, with ham being her favorite.  It was such a good meal and I enjoyed it so much because  I didn't need to cook.

After dinner, they cleared the dishes while  we played with Camryn until her bedtime.

Saying Thank You

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was "thank you", that would suffice."

I am so thankful for moments like this, when I get to see my sons with their children.  There is so much love coming out of these gorgeous blue eyes for her daddy.

We were all  Hershey watching my nephew wrestle for George Mason University.  Troy brought Camryn along for the morning.  She was so good, especially since it was her first match.  She's used to soccer games outside, but this was a whole different thing.  The noise didn't seem to bother her and she loved going for walks.    

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Gratitude

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

We don't get to spend much time with the boys.  They are so busy and usually aren't around.  We are thankful for them and all their smiles. 

Blessings

"We give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way."

I am so thankful for my Chloe, my first baby girl.  She is beautiful on the inside and out, so much talent and so much love.  Never thought I needed a little girl in my life, but I was so wrong.  She enriches my life beyond measure.

Giving Thanks

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues."

We won't be with these "Treasures" this year for Thanksgiving.  They are in a new country and will be celebrating in a new way.  I am so thankful that they are safe, happy and a part of my life.  I can hardly wait until it's March and I can fly to see them. 

A Thankful Heart

"God has two dwellings, one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.

Accidentally erased the pictures of Camryn and Cali in this Thanksgiving Post.  These 2 cousins truly love eachother.  Cali is a little mommy to Camryn and Camryn  does such a good job sharing her things.  What beautiful little girls to have in my life.  I am so thankful  for these precious angels.  They give so much meaning to my life.