We started decorating the house with Christmas lights and goodies today. Tate could barely contain himself! We only got about half way through. Tyler is pretty meticulous when it comes to lights, so it takes a while. Anyway, the boys found these big bells and entertained us for a spell.
Tate participated in a Thanksgiving performance with this class last week before school let out for fall break. I forgot all my gadgets, so I didn’t get any live action during the party, but we did ask Tate to sing this really cute song one last time so we could have it to enjoy on video. Here you go…
Our goal this week was really just to do nothing - no plans, no commitments, no schedules…and that is just what we did! It has been relaxing and refreshing. Tate, I suspect, is ready to get back into our normal routine. He misses his friends and all the energy-expending activities they do at school. However, Tyler and I could use another week or two. Here are some fun moments from the week.
The boys did some backyard explorin’.
We finally got around to taking Tate’s birthday tie picture, and then Chase and Daddy wanted to get in on the photo-fun!
Thanksgiving was fun and relaxing. I started preparing food on Tuesday, so when Thursday rolled around, there was only a few things left to throw together. We had the works, turkey, gravy, stuffing, sweet potato cranberry casserole and cranberry sauce. I forgot about a green veggie, but decided at the last 
minute to just let it go, we had plenty. Today the boys started enjoying turkey sandwiches with the leftovers.
This morning (Friday) we took off around 9 AM for our tree-cutting tradition. This year was easy, we spotted the tree from the side of the road and just went with it. Usually, we are trudging through the forest humming and hawing over the “last tree we saw.” It is easy to get sucked into the “there has to be something better a little further” trap. It worked out perfectly, as the boys were a bit antsy anyway from the 45 minute drive there and we still needed to drive home.
Catie, Tate’s birthmom, came over for a visit on Saturday morning. Carrie, Catie’s sister, came along too, which is always so much fun. Something was different about this visit, Tate is starting to understand a bit more. During his prayer at lunch, Tate thanked God that Catie, his birthmom, was here to visit. He doesn’t really understand what “birthmom” means, but I think he knows she is someone special to our family and we have a unique connection to her.
Last week, we talked a little bit about how Tate grew in Catie’s tummy and that God knew he was meant for our family and Catie knew too. No matter how much he understands or doesn’t understand, I think the point is strong and clear – Catie loved him enough, we prayed for him to be part of our family and God designed the whole thing!
Catie brought a fun birthday gift for Tate (all about bugs and insects) and they played with that for a while. Catie also loved on Chase, who took to her right away. Catie has such a gift with children, no wonder she is a nanny! Then we ate lunch, played a little more and then it was time for nap and we said our goodbyes. It is always so wonderful to catch up and allow Tate and Catie to bond. We LOVE you Catie!!! And thanks for snapping all the great shots Carrie – I probably wouldn’t have any if you hadn’t taken over!
This is what we called this past weekend – Victory Weekend! After a long, overly-busy last few months, we finally had a weekend to just be. We didn’t do anything (except go to church), just basic survival…food, sleep, play. It was fantastic! Very restorative and something our family needed. The boys set up a tent in the living room, we had movie night on Saturday and Tyler and the boys went sledding in the 8 inches of beautiful white snow that feel over the past two days. Pastor Jeff reminded me of the Isaiah 1:18 on Sunday,
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
What a wonderful verse. Our sins are washing away and they are made as white as this beautiful snow that is all around us. I goof up so often, I fall short so much more than I like, but God’s grace covers me like a blanket of snow.
Talking about snow, the boys went sledding and had a ball. Well, Tyler and Tate did anyway. First, I stuffed Chase into these snow clothes, boots and all. He didn’t mind. He reminded me of Ralphie’s little 
brother in the movie A Christmas Story. He could barely move. After he was all suited up, he started to walk around, unfortunately in the area where there is still cement floor and BAAAMMM, face plant. He couldn’t get himself up because he was so stiff with all the clothes and split his lip open (and later I found he chipped his tooth too!!!)….OH GOODNESS the Mommy-Guilt!! Tyler kept reminding me “he is a boy!” He was fine 2 minutes later, he didn’t really seem to notice all that much. You can even see the red lip in this picture…ugggg..
Chase did head out with Tyler and Tate for sledding, but Tyler said he was a little overwhelmed and wasn’t really smiling and having fun, so he came inside with me and played with his trains and cars instead. Next year he will be much more into it, I am sure.
While we were all in picture-taking-mode, I caught this cute one of the boys in both their blue winter hats my friend Carm made for them – THANKS CARM! They are adorable and fit perfectly!
Our friends, Ned and Jeanette Turner, went out East on a trip and passed through ol’ Willy (aka Williamsburg... The College of William and Mary), our alma mater. They brought us back these adorable sweatshirts for the boys….
