i could have missed the blessing...

this week is insane...and yet so good.

i can't even figure out how to make this post go together coherantly...so, sorry! lots of pictures and words that i want to record and not much time to do it well.

i'm a little hyped up on sugar and great people! just got home from the annual ladies Christmas brunch...literally across the street. we like to call it our "office party"...probably 40 women there...SUCH yummy food and great company! my neighborhood is the BEST.

ok...here we go...

i did a very good job of planning out our gifts for each day...down to having the kids open a craft on the day i was hosting a party that night. it kept them busy for awhile that afternoon so that i could cook and clean like a mad woman!

{jenn gave this whole kit to my kids last christmas and we didn't get to it...so i saved it and they opened it again this christmas!}

a sweet girl hanging her handmade ornament on the tree...

bailey and i are still enjoying our time together every day...once joshua gets on the bus and sawyer goes down for his nap we have some one on one time together.

most days lately we play candyland and then read books on my bed.
oh, how i love laying on my bed with that little girl...
sometimes she "reads" to me and sometimes i read to her :-)

this sweet baby boy is loving books too!
our routine the last couple weeks before he takes his nap is that i sit on the ground and he backs into my lap {LOVE that!!} with a book.

then he walks over to the rocking chair for me to hold him and sing "jesus loves me".
sweetness.

but i also love that he's so laidback that if i "forget" {or am so ready for him to be in bed} to sing...he doesn't mind...he goes to sleep just fine. but most days i do it because i love to and i know this will pass ohsoquickly.

she still loves to smother him.

and he is still very bothered by it.

pat and i have been praying expectantly this Christmas season for her especially.
for her to understand who He really is.

for the words that come out of her mouth so sweetly for her AWANA verses to have meaning in her heart.

for her to understand that "the baby Jesus" was her Savior and came to die for her.

and he is hard right now.
SO cute.
LOVE how his pudgy little hand reaches in that fruit snack bag...

but he is into everything.
and it's kinda hard to get anything done unless he's taking a nap...which he is down to only 1 a day...so my days feel harder.

but i make it one hour at a time.
balance...balance...breathe...breathe...

this week has been so full...of parties and cooking and shopping and wrapping and card writing amidst the normal cleaning and grocery shopping and exercising and homework and laundry.

God has been faithful.
as always.
to be in the little things...when i look my children in the eye as they tell me about their day...in the few minutes pat and i have on the couch after he gets home from work and before i head out the door for something...in the quiet, dark minutes as i seek Him in the morning before i start my day.

this week could have gone either way.
the end result would have been the same.
the same things would have been checked off.

but i could have missed the blessing.
of Him calming my heart amidst the craziness.
of a sweet word spoken quietly amidst the loudness of our home.
of the love that is overflowing around me that i could so easily take for granted.

{their new favorite game - musical chairs...}

we are headed into another crazy few days.
but i've planned for them.
and am looking forward to them.

headed to church tonight for a night of worship.
i need it.