Working Towards Eternity

Yesterday we went to the Louisville Temple with two other couples and their families. The women watched the children while the men did Initiatories and then we switched. After doing our temple work we walked the temple grounds. It was a beautiful day. A little overcast, but it was in the 50s. This was the first time that Vincent had come to the temple with us.

It was nice to have an opportunity to teach Vincent about the temple while we were there. Vance took him in to the main desk so he could see the inside and hopefully feel the sense of peace. There was a couple there who were having their wedding pictures taken and so we talked about being sealed as families. I am so grateful for the many blessings I have, and right at the top of the list is the knowledge that my family will be together forever.

Walking the temple grounds.

Vincent and his best budy Lincoln. These two are only a month apart.

Our family at the temple.



Daddy and Liza all snuggled up.

I told Vincent he couldn't walk on the knee wall. He then proceeded to bend over and tell me that his fingers could walk on the wall. He's so smart and such a stinker!

Everyday Fun

Vincent built a maze out of the chairs at Grandma Adams' house. He did it all by himself too. As you can see, he was very proud of his creation.

A tower that Vance built for Vincent.


Eliza watching Daddy and Vincent playing in the snow.

My Daddy working at the computer.

Grandma Adams and Vincent playing bear house.

Santa Came!

The children slept soudly the night before Christmas. I, on the other hand, hardly slept a wink! I was so excited! This was the first Christams that Vincent was aware of what was going on. He woke up Christmas morning just as I was coming down the hallway to wake him up. I just couldn't wait any longer! The poor thing stubbled down the hallway still half asleep. When he saw the kitchen it took him a minute before he realized what he was looking at. Then he snapped awake and wanted to play. "It's just my size!" And the rest of the morning was just as fun. He fingerpainted for the first time that afternoon too.

The kids loved their gifts. Vincent got the trash truck...

...And the kitchen he wanted. He loves to clean it! Now if only he'd clean the real kitchen. Hmm. A mother can dream I guess.

Eliza eating escargot.


Vincent opening his gifts.

Eliza playing with her gifts.

Santa Delivers But Does Not Assemble

Once the kiddos went to bed Vance and I had a long night of assembling gifts. The worst was the toy kitchen.

Yes, all these boxes held only one kitchen. It went from this....

....to this!

The Christmas tree after Santa came.

Christmas Eve

One of our Christmas Eve traditions is to go out for dinner with my parents. After dinner we go back to our house and open a couple of presents.

Daddy and Vincent sharing a drink.

Eliza opening her gift.

Vincent's gift

The first Santa cookies! I was way more excited about this milestone then Vincent was. However, he was concerned about Santa's reindeer. He wanted to leave carrots for them, but since we didn't have any he had to settle for candied nuts.



Our fireplace with Santa cookies!

The Proposal

A few days before Christmas I helped my Nephew propose to his girlfriend. It was a magical evening. These pictures are from the dinner and dessert portion of the evening.

I had bought a bouquet of flowers for the table but when I put them in the vase they were too tall. As they say, "necessity is the mother of invention" and this is what I came up with. I was very proud of myself.

This was the table setting.

The place setting.



Dessert

The proposal. I know, I'm a genius! Though that was debatable as Peri and I were trying to put these edible letters together.

Oh, the answer was yes! Minor detail. ;o)
The whole evening was a TON of work for Peri and I but we pulled it off.

Dear Santa,

This was Vincent's first year to visit Santa at the Danville Winter Wonderland. They decorate a whole park with lights and then Santa is in the park's community building. We had planned to drive through the park and then see Santa, but Vincent started having a panic attack when we diden't stop at the building right away. He insisted that we see Santa first. He was terrified that Santa would leave before we got there. The whole way to the park we practiced what he wanted to say, but as you can see he was still very nervous. Very excited, but very nervous. (He asked for a kitchen and a trash truck)

Snow is Falling All Around

Vincent and Daddy were both excited to go out and play in the first snow of the season.

Vance's beautiful snowman. It's so cute!

Building the snowman.

Daddy making snowballs for the little guy.



The first snowman that Daddy built. Vincent thought it looked like three giant snowballs and decided to throw them over the deck!

Wow! Footprints!

Sugerplum Dreams

Every year we get together with my family before Christmas to make Gingerbread houses.

Vincent was old enogh to help Grandma make the houses this year.

I think he ate as many graham crackers as he handed to Grandma.

Isn't that the most pathetic face you've ever seen? She was so sick. My poor, sweet baby girl.

All the candy.



The family.

A Week of Firsts

It all started Monday. Vincent climbed up the ladder to the attic all by himself and then back down again. (I was behind him in case he fell.) He then got on his tricycle and peddled all over the place. He received this tricycle during the summer and has refused to ride it. Monday, he just got it out, sat down, and off he went. I guess he was finally ready.

-----------

Eliza finally started scooting Wednesday. Before she could get anywhere she wanted to by doing this rolling/stretching movement. Now she just looks normal.

Yesterday, I passed her off to her Grandma and she put her hands up to her eyes and cried, then she reached out for me! I loved it!! The first signs of the "mommy attatchment" phase. Granted, this phase is only cute for the first week. But it is nice to know that you're loved.

-----------

Vincent decorated his first gingerbread house. Well, I think he decorated the inside of his stomach more than the house, but he enjoyed it and that's what is important.

-----------

Vincent was very lovey today. At one point he snuggled up and told me, "I'm so glad you're my mommy." Awww! You can't get much sweeter than that. It's those moments that give you strength to get through the tantrums. Ahh the tantrums. Why is it that we can't scream and cry at the top of our lungs when we're angry. I swear that half the time I just want to sit down and do just that. It's amazing how quickly he can go from happy to angry and then back. I just keep thinking "This too shall pass." I generally just try to ignore the tantrum. All he wants is either his way or attention. Ignoring it takes both of those away. Otherwise I just drag his cute little body to where he needs to be while he flails and screams the whole way. Such fun. I get comfort from the fact that I'm not the only one trying to figure out how best to survive this stage in life.

-----------

Eliza has been very sick. She has a terrible cold. Her nose is constantly running and her eyes are so goopy. Everytime she wakes up from a nap or bed her eyes are halfway crusted shut. My poor sweet baby. Vincent is just about done with a round of antibiotics. Both of his ears were infected. That was my first time dealing with ear infections. I am not looking forward to that again! Thankfully Vance and I have not gotten sick. I pray it stays that way. I do not have time to be sick! I have a quilt to finish and a proposal to plan! My nephew is in Airborne training and is coming up for one week of leave starting Monday. He wants to propse to his girlfriend on Wednesday. Guess who he asked to plan it! Me!! I love this stuff, but it's going to be tight getting it all put together. Wish me luck. Ahhh! Love is in the air!

Let the Adventures in Candy Land Begin

Vincent played his first game of Candy Land last night with Vance and he won! He had such a good time.
~~~~~~
Today Vincent and I were sitting in the doctor's office. Both of his ears are infected and we were there to get antibiotics. Anyway, he had my phone and was taking video clips. He asked me to say something to him. I asked him how his ears were. He thought for a moment and then said, "They're looking stylish!" Haha! Where he got that phrase from I have no idea. He is such a funny kid!
~~~~~~
Eliza was so funny today. She may not be crawling but she can get anywhere she wants to go and she is getting into everything! I have a little bin with a bunch of baby toys in it and she had a blast pulling everything out.

Finally! Pictures!

This is Vance's 94 year old grandmother. Grandma Jessie. She is one of the best cooks I know. I spent a couple of weeks with her over Thanksgiving learning how to make all kinds of yummy things.

Eliza holding her bottle for the first time. Mmm! I love those baby blues!

"Pick me up!" she says.

Mm-hmm. That face has mischievous written all over it.



He's working very hard!