Oh No...

The crying over wanting a baby brother has officially begun.

Merry!?

Christmas morning is so magical! I just love it! I think back to when I was a kid and those memories mean so much to me. I can’t imagine how hard my Dad must have worked to provide such a great Christmas for 5 kids year after year and all of the fun traditions my Mom stuck to.

We decided to do Christmas a little bit more simple this year. It was nice. And the truth is, it worked out great because Brinley is really humble. In fact, she said her favorite holiday is Valentine’s day because her Dad buys her flowers. This year for Christmas she asked for slippers and an umbrella. Actually, she asked for an umbrella for Christmas and slippers for her birthday (6 months from now). I told her she could ask for them both for Christmas. Everyone kept asking her what she wanted for Christmas and that’s all she could come up with, eventually she decided that it would be nice to have a magnifying glass too. I know her list won’t always come to a whopping total of $10, but for now it’s sweet. She got a letter from Santa and in the letter it said that he was working on a surprise for her and her response was, “Just one Mom? That’s ok because I don’t really need anything.”

When I grew up I had both sets of Grandparents and two Great Grandmas. My Great Grandma Eva passed away before I had the chance to meet her, My Great Grandma Robison died shortly after Dustin’s brother, Jeremy died. My Grandpa Clark died just before Christmas 4 years ago, My Grandpa Delbert died three years ago on Thanksgiving day and my Grandma Clark just died on Christmas day. Although death is always hard, nothing makes me more thankful for my children. I’m grateful that life is a circle. I can’t even imagine going through life and having to feel the sorrow of burring your loved ones without ever experiencing the utmost amount of joy when holding your newborn baby and watching them grow.

I don’t really have any super sweet one on one memories about my Grandma, but I have so many that make me laugh and put a smile on my face. You see, my Grandpa homesteaded over 1000 acres, he built a ranch and farmed a large portion of the land. I would dare say a huge amount of my childhood memories took place at the ranch. I could go on and on and on, but I remember silly things about my grandparents like feeding the pigs with my Grandpa. I can honestly still picture myself following him with his pail of slop, his overalls, his bent over back and the way he slightly drug his feet in the dirt when he walked. The ranch didn’t have electricity or a bathroom. There was just an outhouse. Looking back, I’m so glad I got to experience this and I’m so sad that my kids won’t. I said all of the memories of my Grandma make me laugh and here’s a prime example. As I mentioned above, the ranch didn’t have a bathroom and what do you think you do with a house full of little kids when they need to go to the bathroom at night? Well, you go in a bucket. If we had to go to the bathroom my Grandma would shine a flashlight that was really more like a spotlight right in our eyes and say, “Are you alright?” and then my Grandpa would say, “leave em alone.” I laugh about all of these things, but the truth is I’ve learned a very very valuable lesson from my Grandparents. When I have been hurt, when I have been used or when I have been taken advantage of and  I’m struggling with forgiveness I always think of my Grandma and Grandpa Clark I think of their example and somehow I struggle a little bit less.

Dear Lunnie,

Dear Lunnie,


I would have never thought that I could have a newborn baby and at the same time want another one, but I do. You make me want more. I love everything about being your Mom. I may slightly complain about you keeping me up at night, but truthfully if someone offered to take that job from me, I would not let them.

I can’t stop kissing your cheeks, honestly I can’t. I love your chubby little cheeks and your chubby little legs. My left hip bone is bruised from lugging your car seat around and resting it on my hip, but I wear those bruises with honor.

You have the cutest little voice ever! I just love to hear you giggle and talk.

You are the sweetest little baby in the whole world! The other day we had to run to the store and as always, you were happy. I was completely amazed when we got to the checkout line and the little baby in front of us began to cry. I watched your eyes fill up with tears and your lip begin to quiver. Lunnie, I’m your mother, I know your cries. I know your hungry cry, I know your tired cry and I know how you cry when you just want to be held. This cry was different and it was clear to not only me, but others in the checkout line as well that hearing this little baby cry made you sad, so you cried with her. Thanks for being such an angel in my life. I’m honored to be your Mom.

Love, Mom

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is my favorite!  I love it so much!  Not sure Lunnie feels the same way though.

 We normally have a big ordeal at my parents house on Christmas Eve, but we got word that my Grandma Clark was sick.  We still went out to my parents, but  we weren't there too long.

I love going to Dustin's Grandparents on Christmas Eve as well.  It's so much calmer and quieter than my parents since my girls are the only kiddos at the Cazier's.  We have fun reading Christmas stories and singing Christmas carols.

 Now that is one tired Grandpa.  He slept through the entire thing despite Kathryn's efforts to wake him.

 And apparently Dustin likes to take pictures of himself.

Notice Grandpa is still sleeping., I think he was just excited for Santa to come.

:)

I love having kids at Christmas!  And I loved having this hang in the front of our tree!

Our Girls

We are getting so good at having two kids.  We can even bathe both kids at once. 

Preschool Christmas Program

Brinley's preschool had a little Christmas program.  We were so proud of her because although she is full of life she's also really shy and hates crowds.  She normally hates getting up in front of people, we didn't even have to bribe her this time.

Making Cookies For Santa

What a fun tradition!

Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Tavie and Abi came to play with Brinley.  When these girls get together they are CRAZY!

Taking advantage of all this Sunshine