Sounds of Christmas........

For me, Christmas music is one of my favorite things about the Holidays!

This year, we have our own pianist that will play for us on request!!

(in fact, he started playing Jingle Bells 2 months ago!)

It has been so much fun seeing Mitch enjoy piano. Throughout the day we will ask for "one more" song and he never disappoints his fans! I have never had to ask or remind Mitch to practice. ( I know, every mothers dream!)

He fills our home with music.

Mandi joined the choir this year in middle school! On Thursday they had their first concert.I really hope this is something she wants to continue! We can already see how she is developing her musical talent, and in just a few short months!

I love to hear Mandi sing.

Yes, with a wrestler in the family.........

cheering, yelling, and whistle blowing are also sounds of Christmas!!

Especially now that Mac is in High School. Their season is before, during, and after Christmas!

This past weekend Mac had a tournament, where 24 High schools from around the state,(and one from Nevada,) participated.

They wrestled 6 different duals, so Mac had 6 matches. We only have pictures from one match.......

However, these say it all. The picture with the referee about to call the pin.......this happened all 6 times!

He was the only undefeated 103 lb at the tournament.

Not a bad way to start off the season!

"If you weren't my sister, I would marry you."

I'm not sure what happened before I started listening......or what prompted all this "sweet talk"! ? But, I just overheard this private little conversation and it made the 20 huge messes they have already created this morning, seem not soooo bad. I know I can't post EVERY word my toddlers say....but I couldn't help myself on this one!

"Justin, I like your clothes. "

"Thanks Grace, I like your clothes."

"Justin, I like your shoes."

"Thanks Grace,(he looks down and sees she doesn't have shoes on)

I like your feet! "

Gracie giggles and says "Thank you."

" Gracie, I'm almost five and I'm getting really strong! I will be strong enough to punch you, but don't worry I would never do that. You are my sister and

I love you."

(no comment from Gracie, I'm not sure she knew how to take that one!)

"Gracie, if you weren't my sister, I would marry you. You are sooooo beautiful. Actually Grace, when I am a dad...

I will marry you!"

Gracie gave him a hug.

Christmas Oranges....

Here is where it all began!

The first,(but not last,)

Christmas orange creation.
I wanted to show how we decorate our home for Christmas!
"Christmas Designs", created by Gracie! Gracie eats clementines like candy! She calls them "cuties" (or sometimes "peaches." ) For the last 2 weeks I have been hearing her trying to wake up Justin with the yummy tempting thought of cuties. "Justin, wake up....wanna go get some peaches?!"
In years past I may not have found orange peels ALL OvEr My HoUsE~ something so endearing! Perhaps because I will never have a three year old again, this makes me smile. I do eventually have to throw them away, but not to worry more "designs" pop up everyday! We will forever now look at cuties not only as a yummy winter fruit......but as fabulous Christmas decor!!
(oh, and don't let the swimming suit throw you....these pictures were taken this week.)
Thought I would also post some of our more "typical" holiday traditions! However, I don't think this festive creation will last until Christmas. The candies keep "falling" off....:) Hmmmmm..... The orange gumdrops went first, then the yellow.(their my favorite.)

"Families that work together....Stay together!"

Where were Mac and I during this "family work" you may ask???!!!:)
Mac had wrestling......however, he got the fun job of bagging the leaves. I told him we should have taken a picture! For some reason, he didn't mind.

And for me... well, I will be honest. I got out of ( i mean missed out on ) all the fun.

I thought Lou took some great pictures!

First Snow!

First SNOW!! Does it count as a "first snow" if it only lasts an hour?

I guess it should if my kids played in it for the entire hour! Mitch got a taste of it before he headed off to school. Justin and Gracie enjoyed every minute of the little snow fall we had.

Notice Justin's attempt at Snow Angels, and if you look really close to the pictures on the trampoline, you can see them taking turns throwing snowballs at each other! Although, I think I have to say the highlight,as it usually is, was coming in for hot chocolate.

A Day of "FIRSTS"!!!!!!!

We just got back from Mac's first High School dual. I assured Mac I would NOT be posting about every High School dual he has this year!! However......how often do you have a FIRST HIGH SCHOOL DUAL while being the only Freshman on Varsity??!!!!

They usually start the dual with the lighter weights. Tonight's dual ended ,(and was won,) with the lightweights!! The picture is bLuRrY , but if you notice the score of the match and the team score,(they were down 2 points before Mac's match.) You will see why I have no voice left! My head is also spinning from all the yelling and cheering from the crowd! Mac commented on the way home, "it's night's like tonight that make all the hard work worth it." Wrestling is definitely a Love/Hate sport. Tonight..... was all "Love"!

Mac's match being at the end of such a great team comeback, couldn't have made for a better night of "firsts" !

And yet, it did! Lou and I used the dual as an excuse to have a "date night."

(2 hours holding hands while I dig my fingernails into Lou's palms with nervous energy, could be worse!)

We got two of the BEST babysitters ever so we could have a "worry free" evening. I would tell you who they are, but I want to keep this valuable secret to myself for as long as I can!:)

We came home to happy kids AND a clean house! This makes for a very happy mom!

Thank you Mitch and Mandi!!

p.s. Oh, and just in case you can't tell.....Mac is the one with his arm,being raised.....:):)
"

My friend never has to go home.......

Justin and I were talking about how some families only have one child. This seemed to bother him, and then he replied, "That's so sad! When they are playing with a friend and it's time to go home, they won't have a friend anymore! My friend NEVER has to go home!"

Words can not describe the joy these two best friends have brought into our home. We couldn't imagine our family complete without them. Daily we watch them play,create,discover,(and make messes:) for hours on end ,and think," is this for real?" Toddlers have such a way of bringing the spirit into the home! Even on the craziest, grumpiest kind of day their smiles,hugs,and unconditional love melt you and bring a smile. They remind us of the best things in life,

Living,loving,and forgiving

It's not uncommon when one child is put on "bench time", for the other child to come and sit by them, or be the first to let me know when the timer has gone off, and bench time is through. Their love and compassion for each other brings forgiveness without hesitation. :) (Sometimes it may take 2 minutes.) It is never worth staying mad if they could be playing and having fun!!

Today Justin was teasing Gracie, (yes he is a tease!!!) Gracie was upset! I said,"Justin, don't be a bugger!! "Gracie immediately jumped in saying," Justin is not a bugger mom, be nice!" (Forget that Justin was running around the house hiding her baby!)......Don't you dare call her brother a bugger! At this, Justin stopped teasing and looked at her and me. I said with smile, "Wow, Justin your sister sure loves you! You are being a stinker and she wants me to be nice to YOU!" He smiled,went over to give her a big hug AND her baby. "Gracie your baby is so cute, want to go play?"

You know when one of them is mad.....because you will hear the worst possible thing they can think of saying to each other..........."I won't sleep in your bed!"
I'm not sure what they will do next year when Justin heads off to Kindergarten without her! I'm sure I will hear daily joyous reunions when he comes home. One of the sweetest sounds I hear each morning is them saying "Good morning!" to each other with such love you would think they hadn't seen each other in a week!

What also warms my heart, is the knowledge that these two learned how to love by all the love they have seen and felt. They have been blessed with siblings that love each other.

At the end of the cRaZy schedules, and the "not so perfect "and sweet days, this is all that matters.