Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas Eve!





Busted attempt to get Ralph in a picture!

Sleepy babies with Daddy!

Christmas Eve Eve

Tonight Juel and I went to her first party at Miss Debby's house! Everyone enjoyed seeing my future little dancer! The annual Christmas Eve Eve party is one of my favorite traditions.












Altough it has been hard facing mom's breast cancer, we have really enjoyed some sweet time all together. Often we stay so rushed (although we were a bit busy organzing the upstairs rennovation). This week we have enjoyed lazy mornings snuggling with the babies before they went to the sitter. We watched Christmas movies and cooked fun snacks. Blessings abound!

Going to Grandmas

Travis's sweet grandma fell and broke her hip just before mom's surgery. We were really looking forward to having her at our home for Christmas this year, so in addition to being worried about her, we are also sad and miss her. Travis took Tyson last night for a visit. It is a long drive, but they both have had a good time. I can't wait until they are home.



Christmas WEEK!

We have had such a wonderful week together with Tyson and Juel. All week presents have been arriving. To spread out the fun, I have let them open some as they come...
Tearing into gifts from Aunt Cynthia!
He is in love with this saw. He even slept with!

Baby girl loves her "fish bowl"!

Crystal, Allen, Emerson and Mitchell came over one night. I did not get any good pictures, but it was lots of fun! I love sharing these special times with my forever best friend!

Uncle "Myrnen" and Aunt "Ba Ba" delivered huge bags full of toys. It was like Christmas morning! Tyson has carried this bag everywhere!

Baby Girl especially likes this guitar!

My future rockstars!

We had a wonderful visit with Aunt Amber, Jackson and Carlie. I love them so much!

Aunt Amber got snuggle time!

Baby Girl loved J-bird!

Miss Priss 1 and 2

Morgan delivered a much loved sweater dress! My girlie girl hugged it like a prize!

We had a very fun visit with the Alford girls. I look forward to this every year!

They gave Juel a beautiful copy of "Twas the Night Before Christmas"


Opening fun packages from Aunt Moo, Ceddy, Gabriel, and Izzy! Oh how I wish we could all be together to celebrate holidays!

Visiting Santa

I am not sure about this Daddy!

I'll stay with you Da Da!

Lovely family shot!

Not happening!

Somebody help me!

I think I'll just sit over here!
And eat candy canes with Gee!


 
Best attempt, thanks to wonderfully patient Santa!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Twas the Week of Christmas...

And at the Smith's house, the creatures have been stirring to say the least! I have several picture blogs planned, but I wanted to tell you all what we have been up to in the last two weeks...

Well, let's start with mom having surgery. She continues to recover very well. We are so thankful for all of her progress. She has been to the doctor to have her drains removed and will return next week to begin her reconstruction injections. She gets tired very easily and this is hard for her. She likes to be on the move, especially in December!

In the mean time we have had to clean out Grandma Juel's house so that Gregg could buy it. We are beyond thrilled that this is happening! He has already done so much to make it great! I can't wait to see it in six months! However, cleaning it out was very difficult physically and mentally. In every room, we could see so much of her. Cleaning the kitchen was the hardest part. We found so many sweet treasures, smiled at silly things she collected, cried when having to throw away various things, and hugged her clothes pretending to hug her. It was hard. I was afraid that the house would never feel the same. I have visited several times this week to see what Gregg is up to and have been so happy that the house feels so full! It is just filled with love and memories and with future promise. God is so good!

In addition, Travis's sweet Grandma "Ma" fell and broke her hip. We are so sad she is hurt. She is already beginning to recover and will be moving to a nursing/rehab facility next week. We were really looking forward to having her here for Christmas, so we will miss her so much. Travis and Tyson are visiting with her today.

This past Sunday (as in 5 days ago) as I was picking up toys scattered all over the living room, mom and I were talking about how nice it would be to finish our bonus room upstairs. When we built the house it had unfinished sheetrock, roughed in plumbing, and duct work for heating. She said that she wanted to help us begin to get it started. Later that night we talked about Jeff coming for a visit next week and Juel's birthday. Jokingly mom said, "do you think you could get it done in a week?" Well, challenge accepted! As of tomorrow morning we will have the room will be complete! It has been a whirlwind week! Clyde you would have been proud of my contracting skills. Monday the "sheet rocker" (Tyson is amused by that term!) got started, carpet was measured/ordered, and I called our heating and air neighbors. (Tuesday mom's heat pump broke, so they had to fix it as well.) Travis and I made a trip to Lowes and to choose paint. Tuesday and Wednesday the sheet rock was finished. Then Travis's friend from school came to do the trim, install the toilet/sink/showerhead and hang the doors. Wednesday night the sheet rocker, who doubles as a painter, started the paint. He finished painting today while the heat and air was installed.  The carpet man will be here at 9:00 tomorrow morning. Whew! All this while I have been taking care of mom (doctors appointments, washing her hair, helping her with things), preparing for Christmas, and planning a birthday party. Believe it or not though, it has been fun! We are so excited and feel incredibly blessed that we will have this room. So...like I said, the creatures have been stirring! I hope to have more blogs soon!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011