"My Snow Angels"

We went from being the envy of the country with balmy temperature to having snow for days and doesn't look like its going to let up.  Perfect for taking the family out to play...even if it takes longer to dress them up, then how long we enjoy the outdoors:)

Mason spends most of his time face down, eating snow.  Yes I do feed him but he seems to enjoy the white treat more than anything else I give him.  Daniela loves being outside and is always watchful of her little sister, which keeps us on our toes.  The Mr would probably rather be anywhere else than outside but does it to appease me.  Abbie wasn't so pleased with snow falling in her face but fell asleep anyway, and me I love being outdoors.  Does my spirit good:)

Christmas

One of the greatest gifts I received was from my mom.  For the last couple of birthdays and occasions she has given me bits of her journal, stories from her childhood and a few pieces of memorabilia and pictures.  As I was ready it this Christmas a few entries hit me hard.  For one when my sister Michelle passed away, as a child then I just remember being  okay with it because she had just went to live with Heavenly Father.  Seemed pretty reasonable then but as a mother now reading the entry my eyes filled up and my heart ached for my parents. The knowledge that families can be together again hit home even more than ever.  I really need to do the things and encourage my better half to be sealed as a family for time and all eternity in the temple.  I love my growing little family and want to be with them forever.

The next entry made me realize that all mothers feel unappreciated sometime, the worst part of this entry was it was me 

June 27,79..... On June 18th the kindergarten had a Father's night.  Brian had his Dale Carnegie course to go to in Calgary and since Shannon didn't want to go with someone else's father I was elected.  They had a nice evening playing on the equipment in the gym, singing some songs, doing a couple of dances and passing out certificates before refreshments.  Shannon really wanted Brian to go but took his not going quite well.  It seemed to mean a lot to her that I went and several times she mentioned both that night and several days later that she was glad that I could come with her.  That made me feel good as I don't usually get too much praise from that corner.....    

That entry made me call her up instantly and apologize yet again.  Seems like I do that a ton now that I'm a mom.

Moments to remember

 Abbie, Mason and Daniela the Terrific Threesome

 New Christmas tradition, the book advent countdown. 

 Sisters are great for a lot of things....

Kisses, Kisses, Kisses, Kisses, Kisses, Kisses, Kisses, Kisses

Just want to remember these sweet moments.  I love these kiddos and my heart swells with gladness and sheer delight when I capture these moments and think about how lucky I am to be a part of their lives.

MASON - starting to talk up a storm, I love how he includes everyone in his dialogue.  "Mason hungry, Abbie hungry (mostly when she's crying he's like his dad every time she squeaks they want me to feed her) Daniela hungry, Mommy hungry, Dad hungry".  I love how Alin taught him squeeze, squeeze, squeeze and he does it all through the day, grabs us and says that followed by a "I luf you"  I love how at night I will give him a kiss and say "Sweet Dreams" and the other night I kissed him and he said it before I could get it out "Sweet Dreams"  I love how he wants to hug and kiss all the time. 

DANIELA - I love this spirited little girl, she never sits still which keeps us on her toes.  I love how she scrunches up her eyes and clenches her hands together to smile.  I love how she is a Abbie alarm clock, when ever she hears Abbie she is off running looking for her to kiss her, hug her, trying to hold her, loving her to pieces.  I love how she is in to everything and such a little character.  I love how she reaches for your hand.  I love at night how she says snuggle for me to wrap my arms around her while she drifts off for her power naps to refuel her endless energy.

ABBIE -I love this beautiful, big, brown eyed girl.  I love how she has started to smile.  How she loves to be held upright on your shoulder, how she is easy going when she is being mauled by a sister that wants to be right there with her.  I knew I wasn't done at 2 and I wanted this little girl to join our family badly.  I love how she watches you and I love all her roly polyness. 

Random pictures that make me smile

Like father like son

Mason's speech class, we loved going to it

My mom, snuggling Abbie 

My dad reading to the kids, Dani's attention only lasts so long

Grama with Abbie

Right before they flew away

All the toys in the world and this is what they play with

First black eye:( poor sweetheart

Play dough building.  Bunicu had quite the alligator built 

In Wonder

I've been thinking a lot about Christmas, the reason we celebrate and everything that goes along with that.  My mom's shortbread, stockings, family and of course the birth of Jesus.   How grateful I am for my own mother and the love and care she has shown me over the years.  I am grateful more than ever, now that I have three of my own,  the hard work, the love, the frustration, the unconditional love.  I am thankful for my mother-in-law and how she raised the man that I love, who is such a great husband and amazing father. As we have a little one in our house at this season (well a really little one, the 2 and 1 year old are little too) but having a baby sure makes me think of how I would have felt being Mary.  I am in no way comparing myself to this remarkable, gentle woman but I do feel a kinship with her as mothers.   I imagine she felt the same as we all do when about to give birth.  We want our babies to arrive on this side of the veil healthy, warm and into the hands that love them.  We are nervous of what lies ahead, we have dreams for our little ones and desire that they never know pain, hardship and loss.  Of course we know that is impossible but our instincts are to protect and love this little spirits and protect them.  I can imagine the love she felt for husband as he tried to make her as comfortable as possible in less then ideal circumstance.  How grateful I am for that mother and the guidance she showed her family and for the reason we celebrate at this time of year. I'm in awe and wonder as she held her sweet one, smelled his hair, counted his fingers and toes and held him close.  I wonder if her heart  swelled with joy and ached at the same time from the knowledge of what her son meant to the world. My goal this Christmas season is to keep Christ in Christmas and be a better mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend.