Christmas 2012

We celebrated Christmas this year with Bunicu and Bunica.  We have picked up a new tradition of the book advent and I loved doing it.  So on Christmas Eve we finished our last book, unwrapped Christmas pj's and then went to bed with anticipation of the morning.  Alin had spent several hours on the kids Christmas present, he made a train table, lined it with felt and the best part of it was that he screwed the pieces to the table so this momma wouldn't have to go to their rescue a million times a day:).  We put a sheet over top of it and then waited to see their faces. 

Bunicu and Bunica

How it really is, trying to get a picture:)

 

 

 

 

 

I made everyone shirts either  red or green letters.  So we would all have something to open Christmas Eve for are pj's and even did them in Romanian:).  I love having little traditions that were in my family growing up become traditions in the family we are raising.  We always got to open a little present Christmas Eve.  There was always lots of good food, friends stopping by and lots of laughter.  My Christmas wish is that my children grow up with the same kind of memories.

Our little family, don't they just look so stinkin cute in their Christmas pajamas, and another picture to show them off a little

Mason, Abbie and Daniela

Real life posing again:)

 

 

 

 

They honestly played with this all morning and we had a hard time tearing Mr. M away to even eat.  It was a hit!

 

No...let me tell you about my day

Jan 4, 2013 Well I hate writing such negative things in my journal but just so you know that all days are not a bowl of peaches or cherries however the saying goes.  Regardless, no kind of fruit. 

It started like every other day at 3 o'clock in the morning With Miss Daniela waking up crying mama mama, after  getting her some more milk and a couple of snuggles she eventually ends up in our bed.  Which,  surprisingly enough doesn't have my husband sleeping there, as he has now had to go soothe Mason.  Keep in mind that Abbie has been nursing every two hours.  Real morning arrives at 5:00 Which means kids are up and have no intention of going back to sleep, I hop in the shower with Miss Abbie she's totally stuffed up trying to de-congestion this little babe.  I step out of the shower only to hear Mason and Daniela going at it.  Ughhhh  I crawl back into bed wishing I could have a day off.  When pressed  my husband replies "sorry there is no days off, this is a life sentence and here comes the warden now" as we hear Daniela speed walk to our room.  I laugh, I feel recharged by comic relief.  Little did I know I should have enjoyed those few moments more. 

We head off to the doctor's appointment,  vaccines for Abbie and a check up for me, The usual getting ready disasters a blow out before you head out the door, throw up on my shoulder but those are the normal things. When you have kids of your own you'll understand.  We pull up at the doctors office it's snowing now I'm unloading Abbie when a man asked me if you need any help with that,  first and last kind comment of the day.  I say no thanks because I have 3 in there to get organized, he kindly smiles and says "WOW"  in the doctors office the kids destroy the room pulling pamphlets out, getting into the filing cabinets. Abbie screaming I'm not sure why as we haven't even seen the Dr yet.  I have to nurse her to get her calmed down only to look at the other side and be soaked to my knees, yes there's that much (lack of milk is not my problem) I now look over at Dani as she has taken her shoes and socks off again.  This goes  on all day with her, any minute we are stopped off they come (5 times already and it's not even noon) Mason has again pulled out all the pamphlets, when I'm cleaning that up he's going into the filing cabinets (keep in mind I have a little one stuck to my chest while I try and contain the other two)...utter chaos.  Abbie gets her vaccines, one in each leg as she screams and doesn't stop till we get home which doesn't happen for another hour.  The Dr looks at me and says that  I need my  flu shot and we will do it today while your here.  Yah! Then we start to discuss why I'm here needless to say that after 3 babes in 3 years my body needs some healing, which means I'm off to get some x-rays done of my pelvis area and some blood work.  I bundle everyone and screaming Abbie and head to the x-ray lab only to wait and then be told "we can't do it for you unless someones here to watch your kids",  I leave. I then head to get blood work done and the line-up is ridiculous, which on a normal day is fine but now Mr. M has started to whine, he's hungry, Dani is sitting barefooted again.
 I leave without getting it done when I hear "Are those all yours?" as they glance at a barefooted girl in the stroller, Mason hanging off my arm and Abbie screaming in her car seat.  "Yes" I answer as positively as I can.  She should and could have stopped there, but she kept going.  "There really close together" "yep, my husband and I wanted a close family " Surely not that close, I hope you're done now.  That's too many kids". Really you feel the  need to keep talking to me, and with a look of disgust as you can see I'm kind of busy.  I head out the door just in time to hear someone else say " your expecting again?". As a matter of fact no my baby is 2 months old i realize i still have a tummy so thanks for noticing.  are the comments done yet... not quite just when we've made it almost out the door another lady decides to give an already worn out, frustrated, at the brink of tears mom another bit of  advice as i now have 3 screaming, hungry upset kids. "you really need to nip those tantrums in the bud"...we get home I take them out one at a time trying to deal with the loudest  screamer first.  they have a snack i sit down to nurse again,  I look over and hear Mason say oh oh as he's writing in pen on our new leather couches. I take the pen away just in time to hear a crash, Dani has stepped up and grabbed a glass trinket and it crashes to the floor breaking into 3 pieces.  Abbie is super unhappy she's already feeling the effects of being poked and is miserable.
Alin walks in the door...quick kiss and I hurry to leave to go back to try and get my x-ray and blood work done.  Everyone needs to be fed before I go, I make tortellini no one likes it or eats it.  I leave its about 20 min drive.  When there,  the X-ray tech says this is Such an unusual request I've only done it once, finally finish and head for blood work.  She can't find a vein(she should have used my head as I feel I'm going to blow a gasket.)  Head home. 
Start to cook a super healthy meal consisting of Baked coconut chicken,strawberries,carrots mango salsa... No one likes it mason doesn't want supper, Alin says he's full (standard answer when he doesn't like things) and the last straw which had tears of frustration fall was our miss d who eats anything refused to eat.  There's more but I think I've vented enough, I'd like a redo as I've demolished all my New Years resolutions today.  So goodnight from this tired, frumpy, frazzled, still looking pregnant,  gray haired momma. PS it's only 5 so my goodnight wont be for a while, maybe ill have another New Years countdown and start this year again;)

"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.