Merry Christmas

Yesterday we enjoyed the day with our family. It was a good day. The kids got more than they need. Isabelle said "This is the best Christmas ever!" We are truly blessed! 

Christmas-palooza ends as a New Year begins

As I sat in our Christmas Eve service at church thinking about the birth of our Savior my thoughts drifted to Dillan having a brain tumor. I thought how different life has become and how thankful I am our Savior was born. I am so very thankful He gave us the miracles surrounding Dillan's diagnosis. This Christmas has been more special with the knowledge our Savior loved us so much He chose our family to receive a gift we could share with everyone. Obviously no one would ever want anyone, let alone their own child, to suffer through having a brain tumor. However, as we sat in the PICU that first weekend prior to surgery I was overcome with a sense of peace which could only come from God. I knew no matter what happened during surgery or any point from there forward He would carry us through the rough stuff and walk with us through all the rest.
New Year's Eve always causes people to reflect on what happened during the past year and think of ways and things they'd do differently. Although our year may have had twists and turns we were not expecting I have many fond memories from 2011. I will resolve in 2012 to do things better than I did before and continue to put my trust and faith in God. I Wish everyone a very Happy and Blessed New Year!

Our last morning to wake up looking...

I have thoroughly enjoyed our elf this year. The kids have gotten up each morning excited to find him. They've gone to him and explained their actions or made sure he knew what a sibling had done to them. It is too cute listening to them talk to him. He had fun during his visit for Christmas and even baked a surprise for the kids.

He made a snow angel in the sugar from his overnight cookie baking. Each of the kids received an elf cookie.

This morning he was hiding in the tree and next him was an updated List and we all made it to the Nice List! Ethan and Dillan still had one present on the shelf to try and earn back...

Marshmallow will be missed but since he has to keep tabs on these wild Foster kids I have a feeling he will surprise us throughout the year for check-ups.

Marshmallow, Our Elf

Last year our family was blessed with an elf the kids named Marshmallow. He checked on us throughout the Christmas season and left a note to let us know he'd see us again next year. This year he arrived the beginning of December and has been bringing smiles every morning. I adore listening to all of my children as they wake up and go on the hunt for Marshmallow. He has ridden in a sleigh, gotten into a marshmallow fight with Mr Potato Head, been a crime fighter with Batman, and read stories and played board games with some of the stuffed animals. We found him going over our current Nice or Naughty standing one morning. He has been pretty well behaved compared to some elves I've heard about, however, we did find our underwear hanging in place of our stockings one morning.

Isabelle decided more of her babies should hear the story.

Mr Potato Head got hit between the eyes. Marshmallow made his fort out of all our red labeled cans :)

The kids loved Mommy being on Naughty Watch!

I've enjoyed sharing the magic our elf is bringing to our house. This morning the kids came out of their rooms to find Marshmallow had made a zip line down our stairs.

Can't wait to see what happens tomorrow.