Christmas Morning

Lydia crawled into bed with us and laid there for a good thirty minutes before she remembered there were presents waiting to be opened.  There was no turn-taking this year; the kids just quickly went from one present to the next but were thrilled with each and every thing they received.  Thank you so much for all the gifts.  Santa brought them very little this year because the tree was already full from gifts from family.  Megan

Merry Christmas!

A failed attempt to make a Christmas card left me frustrated and cardless this year.  This blog post is the next best thing.  Lydia got the idea to re-create her Christmas pageant this morning.  I'm pretty proud of what I was able to scrounge together in the matter of 15 minutes!  She was in tears when she realized no one was actually going to attend our pageant, but the photo we captured is priceless. Merry Christmas!  

Love to you all, 

Megan (the Snow Angel)

John (Joseph or as Lydia calls him "Uncle Joe")

Lydia (Mary)

Jack  (2 year old who refused to put on a costume)

Big Barbie (the Shepard)

Ugly Baby Doll (Baby Jesus)

Happy Birthday Jack!!!

Happy second Birthday Jack!  We started with grandiose plans to return to Sea World today.  Those plans then changed to a visit to the Train Museum and changed AGAIN to simply cake and presents.  And you know what?  Cake and presents was perfect.  It was all Jack need to have a special day.  Megan 

My Snowangel

Lydia's preschool Christmas pagent was last night.  Seeing her walk in as th Snowangel was the highlight of my week.  She smiled and sang loudly.  Very proud parent moment.  Megan

Sea World Christmas Party

One great thing about the Coast Guard is they have spectacular holiday parties!  Yesterday was the Sector Christmas party, which was hosted at Sea World.  Santa, crafts, rides, door prizes, photo booth, animals--the kids were in heaven!  Megan

Lydia & Jack Growing Up

Lydia is going to be entering kindergarten next year!  She loves pretend play, particularly re-enacting movies in costume with music.  She is kind-hearted and always nice to other kids we encounter, most of the time to her brother.  She doesn't sit still for long and loves to "help," be it cooking or fixing things around the house with her dad.  I am incredibly proud of who she is becoming.

Jack is going to be two next week!  I didn't realize a child this young could make me laugh so much.  He is expressive and funny.  He is affectionate but at the same time very much a rough boy.  Jack is talking up a storm and can tell you pretty much everything he wants, which in most cases is to have or do whatever he sees Lydia doing.  Jack is a joy to be around.