Christmas Love Part I

Hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone.  We had a fabulously relaxing, blessed and happy holiday with my parents in tow.  I'm still smiling at the thought of our 5 solid days of quality family togetherness.  It definitely helps matters when there are 2 extra adults to share in the overload of kid time, so that added to the happy.  In an attempt to wrap up our festivities, we'll be sharing a plethora of holiday geared posts.  Too much holiday cheer to wrap up into one. 

To kick off the season of giving, we allowed the kiddos to open their G-ma V and G-pa Marc gifts prior to Christmas week.  We missed them this Christmas, but they had an opportunity to go to England for 5 days and had a fantastic trip.  Christmas is also Marc's birthday, so this was well deserved.  As is the norm, they spoiled the little ones and us big ones.  Their generosity overwhelms us each and every year.

 Squirt was gifted 3 appliances for her play kitchen. Huge hit for our little busy body.

 This Lego set was assembled, in full, almost immediately following.  It's amazing how our little 5 year old can put these things together on his own.  Puts his Mama to shame.

 Who would have thought a Camel back would make for a successfully exciting Christmas gift for a 5 year old?  Only Dude.  This will come in handy for our hiking and let's face it, even a walk around the block.  He gets tired ridiculously fast.

 Squirt thought Dad's shiny new tools were rather awesome.

 Introducing my new, soft as a baby's butt, leather camera purse.  Exactly what this girl wanted to keep my camera baby safe and sound. 

 
How darling is this?  Squirt will ADORE riding around the hood on this pink beauty come Spring. 

 

THANKS Mom and Marc.  We feel loved and spoiled year round, but especially at Christmas.  Can't wait to share all our gifts with you in person, hopefully soon!   

A Performance and Some Sheas

Duder and his church buds entertained the congregation with some lovely Christmas hymns last Sunday.  By "entertaining," I mean just that.  What's not entertaining about watching a bunch of kids either belt out the words, sit down and refuse to participate, stick their entire hand in their mouth, pick their noses etc.  Luckily Dude passed with an average grade of participation, which tickled us pink. 

 

That night our favorite Sheas came over to deck the halls.  We ate some darn good Pinterest Paninis and salad, had the kids open gifts and took them all, PJ's in tow, to watch the "Dancing House" just down the block.  This house has lights that dance to music on an FM frequency and is the highlight of the Christmas season for the kids in the hood.  Dude about pees himself every time we tell him we're going.  We had a cozy night with great friends who make it seem like we have family right across the street.  Thanks for celebrating the season with us Sheas!   

 The sign had fallen down, which was a big problem for the kids.  Maria to the rescue. 

Look at those faces of anticipation.  I could just eat um all up. 

For Unto Us a Child Is Born

Silent Night.  Holy Night.  All is calm, all is bright.  Sleep in heavenly peace.  Sleep in heavenly peace.  From our family to yours, Merry Christmas.

If you find my children even remotely endearing, this video should make you smile.  Just take my mama bear word for it. 

Squirt Video Snippits

Here are some charming little visual snippits from my little dudette and also from our Christmas night with the Syers.  Enjoy.

On days like this...

On days like today, I hug my kids tighter.  I thank God many more times than normal.  I beg him to protect my kids during the times when I can't.  I pray for evil to be stomped on and dominated by the good of this world and the peace of Christ.  On days like today, I weep for all those families who didn't have a kid to pick up at school today.  For their broken hearts and their forever changed lives.  This tragedy has rocked the country and will continue to do so.  Especially for those who had kids to pick up at school this afternoon.  I noticed a lot of lingering hugs when little ones came running out of the school doors.  Hugs that couldn't be explained to the kids for fear they would never want to go to school again.  For fear they would see the evil we all see and would be forced to grow up faster than we want them to.  When really, we're all just praying that our school won't fall victim.  That we won't be on the world wide news for such an unthinkable act of evil.  We just want our kids to be safe in the places they should be.          

I can't stop the tears today.  And so I thought I would share my beautiful Kindergartner with you.  He's tucked up in bed, safe and sound.  He has no idea how the world changed today.  And for today, I'm so incredibly grateful for that.  Dear God, have mercy.     

Lovin' December

We've been lovin' our December at home.  Knowing that we don't have to travel for the holidays makes the season that much sweeter and more relaxing.  My parents will come next week for Christmas, which is perfect.  The kids are craving some grandparent time and I'm pretty sure Nana and Papa are ready to dish it out. 

For the first time in 10 years, Mile High Vogels didn't make the trek up to God's country to get a Charlie Brown tree.  Instead we drove 1.72 miles to delectably delicious Whole Foods and bought ourselves a real gem.  Full branches, soft green piney needles, fresh Frasier fir scent....we'll be back to Charlie next year, so we're enjoying every minute of owning this princess of a tree.  Fortunately, Squirt has agreed to respect our wishes/demands of keeping her adorably chubby paws off. 

Given the jam packedness of December, we did our family Christmas night with the Syers fam early.  This is night we (the adults) look forward to all year.  We open gifts with the 5 kids and promptly ditch their little booties with babysitters.  We then go to our annual Italian restaurant, get waited on, sip on a whole lotta wine and beer and eat food worth oohing and aahing about for as long as our hearts desire.  And we talk.  And talk.  And it's so lovely.

And we'll conclude with a summary of our mischievous little Elf on the Shelf, aka, Elfie.  I know, super original.  He appears in a new location each morning after reporting back to Santa on our behavior for the day.  Elfie wants to make sure we're being kind and loving during the Christmas season.  Just like Jesus would want us to do.  We're doing our best to tie Santa and his elves in with Jesus and his birth.  Just roll with it.  It seems to be clicking.   
 

Elfie finds himself in HILARIOUS predicaments each day.  He ate a bunch of Dude's gumballs throughout that day, drew mustaches and beards on us below, had a snowball fight with other stuffed characters....it's a treat every morning to search for his where-abouts.  Squirt has only touched him once (he loses magic if touched).  Dude about shat his pants when he saw him laying on the floor, but we calmly explained that babies are allowed to touch him since they don't understand.  Crisis averted.

Hope you and yours are enjoying your December. 

Vogel Fam Photo Overload

Our Cara recently joined us at the park on a sleeting, rainy morning to take some family photos.  Why?  We were dressed and ready to go and the forecast did NOT call for sleet until 1:00pm.  They were wrong.  Bless Cara's heart.  Given the gloom of the day, the camera didn't quite cooperate with the appropriate lighting, but she still managed to get some pretty darn cute ones.  While on the subject, Kira was on hand last weekend to snap some shots of us at Daniel's Park.  Here we are, in all our splendor.