A time That Warms My Heart

There is so much to be said about this holiday season.  A year ago I remember being completely exhausted and scared for my son.  I remember feeling lost because we didn't know what was going on with him.  I remember not being in the mood for the holidays. 

 

This year feels completely opposite.  Mack is getting better and day by day we are more hopeful in his healing.  His numbers aren't the best, but they are steady.

 

This year we have begun to feel safe.

 

To start this holiday season, we headed to the lake to be with my family.  It warmed my heart because we were surrounded with family for three days.  We even had my great grandpa with us!

The day started with running a 10K!  It was the longest I've run and it made me realize I could do a half marathon!  Mark ran with his friend (ahead of me) and I started with my sister-in-law Heidi.  We started off fast (for me), but it was great because it pushed me to hold that pace and I finished in a time I couldn't believe!  My other sister-in-law Sarah (who just ran the Chicago marathon) ran with my niece for the 5K-it was Millie's 2nd 5k!!  I didn't run my first until I was 30!  It was a cold morning, but great to be surrounded by inspiring people.

When we got back to the lake, my parents and brother were already busy in the kitchen.  The smells filled the air.  We jumped in to help as much as we could, but I was a little weak after the run...until the Champaign was popped!

We were attempting a family photo...again...

Avery has started to be interested in taking pictures.  Here are a few:

Avery told my parents how excited she was for Papa 2 to come.  She said he was so cool!

My other two kids would NEVER go to anyone.  Lincoln is sweet to love on everyone-usually it's my mom, but he did a little bonding with my brother this week.  It's different to not have him always begging to be held, but I love seeing him with others.

We had two turkeys and a Turducken!  We had plenty of food!

Mack wanted a paper airplane...I can't make one, but Papa 2 could!

One not so pleasant discovery for Lincoln was escaping out of his Pack-n-Play!  Yes, this is fun with a 21 month old!  He was a little mess because he wasn't sleeping.  Here is papa trying to make him happy:

At the end of the night we popped popcorn and watch Christmas Vacation.

The kids are completely exhausted, but my heart is filled with warmth and memories!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Fa La La #$%&

My title might be a little dramatic, but I'm going to chalk this past Saturday as our WORST outing as a family.  We are used to drama, fits, Lincoln running away, and the fast pace.  Having three this close in age hasn't stopped us from doing what we want as a family (except restaurants-those are on hold with Lincoln).  Don't get me wrong, I love having three kids, but the truth is that third kid is a GAME CHANGER!

 Everyone is looking cute right?

 Then all hell broke out!

 Mark and I were excited.  We were trying a new farm, it was a beautiful day, and everyone was healthy.  We didn't take into count that Lincoln has discovered he can also escape from his crib.  This in turn, doesn't allow him or Mack to sleep well.  AND then decided it would be fun to include Avery into this madness of waking up early.

 No one would take a family picture.  Here we are posing in front of our tree...

 Or we thought.  Nope we decided it wasn't right, but at this point we were done and ready to leave.  Therefore we don't have any pictures of us in front of our actual tree.

 Someone was always crying, refusing to walk, or wanting to be carried!

 It was a little better once we pumped some hot chocolate into them.

 After naps is when I take everything away I just wrote!  They woke up and we were able to have the best evening together as a family.  Christmas music was on, the kids participated, and they were all happy!

 Three is a lot.  It's completely different not being equal, but you know what?  I can complain all I want.  At the end of the day when we are at home together, we are so happy and feel blessed to have these three beautiful babies by our sides. 

 Who's excited to be a Watson?  These two are!!!!

The Christmas season is in full swing at our house!  Cheers to more nights like this!

The BEST Husband in the World

Yes, I know it's a bold statement, but so so true! We've had a stressful year and lately we've been able to take some time together and let our guard down with Mack. What better way to have fun then to spend a week together as a couple and as a family, to celebrate the worlds best husband?

We woke up and had a wonderful breakfast before he headed to work.  While we were at work Avery decorated the dinning room and made a special chair for her daddy.

 We opened presents and had a yummy dinner-the kids weren't the best during this time, but as soon as the cake came out, they were all in better moods!

This is Lincoln pouting!

 My kids love sweets...like a lot!

We were super lucky to have Nanny and Papa H. take all three of our kids for a sleep over-the first time all three were away!  We were overly excited to go out for an adult dinner with our friends Celine and Mike.  It had been over a year since we were alone with no kids!  It was just what we needed as a couple.  It was nice to finally catch up with some special friends.

We picked the kids up the next morning and they didn't want to leave!  We headed back over to their house in the evening to conclude our celebrations with the Watson family.  The cousins had some fun!  Mack and Cohan have become buddies!

Lincoln loves having Ireland around.  He loves to look at her and gives the occasional kisses.

 

Happy birthday to the BEST husband in the world.  You truly deserved to be celebrated, you do so much for our family and have been there for all of us during the worst year of our lives!  I love you Mark!  The kids love you more than you will ever know!

Paper, Writing...It Never Stops!

My passion is literacy education.  My masters degree has an emphasis in literacy.  I cherish children's writing and the process young children take to evolve into writers...

I guess if you came to our house you would see how my passion has carried over.  This isn't the best for an OCD cleaner, but it makes my heart so happy!  I will take the mess any day if my kids find the beauty in writing and creating stories.

Growing up I would make books like crazy, but a lot of my creativity was crushed by my third grade teacher.  I still remember that year and the fear I developed to read out loud.  Now I kick my self for missing out on all those years of reading.  Reading and writing go hand in hand.  I can tell children who come from families that cherish reading.  Their stories are full of beautiful language and they love to write stories. 

We read a lot!  I was told I wouldn't sit still to read when I was younger.  I thought this was going to be Lincoln...

I was so wrong.  He absolutely loves to sit in our laps and listen to books.  He points to the pictures and (in Lincoln language) asks questions.

It can take us a long time to get through books because we have embraced all the questions about books.  They will touch and feel and wonder about the stories we read.  They now ask amazing questions-another aspect I love about kids.  Yesterday, Avery was wondering how we got water and how water got to a water tower.  That is one example of many.  My hope is Mark and I foster this.  My hope is we NEVER let a mean Ms. Cavert into our child's lives.  Because right now our house is full of little people questioning the world!

There may be paper, markers, crayons, color pencils, and journals all over our house, but it will be like this as long as they love it.

For Christmas I have found an old school desk I'm going to fix up and fill a basket FULL of any writing material you can think of!  I can't wait!!!