I’m not sure who had more fun, me or the girls…but fun was had by all. I got to enjoy my first little glimpse of slumber parties with my girl and her best friend Kyla. There were lots of smiles and laughs as the girls had their hair, nails and toes done. So blessed to have a little girl to do girly things with.
We headed out to our friends for an evening of games, coffee, sparkling cider, snacks, beauty parlor, movies and lots of laughs. We have been blessed by great friends from our church this year and love being a part of the body.
To have our lives centered on the Cross!
We only need one! If we commit our lives to being centered on the cross then everything and I mean EVERYTHING else will naturally fall in line.
I sure love this man!
With my love.
Fast new friends, Kiera and Jada.
Girls just want to have fun!
My sleepy guy on the way home.
The kids had their Christmas program at church and the theme was Caroling for a King. The preschoolers did Winter Snow and were dressed to look like snowflakes. Zaiden took to the stage like a champ and even did all his little moves (even though he fought me the entire month of practice). My darling Kiera got a little overwhelmed and seemed to have a bit of stage fright, but she looked precious and perfect nonetheless. It was simply adorable and the pictures do not do it justice, but hopefully between the pictures and video you get a sense for how the evening shaped up.
This was finally the year…finally the year my kids enjoyed Christmas morning or enjoyed it like I’ve been looking forward to and expecting all these years. Over the past couple years my famous line has been, “oh next year they (kids) will enjoy it (Christmas morning, stockings, opening presents etc.).” The morning started with an early visit by Gramma so she could join in all the fun festivities. We began by reading from the bible about Jesus’s birthday and a hot chocolate toast. Then we let the patiently waiting kids dig in! They both tore threw their stockings in record time. It was a little stressful trying to manage your own stocking, watch the kids and answer all their questions. Then we quickly moved onto presents and here is where things went at two different speeds. Kiera was lightning fast at finding all her presents with the letter K and proceeding to rip them open as fast as possible to get on to the next one. Z was much slower and methodically about opening his presents. He carefully examined each gift with genuine curiosity and was eager to play with all of his new treasures. From gifts we moved onto an awesome family breakfast of homemade waffles with your choice of toppings…yum!
The kids school had a little gift shop so they could all go buy a present for their parents for $.25 (what a bargain..right). If you have ever seen my kitchen I like things to mix and match nicely, all my plates, glasses and coffee cups do that…well did! My sweet son went to the gift shop and picked out a clear coffee cup with the Golden Nugget written on it in gold glittery letters. It’s tacky, a tacky treasure you pick up on your way out of Vegas for someone your forgot to get a souvenir for. Z explained to Ryan that he picked this coffee cup up for him because mommy has lots of coffee cups and daddy has none and now he has one. He also added that mommy can’t use daddy’s coffee cup. That people is what giving is all about…giving from the heart. I learned a valuable lesson this year from my sweet son’s heart. I love this tacky coffee cup and hope it stays in my cupboard forever!
What a special day, that the day we get to celebrate Jesus’s birthday on Christmas and it fell on Sunday this year. We left the house a disaster to head off to church to hear an awesome message from the Hands of the Potter. It was a powerful message that shows the plan, power and purpose of Christ, using jars of clay to illustrate His truths. It is a must see!
and I wouldn’t change a thing!
Last night I went out for a little shopping and left the hubby home with the kiddos all snug in their beds…or not. Walking into the house I noticed a sweet boy sleeping at the top of the stairs. He was enjoying a little bit of daddy’s Kung Fu movie but couldn’t hang! It was so cute I had to take a quick pic!
With birthdays come well checks at the kid’s pediatric’s office, but who knew that the 4 year check up was such a big immunization day? Clearly not me since I took him the day before our church’s Harvest Festival…ouch. He was as brave as you can ask a four year old to be who has to get five shots in his arms…FIVE! Here are a few pictures before the “fun” began!
What a cute patient from behind!
Eagerly awaiting....
The animated audience!
Let's get outta here!!!
All aboard! The Zman is officially four. This year Z was highly involved in the planning process and was very clear from the start who we were to invite and what we were going to do for his birthday. With that being said, we had a small intimate train birthday for our little man and his closest friends. Z’s special day started at the famous Fullerton Train Station for a train ride to San Juan Capistrano. Thanks to Gramma, our little conductor was all decked out in his conductor’s costume! As with any party, good food was in order so we all dined on Ruby’s famous cheeseburgers. Then we window shopped at Zoomars and finished up with train cupcakes at the station while waiting for our ride home. All the kids had a great time, which, of course, left everyone over 4 feet exhausted. You know you partied right when the kids are hopped up on sugar and the adults are barely able to keep their eyes open. Now time for a little reminiscing.
Since celebrating Z’s birthday, all I can think is, where has the time gone? When Zaiden was two months old I was a new mom suffering from sleep deprivation, baby blues and a serious case of loneliness. I recall telling my husband how this had been the longest two months of my life. At that time the thought of my life with Zaiden, as four year old, was the furthest thing from my mind…I just hoped to survive to month three. Now the challenges of that time have diminished in my mind and as the joys have grown. I can’t help but wonder, where did the last four years go? They went to learning and growing! You have come so far my little man, so let’s take a look at the past year and see all that you have accomplished.
You officially entered the big boy world just days before your 3rd birthday when you mastered the potty. Learning how to pedal and steer your classic red trike was quite a long, and at times frustrating process, but you ultimately were able to master how to work that tricky trike. Not only did you master that trike you outgrew it in the same year and have since moved on to a big boy 16″ inch bike. This new bike is a bit big for you and thankfully it came equipped with training wheels that act as an anchor while you climb safely to the seat before taking a spin around the block.
You and your sister, Kata Bear, have grown into best buddies this year. It’s so fun to watch the two of you play and pretend together. Since this new friendship has blossomed so nicely, and you two have gotten to know each other so well, it now seems that one of your favorite things to do is pester your Kata Bear, over and over again.
Along the year you developed the sometimes adorable, sometimes annoying, question “WHY?” Of course, we can never answer to your satisfaction the first time; you always feel the need to ask “WHY?” again. I have to say that your brain must be working overtime Mr. Man because you ask some crazy good questions that mommy has been unable to answer…thank goodness for Google. I can only imagine the resources I’m going to need in the near or immediate future to feed your growing curiosity.
I am happy to report that your eating habits are starting to improve. You finally started to eat some veggies (aside from those hidden in your smoothie) this year and have discovered a love for red peppers (even if it is a fruit). All this healthy eating is starting to pay off. You’ve shed just enough to lose your pants (literally) more than a few times while playing. Time to cinch up that belt!
Something that became apparent this year is that you are your father’s child. Your father has enlisted as a partner in his “Safety 1st” campaign and you, my son, are his best lieutenant. I have been told I’m driving too fast and should slow down, asked numerous times if my seat belt is on or if I am using my bluetooth to talk. You have also taken the title “big brother” very seriously and are the first to offer any assistance when needed to calm an upset Kata Bear.
Even with all this growing and changing I love that you still love to snuggle and will often come and tell me that, “I need some cuddles”. You can still fit in my lap (barely), but I want to make sure to snag all the snuggles and cuddles I can get. I fear my sweet, emotional, curly topped, two colored eyed boy, that as quickly as the last four years have gone by, the next four and more will go just as fast.
With all our love,
Mommy & Daddy
I learned an important life lesson today; don’t wait for tomorrow. I’ve heard it before but today I learned it on a personal note. One of my dear friends lost her mother this afternoon and my heart feels heavy tonight for many reasons. I’m sad for my friend who has now lost both of her parents in just 3 short years. I’m sad for her beautiful children that won’t get to know their maternal grandparents. I’m sad because my sweet friend is sad. I’m sad that I never took the time to go see her in the hospital, to bring her flowers, a hug, a smile, or just a friendly “hello”. I was waiting for…tomorrow. What happens when tomorrow never comes? Those are the times we are left with little life lessons. While my heart is sad I can rejoice that Sharon Campbell is in a better place without any pain or suffering and she is with Jesus now!
Psalm 30:5
Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Just yesterday my darling son thought it would be a good idea to carve his fork all over one of the dining room chairs. What do you think of his latest work?
Z's handiwork!
Thankfully they are just cheap Ikea chairs but it reminded me of one of our first post on the Lewis Link blog way back when Z was just a little tyke. That post from way back is titled opps. Ryan is always telling me how you can’t buy new furniture (since I’m always insisting what we “need”) with young children as they are just going to ultimately destroy it. I’m sure there have been other casualties over the past four years but only two are actually put into writing! So Z’s act of destruction continues…
