"Its Christmas time and the ponies"...

Christmas music is my absolute favorite, especially when you don't know the words to a popular Christmas Carol "You don't have to be a child, to love the symphony"(Breathe of heaven), or my all time favorite,"its Christmastime and the ponies"(Silver Bells). I am sad that I have to wait another 11 months before I can enjoy and butcher the seasonal music again.

Speaking of the Christmas season, this was the first year that Dylan really understood what was going on and it couldn't have been more magical. He watched the Polar Express every morning upon waking up and couldn't wait to see Santa come Christmas day. He was so excited to see Santa that he didn't end up falling asleep until 11:30 on Christmas Eve, it was too cute. On top of this, this was our first Christmas that we spent as a family alone, and it was absolutely perfect. On Christmas eve we did have a Jesus cake (see earlier Jesus post), and on Christmas morning Dylan was amazed and quite mad that Santa had eaten a few bites of Jesus cake that was left out for him. It was very cute!

We opened up all of our gifts slowly, playing with each and every one. The highlights of the day were of course Dylan's new scooter from the great grandparents, the kids records and player from the wests (a childhood favorite), the fishtank wich sadly had no fish in it due to their untimely death come Christmas morning (Cameron was hiding it form the kids and I and when he came up from downstairs Christmas morning, he had a sulk on his face and all he could say was, "one of the gifts didn't work out".) It was sad, but we went as a family the next morning to pick out some new fish (which died while we were in the hospital for four days with Syd...poor fishies). The kids also received a swing set from the Mounts, this was their biggest surprise. The swing set was the last thing that they saw of course. We had spent 3 hours the day earlier putting it together and hiding it in the garage. When we brought Dylan out to see it he was so stunned and he quietly pointed, "whats that". He then took off running to the slide to try it out. It was super cute. I live for those moments!Sydney also loved her swing that we hooked onto the swingset. She can't stop giggling now that she can swing quite a bit higher.After all was said and done guess who showed up? All of our cousins here in town. It couldn't have been a better surprise. We LOVE when they come over! We felt so loved and we were so glad to be around family.

Sydney and Lucy

Yesterday was a fun day! We woke up and went to Ali's house to bake Christmas treats for all of our friends. We started at 11 and didn't stop until 5:30. It was crazy! The fruits of our labors are listed: peppermint bark, caramel cookies, divinity, peanut butter balls, skor bars, peppermint fudge, rocky road fudge, tablet (a Scottish candy), and some yummy chocolate/peanut brittle. After a long day of slaving away in the kitchen we went caroling to our friends houses. It was great fun, and the added 20 degree weather really added to the moment, (especially since I didn't have a jacket!). Ugh. Anyway here is a fun video of Sydney and Lucy playing while we cooked. Even Dylan is in it helping unwrap the baking candies...what a helpful boy! I reluctantly cut his hair yesterday. We have been wanting it to grow out again, but I just can't stand that inbetween stage. How does it look?

Alexis Emily West

She is here! Alexis arrived yesterday at 5:24 pm. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 inches long (I wish mine could be that small!). She is beautiful. Cheree did a great job, and I know that she and Jeremy both are happy proud parents. Congrats you two! I can't wait to meet her in January! I am such a proud aunt!

Its a go...

My niece is coming, my niece is coming! Alexis West, what a beautiful name for what is going to be a beautiful girl. It is finally a go as Cheree and Jeremy are finally in the hospital, hooked up and dilated, (is that too much info, I hope not). I can't wait for them to experience this miracle. Congrats you two! I can't wait to see her! Push Cheree, Push!

Santa Claus is comin' to town

Dylan and Sydney were finally able to see Santa today! Dylan has been singing "Santa Claus is coming to town" all week to gear up for the big event. We took the kids earlier in the week to the mall to see Santa but it was like $25 for one measly 3x5. Ridiculous! And on top of that, the Santa was way too skinny and scary looking. Needless to say, I didn't want that to be Sydney's first experience with Santa. We also missed Santa at the library due to Syd's Pneumonia (D was not very happy). So, today our church had a breakfast with Santa and guess what Dylan asked for? A cake. Easy peesy! Earlier this week he asked for a playground but after I told him it was too big he said he wanted a slide. Perfect! I can't wait to see his face when he sees his swing set with a slide! FUN!

All I want for Christmas...

I am tired and all I want is an undisturbed nap. I was reminded today of a funny incident that happened four years ago upon our arrival to England. Cameron and I just arrived to Uncle Jim's and we couldn't wait to put our stuff away and go explore. Minutes later a photo was taken of us hunched over, knees on the floor and heads planted face down on the bed. We actually slept like that for a couple hours before we woke up in our drool and saw that it was dark outside.
Today was another one of those days where I could sleep anywhere. I passed out playing in Dylan's room, (in his bed which is 3 feet by 8 feet), and luckily awoke 5 minutes later to Sydney screaming because Dylan was trying to brush her teeth (or lack thereof).

I need a nap.

Christmas Shopping

Going to the mall is a family event. Cameron stays at the soft toys with the kids while mommy shops, or vice versa. It is the only way to get our Christmas shopping done.

Here is Sydney LOVING the tunnel tree toy, and her mommy.












Sorry DD, its time to go. Blow a kiss to the soft toys.

Happy Birthday Maddie!

Happy Birthday Maddie! We love you!

"Sunny days chasing the clouds away..."

It has been a while since my last post. Sydney went to the ER two weeks ago only to find out she had pneumonia. Poor baby. She was a trooper. She couldn't breathe while laying down so it meant long nights rocking her and holding her upright. On her good nights somehow Dylan knew that it was his turn to get some attention so he would crawl into bed with us. I haven't slept in about 3 weeks, literally. I feel like I just had a baby all over again, the screaming at night, the dark hollow eyes, the driving around the block at all hours in the morning just to get her to sleep. Urgh, the things we do for our children. I went to church because I had to for the young women and afterword the girls came up and gave me a hug because they said I looked like a train wreck. Pathetic, but sweet. I love my girls, all 18 of them!

Anyway, Syd's doing much better, only up 4 times last night! Lucky me! Hey at least she is sleeping, that is all I wanted for Christmas. Today was finally warm and so we played outside. Here are some cute pics. Dylan is really getting good at riding his tricycle. Luckily we have enough room in the basement for him to ride on those cold and rainy days, he loves it!

"Jesus is hungry"

Christmas is coming and we are so excited! It didn't even take a day after Thanksgiving to get all geared up for the holidays. I know what you are thinking and yes I did take part in the madness of Black Friday. Don't think I didn't get up at 5:30 so I could wait in a 2 hour line at Toys R Us for a swing set. It is unbelievable how a gift for my kids can make me do something so ridiculous. Do you think they will ever know that I did that for them? Don't think I won't be reminding them every day when they are older. They better recognize! Seriously though, It is so sad to me how children can really question their parents love for them throughout their life. I know that every parent at one time or another has made huge sacrifices for their children, but it is sad because their kids will never remember it or know it. It kills me to think that one day Dylan might not know of the love that I have for him. I hope that that day will never come, and I will continue on with my absurd gestures of love in hopes that he will always know that I will truly do anything for him.

Anyway, to get on with my story, we have been decorating the house and talking a lot about Christmas these days. So, we are on the way to G-mamas house and Dylan began talking to me about Santa and presents. I decided that I should probably start telling him the meaning of Christmas before he gets too obsessed with the commercial holiday. So I tell him about Jesus and his birth and to make it a bit easier for him. I tell him that its a big birthday party for Jesus. He then says, "will there be a birthday cake mommy? I said, "no but there will be lots of presents". He then says, "but Jesus is gonna be hungry mommy". I of course just start laughing and adoring my son from the drivers seat, and then he continues on and says, "can he have a airplane cake?" (Since his cousin had an airplane cake last week). It was the sweetest thing ever. From here on out, every Christmas eve we will be having a birthday cake for Jesus. I think I am going to like that tradition. What a smart little boy I have.

Here is a pictures of Sydney with her cousin Hayden (Allan and Kattie's youngest). Syd's got a shiner from her older brother who just wants to play with her. So sad. I have many more pictures from the week coming, but I have to get the disc from Jason.

Turkey Day!

As many of you know, Thanksgiving was my favorite holiday as a kid. I always loved cooking in the kitchen with my mom and sisters, and I loved getting together with my cousins and hanging out for the day. What is better than good food, fun people, and charades at the end of the night (that was a West tradition). So this year was the year of the Mounts. We had every Mount but one (sorry Coco) out here and it was fabulous! We had 39 people for dinner and so we ended up doing it at the church so that we could let the kids run loose. (Luckily there were no stitches needed in Dylans finger this time...funny thing though, when the lights went off he started recounting the story of his finger getting cut and mommy crying with all the blood...what a good memory huh, that was almost a year ago.)

Anyway, it turned out to be a great day.

Without getting too sappy, I just want to tell you all how grateful I am for each and every one of you. I am so blessed to have such great family and friends who support and love me in spite of my shortcomings. Happy Thanksgiving to you all.