That Limbo Week

This week between Christmas and New Years provides a lot of limbo time!

The farm runs a little slower and the kids are off school and my schedule allowed me two full

extra days at home with the boys. 

And I'd like to say that we marked a few hundred things off our to do list,

but instead we spent some quality time at home.

Soaking up the rest that the COLD like zero degree weather has provided.

There has been Fort Nite and WW2 and NBA and Madden 18

online with Friends and at home with Dad and brother.

 There was time for legos with brother,

and a terrible picture from mom because both brothers despise when I take a picture of them playing.

 Time for building our new tinker crate (monthly STEM subscription)

 and play rounds with mama and deem her the Wooser...

 And time to play SEVERAL rounds of TENZI.

This game is very fun.  Simple concepts based on 10 dice.

Fun for the whole family

 And rounds of Sequence - can you tell this family loves games

 Mama (me) is semi laid up due to plantar fasciits in my left foot.

I've been sporting an air cast boot against my better sense of pride.

But, these boys have been great at helping - we put away all the Christmas

and tackled the laundry (that's back again, ha).

 We worked on a little project for cousin Brittany (who is home from her liver transplant, wahoo)

 And there was time for dinner out with this crazy crew - so many laughs.

So thankful for each in this picture and the fun we have while we work very hard.

Introducing Graham Michael

Forever Callahan welcomed their baby boy!

What a super exciting post to make one the first day of 2018!

Mr. Graham Michael Callahan made his appearance on Dec 23.

We had been awaiting his arrival 

and he entered right on time to create a row of birthdays...

Graham 23, Jill 24, Sam 25, Jesus 25 and Will 26.

What a sweet blessing when we awoke on Dec 23 early am to this sweet face.

We didn't know she was at the hospital so getting a text with this sweet face was so special.

This mama was stomach flu sick on Dec 22 so seeing Mr Graham Dec 23 was out of the questions

and waiting until Dec 24 after church seemed like an eternity away, but it would make sure I hadn't shared my sickness!

 So this is how I made it thru!

And it meant our family Christmas was minus 3, do you like how we creatively fixed that?!!?

And as soon as church was complete on Dec 24 we headed down to see our guy.

This boy was so pumped to hold his new cousin and he has asked to visit EVERY day since.

Graham these 2 boys will have your back for certain, cousins forever!

And when a baby is born a grandparent is created, oh how proud our mom would have been of these two - gonna love watching them spoil their first (and all) grandbaby!

And we were extra happy to need to deliver a medication on Christmas day to mama because we got to sneak in an extra visit!

Look see, I did get to hold this sweet babe!  

The first of many many more times.

And stroller rides and crafts and kitchen fun and whatever else you want to do Graham!

We love you little man.

Welcome to the family.

Our 12 year old.

Christmas day is doubly special because we get to celebrate this guy.

He turned 12.

Just like that. 12

 This year has been full of so many good things,

he is growing up and maturing right before our eyes.

And along the way we pray for him and instruct him

and learn how to be parents right along with him

and when I look at this picture,

my heart swells.

 We celebrated all that he is, he prefers to open his gifts right after Christmas gifts.

He says that he is super lucky because he gets double the presents,

still has never once grumbled about his day - always

says he is lucky to share Christmas day.  

I love that.

He received a very special drone from his friend Isa.

He plugged it in right away and flew it later in that day.

 We got him a bible fit for a teen, he has read in it in his bedroom several times.

He hadn't asked for a new one, but when he opened this one he said that he needed it because 

he didn't need the pictures in his current one - ha.

I am pretty specific about birthday paper.

My mama taught me that since Will's birthday falls on Dec 26.  

 A special gift for my old soul.

He loves it thus far.  He has it plugged in right by his bed.

All 12 year old boys should want a massager, right?!?

 And golf lessons at French Lick and some new clubs to fit this growing boy.

He will love this once the weather warms up a bit (-6 here today)

 He passed me up over Christmas break, literally - look how tall he is here.

Love him.

Singing Happy Birthday to our boy

And this, this is our Sam.

When we went to shop for Joe for a Christmas gift,

Sam asked to buy stuff to make an orange soda float to share with Joe.

His reason?

Joe and I had given up pop since our birthday and Sam asked if Joe could have one as a special treat for Christmas...

Yes, of course.  He had one at youth in the fall and knew Joe would like one.

And they shared orange soda floats on Christmas afternoon.  

Should probably be a tradition. 

Happy Birthday Dear Samuel George Cristian.

You make us proud every single day.

You made us parents and we are thankful

everyday that God chose us.