Kindred Spirits

2 days late

I'm late on writing a happy birthday post to my sweet Maddie-girl. Madison Renee turned 9 on December 29th. Her birthday was such a happy day, coming on the tail end of many celebrations. One of the nicest things was that her cousins from Nebraska were able to share it with her, along with her good friend Nicole. My Maddie is the happiest, smiliest, most generous and king girl I know. She is messy and forgetful, intellient and head-strong. Her creativity and passion are foundations of her character. My life is a better life simply because she was born to me. She makes me smile, she challenges me, she tries my patience, she causes me to take life a little less serious - like she does. I love you, my darling Maddie-girl. You are the light of my life.

Post - Christmas...almost

We are smack dab in the middle of celebration season at our house! The 28th of December signifies that we are finished with Christmas and ready for Maddie's birthday tomorrow and Michael's birthday in a few days. All of the Christmas decorations are down, the furniture has been moved back (and rearranged - this IS me we are talking about) and Christmas gifts are being played with and enjoyed. We still have one more Christmas celebration to do when my older sister and her family arrive this afternoon. It will be another joyous time. Then on to the New Year. Plans to be made, dreams to be fulfilled, new habits to aquire and old ones to let go of, and best of all more memories to be made as a family. There are good times waiting for us just around the corner - we even have our first vacation already planned!!! Each year is unique, building upon the one before - uniting us, growing us and continuing to weave the tapestry that is our family. 2010 is going to be a great year!

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Christmas Pics

Merry Christmas!!

We celebrated our Christmas holiday a little earlier this year, and boy was it fun!!! Santa arrived on Christmas Eve, we opened all of our presents, we attended church, enjoyed yummy meals with Grandma and Poppop Oman, played with our new toys, AND relaxed!!! Some holidays, I have great sadness over whats missing when our entire family isn't together, but this year has been different. When our big girls left yesterday, I kissed them and knew that it was just going to be a "little minute" until we saw them again. It was ok. I pray for them while they are away from us, which keeps them close to my heart; this afternoon they will come back home, and we will celebrate Christmas together with dinner at my mom's house. It is a tradition in the Oman family to have breakfast together on Christmas Eve; since we were opening gifts yesterday in the morning, we instead, had lunch with Grandma and Poppop. We went to IHOP and enjoyed a delicious lunch together.

Christmas Eve eve

Because of the schedule of our 2 oldest girls, Santa is coming by our house tonight. He has already arrived, dropping of highly anticipated gifts, snacking on cookins, and has sufficiently filled each stocking. The kiddies are all sleeping downstairs in Maddie's room, animately whispering about what they might get. I just went down to check on them, and I could see visions of American Girl dolls and pirate ships dancing in their heads. Even though our Christmas schedule is a little "off" this year, I am trying to make the best of it. And what kid alive isn't excited for Santa to come a little early??? It will be a FUN morning at our house, you can bet on that. I can remember many Christmases past of my sisters, brother and I snuggling up together the night before Santa came.; laughing, whispering, planning. Sometimes, I long for the simplicity and familiarity of those time. I'm so glad that I have kids who re-create those same simple moments for me. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Christmas Baking

On any normal day, you will not find me in the kitchen baking. It isn't something that I typically enjoy all that much, but at Christmas time I figure, I should put aside my own preferences and let my kids bake. So, yesterday we did the sugar cookie thing. The kids helped roll out the pillsbury dough... prepackaged... WHOOPPEEE!!! And then we called Grandma Oman and got the recipe for home-made frosting, which really is the best but I don't usually take the time to use it. The girls loved the baking part and Michael... well... he loved the mess. He wouldn't be my little guy if he didn't love the mess. We have enjoyed eating our masterpieces and have shared them with others. It was a fun experience and one that I hope that kids will remember - holiday baking. Since we only do it once a year, it should be memorable, right??!

Naughty or nice?

Saturday night, I went up to Meredith's room to tuck her in for bed. She would normally be reading her favorite book, but instead she was writing a note... to "Santa Klos". Earlier in the day, she had done something naughty to Michael. They worked it out, but evidently she was feeling guilty about her actions, worrying about whether they were going to have an affect on Santa's generosity to her. It was too late and I was too tired to explain that it's Jesus that we need to apologize to when we are naughty... I figure I can save the theology lesson for another day. It was so cute to see her upset about how she treated Michael and how concerned she was about what Santa thought about it. I will save this sweet letter forever.

Truly blessed

Starting today, we have 2 weeks off of school. I am excited for all that lies ahead of us in these 2 weeks. Christmas celebrations and Maddie and Michael's birthdays; visiting with family; no homework; sleeping in (well, Marky and Meredith will be... the other 2 were up at 7 this morning - uuugggghhhh...! why????); playdates with friends; putting a Christmas puzzle together; daddy coming (and staying?) home; new toys to play with; Christmas lights and holiday tunes and movies. Already, over the weekend, we have spent great time together, playing and shopping and enjoying life at home. Looking ahead, I know that the break will go by quickly, but even so it's going to be very enjoyable. I love being home with the kids. I have my moments of overload, but more often than not, my favorite place to be is home with them. I look into the faces of my children and I listen to the noises around the house, and I am faced with the undeniable truth that blessings are overflowing here. I am truly blessed. Not because of anything that we have done - it is God's favor and grace to us. Here's to the next 2 weeks!

New Hair

Marky got a new haircut.  She's SO happy with it;

she can't stop smiling.  

I cut 6 inches off and layered it.

What a cutie!!!

Daisy Girl

Meredith Grace is a Daisy Girl Scout.  She gets to go to meetings after school and do crafts, learn great things, and experience all of the amazing.  Best of all she gets to wear her cute blue t-shirt with the daisy on it that she painted herself.  Going to Daisy meetings is one of Meredith's favorite things.  This past Tuesday, her Daisy troop was officially inducted into the Girl Scouts of America.  It is a cute ceremony that the girls just love to be a part of.  The leaders of Daisys are so creative and committed to excellence.  Meredith is going to have such a great rest of her Daisy year!