December photo round-up Part 2

There were just too many highlights from our Chicago trip for me to keep the round-up under 30.  Although these photos don't reflect the tantrums and meltdowns, they do reflect the love these five have for each other.  And don't even get me started on the dimples.

My troopers up at 3 and taking off by 6am

Snow, snow, snow!  Just ignore the major mom fail with not bringing snow boots and having to wrap my kids feet in plastic bags.  Sometimes you just got to roll old school.

 Oh, it's too much...that boy.

 When we are on babysitting duty we pull out all the fun stops.  And by fun stops I mean peppermint playdough, pirates booty, and a six hour movie marathon while Auntie B takes a long winters nap.

 How cute are these snow bunnies?

 Helping out with the big boys

 Wided-eyed at the Christmas Eve reading of T'was the Night Before Christmas

 The first gift of Christmas?  Matching jammies

 All dressed up for a downtown American Girl Place adventure

 The boys have their own plans...unfortunately the Sears tower was over a 3 hour wait so Ian spent his adventure day watching Planes on the ipad.  Next year buddy, next year. :)

 Meeting their personal shopper  (yes, I realize we were about ten light years from world reality)

 But Ni-Ni was so happy to spoil her girls...and as hard as this woman has worked in her lifetime, I was mostly content to let Ava into this crazy world.

Sweet girl

 Addie and Jenny Jeanette Hsieh

 Elia and Tracy Hsieh

Amarie's blond haired, blue eyed Carolyn Ariel Belle Cinderella Hsieh

 Ava and Martha Clarie American Girl Place Hsieh

 Elia got to show everyone where she takes ice skating lessons.

 Matching hearts and smiles

Mama's highlight though was an afternoon with this amazing mama and encourager in the trenches, Ms. J.B.  Even with the snow knee deep and the kiddos running amok we still managed to share a few memories and dreams for the new year.

 How cute is this five year old?

 And finally, no new years party is complete until someone takes their shirt off and the yearly puzzle is complete.  A Christmas miracle that all the pieces were found in this 30 year old Luke Skywalker gem.

 These two are racking up their frequent flier miles by the thousands.
Chicago never disappoints. 

December photo round-up

Well after pacing the halls of the middle place for nine days in Chicago we finally returned home.  As much as I was looking forward to a break, I felt a little stuck not being able to put one season behind us and move on with the, early morning walks and healthy? but oh so good eating, days of the new year.  So now we're a week in to the routine and I'm learning that my work life is going to be a solid combination of wading in purpose and whole body exhaustion.
I'm slowly grasping that balance isn't a magical formula of meticulously executed schedules, dinner plates with extra veggies, working out for 30 minutes three times a week, and having the kids in bed at the stroke of 7:15, so they can read quietly before falling asleep (although that one would be awesome).  Its about rolling with the tides and giving myself and my people waivers where they're needed.  So if there is any resolution to be had, it is that grace would be the invocation and benediction of each day.
And although the ornaments have been safely tucked away in their boxes there is still much joy to record.  Our advent season looked a little different this year with the time constraints but I kept telling myself that there is beauty in simplicity, right?

Bethlehem dinner

Re-enacting the shepherd story...and I'm pretty sure Ian's using his staff as a machine gun.

 Chocolate lollipop day

 Sabrina showing off her God complex

 Snowflake day...this was a popular new addition to the roster with fake snow, 3D snowflakes, and snowball cookies

 Pajama ride with new jammies, popcorn, hot chocolate, and...

 munchkins take the wheel night.  

Christmas tea with Tia!

 Tagging along to big sibs piano performances

 A little Broadway in the big city 

 Opening the best gift on Christmas morning

 Grandpa reading the Christmas story before presents

I kind of miss the captivating glow from the living room and the warm lights that welcome us home each night.  But I'm also trying to remember that receiving is a daily discipline.  Fall on my face gratitude over the sacrifice made for me can't be tucked away in the bright green Rubbermade.

scenes from advent

Even though Christmas season crept in through the back door while I was unpacking my Thanksgiving luggage, we still managed to wake up December 1st with a full advent tree and expectant hearts.  As I still have another week of work left ,we have kept our family celebrations pretty simple, read scribbling game night on a scrap of paper at 10pm.  Thankfully the kiddos don't know the difference.  And even though it may be a small gesture, it doesn't get better than sitting on the floor at a hot chocolate picnic while holding Ian's hand and singing Silent Night around the tree.  Each moment is a chance to pause and remember what it is were celebrating.  To remember that everything hinges on that chubby baby boy.

Putting up the tree

 Setting out the nativity set and an empty manger

 Decorating with attitude

 Celebrating candy cane day with candy cane cupcakes...love this

 St. Nicolas day and secret santa stations

 Christmas carols and hot chocolate

 All gatherings are clothing optional

 Christmas tea and Ava's first piano performance!

This is always the trickiest of times.  When dressing up, buying gifts and filling the calendar is the order of the day.  When everything competes for space in my heart.  I am desperately trying to weave together the mystery of celebrating while knowing the full weight of my rescue.  Most days its a losing battle but there are glimpses and I'm holding on to them with a tight fist.

sometimes it takes an airplane

We skipped town this week and ended up in sunny freeze your fingers off Texas for some good old fashioned family fun.  I gotta admit I was ancy over the whole affair.  Leaving right smack in the middle of advent preparations.  Not to mention my Christmas shopping list, just shy of thirty people.  But just as it usually does, the sacrifices turned out to be the shiniest gifts in the not yet Christmas tree adorned living room.  This right here is the time to breathe deep with gratitude.  So instead of wading around in lists and sales floors I'll be chattin it up with the quirkiest members on the family tree and u-turning for chips and guacamole at 3 in the afternoon with the fanciest sis in town.  I will resolve to keep my feet on the floor and not sneak a peek at what's coming next.

I managed to get through a whole In Style traveling with these pros

Tia has the best dress up box ever

Not sure about this combo, reindeer rocker?

I did get to have breakfast with spiderdog so that was a treat.

The Perot museum was a huge highlight

And cruising around with Tia is always some wacky fun

But the big milestone was FINALLY (in her words) getting Ava's ears pierced!

In a surprising turn of events it was mama who cried while Ms. A was cool as a cucumber.  Here's to one more step into the realm of big-girldom.  

I hope all my lovies have a few moments built into this week to celebrate the gifts both matte and glossy and to pull the reigns of the fast moving Christmas train.  Happy Thanksgiving!