Well, the long holiday week is over.  We have much to show for it, though.  Christmas eve was a whirlwind when we visited my parents, then went to the annual Christmas Eve party at Big P's aunt's house.  They always do a gift swap thing and have lots of yummy goodies to eat.  The kids played fun games and we even got in on the fun with a game of musical chairs.  Oh - have you seen musical chairs played by adults?  They are ruthless!!  Heehee!!  Big P and I were out pretty quickly.

Christmas Day was wonderful.  We ended up opening gifts when we got home on Christmas eve.  We knew that Christmas day would be busy.  This is how Big P grew up doing it.  It's not my favorite way to do Christmas, but I figure I'll give in on that one every few years.  The little boys didn't open up their gifts that night, though, because they were fast asleep - so we spent Christmas morning opening gifts with them.  It was a fun time and everyone was really watching what everyone got.

Our Christmas' have gotten smaller and smaller each year in terms of gifts.  Although we did spend more this year than on most, they only got 3 gifts each.  We are really trying to focus more on giving to others and about why we celebrate Christmas - the birth of Christ - than on getting gifts.  It's fun to get gifts, I'll admit, but we are trying to tie gift giving more into their birthdays, as a day to celebrate them.  It's really working!  Both big kids got bikes this year.  We camp a lot and their street bikes weren't handling the trails very well - or the hills for that matter.

The other two gifts they got was where I got resourceful!  I had a Tupperware credit and used that to purchase some things for the kids.  Then I made each of them something special.  For L.10m.B. I made a blanket with some flannel I already had.  It's a tie-down quilt and it's so soft.  I think he loves it - but he is 10 months old, so who knows?! LOL  For B.2.5.B. I made a tied fleece blanket with Thomas the Tank Engine.  He loves it!!  For. P.7.G. I made a t-shirt dress with some fabric that I had.  I just purchase the long sleeved t-shirt.  When it starts to get warmer, I'll cut the sleeves to short sleeves and hem them.  For C.almost11.B. I purchase fabric for a new pair of sleeping pants, but never got around to making them. I will be starting those in the coming week.  He was very appreciative and understanding!

Big P got me a pair of Mary Jane crocs (which I love - Crocs are my all time favorite shoe!!!) and a Bluetooth.  I think those things look completely dorky - but I was begging for one for convenience.  When I started wearing it, it hurt my ear.  I gave it to him.  He has offered it back, but I'll have to see.  I gave him something for both of us - the Song of Solomon wedding bands.

We renewed our vows on Christmas Day with our family here.  We've been married 10 years and it has been absolutely incredible.  There have been so few hard times, that we couldn't think of many, and so many more awesome times.  I bawled through the entire ceremony.  Big P just means so much to me that I couldn't contain it.  The second time around was so much better than the first.  He bawled the first time and this time we switched roles! Heehee!  So, we exchanged rings during our renewal and it made it even more special.

My in-laws and parents were here to witness it.  My best girlfriend and her family were supposed to be here, but were with their family for Christmas and were delayed a bit.  We recorded it and watched it with them when they came over.

It was a VERY FULL DAY!  And we fell into bed when it was over.  But we had so much fun and visited with our family and friends.

Then, b, my best girlfriend, invited us over to their house for New Year's weekend.  We spent the weekending geocaching and catching up.  It was a great time.  We were blessed to receive tickets for Six Flags from Big P's cousin as a gift for one of the games the kids won on Christmas Eve.  Then she said that she had 2 more (for a total of 4).  She then emailed me that she had an additional 5 tickets.  We were so excited that we were able to pass those on to b's family and we all went together on Sunday after we visited their church.  It was cold, but I had L.10m.B. in the ERGO (love that thing!!) and he stayed warm.  We wrapped B.2.5.B. up in a blanket and he stayed in stroller except to get out for rides.

We rode the newest ride Rockin' Rocket (I think), and we all (except the little bitty ones) rode the Titan (the tallest roller coaster in the world)!  Wow!!  That is a 255 ft. drop going 85 mph.  Wowwowowo!!!

On New Year's we vegged!  Big P and the big kids took the tree down and got all the needles up out of the floor.  I finished up putting the Christmas decorations and ornaments up today.  I even got rid of some that didn't have sentimental value - but didn't read Amy's Christmas tree post until later and realized I could have gotten rid of a few more.

Big P said that he thinks we should go for a fake tree next year.  He doesn't want the needles stuck in the carpet.  I don't blame him, although I will really miss that tradition.  I'm coming from a different angle, since I didn't have to clean any of them up.  But, I do understand and have been contemplating some new tradition ideas to make up for that.  He suggested cutting down and tree and putting it in the front yard!  That's a great idea!!  Easy clean up! LOL

We also have thought about a tradition that my best girlfriend, b, has done for years.  She lets her children each pick out a new ornament each year that means something to them.  Then they have a box where they have all their ornaments.  Each year, they get to put up their ornaments.  She is even doing a scrapbook on the ornaments and their special meanings.  When they get married and leave home, they will get to take their box with them to put on their own tree.  I think this is something that we are going to start also.

So, lots of memories were made this last week and a half.  We learned so much about our family and the direction that God is leading us.  We learned so much about our children and how valuable and precious each of them are.  We learned what our roles really are as their parents and training them for the Kingdom and what that means.  When things get tough and we feel too lazy to do what we know we are to do, we have that in mind, that we are raising these little ones for God - and we have to answer for that! 

Discipline has the root word of disciple.  That means that we are to be teaching these littles the Word of God - not just by mouth, but by deed!  This usually means going against the grain, against what the world says is "okay"; even the Christian world.  We are finally seeing the fruit of this thinking and are praising God for opening our eyes!!

I'm looking forward to 2007 and all that it holds.  I'm looking forward to the refining fire that we are going to go through as a family as we aim to transform ourselves for Christ.  I know that it will be tough, but I'm truly looking forward to working with Big P, as we seek God and make changes for the better in our home.

I hope your holidays were as blessed and as much of a learning experience as ours.  To God be the glory!!!