some kind of wonderful: December 2014

Like a lot of people, Christmas is our favorite time of year. The crisp air, glowing lights, holiday shopping, and extra time with family. It just goes by way too fast. Every year I look at David and say "why can't the stupid hot weather go by this fast?"

But alas, it's over and now it's time to reflect upon the year and make resolutions for the new one. But first, I'd like to remember what this Christmas was all about, Jesus Christ and family.

We've made some traditions as a family that I absolutely adore. The first one is that on Christmas Eve we let the kids open one present each and it includes new pajamas to wear that night and a new blanket. I try to remember to wash everything first, but this year I didn't, so I had to wash a quick load before bath time.

New pajamas and blankets. I think we have around 20 blankets now, but there's always fort building right?!

We also bake a birthday cake for Jesus and make reindeer dust. Charlie got to pick out the cake this year and it was chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. They all took turns decorating and we sang happy birthday to Jesus. And if you're unfamiliar with reindeer dust, it is a mixture of oatmeal and glitter. You sprinkle it on your lawn so that Santa can see the glitter sparkle from the sky and the oatmeal is to feed the reindeer. I believe there are several different variations out there. We chose the most simple one.

We follow that by making popcorn with M&M's and watching a Christmas movie. It's usually Home Alone or Jingle All The Way. I don't think anyone ate popcorn but me. They just tried to fish all of the candy out of the bowl.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

We didn't have any glitter so cake sprinkles did the trick. Saving some money.

It was now bedtime so we followed our normal routine. Bath, teeth brushing, book reading, saying prayers, and then chasing them back into their rooms for about 30 minutes. We always read The Night Before Christmas to the kids and they get all excited dreaming about the morning to come.

During the next hour I was the look out. That really meant I got to sit on the couch and watch TV while David finished wrapping gifts. Earlier in the day I took the kids to Little Giggles so David could wrap gifts but he didn't finish.
About an hour later he was done. We ate leftover pizza and started watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, the best Christmas movie ever! Unfortunately we were so tired that we both fell asleep on the couch before making it halfway through the movie. We woke up, grabbed the stockings, put them by the fireplace, put our elf Giggles away, and went to bed.

7:30 AM and it's Christmas morning! We read Luke Chapter 2 to the kids before we allowed them to open any gifts, because that's the real reason for Christmas right? This year instead of missing it all while trying to take pictures, I sat my phone down and just recorded everything. I'm always trying to get more video. Pictures are great but there's just something about being able to listen to their tiny voices and laughter on camera.

We spent the afternoon with my sister's family and my mom and step dad. We ate traditional Christmas food and opened gifts. Then for the last special treat of the day, Madelyn and I wet to see Annie at the movie theatre. It was a great day. One to Remember.

The last picture on Christmas Eve night.

You can see the frustration right? "Why do we have to take a picture? We want to open gifts!"

Stockings first. Christopher opened his so fast I couldn't even get a picture.

I think he was reading his xbox gift card.

Santa always brings the necessities to the baby's stocking.

Lip gloss!

Her first pair of kitten heels, and they're red glitter. She has worn them every day since Christmas.

They're own doll carriers made by a friend.

And the best gift of all. After 3 years we have a trampoline in our back yard!

Above all the gifts, laughter, memories, and food, Jesus is what matters. He should always be the center of your circle. The stronger your relationship with God, the stronger the relationships with your family and friends will be. I love my God, but he still loves me more. He loves me perfectly despite my faults and he loves you despite yours.

Love,
The Schrags

It's been way too long since my last post and I promise myself to do it more often. It's not only therapeutic but the 15 minutes it takes to put together will be priceless 15 years from now.

Michal had it covered.

My wonderful new/old friend Michal and I are experimenting with kid swapping and it's pretty terrific! We each get the fun on watching our kids play together and some free time so it's a win-win all around. Today was her turn to watch my hooligans and it just so happens that David had the day off.

My handsome husband!

We pretty much drove up to Michal's door and tossed the kids out of the car and sped away. Just kidding. We slowed down first. Ha! The first destination was Kohl's then David actually agreed to go to TJ Maxx with me. Pigs must have flown over the house last night.
We continued shopping until we finished with our Christmas list! We've made a vow not to buy the kids anything else before then so we will see how that goes. If anyone reading this is without children, my advice is to never build Christmas up too early. That sets expectations high and it's difficult to lower them. It was nothing to spend $500 on one or two children, but with four that's no longer possible. Plus as most parents believe, the materialism of Christmas has gotten out of hand. Whew, that was my lesson for the day apparently.

After we got home I nursed Annabelle and put her to sleep so the bigger kids and I could make peppermint hand scrubs for teachers and nursery workers at church. They do so much for my kids and we love them dearly, so a small token of appreciation was definitely in order.

I googled a recipe and we got to working. Christopher was tested with multiplication of a recipe and he quickly became bored a retreated to his room. Madelyn grabbed a spoon without me knowing and began eating the sugar. Charlie found a brown paper bag and started using it as a suitcase for every toy she could find... I was left to make scrub by myself. At least until it came time for the fun part, putting it into the containers. I'm pretty impressed and wish I would have bought another container for myself! Peppermint oil is a favorite of mine and my house smelled like heaven.

Now it's time to get the house picked up, get the girls ready to go stay the night with grandma, pick up Greyson and take the boys to wrestling. It's been a pretty perfect day. God is great and he has given me so much more than I will ever deserve. I honestly try to show God's love whenever I can and it makes me feel closer to him.

Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."