I love Christmas morning :)

 I seriously spend all year looking forward to christmas morning. There is nothing like it. I love the astonished faces and the gasps and the intensity of it all. It is so fun to relive things through your kids' eyes. Everything is different and amplified. I wish I was one that slept on the couch so I could video their reactions as they come out, but alas I am not. I have a hard enough time leaping out of bed at the first screams of the morning at 7am. This year did not disapoint. It was full of, 'this is the best day ever!'s and truly such a magical morning. I  did manage to catch some fantastic facial expressions, but I really tried to just enjoy the moment, which is hard during picture taking... enjoy.

 Tristan was just thrilled to be eating santa's left over cookies...

 The aftermath...

 We spent the rest of the day just enjoying our new things :)

 They each got a DS, new bedspreads, movies, some legos, and Tristan was thrilled with all his cars and trucks. It was fabulous.

December fun

 We had a lot of fun going to many parties and activities in the community here. We've met some great people and are loving the xmas season! Here's Kai's letter to santa, notice, most of his letter is asking for things for other people. Sweet boy :)

 Bass pro is one of our favorite places, especially at christmastime!

 Meili also thought about Kai in her letter, I especially love her family photo :) At 4, she's so easy to please :)

 Tristan would have nothing to do with Mr. SC.... nothing at all!

 We finally got some snow and the kids love sledding in the backyard. It is seriously their new favorite thing! I love it because they are completely covered head to toe and do not even come in dirty! ha Fun for all :) They even made their first snowman :) Yey for frosty!

 There's a tree called the magic tree in columbia and we had to check it out! It's temple square, but only one tree. It was fabulous none the less!

 xmas attire :)

 I love xmas eve!  I'm sure santa and the reindeer will enjoy their treats!

Our Christmas letter :)

We are loving a new phase in our life here in Columbia, Missouri. Rich is a second year resident at Rusk Rehab and I am lucky enough to be able stay home with our 3 hoppin' kiddos! Kai is in 1st grade loving school, and writing and reading up a storm. Meili is also enjoying preschool, learning to read, and is getting to spend lots of quality time with Mom! Tristan is a busy 20 month old with a lot of energy and a little 'crazy' inside him. They are joys and we are blessed to have them! Hope you are all well this holiday season.

 

November

I wanted to do a gratitude post long ago, so here it goes.

 I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a mother. I'm grateful that I've been blessed with these 3 unique spirits. I hope I can help them be the best person they can and succeed on so many different levels in this world.

 I'm grateful for their creativity and passions. I love Kai's responsibility traits and cautiousness. I love Meili's bounciness and love her passion for learning and life. It's going to be tough to keep up with her.

 Grateful to be able to stay at home. Today I layed in bed with Meili and Tristan for 2 1/2 hours in our pajamas reading stories. Honestly, it does not get better than that.

 Grateful for Tristan's wild energy. He is fun and vivacious. He loves to be funny and crazy and I love it. I love his squishy cheeks and even his bad baby breath :) I love kissing his wet lips. He is fantastic :)

Grateful for a good husband that is so selfless, understanding, and such a fun dad. They love him so much!

 Life is good.

 oh so good :)

 Kai's so glad he finally lost his first tooth! $5 from the fairy and spent 2/3 of his $ on his sibilings. Grateful for such a generous boy :)