Christmas Post Numero Tres

Yet another Christmas post. Being believers in Jesus Christ, I daily feel the need to talk to my kids about Him and make them aware that this world is not what is important. However, Christmas time amplifies my feelings. Our family did the Jesse tree this year, an activity I have wanted to do for some time. It is an advent tree which explains the true story of Christmas. Each morning you hang an ornament on the jesse tree that symbolizes a part of the story and read a passage and scripture to go along with it. I found a great version that is child friendly and also provides an adult version. I felt like Jake understood most of it and I learned a few things too. I wish I could say we did not miss one morning reading... but, I have three very little, needy boys... so we missed a few here and there. Hopefully next year we will get through the whole month without missing one.
Overall, we had a wonderful holiday and were blessed to spend time with much of our family. We had game night Sunday night with just our siblings and Abby's new hubby, Thomas! Then, Christmas Eve was spent with my siblings where we made a big feast in usual fashion and attended church service. This year, as we walked out of church the most beautiful snow was coming down. Jon said," Jake can you believe it is snowing?" He said," Dad... it's Christmas... it always snows." We thought that was just a perfect answer. Christmas morning came and our normal tradition is to wait until everyone is awake...well Jon and I were up FIRST! We couldn't believe it. The boys were not up until 7: 15. I know that is early for some of you... but here at the Sharp house, that is sleeping in! Once they were all up, we crept downstairs to discover our family room was wrapped in wrapping paper(another tradition).  Then, we let the boys bust through! This year, Will was into it too. Jake was so psyched I thought he was going to go through alone, but he waited and held hands with Will. The look on their faces is always priceless to me. We took a look at all the gifts and the empty plate of cookies and carrots, then sat together on the couch to read the last Jesse Tree Reading. Well, we attempted to sit together. Jon read to Jake while Kev was trying to open all the gifts... Will was yelling," Eat Now Mom," and Jake was sitting and listening intently. Then we sand happy birthday to Jesus, a new tradition, and got to the opening! I always love watching Jake open gifts. He is so animated and exited about everything. Will was very into opening too, which was exciting to see. He loved each gift and didn't want to move on to the next. Kev walked around for awhile sitting on laps, opening different gifts and eventually landed in his high chair eating cereal and observing happily. All in all... success! Afterwards, we headed to Jill's for breakfast and then a chill few hours at home. That night Janet had us for dinner which was lovely.
This year in particular, I am thankful for family and quality time. My extended family in Ireland so, I did not grow up with family all around me all the time. However, my parents did an awesome job to create a network of friends for us and it felt like family. I have come to learn that there is something priceless and amazing about a family that grows together. It is so important to me that I know my family. Not, just check in with them occasionally, but know them. I want my children to love each other dearly. To be there for each other always and make a point of just being together. Life moves at a fast pace these days. Maybe it always has, but I constantly feel the need to slow it down and just be. My new year's resolution is to continue to strive to slow it down and be together as much as possible! Here are some pics from the festivities.

Can we just get one nice picture...

alrighty...

Good Enough

 

 

Christmas Post #2 Neighborhood Party

 Every year our neighborhood has a Christmas party and the kids have a gift exchange. We offered to host this year so I decided to make it a themed party... everything is better when there is a theme! One of my life mottos. So, Ugly Christmas Sweater Party it was!! And it was epic. We had a lot of fun and were reminded of why we stayed in this neighborhood versus moving. Our neighbors are priceless. A few neighbors went all out with the theme which I loved. So, we made sure to have prizes for the tackiest!

Random Pics....just being us

Jake has to bring a little friend home from class for the weekend. His name was "See-more." After the weekend, he had to bring in pics and writing about what we did with Seemore. So sweet.

Christmas Time is Here Post Number One

Jake's annual Christmas Concert was last week. He sings the songs for weeks before hand and I just love hearing him sing. His school does an awesome job of teaching the children songs about the true meaning of Christmas and that is very important to me. I loved hearing my little boy singing about Jesus. He really enjoyed it this year and Jon and I were both amazed to see how much more mature he looked and acted up there. Growing up quick!!

Looking for us...soo cute

my favorite Jake smile

pointing to the man upstairs

Two Years Old

Today William turned two. I just can't believe it. We partied and celebrated over the weekend with family, so today we just a chill day being two. He had two pancakes for breakfast, two juice boxes for lunch and two cookies for dessert! It's the little things that make Will happy! It is hard to believe that he is only two in some ways. He has so much personality and interests already. Just love my little Willy. Here is a mini-glimpse into Will at two.

Will:
- You Love Elmo and anything Sesame.
- Your usually the first awake in the morning and can often be found yelling from your crib one of the following," Mommy R U?".... "MAAAAAAA".... or singing very loudly
- You have gone from being a total foodie and my best eater to a total junkie. You love food still, but instead of eating everything on your plate, you now want sweets and yummy "snacks" often.
- Your have a size 8.5 wide shoe and are currently loving your Elmo sneakers (Jake helped you pick out) and your froggy boots, which definetely do not fit... but insist on wearing them all day
- Most days when I drop Jake off at school, you cry until we pull out of the parking lot. You are usually pointing backwards, saying "Jake...Jake... That way..." It breaks my heart, but makes me happy that you love him so much
- You are the sweetest big brother and are soo gentle to Kevin. You can often be found kissing him or helping him. Yes, sometimes like this morning... you were found tapping him repeated on the head with a matchbox car... but that is rare.
- You love being outside and playing with cars, balls or just getting dirty
- Your biggest interest right now is music which is why your party was a music theme. We played musical chairs, freeze dance and Wii Dance. You loved it!
- You are a snuggler.... you would sit on my lap all day if I let you.
- You are LOUD. I call you my little Will-da-beast. You are as sweet as a teddy bear and then can be as loud and angry as a lion as fast as two shakes of a lamb's tail.
- You are a total Linus and drag your blankie around everywhere you go. We also still allow you to have a paci and you love that too. I need to start eliminating that soon!
- You dance, oh how you dance..
-You love our once a week mommy and me class and are usually excited to go. In class, you like playing with play dough, painting and of course the snack. You are typically the last one at the snack table.
- You are a strong willed little fella! Your name has taken on new meaning recently as you tantrum often. Because you are loud, your tantrums are extreme. We are working with your temper and trying to help you through it. Thankfully, after a tantrum you love to snuggle! Which I love!  
- You have an adorable laugh that makes me so happy
-You like the bath, tickling and wrestling, playing with phones and calling people, go to bed super easy after a story and then you must sleep with a book too
- You ask where daddy and jake are about 100 times a day
-You say "mom" about 1,000 times a day... I know I will miss that one day
- My absolute favorite "Will at two" moments right now are times in the car (which are daily) when I can hear your little voice singing the lyrics to songs on the radio or a cd we are listening too. It is just precious...

Showing his moves

Had to buy these infaltable instruments... they played with them all week

Big bro celebrating BIG time

sweet cuz

Cousins..so sweet

"Zee operation" What my dad is known for

Aw yeah

Hailey Girl

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BOY! WE ADORE YOU!

Stopped me in my tracks....

Today was an ordinary day. I woke up to the sound of my little Will yelling. Yes, yelling," R U Mommy??" Every morning. Shortly after, the cries from Kev's room began. And two hungry boys were up. We headed down for breakfast. Jake woke up shortly after and joined us. We listened to music as we ate and there were numerous spills, cries and complaints about what they were eating followed by chats about showing gratefullness, patience and kindness... We did our Jesse Tree and headed off to watch our morning show while we got dressed.  Then, we were off to drop Jaker's off at school.
 Fast forward a few hours and I am back to pick up Jake from school. When I arrive, he is waiting in line to be dismissed from class and he sees me through the glass in the door and smiles. That precious little," Yay, mom is here," smile that I hope never fades. The class left to go out into the main area and we were left to grab his things. He immediately started demanding.... demanding to say goodbye to a little girl. I forget her name at this point, but he was relentless about it. I said," woah buddy... we can say goodbye to her... sure. Let's just get your stuff and we can walk out and say goodbye." He couldn't wait. So, I said," Jake... you have two choices. You can grab your things with me and we can walk out together and say goodbye... or You can go say goodbye and I will meet you out there after I gather your things." He replies by saying," Great idea mom, we will get my things and go say goodbye to her together." "Okay Jake."
We are walking out and he is running back to the main area to find her. He looks all over, she is no where to be found... he looks and looks again. Finally, he noticed the remaining girls were in line for the bathroom. This particular girl was already inside washing her hands. I couldn't even see her because the door was cracked, but from where he was standing he could see her. He was waving like crazy, huge grin, saying goodbye again and again. It was so funny. The teachers aid helping the girls looked at me, we chuckled and I took Jake's hand and we walked out as he swung my arm happily. As I closed the door to his school, I said," So buddy, were you two hanging out a lot today. I have never heard you mention her name before." He thinks for a moment, looks at me dead serious and says," Yeah mom, I think she is the girl I am going to marry." I literally stopped walking... I know drama... but his voice... the way he said it... he sounded so old and it shook me a little. I realized I was being crazy and said," You are huh?" and we kept walking. He said," Yes, I am. She is so smart. She knows EVERYTHING!" Then, we got it in the car to head home for quiet time.

It was a snippit of a moment of my hectic day with three little boys, but it is one of those, "butterfly moments." (Patch Adams Reference- amazing movie) One of those moments that I think God says, "Pause for a sec". I have been so busy lately and stressed and I've had mommy guilt about my boys. Missing our play time terribly and feeling like their needs have been put second to other tasks. This moment made me stop and realize... one day, before I know it... there will be other girls, other than me... that my boys will adore. Who they will want to be with all the time. Who they will call and go to when they are in pain or feel sad and I will be the one in the distance watching with a yearning love that only a mother of a boy understands. I know, crazy long term thoughts. But, it's true. I have these thoughts already. The last wedding I went to was Abby's. I have always been teary at weddings, but since having my boys... I can barely handle the mother/son dances. It's ridiculous. My heart just aches watching them. The lyrics, ugh the lyrics. I love song lyrics. Watching the mother smile at her grown son with such a look of pride. Ugh...

Not too long ago, these boys were just dreams to me. And as always, God's plan for my life were greater than I could have imagined. "Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."  Jake will be five soon! Will is turning two! Kevin is already one! I just can't handle it. TIME...SLOW...DOWN....PLEASE.... I thank God for the perspective today! Smother Mother is in full effect tomorrow. Perfect timing, no school, HOME DAY!! Yay!! Tomorrow I am going to snuggle those boys until they can't take it anymore!!

Loved this...

I don’t want a Christmas that you can buy.
I don’t want a Christmas that you can make.
What I want is a Christmas that you can hold.
A Christmas that holds me, remakes me, revives me.
I want a Christmas that whispers — Jesus.
I want a Christmas that lives and breathes and moves in Jesus Christ.
I want for the God in the manger who makes Himself bread…
For the Saviour in swaddlings who makes Himself our robe of righteousness.
For the Christ who makes precisely what none of us can — Christmas.
It is only Christ alone who can make Christmas.

Family Pics

My friend Rachel took our family pictures this past week and they are AMAZING. I was nervous as all the boys were really off and grumpy. It also felt extra special as we aksed Will's birthmother to come and take pics with us too. I love how they came out!! Thanks again Rachel.