Merry Christmas!

I am in SUCH a Christmas-y mood this year. Yay! Lots to blog about, so I will get right to it.

First, as 2010 draws to a rapid close, I want to mention some things that came about this year for which I am thankful.  Once 2011 begins, in January, I will post about my hopes and prayers for the New Year, but for now, let's give thanks...

I am thankful, first and foremost, for the continual improvement in Emily's digestive and pancreatic health.  Although the year has brought us new concerns, such as ADHD, we are taking it in stride.  The complete elimination of red dyes, and the introduction of a gluten-free and additive-free diet have helped so much, and we will continue dietary means of control.  Frankly, it's a much healthier diet for all five of us!

I am thankful that, although we are still in the TTC process, my husband and I are in total agreement about our desire for one more child.  We just officially began the TTC journey again in November, after "chickening out" and stalling for many months.  I know God and my angels are with us on this journey, and I am strangely confident that we will be blessed in the future.  I just know this family is not yet complete.

I am thankful for finding my Church, and for the happiness my children and I are able to share with our faith community.  Pioneer Club is the highlight of their week, and Sunday School, (for ALL of us!), has been wonderful.  The girls are in their very first Christmas Pageant!! I cannot wait!

I am thankful that my children are flourishing in their educational settings.  Although I often wish Tommy was homeschooling and attending co-op with us, I am equally as proud of his accomplishments in school  I am just super-proud of all of my children, and they truly are the gifts for which I am  most grateful.

I am thankful for both of our co-ops, and for the friendships the girls and I have made through them.

And, finally, the most sobering of all of my thoughts.  In the wake of so many divorces and separations that I am hearing about from people I know, I am thankful each and every day for my husband and our marriage.  Yes, we argue. And we disagree.  A lot.  I am Italian, he's German.  Together, we're loud.  But five minutes later, we don't remember what we were arguing about and we move on.  Now, I don't mean to say that we argue on a daily basis.  We definitely don't.  And I honestly couldn't be happier with my family.  I feel very, very lucky.

As for this holiday season, we are in the midst of candy-making.  The girls love it.  We've made peppermint bark, toffee, Hershey Kisses in shortbread cookies, crunch bars and Thin Mints.  We still have peppermint and peanut butter cups to make, and hopefully some chocolate covered marshmallow snowmen, lollipops and  chocolate-dipped graham crackers. These are distributed amongst the decorative Chinese food boxes I purchased and given out with gifts and brought to swaps.

My girls have been learning about the story of the first Christmas, about Jesus' birth, and about the importance of this date in our Christian history.  For the first year since they've been alive, I set up my Nativity, allowing them to help me arrange the Wise Men, shepherds, camels, sheep, Mary and Joseph.  I placed the Angel Gabriel, as it is the most delicate of the pieces, and together we placed Baby Jesus.  I would typically wait until Christmas Eve to place Jesus, but since it is their first year they wanted Him in the manger IMMEDIATELY.

Of course, since they are children after all, they are armed with their lists.  And Santa has sent his trustworthy helper, the Elf on the Shelf, to stalk my children throughout the season.  It's AWESOME!

Tommy got his bass guitar and amp, plus some other items that I cannot mention as he has access to this page. (He already has the guitar and amp in hand, as we wanted his input when purchasing them).  The girls are receiving the Lalaloopsy dolls they've asked for, lots of arts & crafts stuff, and newborn baby dolls that look strikingly real.  I was hoping to find ones that would wake them up in the middle of the night wanting a bottle, or cry if they weren't in a baby wrap all day being worn close to Mama, but alas - the dolls will have to suffice.  Perhaps one day soon, there will be an actual newborn in the house doing just  those things!