Christmas Morning

We experienced our first year of "very early wake-up" on Christmas morning.

5:15 a.m.  

It was still dark out.  Matt and I were startled awake by shrills from upstairs.

Matt's response was "they need to back back to bed for a while."  While, remembering back to the many years my brother and I woke my parents before daylight, I responded with, "it's Christmas, they are excited, let's let them open presents!"

The beauties and I outranked Daddy, and the gift opening was on!

 Farrah was very excited about her giraffe socks.

 Jocelyn of course sporting penguins.

 Silvie in her cheetahs.

 Chloe smiling in her giraffes.

 Silvie took so much time and caution opening each of her gifts.  She savored ever moment.  Studying, admiring and loving her presents.

 Santa brought each of the Beauties new ice skates!  The triplets cannot wait to skate like their big sissy. 

 Farrah with her Farrah Fawcett barbie.

 The Kaya doll....oh how badly she wanted this doll. 

 Chloe and Silvie showing off the gifts they picked out for each other.

 Chloe and Farrah showing off their gifts for each other.

 Chloe wanting to pose with Jocey, she wasn't in the the camera...

Daddy's holiday tie...it sings Jingle Bells.

The Beauties picked it out for him at the Dollar Store.  Priceless.

After the gifts were open...somehow, Daddy talked them into going back to bed before we headed out to Grammy and Poppy's.  They actually slept for almost 2 hours.  I was amazed...and thankful for the nap.

How do you explain Heaven to little girls?
I have found myself struggling with this question over and over the last few days.
Matt's Grandmother passed away on Sunday.  May she be at rest, in peace and not be in pain anymore.
Her services were today.  Chloe took it very hard.  She cried a lot, and kind of clung to me most of the day.  The triplets were mostly curious.  Obviously not understanding what was going on, yet wanting so much to understand.  We visited Papa Terry's grave.  Matt's father passed away 21 years ago, but we speak of him often.  Matt enjoys telling the beauties stories about Papa Terry.  The beauties always have lots to ask him about what he was like.  We also talk about Great Papa Paul a lot.  My Grandfather passed on Christmas Eve 8 years ago.  We visit his grave every Christmas Eve.  
The last few days they have had quite the array of questions about death.  Where Heaven is?  What does God look like?  Why do people die?  Will you die?  Will we die?  Where do you go?  How do you get there?  Is it pretty in Heaven?  Can we play there?  Is God nice?  Is Heaven cold? 
I just look at them and smile, and answer the only way I can,  "I don't know, sweetie."
Because that is the truth,  I just don't know.

What I do know... death reminds me to take each day I am given, and live it the best I can.  
Love and cherish the ones close to my heart. 
I take comfort in the innocence of my children, because they are the ones that can teach me what living life really means.  
The small insignificant details that we cannot control, they do not matter.  Not what we look like.  Not how much money we had in the bank.  Not how clean our house was.  
In the end all that matters is that we gave life all we had.  Gave all the love in our heart.  
Lived life, everyday, to the fullest.  Taking time to enjoy the sweet pleasures we are surrounded with.
Not regretting anything we did.
Again...learning the significance of life...through my children.
Being a Mom is breathtaking.

Better Late than Not at all

Happy Thanksgiving.
Those two words bring a smile to my heart every time I hear them. The beginning of the holidays, family, friends. I wish all holidays were more like thanksgiving. No gifts, no pressure, no commercialization, no returns, no credit card bills. Just LOVE and THANKFULNESS. Just being happy together is what is important.
I often think about the things I am thankful for, and I can honestly say...I do it daily...not once a year. I think everyone should. It makes me a happier person.
I am thankful for my husband. For all he does. For his hard work and support. His gentle heart. His strong arms and beaming smile. I am thankful to have so many things all wrapped up into one person, my best friend, my lover, my soul mate. I am thankful for the father he is to our daughters. Loving each of them more than words could begin to express. I am thankful that he has a job that he loves and thankful that he comes home safe to the girls and me everyday. I am thankful that he always finds the positive in everything. He lifts my spirit without even trying. I am thankful that he is kind, caring and full of love.
I am thankful for my Beauties. My four gorgeous daughters. Each of them so beautiful and special in their own ways.
Chloe, my sweet and loving, sensitive and kind one. Always doing her best to please everyone. Always paying attention to make sure those around her are happy. She told me when we were getting ready to go that she was "thankful for you, mommy" it melted my heart.
Jocelyn, my feisty one. The one that can be so naughty and then smile at you and make you giggle. The one who can cuddle like no one else. The born leader of her sisters.
Farrah, big sisters clone. She acts and looks exactly like her big sissy. She is sweet and sassy, and knows how to make you laugh.
Silvie, the sweet one. The shy one. She can melt your heart with her eyes.
All four of them can put you in a trace with their sparkling blue eyes. But it's their personalities that I am so thankful for. They are healthy and smart and they have so much love to share.
I am thankful for Grammy Pam and Poppy Steve. For Gramma Val and Grandpa Dave. For everything that they do for us. For their love and support. For their shoulders and wisdom. For teaching us how to be loving and patient parents.
Our family. Brothers, sisters, our nieces, Molli and Haley.
Our friends. They support us and help us and give a shoulder if we are in need.

Truly, I am so thankful for all those close to my heart.
I am thankful.
I am blessed.

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving. What a wonderful beginning to the Holiday Season. We spent the day travelling between our parents' homes. Spending time with each of them today was important to us and to the Little Beauties. We shared the afternoon meal with Matt's Mom, aka Grandma Val, Stepdad, Grandmother Darlene, Alicia and Eli and Baby Will, Matt's Aunts, Uncles and a few cousins. We ate and shared some stories, caught up with what everyone has been up to, Matt, Val and I did a lot of Beauty chasing. They did not want to sit still. They wanted in to everything. They loved the fix-ins today! Jocelyn liked the pumpkin pie so much she was eating it from the whole pie with a spoon! Chloe even tried corn! And she liked it even! Yeah Chloe Girl! We started packing up about 2:30 and head home to drop off Daddy. He had worked all night and needed to get some sleep before work tonight. We spent the second half of the day at Gramma Pam and Papa Steve's house. Ant Dee, Uncle Chad and Molli were there too. We enjoyed another fabulous meal. Some laughs and some funny stories...not going into details...but we laughed. The Beauties ate potatoes (from the bowl, right Farrah?) Silvie was the "Jello Princess." Jocelyn ate more pumpkin pie for dessert. We played for a while, changed into jammies and headed for home. No naps and after bedtime makes for crabby toddlers! Not to mention they are still fighting colds. It is a bit after nine, all the Beauties are asleep and I am thinking about what this day means and the things in my life I am truly the most thankful for.

Here they are simply stated...

I am thankful for my Matty. My Stinky. My Husband. My Soul mate. The Father of my daughters. My Lover. My Best friend.

I am thankful for my Little Beauties. Chloe, Jocelyn, Farrah and Silvie. My Beautiful, smiley, healthy and happy daughters. I cannot imagine one single minute without them. I am so thankful to be their Mommy.

I am thankful for out wonderful parents. They mean so much to all of us.

I am thankful for my BFF Molly and her health.

I am thankful for my family and friends.

I am thankful each morning when I open my eyes and take in a brand new day.

I am thankful for the life I am blessed with.

I am Thankful.