Santa

12*17*2011

Our first Christmas in Frankfurt and who do we find?? Santa Clause!! :) The kids were so happy that he took some time out of his busy schedule to come see them. It was the morning of Andrew's birthday party. And while I don't make it a habit to do Christmas things on his special day, they had fun and couldn't bear the thought that he was all the way in Germany and missed him! 

So Andrew talked to Santa about what he wished for. I asked him afterwards what he told Santa he wanted for Christmas and he told me it was a secret between just him and Santa! Ha! Guess we'll have to see if "Santa" can guess! ;) I'm sure legos and cars are at the top of his list!

 

After sitting with Santa and getting a picture with him, they hopped down and each got a candycane and a yo-yo or a toy equivalent to one. They were feeling super special!

 This also happened to be Landon's first appearance with Santa. I didn't really get a formal one with just him like I have with the others in previous years but they hit it off just fine. In all honestly, at nine months old, I don't even think he noticed! Sitting on Aubrey's lap helped I'm sure. They became fast friends. Didn't even shed a tear! :)

Between a church Christmas party, Santa visiting, music going, baking cookies and hanging out in the freezing temps...we are getting into the holiday spirit around here.

 And this year, we'll be having my brother and his family here from England to enjoy the Christmas festivities with us. For sure a Christmas to remember! 

Christmas Time is Here!

{Christmas Cards 2011}

I wish my brain wasn't always mush!

I find that my creative energy comes mid day - when I'm still running around getting things done at the homefront and keeping a baby clean, fed and entertained while big brother snoozes for his nap. Oh how I can't wait until they are both on the same nap schedule! :)

Until then, it's go, go, go!!!

(And I feel like a walking zombie!)

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE being busy caring for my children. They are most definitely busy bodies and most days they make me want to pull my hair out but they are the love of my life and I am so grateful for them and all their cuteness! I just feel the need to write things down to preserve memories and I honestly don't have as much time to do it as I used to. But I will find a way! Sleep just seems to be more necessary in this time of my life. Especially with a husband who's about to start his Master's Degree!

On a happy note...it's starting to feel and look like Christmas here. More so if it will snow in the next couple of days like it's predicting it will. I can't wait! Winter here started a few weeks back with darkness starting around 4pm. Not one of my most favorite traits of winter, that's for sure! I miss the sunlight!! And we had heavy fog for days. Now it's just cold, windy and rainy. Days aren't any warmer than the 30's and 40's. I left my kids in the care of a friend for a bit today to run through the hurricane like weather, which was pushing it's way towards us from France, to get some packages mailed off to family and friends in the States. And oh how I'm missing them all! I am getting a bit homesick again. Skype, how I love you so! It truly has been a great thing for us to see and talk to people from afar!

I am so relieved that all the Christmas cards have been written and presents have been shipped. I was losing a lot of sleep (and so was John as he and I stayed up until 1am last night) trying to get so much done in the past few weeks in between tending to a sick Jocelyn, an on-the-go Landon, a potty training Andrew and a homework busy bee Aubrey. NOW I feel I can enjoy the holidays. Thankfully the kids stuff has been bought and made for a while now and all is done except wrapping. I leave that for last minute. Got to keep up with tradition on most things! ;) Who knows...I might surprise myself and get it done earlier but I'm not banking on it.

We have so many wonderful and busy things to look forward in the next 9 days - by the time Christmas arrives! Especially with my brother and his family coming out for a week to spend Christmas with us. The tree is up, Christmas break starts NOW and 4 more days until they arrive! Woo hoo!

And off I go to catch this little guy! Heaven help me...Landon learned to do this amazing trick as well as pull himself to stand along furniture just a few days ago. He's NINE months! We're smelling TROUBLE now! None of our other kids did it this early. I'm sure he's got the notion to stay up to speed with his brother and sisters. Boy do we have our hands busy! Gates are going up pronto!

Meaning of Christmas

{The beautiful tree decorated in the church foyer smelledheavenly! I miss having a real tree for this reason alone!}



I felt true happiness today while being with my family at church! Mind you, I do naturally feel happy but today I felt even more so! Because our car is still in the shop, three of us rode to church with one friend and the other three rode with another friend. So when Jocelyn, Andrew and I arrived, John was sitting in the chapel with Landon and Aubrey was up front awaiting her first Sacrament talk. As we sang some Christmas hymns, it came to my attention that I had all that's near and dear to me right then at that very moment. My husband was by my side, my kids were snuggled up next to us coloring quietly and Aubrey was giving the sweetest talk on what Christmas means to her. I had it all right there in that very room: my family! And I felt even more humbled when I looked over to see John singing Christmas carols with me and the congregation. He doesn't like to openly sing. Or rather, he doesn't think he sounds that good. But he does and nothing sounded sweeter! I honestly didn't want that moment to end. Throughout the week, I have many moments of love with my children and husband but for some reason, I just really wanted to embrase this particular moment just a little bit more than I normally would have. I love the feeling of peace. That things were the way they should be: our family together!

{My boys!}

Thanksgiving and Christmas time happen to be my most favorite holidays to celebrate and be a part of. Not for the food or the gifts. But for the chance to think and reflect a bit more than I usually do throughout the other parts of the year. I'm reminded of all that we have and hold dear. That it's about remembering all that's important. That we shouldn't take life and people for granted. That we have much to be grateful for! And most importantly, the birth of Jesus Christ and all that He does and has done for us!

I thought it would be nice for those that couldn't be here to listen to Aubrey's talk to at least be able to read it. I also wanted to have it written down for keepsakes. And, well, because she's my first child and I'm so very proud of her! :) She did awesome and received lots of wonderful comments afterwards about how well she did.

The Importance of Christmas in my Life

by: Aubrey Shields

Good morning, Brothers and Sisters. A few weeks ago, I was asked to give a talk about the importance of Christmas in my life, and my first reaction was, "Wow! How lucky can I get to be assigned a talk the first day in Young Womens!" This is my first time giving a talk in Sacrament, and I am really excited about it, so hopefully it goes well.

About a week ago, my little sister comes up to me with a smile on her face and says, "I'm so excited for Christmas!" I ask her why and she says, "Presents!" as if it were obvious. I explained to her that Christmas isn't all about getting, it's about giving and helping others, so they can have a good Christmas too and to know that people care for them. When I thought she was on the verge of understanding, her eyes widened and said, "We don't get presents?!!" I said, "we do, but that's not what Christmas is all about." My little sister said back, "Oh! (I could tell she was relieved!)...I thought we wouldn't get presents." I tried telling her it wasn't all about getting things and it was about giving and the birth of Jesus Christ.

As I started to think about it, I thought of what would happen if there was no Christmas. A lot of things popped into my head. Christmas is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He atoned for our sins, and died for us on the cross. He ensured that we would be resurrected one day and that we would live again. After we talked, we made some cards for a few of our family members and I finally think the message settled in with my sister. During that time, I think I learned a little something as well. It reminded me that having presents is not what makes Christmas. We would still be very happy during Christmas without a little "Ho Ho Ho" from Santa Clause and presents under the Christmas tree. Sure, those things are fun, but being together as a family, coming together and sharing special times with one another is what makes almost everyone happy during Christmas.

Yesterday, during the ward Christmas party, I had so much fun with my family and I'm sure everyone else had fun as well. I liked the fact that everyone came together to prepare food, setup, clean...so everone would have an enjoyable time. Christmas is a time of year to celebrate and be happy with our family and friends. Things like the Christmas party are one of the ways we can feel the Spirit.

There is a lot to be thankful for the birth of Jesus Christ, and if He was never here, we would not be resurrected or any of these things. Christmas is a time to celebrate these gifts, and be with your loved ones. My Aunt, Uncle and baby Cousin are coming for Christmas so we can be together as a family and have a great time.

I would like to share my testimony with you that I know this church is true, and that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are watching over us and they're there for us. I love my family and I know they love me as well. I am thankful for Christmas and the Spirit and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

A Tiny Peek of Christmas in Germany

One of two things. I really needed a break from the kids. It doesn't happen nearly as often as I'd like or should get so I was ALL about going with a friend today on the train to downtown Frankfurt. I need to do this more often!!! I love my kids immensely but I deserve some alone time every once in a good while! You now, once a week? :) The other thing is I needed (or wanted) to find some German Christmas cards. My friend knows her way around the town better than I do at the moment so she was able to walk me through a few really neat card shops and craft stores and kid toy shops. SO many cute things! I can't wait to go back down there.

So not only did I find some cute German Christmas cards, but I also spotted the beginnings of the Frankfurt Chrismas Market coming to life. Wow was that awesome! They were hammering away on almost every corner or street down there. So many people bustling around getting things ready for the holiday season. I can not WAIT to experience my first Christmas here in Germany! Especially with my brother, sister-in-law and their adorable daughter coming out to pay us a visit! This is going to be so much fun!

I was able to take a few snapshots while down there today. I really can't wait to go back! And I must say, after the first few months of living here...I'm really starting to love it! The first few months were a little rocky. Not that it's horrible here by any means, but I missed home. The list was long at first: family & friends, familiar places and stores (TARGET). I think I was going through a bit of a culture shock. I'm thankfully now over that. It's for sure going to be a sad day when we move away! And it's a good thing we still have a few more years left to be here and take it all in before we do have to leave. What a beautiful country...I'm so thankful for this once in a lifetime experience! :)

Christmas Eve 2010

 It was really hard getting the kids happy and into the Christmas spirit with them knowing that their Daddy wouldn't be home the next morning to open presents on Christmas. After getting to talk to him over Skype, we made some some cookies for Santa and a big batch of puppy chow to enjoy over a movie. Of course it didn't remove their Daddy from their thoughts but the treats at least brought a smile to their faces!

Poor little guy! I just love how big sis jumped in to comfort him when he was sad!

{This years Christmas ornaments we had made at the mall}

 I made things as simple and pretty as possible with John in Iraq and me very much pregnant with Landon. I didn't go to our storage unit to get our 7 foot tree and I let a few things slide in order to focus on my kids so they had the best Christmas they possibly could with their Daddy away. I was running out of steam hitting my third trimester anyways. I hope they know just how much they are loved!!!

I actually love the little prelit 3 foot tree my Mom bought us while she was here for Thanksgiving. It's different than what we normally decorate but I loved it the same! I think it's just the right size for the two younger ones too. :) I stayed up late this evening wrapping presents and wishing my husband was here to make good memories with us. It's so hard having him away. Instead of the normal 20 minute limit to talk over Skype, he gets 30 tomorrow so I'm beyond excited to talk to him while the kids open their gifts. Wishing all of our friends and family a very merry Christmas!

DC Festival of Lights

{Washington DC Temple}

It's Christmas time!! I must say that in all the years we've lived in the DC area, that we had yet to see the Temple all decked out in lights for the Christmas season. I really wanted to go but was nervous about it since I'm 7 months pregnant along with John deployed...but I wasn't about to let that stop me from taking the kids to see them. I also felt it would be good to go up there so we could see my cousin and her family. I packed us up some dinner for later and we left early so we could avoid traffic. It worked out perfectly - and I was successful in making this whole trip a surprise for the kids. They had no idea where we were going and who we were getting together with. :)

 

Pulling up to the Temple and seeing all the beautiful lights was so much fun! The kids screamed with excitement when they saw where we were. They LOVE the Temple! I love seeing how happy it makes them. Especially when they saw that their cousins were there! So cute! The first thing we did when we did was walk around (in the freezing cold) to check out the lights and the lifesize nativity set.

It was getting way too cold outside and the kids were crying so we jumped inside the Visitor's center to get warm and listen to a few local choirs sing. After that, we wondered around and looked at all the decorated Christmas trees and nativity sets from all across the world.

I then had the pleasure of finding a missing Andrew!! That was beyond scary to have him next to me one minute and gone the next. My cousin and I ran around trying to see where he was and one of the workers asked what he looked like and off they went to help us find him. What seemed like hours later, I walked back to the area where they had a room set up as a living room and he was playing on the computer! Agh!! I wasn't even upset at this point! Just happy to find my boy safe and sound. I ran and hugged him and pretty much didn't let him out of my sight for the rest of the time! 

Besides this scary incident, it was such a fun night! :) I'm so thankful that my cousin and her family joined us in this last minute night at the Temple!

{My family with my cousin and her family}

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

The day after Thanksgiving, we started to decorate around our house for Christmas. I just love this time of year. The traditions, music, smells, the spirit of giving, and most importantly - celebrating Christ's birth. Here's a sneak peak of what we've been up to...

{Our front door - we found this wreath at Costco and it smells SOOOO good!}

{Snowflakes hung in the bathroom}

{Instead of dragging out our 7 foot prelit this year from storage, we put up this Charlie Brown Christmas tree on our hall table and the kids had fun putting the decorations on.}

{Lights strung across our entertainment center}

{Mint candies that somehow made it into the grocery cart. They're for cookies, I swear! :)}

{More ornaments hung from lights - here in the kitchen. My mom flew into town for Thanksgiving and was able to help me decorate. So thankful too because being pregnant and short isn't a good combo on a ladder when trying to reach high places! :)}

{This candle seriously smells good enough to eat!}

{Ornaments in the living room}

{Our first Christmas card this year - from our good friends living in Germany.}

We have a few more things to do around the house but I like how it's looking so far! Thankfully snow didn't show up in these pictures I posted. I'm hoping with all hope that we don't have a repeat of last years blizzard - bombarding us with over 3 feet of snow! But we'll be prepared just in case! Because cabin fever is no fun. Time to go get those boots so the kids aren't stuck inside for days or weeks on end! :)

Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season so far!