{Christmas 2011}

Before Christmas really becomes a distant memory, I figured I'd better post about it! Here's a few pictures I took a few days before Christmas. Although we didn't really do much as far as "seasonal" activities go, we had a great time relaxing and spending time together as a family.

Christmas day itself was a little crazy. Since we had 9am church, Ben and I decided we wouldn't have Santa come until after church was out. There was just no option to try and drag the kids away from their new toys, and I didn't want to rush through presents inorder to make it to church on time. So we waited. We went to church. I came on and played Santa. Ben and the boys showed up a few minutes later and TA DA! Austin was SO excited!

We took a break about half way through. Austin and Logan enjoyed their toys some more and then we all took a nap. We finished opening gifts around 5pm, just in time for dinner. Austin and Logan both turned out to be a ton of fun! Austin really got into the excitment of it all and Logan just loved ripping open gifts haha. It turned out to be a great day!

{The Cleaning Waited}

My house needs to be cleaned and organized... revamped, really. There are dishes in my sink. My floors need to be vacuumed and mopped and the boys bathroom cleaned. And our poor master bedroom. Oh. my. NO words. It's a disaster in there. It definitely needs major love...major attention. But none of that was important today.

I made an executive decision this morning. And when Austin got out of school, we did something we don't I do nearly often enough because I always find an excuse. I always think "another day, I'll have (interpreted make) time." For some reason today, it hit me. These days are numbered. My babies won't be babies for very long. They aren't going to want to spend quality time with me one day. And I'm going to miss it. Very much.

I remember when my older brother graduated from high school. I overheard my parents talking, and I heard my dad getting a little emotional, saying he wished he'd spent more time with him when he was little. Played catch a few more times, maybe more one on one games. I try and keep that in my brain  and realize these moments I have with my children aren't going to happen a second time around.

So today, we went to the park. And I'm so glad we did.

Short sleeves.
No jackets.
Warmth all over us.

It was a sunny, enjoyable 68 degrees.
We played and played some more.

My favorite shot...

The single shot of Austin. Let's just say he was too busy being in heaven

These are the moments. Let me tell ya. I am truly blessed.

And guess what? The cleaning waited.