Picture Pages: Christmas(es) Edition

Wow, what a whirlwind our Christmas break was! Although our family time in Wichita was quite different than normal due to my Granddad's passing, we were so blessed through our varied experiences with both of our families. Be prepared for lots of pictures!

We began our time here in Wichita with my family. Sophie had lots of fun with Delaney and Nolan. She gets very excited to see her cousins!

It's been tradition for years for us to open new pajamas on Chrismtas Eve. Here are the girls in their new matching Curious George pj's, which came complete with the Monkey himself.


Here are the kiddos at the top of the stairs on Christmas morning, waiting to go down and see if Santa Claus came!


Sophie talking on her new Elmo phone from Uncle Jeremy:

Me with my precious nephew, Nolan. Gotta love the fuzz-head!

Me and two of my favorite men - my Daddy and handsome Marine Corps brother, Jeremy:

On the 28th we were whisked away to Salt Lake City, Utah. Sophie was able to show off for lots of Ben's family and hang out with her sweet cousin, Elyssa.

Sophie and Elyssa were a hoot together! They still didn't really play together, but they loved watching each other and following each other around. And of course, Sophie had to teach Lyssa some of her more practiced habits such as singing and whining.

Our two snow bunnies loved spending time outdoors with Dada/Uncle Ben and Grandpa.

Opening presents:

Gobbling up that yummy pizza:

Such cuties!

Notice how both girls are the same height, even though Elyssa is about five months younger!

Playing at cousin Lyssa's house:

The cousins love sharing kisses with each other!

The two girls with their Grandpa and Ben:

Sophie adores her new book called "I'm a Big Sister." Here she is reading with Momma and her soon-to-come sibling on the airplane.

For the Grand Finale, here is Sophie in her Christmas dress. Yes, I realize the hairbow is rather large. That was definitely the point. I really am a biased mom, but I just wanted to eat her up. Scrumptious!!

POO

There's always next year. Boomer Sooner!

Boomer Sooner!

Soph and Momma are ready to watch our Sooners win!

There's No Place Like Home

Dorothy Gail truly said it best, while clicking together her ruby red slippers. Although we had a fabulous week, we're so thankful to be home.

Sitting at my computer at 9:15 this evening, my 33-weeks-pregnant body is utterly exhausted. Thus, I've decided not to let my desire to blog dictate my bedtime. I'm off to Dream Land.

I have Bible study tomorrow morning and work in the afternoon, so I can't promise a prompt post. In the meantime, I'll have to tide you over with this picture of our "present" from the doctor in Utah who removed Sophie's stitches.

A "Stitch" In Time

My baby girl is 18 months old! For her 18 month birthday on Friday, Sophie decided to surprise her Momma with a trip to a place neither of us had ever been - the new Wesley Emergency Room on the west side of Wichita!

Sophie was shopping at Shoe Carnival that afternoon with her Momma and Aunt Katie. While my sister was trying on some shoes, Sophie was just walking around the store being silly. Before I knew what was happening, she stumbled and landed face first right on the corner of a wooden display case. At first I thought it was just a normal bump. I picked her up to console her and realized she was bleeding. So, I asked the clerk for some tissue. I quickly began dabbing at the blood on her head, and once it was cleared for a moment I realized that the cut looked too deep.

SO, off to the ER we went (I did try her pediatrician first, but they were closed). At the ER my poor, sweet girl cried and cried and cried some more. We finally were taken into a room where we put on a cartoon and she quickly drifted off to sleep on her Momma's lap. I laid her down and they put some numbing gel on her face, which took about 40 mins to take effect. Here she is sleeping on the hospital bed (low quality pic from Katie's phone). You can kinda see the blood above her left eye.

Of course the poor girl woke just before they sewed her up. So one nurse did a "big girl swaddle" to hold her arms while another held her head, and the doctor artfully applied two stitches to Sophie's face. Watching the stitching wasn't hard, but having to stand by while she was held down and screaming was the worst torture possible. She kept repeating, "Momma, momma" in the saddest little voice you can imagine.

It was really amazing, because the doctor told us if they weren't able to hold her still enough, we'd have to stop and sedate her. I was a little concerned and of course began asking God to let it all work well. Both times the doctor got close to her eye with the needle, she completely stopped crying and was extremely still! Once he pulled the needle and thread through, she would start screaming again. I know God was there helping to calm her in those moments!

Here she is after we finally left the hospital and were back at my mom's house. Wow, what a week! Granddad passing Sunday, lots of extra family in town to spend time with all week, finishing up at work before our trip to Utah, Christmas, Granddad's viewing Friday night, the service this morning, and leaving for Utah tomorrow morning (Sunday)... let's just throw in a trip to the ER while we're at it!

There Will Be a Day...

There is a song by Jeremy Camp that sings of the freedom we will have one day when we, as believers, finally go to live with Jesus. "There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears. There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more..."

This song has been on my heart all week as I knew that my Grandad Carr (my mom's daddy) would soon pass on. Last night Grandad finally left this world and is now resting peacefully with His Lord. Oh, how he loved God. He was such an example of living for Christ and standing firm in what he believed, no matter what others said.

Grandad fought dementia for the last few years, and especially over the last year we watched him suffer a great deal. When my mom called me this morning to tell me he passed away, the only thing I could say was, "I'm so glad he's finally home with Jesus."

Thank you, Holy Father, for taking Grandad home. I know he rejoices with you this moment as he has no more pain, no more tears...

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain..." Revelation 21:4

Thanks, Grandpa!

Ben's parents have been here visiting since Wednesday afternoon. Ben's dad, Bill, takes after his own dad in his talent with woodworking. Last time he was here, he and I talked about a special custom-made bookshelf I wanted for Sophie. When they came on Wednesday, Grandpa delivered the coolest bookshelf - exactly what we wanted! He did a beautiful job and we're so excited to have this for the kids over the years to come. Thanks for the extra special gift, Grandpa T - we love you!

The Snowy Day Chronicles

By noon today, this was the view from our front door:

Needless to say, Sophie and I were hermits in our pajamas and sweats (until I had to go to work at 2). I know my readers will be so thankful that I recorded our day in pictures - just with you all in mind!!

Before I could finish baking my Christmas bread, our front room looked like a little monster had attacked (oh wait - she had!).

Lucky for me, that same little monster loves to help with the laundry:


Occasionally on a long day inside, Sophie likes to play with her toys the "right" way:

But mostly, she likes to invent new ways of playing with them:

She must make sure to watch Baby Einstein in at least three different positions:

It's a necessity to get some dancing time in:

Sophers has to holler at the doggies in the backyard, because she loves to see them pop up in that window (even though they're never going to come out of their shelter in this weather).

She'll make some funny faces at Momma's camera, and of course she'll definitely want to put on fun things to wear (i.e. reindeer antlers - not pictured - and this silly name tag that is from VBS back in July):

After a nice nap, DaDa comes home and helps us create new ways to have fun (and isn't Momma so thankful for DaDa)!!

What winter weather adventures have you had lately?

Oh Elmo, We Love You!

And we love the way your song will play in our heads until the trumpets one day sound.

(The one below has no Elmo, but I just had to throw it in anyway).