A Prayer

Dear God,

I have a heavy heart this morning. 

Please help me trust what I know to be true.  That you have a plan.  And that plan is perfect in ways I could never understand. 

Please put your strength behind those in my family that need a boost right now. 

Please show me how to help.  I am good at handling these medical issues, Lord.  But from hundreds of miles away, I feel helpless.

I know you will show me what you want me to do.  And for right now, it's praying and asking for prayers.

Amen. 

Moosey's Secret

Have you smelled baby Eva lately? 

She always smells so fresh and so clean. 

 Want to know why? 

She starts every morning with a heavy application of Secret.

Powder fresh scent, of course.

Cutie Holiday Happenings: Updates

Dear Santa,

Thank you for another wonderful Christmas.  We stayed up late playing with the gifts you left us and enjoying being a family.  Eva loved the Baby you left her.  She also loves the blocks from Auntie Leslie, choo choo and blocks from cousin Amanda and pillow pet from Auntie Dana. The candy you left in her big sister's stockings.. that they left unguarded on the floor, was also delicious.

I am addicted to the happiness plastered across their faces.  Among Mia's favorite gifts was a set of animal tails that clip to her pants, a worm farm, and Go-Go My Walking Pup. 

I don't know how many years of magic we have left with this big girl, Santa. 

But this year was great!

She has enjoyed the Playstation Move you left us the most. 

 She also loves the Razor scooter her Grandma and Pop Pop got her and her panda pillow pet from Auntie Dana.

We really hit the mark with Auntie's gift this year.

I love it when you give someone something they forgot they wanted!

Daddy loved his "Coach Joe" sweater from his girls. 

 He got lots of Nebraska Husker stuff and enjoyed his Christmas dinner while watching football.

Maybe next year you'll find us in California for Christmas?

I was spoiled this year with three excited, healthy, loving baby girls,

a great husband,

two handsome nephews and a precious niece,

one best sister and brother in law,

and two wonderful parents

ALL TOGETHER.

Okay, I also got some great stuff too.

Like a button that says "I love placentas" and another that says "Midwives help people out".

And some Origins bath stuff, a bike and a baby trailer and my favorite Starbucks gift card.

"Pier!" "Eba!"

I love that these babies love each other!

Santa, Iris is a girl of few words of lots of noise 

but I'm pretty sure she can't wait until you come again next year.

Pop Pop got a crock pot and a "Cuties Calendar". 

He mostly liked the wrapping paper and bows though I think.

And thanks for the baby sling you left Mia-with-the-guilty-conscience.

She was convinced she was at the top of naughty list.

Santa, do you know something I don't?

The naughty list??

Hope you're catching up on your sleep today. 

With Love,

Katie and the Cuties



Christmas Vacation

Christmas vacation is my favorite!  It's so much better than summer vacation.  Summer vacation is so long that the days run into each other and the whole business starts to feel monotonous.  Christmas vacation is all anticipation and family time... and then playing with your new toys until school starts. 

Christmas in Texas is very unlike my childhood holidays.  I looked all over for a "back in the day" photo to post, but I think I'd have to dig through the archives at my mother's house to find  one of little me all snowsuited up building igloos or gigantic sledding hills.  While there's no snow, there is plenty to do on a 70 degree "winter" day with my darling girls! 

On Monday we loaded up and spent the day at Going Bonkers and then enjoyed lunch with our cousins!  We spent the terribly warm afternoon in the backyard playing soccer (go figure) and then had a fried chicken family picnic on the living room floor while we watched the Disney documentary "Oceans". 

On Tuesday we spent the day playing around the house, reading Christmas books, listening to Christmas music, playing soccer outside (again), and going grocery shopping.  When Daddy got off work, we grabbed a bite to eat and then I got to enjoy Tangled the movie with my big girls while Daddy and Eva hung out at Barnes and Noble.  We took the long way home, enjoying the Christmas lights through the neighborhoods.

Today we left little Eva with Grandma and volunteered with Natalie's soccer team at Grace food pantry.  I was so impressed with these caring, hard-working,mature little ladies!  They sorted through tons of donated items and then put together hundreds of food parcels for needy families.  It is such a blessing to be able to come together and give back to the community, especially during Christmas!  We spent the afternoon wrapping gifts, baking, and (you guessed it) playing soccer in the backyard. 

Natalie sorting canned food with her soccer team.

Amelia constructing a nativity scene.  

While wearing a bathing suit.  In December.  With cheetah ears. 

And a mysterious bruise in the middle of her forehead for which she can offer no explanation.

Cause that's just how she rolls.   

I love that Baby Jesus is nestled in a shoe.  Definate improvement over a manger.