Lots to say

But is it really necessary?! We just went through a "heat wave" and all the snow is melted. We spent this last week hauling wood from the backyard to the basement so it is full and hopefully we have enough wood to warm our house through the rest of winter. The kids really enjoyed the time off from school so we'll see how well we all get back into the routine of real life.

Thursday before Christmas Grandma and Grandpa Nichols came over with gifts - 2 for each child. (We have adopted them from Church and they are more than happy to fill the role.) They were headed out of town but wanted the kids to open one of the gifts before they left. We all gathered in the living room and Kevin gave each of the kids one gift - even Domonique in the baby swing. When we said open they all opened their gift. There was much squealing and smiles and laughter as they pulled out their new blankets. Grandma and Grandpa Nichols had asked each child what their favorite color and animal was a few weeks ago. The kids wondered what it was about. Well, they each have their favorite color and animal on their new fleece blankets. They are absolutely fantastically wonderful! I have always loved this type of blanket but I have never made one. Now we have 6 of them! It was a wonderful night! Grandma and Grandpa even brought cookies and other treats! Delicious!

From left to right: Emily (pink with cats), Domonique (purple with baby theme), Ben (red with dogs), Kemiah (white with penguins [she only said white so the Nichols picked the penguins]), Marissa (black with cats), Xiomara (green with elephants [she said black but there weren't any elephants to go with black so her new favorite color is green... really, it is]).

Friday we went over to a friend's house to gather with other medical student friends and have a Christmas Eve party. We all had a very fun time! I wasn't a very good Mom, though... I didn't take anything for the kids to eat and they weren't interested in the soup and stuff that was there so they didn't eat much, but they watched several movies and played some games.

This is what happens when you keep a three year old out past 11 pm. She was completely out and went to bed in her clothes.

Christmas morning was like most any other morning around here. We didn't open the gifts until after breakfast, which was later than normal because we got to bed late the night before. The first gift they opened was their gift from Grammy - their new pajamas! Usually we open those Christmas Eve but that didn't happen this year because of the previously mentioned event.

Great work Grammy!


Our little tree with lots of homemade ornaments, and some ornaments that have been given to us, and gifts all around.


The second gift from Grandma and Grandpa Nichols was a game, so now our game collection has grown to include: Sorry Spin, Hoopla Twister, UNO Tilt, Operation, and Hedbanz. They are all very fun games so check them out at your local game distributor. I won't give the details about all the other gifts but here is some present opening fun.

Domonique received a wooden walker toy - the kind that helps the child learn how to walk. (The one we had when Ben was born and used with all the other kids broke in Dominica so we left it there.) She'll use it eventually but she really enjoyed eating the wrapping paper. (Note: don't worry if your baby eats paper... it goes right through them.)

This cute outfit was given to us for Kemiah but I thought it was too cute not to have the baby wear it this year. So Merry Christmas to all....

Following with family tradition

We have had these two baby accessories since Ben was born. All the kids have done these two things: fallen asleep in "the farm activity center" and sucked their thumb (or fingers) in the swing. I am happy to report that she isn't that serious about sucking her thumb and doesn't have to have a pacifier. She usually just chews on her thumb but will suck on the pacifier if we give it to her. Maybe she'll be the first one to not have this horrible habit.

Most Delicious

I just finished putting the kids to bed, 30 minutes ago, and thought I'd enjoy a cup of hot chocolate. I warmed up a mug full of my husband's whole milk (normally I drink skim). Once it was hot I dropped in a mint Hershey kiss. Then I added the hot chocolate packet with mini marshmallows - Cold Stone Creamery Smooth Cravings, made with real chocolate (as if others are made with fake chocolate). I stirred and was amazed that the kiss actually disappeared. It smelled wonderful and tasted even better. What a treat! I guess I could enjoy the snow if I drank that all winter long... Then again, I'd really need to start exercising to keep from weighing a ton at the end of winter so maybe I won't do that every night.

Where's the line to see Jesus

I thought this was a great song to help us focus...

Abracadabra!

Marissa's warts are going away! I noticed the two on her face yesterday are finally gone! Her comment when I mentioned it, "Now my face won't be ugly." I told her she was beautiful anyway, but I am glad they are gone. Even the ones on her fingers are fading! What a relief. She did have two cryo sessions that were really painful (4 the first time and two the second) but I guess that kicked her body into killing off the virus. I'm really glad because the duck tape on all her fingers just wasn't working - it wouldn't stay on - and the tea tree oil smelled so bad I wasn't using that either. It is such a relief to see them fading. I'll have to check her toes to see if those are going away, too. Now I need to focus on the little ones that Kemiah and Emily have to nip it early on instead of waiting until they are a big issue. Oh, and Ben and Xiomara's warts are still gone as well. Although Ben did have one on the bottom of his foot that we had to have frozen twice but it is gone now as well! I guess I shouldn't be surprised if Domonique gets some, too.

Rolling right along!

She has done it! Tomorrow she will be 5 months old and she is rolling from back to tummy. I haven't seen her do it until tonight. A couple times on Monday, when I left her on her back, I came back to find her on her tummy. So tonight I decided to try and watch her and catch it on "film" but I thought I might have to wait awhile. Maybe she was trying to trick me. Fortunately, she performed like a champ so it was easy to record it both on video and pictures! Thank you baby! What a milestone.

Before her Daddy went in to work he said he put her on her tummy and she rolled to her back. That is the first I know of and so I'll be watching for that trick, too. She has one more month to work on sitting up on her own so that she'll be ready for her pictures at 6 months.