Twins?

Is she my baby or what?

Natalie

Me

Christmas...better late than never

Cole taking Natalie for a ride in his new tractor

Natalie & Grandma...Angels...check out her shirt! Thanks Kelly!

Taylor & Natalie...YES...they really are cousins!

Garrett, Cole & Gavin...too cute!

Cole & his new tractor

Cole shooting a basket before I could even put the thing together!

Cole wearing his new goggles

Natalie and a few of her presents

Cole leaving cookies & milk for santa

Cole Making Cookies

Christmas eve was a busy day! Cole, Natalie and I made Christmas Cookies for Santa. It was THE BEST recipe ever!!! After that, we napped in preparation for Christmas Mass. Cole was very entertaining and Natalie cried for half of it. After that we went home, had our first ever fried turkey (justin did an awesome job) and did our new traditions. Natalie was asleep, but Cole participated. He watched the Polar Express and LOVED it! The Justin read "The Night Before Christmas". I read the Nativity from the Gospel of Luke. We put out cookies and milk for santa also. Justin and I (I mean Santa) put out the presents.

Christmas Morning, Natalie & Cole woke up at 7:30am. They were in the BEST mood and enjoyed their toys. Cole got some tools, trucks, and a basketball goal. Natalie got a cabbage patch doll (Ryan Nina...cutest name!) and other girly things. I got a sewing machine box/cover, Taylor Swift CD, the movie Enchanted, and a waffle maker. Justin got a heart rate monitor and a meat grinder.

Christmas Day we went to Justin's parent's house. Cole got a big blue tractor and Natalie got lots of white furniture for her room (among other things). It was nice and relaxing.

The next day we went to Lubbock and stayed all weekend. We left Monday and Cole came home on Thursday. I was very sad to be away from him so long! Natalie also met her cousin, Taylor. Taylor just loved Natalie! I can't wait to see them play when they get older!!!

While in Lubbock, Cole had the best time with Grandma and Grandpa and Auntie Dani. They played trucks, looked at tractors, looked at trains and airplanes and just had fun. He was sad to come home...but we were happy!

Back to work :(

Tomorrow I go back to work.

On one hand I'm ready to be in the "real" world again so I can talk to adults. On the other hand, I DESPERATELY want to stay home with my babies. Cole stayed with my parents Monday-Thursday. I had Natalie all to myself Tuesday-Thursday. She's really starting to "wake-up" to the world around her and smiles & coos. We snuggled together this morning after her 6:30am feeding. I held her close & we felt like we did for 9 months...breathing as one...etc. I feel like I didn't snuggle as much as I should have! JP & I were talking about how she was so colicky...but looking back..I don't remember how it was so bad. That was only 4 weeks ago! All I know is I thought it was the end of the world...I can't remember why though. haha. I start worrying that she might love Miss Tammy (daycare lady) more than me. Justin says no way....

I wish I could work and have them with me. That would be ideal. I don't want to miss ANYTHING. You other mommies feel my pain. It's HORRIBLE to be separated from them. One of my new years resolutions is to leave work immediately (when I'm allowed to). I HAVE to do this! I miss my babies already!!

Mary

At Christmastime, as a mother, I feel a sort of comraderie with Mary...Jesus' mother. I was listening to a Christmas songs, "New Kid in Town" and "Angels Cried"...they talk about the simplicity of Christmas and basically that the people weren't sure or didn't REALLY know that this little baby was the savior...But Mary did...

As a mother, I look at my tiny baby girl & my big boy and I think that Mary raised Jesus in these stages. I'm sure she spent countless nights awake with a screaming baby (as I did last night!), or had to discipline him as he made messes or was a little toot (like my big boy can be). And most importantly, she absolutely loved him more than life. She watched Joseph be an amazing father to her son. She watched him grow and felt the time slipping through her hands. She knew he had a big purpose...but he was still her little boy.

Its such a neat feeling to think of all of this at Christmas time.

Justin was asking me questions the other day about Catholics. He found himself in a position to defend Catholics. One thing many people think is that we "worship" Mary. This isn't true. She IS blessed! I was reading the Gospel of Luke's Christmas story...it's so beautiful. The angel Gabriel says, "Hail favored one, The Lord is with you!" When Elizabeth hears Mary's greeting, later, John jumps in her womb. Elizabeth says, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb". Which is part of our prayer, "Hail Mary".

Hail Mary full of grace
The lord is with you
Blessed art thou among women
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God
Pray for us sinners
Now and at the time of our death

We aren't seeing her as a god or "worshipping" her. We are asking her to pray for us. This woman who God favored and entrusted the birth of His son to. This "blessed" woman.

Anyway...I'm rambling...but I love to talk about Mary...and as a woman and mother, I feel connected!

Siblings

Cole~4weeks

Natalie~5weeks

I'm going to start running...hopefully soon!

I love to run...have since 7th grade. I ran cross country in highschool...always trying to beat Kelly (sorry Kel...you know you were my motivation!) I quit in college...but then in 2004, I decided to lose weight. I lost 40 lbs between running and the Firm DVDs. Well...the dvds are almost impossible in this tiny house with 2 kids. I've been reading some blogger's triumphs in running (kelly, kori, ashley). THEN..I read a great article in United's Spirit magazine that Justin gets. One of my FAVORITE people had an article about running...Tom Weis~Cheif Learning Officer at United Supermarkets. He used to run marathons when he was younger and just started back up...at 57 years. His "personal marathon philosophy" comes from one of United's famous sayings. It's one of my favorite sayings. It motivated me, and I hope it motivates my fellow runners!!! I plan on repeating it to myself when I run!

"With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable."

Tom goes on to say this, "My running isn't anything special, I just hang in there".

See??? Isn't that awesome? I'm always thinking...why run races if there's no way I can win? If Tom just hangs in there & loves it...so can I.

Anyway...it really hit the nail on the head for me!

Merry Christmas!

Yay! It worked! I'm spoiling your christmas cards...but oh well! I didn't print this off...I did Walmart cards. This is my home-made version! Let me tell you...It's a CHORE to take photos of a 2 year old and a 6 week old...TOGETHER! After about 200 photos, we managed to get about 6 decent ones. This is AFTER I quit & JP snapped great photos. He lucks out. Most of the time Cole ran around making goofy noises. Natalie cried herself to sleep...I just about cried & Justin laughed. We're lucky that these turned out...let me tell you! HOPEFULLY at least Cole will listen to us next year!!