Merry Christmas...

from our home to yours! I have lots of adorable pictures to post; but for now I will leave you with just one from the newest member of our family. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas as well!!!

Pure sweetness

Ceilidh and Graeme are constantly making me laugh and/or cry with some of the things they say and do! Tonight was no exception. All Christmas songs that mention shepherds and angels are big hits around here due to their debut in the 2012 Christmas play at church as ..... you guessed it, a shepherd and an angel. wink We were listening to Chris Rice's version of "What Child is This," when Graeme got really quiet. I just thought he was listening for the shepherd part, when all of the sudden he says, "Momma, how do they make it sound so beautiful?" He literally was quietly listening in awe at the beauty of this song.... this boy can really blow me away sometimes!

For better and for worse, our kids are VERY routine oriented children. In keeping with this, they fall asleep listening to the same CD every night. Yes, every night. There is MUCH resistance when you try to change this up. ha But, for the Advent season we managed to sneak in a Christmas CD for a few weeks! This is how bedtime played out tonight:

Ceilidh: Momma, I want to put our regular music back in on Christmas Eve.
Me: Ok, but why Christmas Eve?
Ceilidh: B/c I can't sleep with the Christmas music.
Me: If that is the case, then lets put the regular CD in tonight. You need to get to sleep.
Ceilidh: No, I can't sleep b/c I like to sing the songs. But I have to sleep on Christmas Eve, or Santa won't come!

HA! So sweet and so true. I hear her every night singing her little heart out. Her favorite song is 'Silver Bells.' I love how both of our older children appreciate music so much. I am sure Jane will follow in their footsteps!

Pilot Express 2012

After last year's Blazer Express success; Andrew and I decided it would have to become a Clendenin Christmas Tradition! Thankfully, the conductor threw out the Blazer train car; and coupled the more reliable Pilot train car this year (wink). So...... the Pilot Express rolled into town last night!!!! We had a great night of chocolate chocolate chip muffins, hot chocolate, Christmas music, and Christmas lights! They have asked for weeks now when the train was going to come, so they were very excited to climb aboard last night!

Total surprise! ha

"Tickets, tickets; please!"

" I want one! ha"

Jane-o got to join in on the eating part this year! ha

Such saddness

I have been on an emotional roller coaster since Friday afternoon when Andrew called to tell me about Sandy Hook Elementary. My thoughts and emotions have been a drowning fog of the Sandy Hook children, their parents, my own almost 6 year old, my classroom of 4 - 7 years.....  I am so sad and heartbroken for everyone involved. I have lots of thoughts about evil, innocence, mental illness, guns, grief, and heartbreak. I have purposely not written anything about this horrific tragedy b/c I can not put into coherent words everything I want to say. I did want to share this though. I am sure many of you have seen it as it has been circulating around FB, but it is beautiful and nauseating with its honesty.

What six looks like

I pray the families of all involved receive God's all-surpassing peace right now. 

and even MORE excitement!

To keep the excitement ball rolling; last night we bought a house and our new labrador puppy was born on 12/12/12!!!!  I could NOT be happier about our home, as we will be closing either Friday or Monday. This has been an EXTREMELY long and drawn out process that has brought me to frustrated tears a few times. The bank and underwriters were on a 2 week delay on an already long process. When we thought we were getting somewhere, then they would have a week long meeting to attend. I mean seriously! I might need anger management after these last couple of months! ha

I am gradually getting more and more excited about the decision Andrew and the kids our family made to get a puppy. wink I am just kidding. I am not looking forward to the work (just being honest), but I have decided if we are going to get one from infancy, I am jumping in feet first and he/she will be apart of our family. ha I can't wait to go see them. Spade (the momma), delivered 7 black puppies last night; 3 boys and 4 girls. Congratulations momma, Spade! wink

* You can usually click on the picture to enlarge it!

More excitement

This week has been packed with excitement. First, and most importantly; Leilani Nokuthula Hazel Collins was born safely!!!! Secondly, I am getting to see Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb" concert that I have been dying to see for years now! And...........Ceilidh lost her first tooth this morning!!!!! It has been 'just' hanging on for a couple weeks now, and it finally popped out this morning on the kitchen floor. ha I can't believe I now have a child that is officially loosing teeth. *tear*

Welcome Leilani!

She's here! She's here! Congratulations Paul, Lydia, Zion, and Phoenix. We are thrilled Leilani has arrived safely. We love you all!!! I can't wait to meet her in person and share pictures!

Finally complete

After searching all last year, and for a few months this year; we have completed our mantel this Christmas. Kenan's "K" is exactly what I was looking for as our mantel never seemed complete without his representation of some kind. And what makes it even more fitting, is that I found it at the same store that the other children's stockings are from.

Christmas is here!!

Last night we broke out the eggnog and cookies; and had our annual Christmas tree party! Ceilidh and Graeme asked me every 10 minutes if it was time for Daddy to be home so we could start the party. ha So, finally after a light dinner it was party time! We made sugar cookies, kettle corn (thought of you the whole time, Lauren), special drink (cranberry ginger ale, wink), and eggnog. Jane rode around on the fire truck most of the night; but then she became a mini-terror! She wanted so badly to "hang" ornaments like the big kids, that I thought she was going to pull the tree over! ha Then she wanted a "bah" (christmas ball) so badly, she sat on her knees batting it like a kitten. It was very cute for about 10 minutes; but I don't know how cute this will be for the next 25 days. wink 

This morning we woke up bright and early for the Southern Pines Christmas parade. Ceilidh and I rode through with our dance studio and had so much fun. Of course, I forgot my camera. frown That is the only hard part of being teacher/mommy. I usually forgot something when trying to be both at the same time. To finish off the festivities for this weekend, we are walking through a living Nativity tonight. We have had a great start to the Advent season!

She was so proud of herself for climbing into the chair by herself! ha

Preview of Pops and ZZ's tree!

I love you Caitlin!

I love that Jane is sneaking cookies while I am taking pictures! ha

Ceilidh took a picture of us hanging the sand dollars

Ceilidh made this angel at 2 1/2 and we have used it as our tree topper ever since!

Graeme made his star last year

Our family... Ceilidh's angel, Kenan's angel, Graeme's star, our sand dollars, and Jane's rattle is just out of the picture. Oops.

Parade time!

This might end up being my favorite picture of the season. He L.O.V.E.S. his Christmas train! I love watching him. wink

School days and Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!! We had a great time eating and seeing family. I had such a fun time with my family, I forgot to get many pictures. Errr! I love this time of year!!!! I am sort of sad Thanksgiving is already over, but super excited about the Advent season.

In the voting booth

Casting his ballot

Mommy's attempt at a "I Voted" sticker! ha They ran out at the legit polling site

He wants NOTHING more than to be JUST like Daddy. Last night, he was wearing a grey long sleeve t-shirt with a pocket just like Andrew.  Andrew's shirt was a polo though, so it had the horse emblem and G's didn't. At some point during the evening, Graeme took a marker and tried to draw a horse on his pocket. No lie... true story. Absolutely adorable and extremely frustrating. That marker is never going to come out! ha

HA.... C and G can get a little frustrated when Jane-o thwarts school activities.

We studied maps last week, so they drew their own map of a fictitious town called Gregory. Gregory had all the essentials: a library, Fire Station, Fire Tower, Food lion, Chickfila, and an Outback! Bet you couldn't guess who demanded which places! wink

Thanksgiving Day with Nana and Granddaddy

Graeme vetoed this picture, and apparently Ceilidh was too! ha

"Enough with the pictures, Mom."

Look at this turkey.... it was enormous! ha Oh, and unbelievably good.

The two cooks for the "Clendenin" feast

Playing football before dinner

Jack decided he would rather rake the tree than play football. wink

Graeme tackled Pops.... and they were on the same team! ha

Paul warming up his "shhhhing" skills. Baby "Flower" will be here any day now!!!

I'm so glad Caitlin has made a showing of "The Grinch" a Thanksgiving tradition. So much fun!

I love how Graeme is looking at Zion.