December happenings, and a final post in 2014

December is nearly over; 2014 is nearly over. 

What a month…what a year. 

My energy is pretty depleted. But my heart is so very full. It's been a good month of Christmas magic...and princess birthday cake with too much frosting. 
There was a lot of activity in the Patton household. Here is a run-down of what we've been up to!

There was gingerbread house building (and eating!) 

I left this task to Grandpa, considering he's the one with the engineering skills.

Santa visiting. 
Evie was a little apprehensive to see Santa. She said she didn't like his mustache. Santa actually wasn't too jolly. When we entered his little candy house at Bridgeport Mall, he only stared at us and blandly stated "I never had triplets before."

The elves weren't too sure either; they debated about the best way to go about arranging the three boys on Santa's lap.  
The boys just stared blankly at him in wonderment.
 I think everyone just wanted to get it over with.

James was positioned in the middle. We had to take the picture quickly because he was falling through the gap. No one knew what to do. 

We managed to get one  good picture and checked "Santa visiting" off the list. 

Waiting for the big man

No one was feeling the magic

Post-Santa picture. Glad that's over.

Evie’s Christmas preschool performance.  This was definitely a highlight of my holiday season. After weeks of practicing her little Christmas songs at preschool, the big night was here; it was her time to shine. And shine she did. 
The minute the teachers called for the "2 year old" class to come on stage, Evie jumped right up and was the first one on.  She sang all her songs with gusto as a huge happy smile lit up her entire face. 

She got lots of hugs from Grammie and Grandpa, and I'm thinking we may have a future star on our hands. 

So proud of our little shining star

All ready and waiting to get on stage

Evie's biggest fan

Well....more of Evie's biggest fans

Lots of Costco trips:   Why is Costco always the place to go when there is no where else to go? Costco the week before Christmas is never a good idea. But I felt like we visited Costco A LOT in the weeks up to Christmas. Maybe it was the Christmas light displays. Maybe it was the samples. Maybe is was the little old ladies in the hair nets. I don't know, but something about Costco made it feel like the holidays. 

 Evie and Levi loved sharing a cart and of course the samples. 

Our annual Christmas cocktail party: John and I decided to host our annual Christmas party again this year. With help from John's parents and Amanda, we were able to get all the kids in bed by 7:30 and get ourselves ready by the time the party started in our basement at 8:00. I have to say, it was a fabulous party. Our basement was a perfect venue and it was so nice to see so many of our friends on Christmas Eve Eve. 

Yeah, we still have  a little bit of cool left in us. 

The Ladies, lookin better than ever! ;) 

Our 8th Christmas party. 

Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church: The seven of us spent Christmas Eve at our church singing Christmas songs and remembering the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. We held candles and took pictures in front of the Christmas tree. The kids dressed in their Christmas best, complete with little red bow ties (thanks to Amanda!)

Christmas morning joy (and chaos!): The magic was SO alive in Evie's heart the night before Christmas. She excitedly put cookies and carrots out for Santa and his crew and went to bed dreaming of sugar plums (emphasize the "sugar") 

Christmas morning started out like any other day with getting the boys up. However, James gave us some Christmas magic by pooping all over his crib and himself.


We all waited for the star of the show, Evie, but she actually slept in until 8:00! Once she came bounding down the stairs, Christmas morning officially began. 

We paused mid way through the morning for a most delicious Christmas breakfast of oatmeal and ice-cream, thanks to a family tradition that Amanda passed down to us! Best breakfast EVER!

The rest of the day was spent  in wrapping paper and new toys. Evie was very excited about her doctor kit and an inflatable ball pit (thanks to Amanda's mom) 

Beautiful Christmas evening dinner by the Christmas tree; Christmas  evening was simple, a lot different from how I grew up.  Christmas for me was always a lot of extended family, loud conversation and mounds and mounds of cookies. Now that we are so far away with so many kids, I'm learning to appreciate our own evolving traditions. 

Christmas is a lot more quiet. I mean, don't get me wrong, the kids create a lot of activity,  but it's just our noise. 
No cousins, or aunts or uncles or siblings. Just us. 
And that's ok, because I had a blast watching the kids enjoy the day. And I could focus on the small special moments with my family.
 I love that kids bring out the fun of Christmas all over again. And I know the older they get, the more traditions and memories we will create together. 

Later that night, John's parents came over and we bundled everyone up and went for a walk around our block, looking at all the Christmas lights. 
After all the kids went to bed, we had a nice Christmas dinner by the Christmas tree. John made beef wellington and we drank good wine. 

Christmas was very very nice at our home. 

...and then two days later, on Dec. 27th, our little Evie celebrated her 3rd birthday, complete with a princess party which included lots of fluffy dresses, sugar, pink fluff and sparkles... and more sugar. 

I’d say she has enough gifts now to last her well into this new year. 

I’m the kind of person that if I’m going to do it, I figure I might as well do it well; so I did my best with this princess party for my daughter. I turned our classy cocktail party basement into a pink princess palace in just a few days. I ordered a sticky, overly frosted Disney princess castle cake. I summoned some of her Princess friends. I set up lovely little tables with small teacups and lined them with lacey dolies. I even had vases with fresh purple flowers.  Evie was all smiles, especially when we sang her happy birthday and she got cake at 10 am. ;)

This year I experienced such joy seeing the excitement in my kids. Don't get me wrong, not every moment was perfect, but kids really do put a renewed sparkle in the holiday season. 

We experienced so MUCH change in 2014.

It was an intense year, with having three newborns and a very strong willed two year old...oh, and moving when they were 2 months old. 

 But we end this year with three happy, almost one year old boys  and a slowly maturing three year old girl.  

We feel settled in our lovely home, enjoying friends, new and old. 

We are grateful God brought Amanda into our lives to help us love our kids. 

We are so appreciative of supportive family who drop everything to help us when we need it. 

The vision I had last New Years was of a long dark tunnel. Being overly pregnant with three babies, 2014 seemed  scary, overwhelming and  never ending.

 John and I both say we can see "the light at the end." Things are getting better. Things are getting brighter. 

 We have so much to be thankful for. Our cup is overflowing... 

I have high hopes for 2015. I think it will be a good year. 

Holiday Magic

'Tis the season to be jolly…and sick. 

                                                  and sick. 

and sick.  

and sick. 

It all started with James…who passed it to Levi…and then to Caleb…and back to James and now to Evie. It’s quite a sight to see, all four kids coughing, snoting, sneezing on each other....

 It’s virtually impossible to keep all the sickies quarantined, so everybody gets in on this germ fest. It’s what I knew would happen this winter, and it’s what I dreaded. It’s a “one day at a time” kind of thing. It just seems like it’s never going to end. Seriously, the snot just keeps coming and coming and coming…I find myself in moments almost going mad because just when I think one child is on the mend, the first one gets it again and I fear that we will be separated from society forever. 

Despite the snot fest, I am trying my best to infuse our home with some Christmas magic and merriment. Evie is totally enveloped in Christmas this year. We are doing "Elf on the Shelf"  and she is so excited every morning when she wakes up to see where the elf is. 

I’ve decked our house out just for her. 

I have stockings hung,

 lit garland on the staircase, window stickers, and of course, our real Christmas tree that we cut down at a local Christmas tree farm. ( Actually, the Christmas tree farm is on the land of one of the original families in Tualatin!)

  Just like I was as a child, she finds so much delight in looking at all the Christmas decorations. She is totally enamored with the lights and trees, and the thought of Santa and elves put such a sparkle in her eyes. 

Such innocence.

 I am savoring it all because I know it's fleeting. 

How quickly we lose this excitement and magic in life and are forced to deal with the realities of the world. There have been so many brutal realities this past year that have touched my life…friends battling and losing to cancer, sudden tragic deaths of acquaintances, losses of babies…divorces….betrayal....such sorrows we must endure in this world, in this life!

In addition to Santa and reindeers and elves, we definitely make sure we emphasize the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus in this world. And what is so amazing is that in this birth, there truly is the hope of REAL magic again someday. 

There is the promise of a world without death, sickness, heartache and brokenness. My heart-my soul-yearns for this world...so much.

But to live in a world without these things for but a brief few years is such a gift. And to see Evie delight in this world of magic makes my heart happy. 

But in the meantime, we  do the best we can and hold on the the things that matter in this life.

And speaking of what matter in life, food and family are right there near the top!  

We hosted Thanksgiving this year, my very first time ever. 

Honestly, I was a little intimidated by the thought of cooking the turkey; but, once again my champion husband came through and claimed that task as his own…and boy, did he ever make a meal to remember! 

After staying up until 2:30  am Thanksgiving Eve brining the bird, he smoked and cooked the best turkey I have ever had. In fact, he was the MC of the entire meal! He came downstairs Thanksgiving morning with a long handwritten schedule of exactly what times dishes and meats needed to be in the oven, with timers set, sauces simmering…it was like a beautiful, orchestrated dance, and truly the end result deserved a standing ovation. 

Mastering the Bird

The meal turned out fantastic.  And I cherished my time with the family and friends we had here in our living room.  We had John's parents with us and John’s brother, Rob and our sister in law Melissa from Seattle, along with their two girls (whom Evie adores!)  

And then there was Amanda and Amanda’s mom,( who flew in from CA),  and Amanda's  friend, Jane, who goes to school at SPU. 

It was a full house, but one with laughter, conversation and happy babies (because they were all being held!)

 Everyone contributed to the meal and it was a really special Thanksgiving. 

During the meal, I suggested that we go around the table and share something that we were grateful for this year. It was a special time of heartfelt sharing. I am grateful for so many things this year. 

Grateful. 

Grateful. 

Oh, so grateful.

Dressed in their Thanksgiving Best!

Lately, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 keeps invading  my mind, “Be grateful in ALL circumstances, for this is God’s will  concerning you all.” 

I’m learning that in every situation and circumstance, there is always room for gratefulness. And we are commanded to search for it. 

It is really a good habit to get into, reminding yourself of all the wonderful blessings in life in the midst of the difficulties. It’s so easy to focus on the hardships…like sick kids and going stir crazy in the house. 
However, when I reverse my way of thinking and start focusing on the things that are going right ( it could be worse…they could be puking!….I’m still healthy!….I have an amazing partner in John whom I can go through this with!….It wasn’t raining today and not very cold so we could take a walk to pass the LONG day!…) 

I find when I do this, there are SO MANY things to be grateful for.

 Like this moment right now, hehe.

 

The kids are all in bed…I’m enjoying a glass of red wine and about to sit down with my husband for some Costco pizza.

I believe we can grab hold of magical moments in life. 

They ARE still here.

We just have to recognize them by having a heart that is open to them. 

 A magic moment is one that sweeps you away. It is a glimpse of something better, A place free from hardship, exhaustion and sorrow. 

I had one of those moments tonight. I just put my kids in bed and stepped outside to get the mail. The silence and the glow of my street caused me to stop in my tracks. The Christmas lights, the breeze, the moon above me….it took me away for just a moment, and I felt a peace, and a joy, and an awe deep inside me. 

And I instantly felt grateful to be alive.

A week earlier, I felt this same way when our street was blanketed in  golden leaves, creating a gilded path. 

One of my goals for this Christmas season was to  create magic for my little girl, Evie. I can put up lights, tell stories about elves and bake gingerbread men. 

But now I've also decided that my goal for this Christmas season is to grab hold of some magic for myself. And I believe that this is done by pausing- despite the situation or circumstance-and being grateful.