Every week I like to take a moment to showcase the moments that brought me the most joy. Sometimes they are awesome activities and other times it’s a sweet moment between the kids. There are always moments that can fill us with joy if we choose to see them with a thankful heart.
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Phew! Last week was a crazy whirlwind and I barely remember what happened. This is why I can’t completely disconnect from it. I need to take pictures or I swear I would have zero memory of our lives.
We spent the week prepping for our first Christmas celebration which turned out so great. Simple, quiet, and a really fun weekend. Well, as quiet and simple as it can be with five kids and four adults! I really tried to focus on the kids’ reactions to gifts and remember what I thought they would remember this week because this is the only time they will be these exact ages at Christmas!
It was so cute to see their excitement over everything they got. Parker got a few gift cards because he is saving up for a very large LEGO set and Jamison got a large box of colored pencils that he’s been asking for for months. The little boys got Batman and Superman gear while Mercedes received several different doll outfits. She’s changed the clothes on her baby doll multiple times and has already decided she really needs a bigger dolly (the 18 inch size) for the clothes to fit better. I hope she will be happy come Christmas morning when this is under the tree!
1. Paper Snowflakes
On our Countdown to Christmas calendar last week one of the activities was “Paper Snowflakes.” We always use coffee filters because they fold easier than regular paper and they are already round. The little boys weren’t really sure what to do but they loved feeling like big kids getting to use scissors!
2. Silly sibling play
In between all the hollering the kids are learning to actually play together nicely. Anders grabbed on to Mercedes ankles and she tried hauling him around the living room. She was struggling since there is only about a 10-15lb difference but she tried so hard and they were laughing with every step. I love hearing them play together!
3. Great Helpers
On Thursday after my MOPS meeting we needed to get the church put back in order. I asked my kids once to help haul chairs back to the sanctuary and they all immediately set to work! I was both amazed and proud. It got done faster and I reminded them on the way home that they do know how to listen the first time 😉
4. First Family Christmas
Micah’s parents came up this weekend to celebrate Christmas. We opened gifts on Saturday morning, went out for lunch, ate treats, went to church on Sunday, and went out for lunch again. It was so much fun to have them here, the kids got their first spoiling, and we played a great game of Dominoes on Saturday night. His dad also joined us at Star Wars on Friday night. It was a great weekend!
5. Building New LEGO Sets
All five kids got several LEGO sets for Christmas and we spent the later part of the morning putting them all together. We were really impressed with Anders’ ability to find the correct piece and stick it in the right spot. He can usually get the pieces connected as well, but sometimes they aren’t as tight as they should be. But still, he’s 3 and building LEGO Juniors sets! It’s fun having a hobby we all love and can do together.
Where did you find joy in the chaos this week? What was your favorite part of the week?
