Wrapping It Up

                   



Daddy's reaction to his gift...Cardinal's tickets!



And so now, after spending the last two days in the car...driving to visit Grandma Fran in Wisconsin from Minnesota, and then making the long haul home from Wisconsin to Illinois I'm reflecting on the last year. Thankfully, there have been more ups than downs. More good than bad. I have felt the love of my husband and my children. I've suffered losses and I can accept that it has helped me to grow...as a mom, as a person and as a friend.

I know every mom says it, but it sure goes by fast. This Christmas Hattie was still not quite sure what to think of the holiday. Next year she will be in full on toddler mode and enjoying Christmas every bit as much as her big sisters. I'm scared to blink...I might miss it. And Daddy too! It's not hard to see how very much he adores his little ladies. They are his world and someday they will know how very lucky they are to have him. As 2013 is winding down I hope your memories bring you comfort and peace and that 2014 brings you good will and prosperity in abundance. May it be the best year yet...Happy New Year, friends!

~Amy

Santa and the Schultz Family

Santa is so good to us...remembers to visit us at Grandma Tootie and Grandpa Dave's house every year. And he always takes good notes on what the girls have been up to. He was able to talk about our trip to Utah, swim lessons, dance class...even asked Leah how her leg was doing since she cut that artery in July and all. They were super excited to see him. Well, at least Kiersten and Leah were. They loved listening to the stories he had to tell and answered his trivia quiestions as quick as they could. Did you know that female reindeer have antlers the same as the males. You can learn a lot from Santa.

Hattie, on the other hand, clung to Aunt Lisa. Mitch tried to get her closer to him and at first she buried her head in his shoulder. By the end of the visit she was starting to warm up and when we asked her what Santa says she eagerly responded "ho ho ho"...she's got that part down!!!

Santa was good to us all. Mitch got a new Cardinals Hat. I got a Salad Bowl. Leah and Kiersten got new "Frozen" Barbie dolls with color changing outfits and new dress up clothes. Hattie got a glow worm and Little People Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride...she loved them both! We can't wait to see Santa again next year...and hopefully our Schultz Family much sooner.



Snow Play

 When we arrived in Minnesota on Thursday the 26th the weather was GREAT! Friday had a high of 43 but we looked at the forecast and knew it wouldn't stick. So while we had the chance, we got the girls and the rest of the gang out to play in the snow. They had so much fun. Grandpa and Justin made a pile on the side of the driveway, a mini-hill of sorts, that Bug continually used the sled on. The big kids had a snowball fight...and from the pictures, it seems that they ganged up on poor Shelby. Hattie stuck to the sidewalk and enjoyed a sampling of snow, while Leah stayed in the backyward to build a snowman. It didn't take long for the rest of the gang to migrate to the back yard. Justin, Shelby, Rylee and Grandpa went to work building the base of the snowman, while Leah worked on his head. She even gave him hair. They were pretty happy with the end result. I bet he was almost 5 feet tall. What fun! Glad we went out when we could, the next day (Saturday) hit a temp of -20 something. Pretty sure we were celebrating Christmas in the Frozen Tundras.

Myerscough Family Christmas!

Christmas was amazing...one of the best in a long time. The kids are finally at an age where they are playing nice with one another (for the most part). I felt like I really got to sit and enjoy visiting with my sister, brother, parents and their spouses.

We got to Charleston early afternoon. Fortunately, Bug and Hattie took good naps. And around the time they woke up Macy and Colby had arrived. They had a few snacks and were off to play. We sat down to start opening gifts around 4:30. Each of the girls got a bag of clothes from Gigi and Papa. Bug got an Ariel Vanity, Hattie got her bitty baby, and Leah got a princess Castle. Aunt Laura and Uncle Jeff got the girls Ninja Turtles...they were so excited. Mitch got a gym bag and some Nike Work out clothes from Laura and Jeff. I got new running shoes and a bottle of perfume. Laura thinks she can convince me to run a half marathon with her in the fall...we'll see. Mom and Dad got me a new Samsung Tablet and $$$ while Mitch got a new cordless drill as well as some gift cards.

The girls enjoyed being able to give Gigi and Papa the cookie tray that they decorated with their thumb prints. When Gigi opened it Leah said "That's because Gigi likes to make cookies and Papa likes to eat them!" It was awesome. We had a wonderful dinner, Christmas Cookies and dessert and the kids played Christmas Bingo before we headed home for the night. The girls were exhausted but anxious to get to sleep so Santa could come. Christmas with kids is so fun! And with Aunt Laura and Uncle Jeff expecting in February, next year we get to add another one to the mix!

Pre-Christmas, Christmas!

The last few days were all about Christmas, and so I'm calling it the "Pre-Christmas, Christmas!"  The girls were elated to get gifts in the mail from their favorite newlyweds, Ryan and Carrie. The Adler's (as we can now call them) send gifts every year. Typically the responsibility fell on Ryan...and being a typical bachelor, they usually arrived around the 1st of March. And we always cut him a little slack, he is jewish, after all. But this year you could tell that Carrie was ON IT! They arrived with time to spare, but that didn't mean the girls were willing to wait. Goldi-blocks the engineering game (Leah's) was a quick hit, as was Hungry, Hungry Hippos for Bug, and Hattie has already flipped through her interactive book more times than I can count.

On Saturday night we started the gingerbread cookies. We rolled the dough, cut them out and baked them up just right. But as it was nearing bedtime, we left the decorating for Sunday. Gingerbread cookies has also become one of our tradtions since moving to Decatur. I think I have the girls bake and decorate Gingerbreag because it's NOT my favorite and I know I won't be that tempted!

And on Sunday, we let the girls open their gifts from us. I know, I know, too early! But they had some really cute Matilda Jane outfits that I wanted them to be able to wear for the holidays. So we opened them up with plenty of time to get all dolled up and head to Gigi and Papa's house for the day. Aunt Laura and Uncle Jeff had arrived for the holidays and we were anxious to see them! The Holidays have begun!

Fun With Friends

"Do you think it's okay that we are up on the stage?"

Blessed! That is the one word that would describe how I've been feeling these days. With the New Year approaching I'm reflecting a little bit about how amazing my life is these days...how we are in such a better place than we've probably ever been. Blessed is definitely the word I would use to describe us right now. We have a beautiful home, three adorable and ever-so-precious to my heart girls, and some pretty darn amazing friends!

Before we moved to Decatur, Mitch and I both were struggling to find our "niche" so to speak. But we've found it. Now the problem is finding enough time to spend with this wonderful group of friends. Tisha, Tracy, Leslie, Missy, Emily, Ashley, Denise, Nicole, Ellen, Laura...I could keep going. And their husbands are pretty amazing too!

Last night we had a group date night out to dinner at Fillippo's for Pizza and then on to Sullivan's Little Theater on the Square for a production of "The Christmas Story". At first Mitch was like "we are goign to pay to go see a production of a movie that is on for 24 hours straight on Christmas?" But we ended up loving it. The live production was wonderful and they did a great job. After the show we hit up the Toybox in Sullivan before heading home. It was a great night. Cheers, to many more fun nights with great friends!

Cocoa and Cookies with Claus, Round 3

Yesterday we continued our Decatur Holiday tradition of Cocoa and Cookies with Claus, at the Children's Museum. It was a little bittersweet this year. In 2011 AND 2012, we went with our friends the Hunt's. But they moved in November, back out West to their home in Utah. I hadn't really discussed their move with Leah yet, but I knew that morning I would have to. At breakfast when I was talking about going to the museum to see Santa, Leah asked immediately if Charlee was coming. So I had to break the news to her. And there were tears. Lots and lots of tears, followed by an immediate need to make a picture and send it to Charlee in a Christmas card. Charlee was Leah's first best friend and she will be missed. Fortunately, some day with social media I know they will find one another again.

So to the museum we went. It was a snowy blustery night, and I'm assuming that made the attendance much less than they were expecting. But we had several friends that were planning on meeting us there and they did not disappoint. The Oglesby's, The Habrock's and The Hilton's were all there. And we even ran into the Zavela's.

For the most part the kids had a great time just playing in the museum. So my mom friends and I were happy to sit and chat. We did take part in the craft time, but we missed the story time. Of course decorating cookies was a big hit...eating them too! And I think everyone visited with Santa and Mrs. Claus except for Hattie...Her hesitancy cracks me up. She quickly turns her head and clings to whomever is holding her. "If I can't see him, he isn't really there." kind of attitude. Anyway, it was a wonderful night for the kids and moms and I'm sure we will be doing it again next year!