It's beginning to look a lot like...

CHRISTMAS!!! This is a little late. Last weekend we decorated for Christmas. We are a bit later this year than normal. Usually we figure that as soon as Halloween is over, Christmas decorations are fair game. (However, I think we even decorated once before Halloween.) Christmas is so fun it should be celebrated as long as possible. Somehow the kids found the Christmas Tree decorations while Grant and I were apparently busy doing something else. So they decorated the tree all by themselves. Trevor and Karmin put the garland on :) And this was the final product:And soon to come--one of my favorite Christmas traditions (if you call it that). I think it deserves its own post, so you're going to have to wait wondering what it is.

Ben's Birthday

Ben has always wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheeses for his Birthday, so this year we finally let him. He got to have 3 friends come and they had tons of fun. It was a little scary watching these boys just watch the machines and put the coins in without even thinking about it. It was almost like gambling at a very early age. He invited his cousin and two friends from his soccer team. Karmin and Trevor got to tag along as well. It was a lot of fun and I loved the clean up!

7 years of Motherhood!

Okay, I know, this post should be more about Ben because it was his Birthday, but I think it is going to be more about motherhood because I love it. I can't believe that it was 7 years ago that I became a mom. Saturday I was gone most of the day. I had "Super Saturday" (a bunch of different crafts classes on Saturday) at church and I made the cutest things. Seriously, very cute things. I keep just going over to look at one of my projects because it turned out so adorable (basically because it is a bunch of cute pictures of my cute kids). And then I came home, and soon left to pick up a babysitter. Grant and I went on a date for 6 hours!! I don't like leaving my kids that long, but it sure was fun. Needless to say, I didn't see the kids much. When I got home from taking the babysitter home, this is what I found waiting for me on my pillow:

How sweet is that? It is moments like that make a mother's heart melt. I seriously have the sweetest kids. I love this. Looking back 7 years ago, when it was just the three of us in the hospital (we didn't have family around) and thinking about the events of that day and the miracle of life, it makes me so grateful for my family and where we are today. Especially after the things that have happened to us this year, I am so glad that I can play with my kids, hug my kids, and hold them. I feel lucky that I have 3 wonderful kids that bring joy to my life, try my patience, and are always there for a good hug! Happy Birthday Ben! It is a privilege to be your mom.