Just Us For Christmas!

Newletters were mailed and once again we said "CHECK OUT OUR BLOG!" Which sadly is lacking in updates!

There really is too much to update one we are so FULL of life, laughter, love, chaos, parenting...etc! 

We spent Christmas Day just the 7 of us. We did not see one single other person. We loved staying in our pjs all day long and it was such a gift! Especially since we live in an apartment where you can hear every last of the footsteps of those living above us...but they were enjoying Christmas out of Panama so we just pretended we were in a single dwelling. 

On the way to church, Christmas Eve, we were all red and green. The house was ready for dinner with some of our best friends the Cottons and Almacks and their kids. I commented to Nathan, "Well, we are all healthy this Christmas!" (In comparison to last Christmas were we spent a few hours in the ER with high fevers.)  He kinda smirked! I knew I shouldn't have said it! 

After all our friends had left and children were nested in bed Santa's elves came out. (Sidenote, Santa comes to our house. We don't build it up, but such fun to participate in their imaginations and bring to life a little bit of fantasy!) We had fun de-packaging everything and wrapping all the presents from grandparents, aunts and uncle galore and at 1:45 with got the call...from the top bunk....(we were still awake)....

"Mooooommmeeee??" It was Daddy who rushed in to find an explosion of vomit. I am not sure how this child had managed to cover itself, the top bunk and bottom bunk and all the pillows on the floor. I just recovered from all the quilt, mattress pad and pillow washing, 8 days later!

The older 3 were relocated to the playroom and the second call came at about 4 and then again at 5. But this was from a different child and this one managed to contain her contamination! 

"Momooommeee and Daaaaaaadeee" were the first awake so we decided to get the party started...the one where we wake the kids up and torture them for about 45 mins before we get to "go see if Santa came!" We needed a cup of coffee before we could hold up the camera!

Then began a fun day full of smiles and joy! I wish everyday was Christmas!...But then there is the days after where you realize your children are spoiled rotten and all junk food turns to vomit or diarrhea! Just speaking the truth! 

Many people, including me, would say, "I love being with my little family!" But the reality is, THERE ARE SEVEN OF US! 

Side Story to my sidenote: As we sat in the Christmas Eve Service Nathan and I had the older 3 between us and our arms reached around them so we could still touch and I was overwhelmed thinking about all the Christmases to come with our kiddos! They were all clean and beautiful and happy. It was a memory snapshot! (Then Essie looked at me, the missionary mom, and asked, "Mom, is Santa real?" Don't judge, "Yes." As I look over at her Daddy singing Christmas songs in Spanish. He is as real as the come!

Here are a few snap shots amongst the chaos!!!