It's Snowing...Sort Of!

Louie did some art work and left a mess...so typical of this elf! 

Minty Fresh!

Louie did exactly what the big kids do when they brush their teeth...made a huge mess! Then he hid on top of the mirror! 

Shopping!

Louie got into the kids' candy stash and worked on his Christmas List!

North Pole Breakfast 2012

Louie arrived Saturday afternoon via postal mail.  He included a note telling the kids that Santa told him to get ready, but he did not have his listening ears turned on, so he missed his ride!  Hence his late arrival with the mailman!

Last year, each bucket had a pair of Christmas socks...this year I dug out a holiday bear beanie baby for each of them.

Our menu (being held by a nutcracker) this year includes hard boiled eggs, snowballs (powder sugar donut holes), melon, waffles, sausage patties, vanilla yogurt, santa hats (Louie forgot to include them on his menu) and eggnog.  Each person also has a mug, filled with marshmallows and a packet of hot cocoa.

Our table with festive streamers, a beautiful poinsettia, and white balloons all over the dining room floor.

Louie prepped a bunch of food, wrote his name on everything, and left this balloon note letting us know to look in there.

Snowballs!

Chef Louie with his spatula and some snowman peeps!

 We are SUPER excited for Louie to be visiting our house again this Christmas season!  The kids spent most of the day, recounting Louie's visit last year and some of their favorite memories.  I wasn't quite sure what sort of impact our shenanigans had on the kids last year, but apparently Louie made quite the impression!

So thankful for these three little kids and helping make some life long memories for them!

Overflowing

 

My heart feels like it is going to explode today.  There is just so much love and joy overflowing within me today that I feel completely overwhelmed.

 

My children are just little...  But just hope that my heart knows how to keep receiving this much love and joy as they grow!

Things that are filling me up today...

Kelsey is officially a first grader!

Gavin put himself down for a nap today!

Colin has the biggest and brightest personality and is SO full of love for everyone!

Things that make me melt...

 Little boys in cowboy boots

Gavin:  Uuuuuhhhh....HIIIIIIIIIIIIII (while shoving an iPhone in his brother's face)!

Colin:  You're my best friend brudder....*kiss*

Kelsey, walking (more like bouncing) down the sidewalk at school, when I drop her off.  She's easy to follow because she wears a bright yellow backpack that bounces along with her.  

Gavin's little baby face...I will cry when he no longer looks like a baby!

Where I Am

While driving downtown last night, I took a different route to get to an appointment.  I was relying on landmarks instead of punching in the address to my phone and using the map feature.  For a brief moment, I questioned where I was...but after going one more block, I said, "I am exactly where I need to be."

After some reflection, I've found myself saying this to myself quite a bit lately.  I am exactly where I need to be...

...at home with my kids
...volunteering at school
...wiping the sweat away after an intense workout
...talking with the elderly couple at McDonalds who told me I was doing a great job
...sharing conversation with friends

I am exactly where I need to be.