Christmas Eve

 After the afternoon opening gifts with my mom, we headed home to Carol & Carl's where they, along with Samuel, his girlfriend Tiffanie & Laura awaited us.

Josh fed & bathed the boys and once they were in their new jammies, we opened gifts downstairs.

Love Logan with his arm around Wyatt!

 It's family tradition with the Cunningham's for Carl to choose which single gift each child gets to open on Christmas Eve.

 I remember the first Christmas Eve I spent with Josh's family. Two things struck me. One was that his family always adopts another for Christmas.  They purchase a Christmas meal for the family, and get gifts for each family member, as well as putting in gift cards for them. Then on Christmas Eve they drop off the gifts, ring the doorbell & run like mad back to the car to make their getaway.

Laura & Jack

 The second thing that has stayed with me always is that Carl chooses a soft gift on Christmas Eve. Which means the present I watched ten year old Samuel open was socks. Socks. Poor kid.

(Now what strikes me is that Samuel isn't ten anymore... He's 21... I think that makes me old!)

 Even in the stupor of my sickness, I was able to capture moments of joy.

 Josh with his family, it's a beautiful thing.

 The evening was cozy, as Christmas Eve should be.

 The soft presents my boys got to open?

 Lovely stuffed animals from Aunt Laura.

A polar bear Logan named "Maggie."

And a penguin that Jack named "Smacky."

 Then it was up the stairs...

 And off to bed.

 Time for visions of sugarplums...

 And listening for Rudolph's hoof-steps on the roof.

 But first a little brotherly love was in order--

 Hugs,

 and kisses...

And lots of hope that despite being three, they aren't on the "Naughty List!"

Christmas Eve Day

Sweet Wyatt

 So Josh got in on the evening of the 23rd.  I was starting to get sick when I went to pick him up. By the time I woke up on Christmas Eve morning, I was a wreck. My eyes were watering, my nose was running and I felt pretty crummy.  I spent most of the day resting, not finishing the boys' homemade gifts for everyone (sorry!) and not being in the best of spirits (sorry again!)

But we managed to make it over to my mom's house to open our traditional Christmas Eve pj's.

 The boys had been at my mom's a few times that week, eying all the gifts under the tree, and were overjoyed to be finally opening some of them!

 They got adorable Hanna Andersson pajamas that are just perfection.

I love Logan's suppressed smile in this one!

 They also got a movie each.

Ratatoille

Cars 2

 They opened their own gifts & Josh and mine as well.

 It's exciting that they "get it" now.

 Last year it was still a little beyond them.

 Now they just can't wait to open gifts, and even when the gifts run out, they want to know if there are more!

 I love this. They were opening their gifts simultaneously, and looking to see what the other was getting. So cute!

 Movies!

 Jack was super pleased with his gift!

As you can see, I was so sick! And so spoiled. Mom got me the coziest pajama pants & thick wool socks. They are fabulous! In fact, I was wearing the pj pants today and Jack said, "Ooh, mommy! You're cozy! Will you snuggle me?"

 Josh got new jammies, too.

 Oh, I can't even express how blessed I felt to have him by my side on Christmas Eve when I was just sure he wouldn't make the flight in to Portland before Christmas Day.  I missed that face.

 I also love this face.

 And this face.

While we were over at my mom's, Josh was showing Jack pictures of the Alaska house. Jack was so happy, talking about getting on a plane, flying in the clouds with Josh.

It's so bittersweet to me. While I am feeling so peaceful with the thought of our little family being reunited, I am also feeling scared to say goodbye to all I have known.  I am sad to bid farewell to my mom.  And all who will miss us in their lives.

This Christmas definitely had sad undertones for me, what with my knowing we will likely not be home for Christmas again for quite some time.

bowling

 For the boys last day of school, there was a field trip to Crosley Lanes.  

My mom agreed to come & help me, and we had so much fun!

 Logan loved it.

 And Jack...

 well, Jack was a natural.

 We would throw those balls, then cheer & holler until the pins were hit!

 Then whoever hit the pins would say, "Yes!" and pull his arm down just like Napolean Dynamite.

 Logan

 Lovely Miss Carly

The boys will miss her!

 Here Jack is being chivalrous & getting Charlotte's ball for her.

 The boys & their buddies, Justin & Finn. (Or "Finnie" as they call him-- precious!)

 I love how you can see the excitement in his whole body!

 "I did it!"

For a while, as you can see here, the twins had the exact same score, which my mom & I thought was kind of cool. But in the end, Jack won the game, beating even Xavier's dad, who, by his own admission, is not a bowler. Go Jack!!!

Leaving bowling was sad as we hugged their little friends & their beloved teachers goodbye.  I choked up a bit, and these are people I've only known for five short months... who knows how I will handle saying goodbye to people I've known my whole life!

cookies with cousins

 A few days before Christmas Carol had all the grandies (as she calls them) over to make Christmas cookies to hand out to family & neighbors.

That morning the kitchen was all abuzz with big ones & little ones working together to make delicious masterpieces.

 Jack was very concerned, in the beginning, about how messy & sticky he was getting.

Eventually, he got over it!

 And I will tell you that as they licked the sprinkle containers, I had to giggle.  Their older cousins reprimanded them as all the adults just watched & smiled.

 It was fun to watch the older kids try to teach the younger kids how to do things. It made me realize that it's not just me-- three year olds really are hard to teach!

 But once they get the hang of it, they are excited learners!

I was thinking, this making Christmas cookies looks like a dirty job.

Perhaps next year we should call Mike Rowe?

Happiest Birthday!

 My mom's birthday is the 23rd.  We have always made an effort to have a special party for her since her big day falls so close to Christmas.

 This year Roxanne and I went all out and attempted to get professional pictures of all six of my mom's grandsons. (Five of whom are age three and under...)  It was about how you picture it... One thankfully helpful pre-teen, two sweaty moms, three toddler/pre-schoolers making silly faces, not listening, and two blissfully unaware babies, looking sweet.

We lucked out & got a picture of all six looking at least half decent and my mom says she will treasure it forever. While Roxanne & I swear we will never do pictures indoors with that many little boys again!

All the little boys loved the chocolate cupcakes- who can blame them?

It was a fun party and everyone loved seeing each other- especially Grandma Woo Woo, who got to love on Milo & Wyatt, or "Fat Baby" as she calls him!

Preparation

 

Today Josh and I made one of what will be a few runs to Wal-mart to stock up on items we will need in Alaska.  It's so hard to know how much of certain things I will need from now until May. I'd like to not have to buy a lot of things while we're there since everything costs so much.  

I packed it all up this afternoon and it's ready to be shipped.  We leave in 12 days. The time slipping right past and I am just praying I get everything done.  Including both my to-do list and seeing friends & family one last time.

He's home, we're merry

As I drove to pick Josh up at the airport on Friday, I listened to Mariah Carey belting out all the greatest Christmas hits.  Crossing the Glenn Jackson bridge, with the Columbia River shimmering in the moonlight below, I got a bit nostalgic.  Portland's city lights twinkled in the background as I neared the airport, my anticipation reached an all time high as I followed the "Arrivals" signs & parked the car. All I could think was, "We did it. We made it. And we won't ever have to be apart again."

 

I practically ran to the gate where people stream in, fresh off their flights, reuniting with loved ones.  I stood, wringing my hands, as I watched anxiously for my love to arrive.  Finally I saw him.  Thick ivory waffle knit thermal layered under a plain gray t-shirt, jeans & his huge Alaska boots.  He was here, on solid ground, in front of my very eyes.  Finally he walked through the passage way and I threw my arms around him, his unshaven face scratching mine.

As we started for baggage claim, Josh laced his fingers through mine and I felt like we were in high school again.  I still couldn't believe he had managed to get on a flight and home to me before Christmas after his whole fiasco in Marshall.  

Then yesterday morning when the boys woke up, they tore into our bedroom asking if Daddy was here.  When Logan saw that he was, he threw his arms around Josh's neck and said, "I missed you, Daddy!" 

Then later in the day Jack asked Josh where he was going after naps, and Josh said, "Nowhere." Then Jack asked, "When are you going back to Alaska?"  Josh held his shoulders, looked square into Jack's precious face and told him, "The Alaska house is done, buddy. When I go back to Alaska, you're coming with me."

The look on Jack's face was priceless. He was so thrilled.

So am I.

Josh is home and we are merry!

Home for Christmas

 Pretty lights on the tree,

I'm watching them shine.

You should be here with me...

Baby please come home!

bated breath

I am waiting with breath that is bated to hear back from my beloved. He was supposed to be, at this point in time, in Anchorage about to board a plane headed for PDX. Instead he is on the runway in Marshall with a plane that has a flat tire.

I am holding out hope for a Christmas miracle, but he said all the flights he looked at going from ANC to PDX were full until Christmas Day. So even if he makes it out at this point, gets to Bethel, and finds a connecting flight from Bethel to Anchorage,  it's unlikely he'll get on a plane & make it to us like we had planned.

So tomorrow instead of waking up at 5am to go pick him up at the airport, I will face another day without him. I know I have done this many days now, but somehow, thinking of doing it just one more day feels incredibly daunting.  Perhaps because I had so anticipated his arrival, or perhaps because all three of the children and myself are sick... Who's to say.

But I will be sure to keep you all posted as he makes his way slowly, but surely toward the great northwest.  I can't wait to embrace him once again and watch as the boys are reunited with their Daddy. It's gonna be great!

Santa won't you bring me the one I really need,

Won't you please bring my baby to me?