Hope your christmas was happy...

Cause (despite only getting three hours of sleep) ours was pretty darn good...

twas the night before christmas

It is really hard trying to teach this whole christmas thing. All day Kroten said, "santa comin' over, I see santa" what he really thinks is happening is that santa will come to visit. When we said he will come after your asleep, his reply was a stern NO! I think he understands a little better than we give him credit though.


Kroten liked leaving cookies and milk for santa.

 Kroten was NOT happy that kem was stealing Santa's carrots. I just love how kem grabbed that carrot and is still eyeballing the rest of the goodies. 

I love my family. Being a mom on christmas is hard, but totally worth it to celebrate it with my babies. 

merry christmas

More to come after I clean up this mess!

kemiry k, your 5 months old today

Has it really been 5 months? Last month went by WAY to fast. Kem is definitely one little personality. I love watching her come into her own. She laughs so much and is stubborn, I am told she gets that from me, good luck with that one kem. We sure do love her.

Kemiry k, at 5 months you...

can suck your thumb

have way more control over your arms

have to have something in your mouth at all times

have had your first ear infection

hate taking the medicine

are getting close to rolling over

cry louder than any baby should

only eat when you want

are super ticklish

tried rice cereal, but were not quite ready

are finally on a nap schedule, thanks daddy for being stricter than mommy

think big brother is the funniest thing ever

are the most stubborn baby in the world

What gift would I give the baby jesus?

I have been so busy lately. So busy that in all honesty I wish we could just skip christmas this year. It breaks my heart to say that, but we could skip it, and I wouldn't even notice. In fact, I might be relieved.

What happened to the exciting, jolly and happy time of year that christmas used to be for me?

Kem's stocking will not be done in time, Jared and I agreed to only spend $30 on each other, and I didn't even help make the gingerbread houses. I am just not in the christmas spirit. I am so busy running around like a chicken trying to get my list crossed off that I have not only forgotten the true meaning of christmas, but I couldn't even care less about the comercialized, fun and yummy parts of the season. What is wrong with me...isn't this is the "most wonderful time of the year?"

I was driving home from a $200 dollar trip to walley-world, feeling bad about myself and christmas. I was worrying that I wasn't going to get my rain boots for christmas and wishing I had more money to buy beautiful gifts for everyone. I was hoping and praying that I could finish all my photo shoots and clean my house in time for the festivities. Then in the middle of my pessimism, something wonderful happened...

I started thinking about what this is really all about. It is about Jesus. Its about the BABY Jesus. We have been teaching Kroten about BABY Jesus (its cute, every time he sees Jesus he says BABY Jesus and MOMMY and DADDY Jesus, meaning Mary and Joseph.)

Oh what I would give to kneel at the manger and worship him. To let everything else in my hectic stressed out life go, for just one moment, and hold him tight. I picture myself right there in the stable holding the savior of the world. My gift to baby Jesus would not cost as much as the wisemen's gifts, I would make sure he is warm, and knows he is loved. I would swaddle him the way I do kem and I would sing to him the way I sing to Kroten. I would shush his crying and whisper to him how I will never be able to repay him.

I would love to comfort the baby Jesus the way he has comforted me so very many times in my life.

I wish I could do this, but I cannot. So I will hold my two rambunctious, loud, needy and beautiful baby's a little tighter, I will sing a little longer and I will tell them that I hope I can give them enough.

Who cares if kem doesn't have a stocking or if there are few presents under the tree? It doesn't matter that everything is not done, I will just hold them and that will be enough. This is what I will give to my savior, the baby Jesus, because he said, "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

wordless wednesday

Just a little light reading...

The ironic slash funny part, that you cannot see, is that he is reading a book called "The Happiest Toddler on the Block: How to Eliminate Tantrums and Raise a Patient, Respectful, and Cooperative One- to Four-Year-Old"

Read on buddy, read on.

the best man

 Jared's little brother got married a few weeks ago...

and guess who was the most handsom best man ever...

Kroten loves his Jamis!

wordless wednesday

so be good for goodness sakes

Our trip to santa was MUCH better this year than last year. There was NO line. Santa had a real beard and he... get this... even asked what they wanted for christmas. Neither of them cried, and we were in and out in 5 minutes. And they gave them a coloring book.  I think kman even understands a little because when kroten saw santa, he was a little scared, but he said "presents!"


Aren't they cutie pies?  Kem's face says it all!

We haven't used the "you better be good or santa won't come" method yet, but I am thinking about using it soon.

Christmas shopping woes solved.

Need a gift Idea?

I am now selling photography session gift certificates.

Get over to the photo blog and check it out.

I am sure there is someone on your list that would LOVE it. 

Kristenmoss.blogspot.com

deck the halls

I love this time of year, especially since Kroten kind of understands. He loved putting up and decorating the tree. I think he was super excited to help out. We picked out the pokeyist tree so that he would stay out of it, and so far it has worked. I am waiting for the day that I wake up and come into the living room and all the presents have been opened. That thankfully hasn't happened yet.

This is us picking out our tree. We go to the farm and cut it down. We are a happy family... can't you tell.




Ok, you know how your mom always used to say "don't put the ornaments too close together" the WHOLE time you were decorating the tree?  I AM THAT MOM!

I dont understand how his little brain works, but he sorted them out, balls, and ornaments that are not balls and clumped them all together. Two is an interesting age.





ITS CHRISTMAS TIME!!!

wordless wednesday