Again, the bustle of all the holidays has kept me from posting! It has been a precious time that I'm so grateful for! We continued to enjoy lots of family time as Christmas drew closer. We decided to take the children down to see the Lights of Life display at Life University. They so enjoyed it although it was bitter cold and windy. We rolled the windows down and heard constant oohs and ahhs and "prippy" (aka pretty) from Annabelle and "more more" from Cade! We got so tickled..it was a great present to us to remember how exciting the beautiful lights are to children seeing them for the first time.

We enjoyed so many things about the season. It was quite an event to take the children to the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at church. As I've mentioned before, we've had such strict doctor's orders to keep Cade out of the nursery, so the bigger and more crowded the services, the harder it is to go and keep 22 mth twins and a baby from getting too excited. Its so hard to express how grateful we are for all we have been blessed with!

I know I will remember so much later that I should've included, so it may take a few entries to get it all down. :) We had a very quick but great visit with Harvey and Barbara on Christmas Eve before the church service. They are so precious to us! Barbara seems to find the perfect things for the children (and everyone). She started the twins book collection before they were ever born and continued to add to it this year! She is amazingly thoughtful- so is Harvey! ;) She showed the babies all her "special decorations" that sang and danced and lit up! I was on hand patrol as each one was more magnificent to each of them! She tenderly taught them how to press little buttons and make things work. They amaze me how they've adapted as our  world became quite busy and have welcomed these three little ones! It was so good to see them!

Christmas Day was so sweet! We had all the children here (all 5) and just enjoyed our time together. The twins were so excited but a bit overwhelmed as to why they should discard the first present and then move to the next. So we realized it would be better to open gifts in phases. 1 or 2 at first, then after a few hours, another couple, etc. It seemed to help. Their favorite items from Santa were: Annabelle- a rocking horse that neighs and makes sounds- of course, she loves horses! and Cade: a huge tonka firetruck that doesn't light up or anything..its the classic old fashioned one- he was so excited. They didn't open those until late in the afternoon. Abigail just seemed to love the lights and interaction with everyone! We had yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast and a crock pot roast with potatoes and carrots to eat throughout the day! Of course there was birthday cake for dessert! ( Jesus and I, you know) I mean that in the most reverent way, I'm truly humbled to be born on a day that historically such amazing love and sacrifice was expressed! It was just low key and relaxing! As if the day had not been wonderful enough, we got an extra present in the form of the first White Chrtistmas in Atlanta since the 1880's. How beautifully fitting that it was Abigail's first Christmas and first snow! We borrowed our sweet neighbors' sled and had a terrific afternoon in the heavy snow! The twins were about to drop but kept wanting to go "again"! We let them unwind in a nice warm bath when it was over!

We headed out to Florida the day after Christmas to visit our family down there! Ma Carrie is unchanging and steadfast in her sweet spirit and open arms that feel just the way they did the last time they embraced you and sent you home- along with that walking, hand on you, praying over your safe travel that she does while you're making your way to the door to leave! Oh, how I can't wait to get to her house every time we go!  It's not that its magnificent by the world's standards, although it's very nice, it's just that it's so filled with her love and rich memories and family! Her kitchen walls, her refigerator, and her hallways are filled ( I'm not kidding, with family 8X10 pictures from all the years: weddings ( of those still married and those not- whom she would sweetly host in a minute), senior portraits, familt portraits,- back to her own parents and siblings. ) - My kinda girl!!!! She wouldn't dare want anyone to not be displayed there! She prays over us all continually! What a tremendous comfort, because if God ever heard anyone's prayers, it's Ma Carrie's ;) Little joke, So grateful He hears all of us ;), but she lives out His mercy and grace daily and encourages those around her as they walk this life! She's someone you can't imagine not having encountered! Make no mistake, the woman has more internal and external strength than anyone you'd ever meet! (nevermind that she's about to be 93 in Feb)! I think I've mentioned her before in my blogs, but I could just go on and on about her! I do so hope to keep a spirit like hers, along with her since of humor, though my life!

Anyway, it was such fun to see Daddy ( Jamie's) and Sue Sue and of course Sylvia and and Kevin and everyone! I unfortunately started feeling a bit congested the second day we were there! Little did I know where that would lead!  The twins remembered everyone and warmed up quickly! Jamie's mom and Aunt Betty and Aunt Linda came over and had a nice visit with the twins too!  Lots of good visiting and yummy food - always at Ma Carrie's! A week of that and I brought home a few extra pounds! ;( but it was worth it! As Thursday night approached, one by one, I was up rocking feverish babies. Thank goodness Jamie's Daddy was able to get to the store and get us some Children's ibuprofen when we thought there was a chance they might be getting sick.. In a small town the stores still close early. Not a Walmart close by! LOL! I love it for that reason! Anyway, it was a wonderful time despite the sickness! Friday morning we pulled out quickly and headed back to the ATL! We made record time coming home and unloaded only to reload in 15 minutes ot head to Children's @ Scottish Rite! Annabelle had a 104.2 fever and Cade and Abigail weren't far behind around her with 102. Lots of tests and a chest xray for Cade all to result in the flu for all and an ear infection for Abigail! I never had a fever but had bronchitis so that was 4 of us down! By Saturday, Jamie started feeling sick and by Wednesday, I had all babies and Shane back at the doctor. Flu still for everyone..so 6 of us down. Darby attended the huge Passion conference in Atlanta the 4 days after we got home and is in NC now or would be sick I'm sure! Wow! We are all finally starting to get over it after all this time! So much for the flu shot! We have left a trail as Jamie's daddy is sick and my mom who babysat for me to go to the doctor now has it! Pooh...I feel so bad for sharing! Way to ring in the new year with Tamiflu and a Z pack!

We have had sweet little things happen during the time we've all been at home too! At dinner each night, Jamie, Shane, and I hold hands and pray before we eat. We have just now adjusted the booster seats to allow the twins to sit at the table instead of next to it. last night, Annabelle started to put her hands together as she normally would, but during my prayer she reached over and grabbed her Daddy's hand to hold. Oh my, I saw some watery eyes! So precious!

She has been a bit funny too! In the past when we would ask who has a dirty diaper, she always would say, "It's Cade"! Poor defenseless little fellow, we would go right to him. Usually it was her, so we stopped falling for it! I asked the other day again, and this time she didn't miss a beat as she replied, "Ahhgail"! The poor baby has now been sucked in! Silly girl!

She does have a strong, stubborn side for sure! As she and her Daddy were getting up from a nap today, she wanted them to both go into the den right then! daddy wanted to wash his hands and take a minute. She started fussing and he got a bit frustrated (we don't always do the sick thing all that well). Anyway, he wanted her to apologize for fussing at him. She was not going to! Oh my, this went on for some time. He finally had to go to home depot and was asking her nicely ot apologize. She still wouldn't and waved bye to him! While he was gone, I had called my parents and they were talking to the twins on speaker phone. I guess she warmed up and wanted me to call him after we got off. I did and got his voice mail. She was spouting out, "hi Daddy, I sorry" but it didn't record at the right time. He called us back in a few minutes and she apologized several times. He did too and told her he loved her! ( I was realizing at 23 mths today, she came up with all this by herself....refusing to apologize, then missing him, figuring out I could get him on the phone, apologizing because she was ready, and greeting him with hugs and more apologies when he got home) I'm so in trouble! It was a bit humorous to see...well.....I'll just let it go!

She did spend the rest of her evening charming us as we stumbled across a movie called "The Dreamer" with Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell! It was a great little movie about a girl, her horse, and a long shot at the breeder's cup! A great watch if anyone's looking for a family flick! Anyway, she got so excited everytime the horse would be on the screen! She would say "neigh" and dance! When the horse was racing she squealed, danced and clapped her hands! It was so precious! After the movie ended she kept clapping and smiled at us! She was so happy and went and climbed on her rocking horse and rode her little heart out! Pure kissable moment!

Cade man has cracked us up too! He loves that the gate in front of the fireplace is gone now that the Christmas decorations are gone. I had kept pillows in front of it before, but hadn't put them back yet. ( I just got all the 6 trees and tons of stuff down finally by the 7th. With 3 sick babies, it was a little at a time!) Anyway, he loves to stand on the fireplace as if it's his stage and the world is his audience. He has furthered his charming little smile and knows it! I can't count the number of times I grab him and kiss him though the day! He loves his cars and trucks and books about them both! He and Annabelle love to play chase and have the best time! (my sister called me shortly after we got home and was babysitting Allie! She was a bit perplexed and asked me how do you keep a 2 and 1 1/2 yr old entertained. To which I replied, "with a twin"! LOL.. and its true!) This is a time that twins are easier than a singleton. I hear them laughing and playing so much daily..as as long as they don't turn their minds to mischeif, it's so great! :)

He also has been standing on the couch as if it were a stage! When we tell him to sit, there pops that little grin again! Silly thing! He still sings the same way..."larwl, lawrl, lawrl" It's so funny! He does have the most loving little heart! He stops and loves on Abigail randomly just because! He's very tender! He hands out kisses much more freely than his twin!

He enjoys bouncing around in the huge inflatable jumper Santa brought them! Such a boy!

I've got to wrap up as it's after midnight and there is more than 2 and 1/2 inches of snow on the ground already. I'll need energy for playing tomorrow!  I can't believe we've got snow again already! Such fun!

Love to all!