It is now the end of January and we at last have removed our Christmas decorations. It is definitely time to record a few of the things that we experienced this past December.
The magical month of December started out with something very exciting - a visit from Grandma AND Grandpa Breakall! Grandpa was able to steal away from the cold and the responsibilities and spend time with US. Yahoo!
No one was happier to see them than Ammely. Especially since Mommy had been in the depths of pregnancy sickness when they arrived. Ammely had NOT been getting the care and attention she wanted.
Just to give you an idea of the state of our family due to my pregnancy - we sent Grandma and Grandpa Lords to pick my parents up from the airport. When they all arrived I was laying in the middle of my disastrous house in my 3-day non-showered stench. They had me call the doctor to get me on some medication - which my mom went out to get with her parents. Meanwhile, my dad cleaned the first floor of our house - a mere 3-hour project. (Sidenote: To be fair to Ammon, he was at work. And only a week before that he had cleaned our house top to bottom AND decorated for Christmas all while I slept away.) I can't say thank you enough for everything my parents did for us while they were here. It probably didn't feel like much of a vacation, but I sure am grateful!
Ammely was happy to have the grandparents. Especially Grandpa. After his cleaning frenzy he spent all of his time with her.
They went to the park. And they spent time ringing the doorbell. And he told her stories. And he played with her toys. Grandpas are the best.
We also were lucky enough to have an early Christmas with these Granparents. And here is more evidence of how glad we were to have Grandpa here:
Just when you think you're done assembling complicated toys for children, your children go on and have their own children and you're doing it all over again! Thank you Grandpa!
And thank you Grandma for picking it out! Though she was timid at first, she loves it now!
She loves ALL of her toys!
And Ammely wasn't the only one who got spoiled. I didn't even begin to take enough pictures to display how much my parents gave all THREE of us this year.
We were spoiled. Plain and simple.
The remaining weeks until Christmas passed by quickly. For me they were filled with trying to figure out a medication that would work. Zofran was a miracle. Until the itching, hives and swelling of the mouth happened. And basically nothing else even touched the nausea.
The week leading up to Christmas went exceptionally well. I think it was about that time that we went to see trains with Belle and Kent's family - wow. That was a first for us and we were so glad for the invite!
That weekend we also got to meet up with my cousin Kailey and her boyfriend Robert (whose family lives in Scottsdale). They were adorable and for me it was so nice to see family from home.
Monday night was the Baysinger Christmas party. Everybody was there. We weren't missing a single person and it was a sweet night that filled my heart with the Christmas spirit. There was soup and bread bowls and hot chocolate and sweets and cheesecake pie. There were thoughtful gifts given all around So thankful to Boyd and Amber for hosting such a perfect event. And I am also VERY thankful to Gage who rocked my world and got me this bad boy:
I had been wanting, longing for and literally aching for one of these. And now I sleep in my own pillowy-heaven every night. Thank you thank you thank you!
Christmas Eve was a peaceful, quiet evening at home. We had lots of good stuff to eat all night: lil smokies, jalapeno poppers, boneless buffalo wings, stir fry, hot chocolate, sparkling grape juice, and Dr Pepper. Yum..
We read the Christmas story.
Started a new tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve..which didn't start out so well...
...but it got better as we went...
...and it ended GREAT! Christmas books to read together!
So we read The Night Before Christmas and then put Ammely to bed. We turned on Arthur Christmas and finished getting everything ready for the morning.
Christmas morning was relaxed and beautiful. Ammely got spoiled again. We all did.
Because this part of the pregnancy gets me so sick I didn't make our family do many of the things I normally would have. We didn't have our nativity nights this year. We didn't go see Christmas lights at the temple. We didn't bake cookies or other Christmas treats. However, we did stick to our 3-gift rule. And just to have it written down so I'll remember in years to come, here is how that played out for us this year:
Ammely
Needful: A chair to sit in (Mickey Mouse chair)
Meaningful: Chrysanthemum and McElligot's Pool (Some of Mommy and Daddy's favorite books when we were small)
Joyful: Baby Doll and Stroller
Ammon
Needful: Freezer full of Dad's breakfast burritos (The preggo wifey hadn't been doing much - or any - cooking/grocery shopping this month)
Meaningful: New Wedding Ring & Patriarchal Blessing Pictures
Joyful: Fishing Pole and Creel full of Fishing Supplies
Brelynn
Needful: Paper Shredder
Meaningful: Tent
Joyful: TV for the bedroom
After gifts at home we headed out to Grandma and Grandpa Baysinger's house for a yummy Christmas breakfast, more gift-giving and lots of time spent with siblings and cousins.
Check out the gifts for thechildren full-grown men:
We were spoiled again.
And one of the great benefits of living in Arizona is the beautiful weather this time of year. So we spent lots of time outside enjoying each other and this beautiful planet.
That evening was Christmas dinner at Aunt Tammy and Uncle Patrick's house. Dinner was extra delicious. And we were all in for some more Christmas presents. Ammely was especially happy with this visit.
She only loves this gift more and more with every passing day. Grandma and Grandpa Lords had a hit!
We were exceptionally blessed this Christmas season. We were fortunate to see so many of our loved ones. We had help and concern from everywhere we went. And the generosity that poured out upon our heads was beyond what we deserved.
I am so thankful for the precious memories that are mine and my family's.
Merry belated Christmas to one and all!
The magical month of December started out with something very exciting - a visit from Grandma AND Grandpa Breakall! Grandpa was able to steal away from the cold and the responsibilities and spend time with US. Yahoo!
No one was happier to see them than Ammely. Especially since Mommy had been in the depths of pregnancy sickness when they arrived. Ammely had NOT been getting the care and attention she wanted.
Just to give you an idea of the state of our family due to my pregnancy - we sent Grandma and Grandpa Lords to pick my parents up from the airport. When they all arrived I was laying in the middle of my disastrous house in my 3-day non-showered stench. They had me call the doctor to get me on some medication - which my mom went out to get with her parents. Meanwhile, my dad cleaned the first floor of our house - a mere 3-hour project. (Sidenote: To be fair to Ammon, he was at work. And only a week before that he had cleaned our house top to bottom AND decorated for Christmas all while I slept away.) I can't say thank you enough for everything my parents did for us while they were here. It probably didn't feel like much of a vacation, but I sure am grateful!
Ammely was happy to have the grandparents. Especially Grandpa. After his cleaning frenzy he spent all of his time with her.
We also were lucky enough to have an early Christmas with these Granparents. And here is more evidence of how glad we were to have Grandpa here:
And thank you Grandma for picking it out! Though she was timid at first, she loves it now!
She loves ALL of her toys!
And Ammely wasn't the only one who got spoiled. I didn't even begin to take enough pictures to display how much my parents gave all THREE of us this year.
The remaining weeks until Christmas passed by quickly. For me they were filled with trying to figure out a medication that would work. Zofran was a miracle. Until the itching, hives and swelling of the mouth happened. And basically nothing else even touched the nausea.
The week leading up to Christmas went exceptionally well. I think it was about that time that we went to see trains with Belle and Kent's family - wow. That was a first for us and we were so glad for the invite!
That weekend we also got to meet up with my cousin Kailey and her boyfriend Robert (whose family lives in Scottsdale). They were adorable and for me it was so nice to see family from home.
Monday night was the Baysinger Christmas party. Everybody was there. We weren't missing a single person and it was a sweet night that filled my heart with the Christmas spirit. There was soup and bread bowls and hot chocolate and sweets and cheesecake pie. There were thoughtful gifts given all around So thankful to Boyd and Amber for hosting such a perfect event. And I am also VERY thankful to Gage who rocked my world and got me this bad boy:
Christmas Eve was a peaceful, quiet evening at home. We had lots of good stuff to eat all night: lil smokies, jalapeno poppers, boneless buffalo wings, stir fry, hot chocolate, sparkling grape juice, and Dr Pepper. Yum..
We read the Christmas story.
Started a new tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve..which didn't start out so well...
...but it got better as we went...
...and it ended GREAT! Christmas books to read together!
So we read The Night Before Christmas and then put Ammely to bed. We turned on Arthur Christmas and finished getting everything ready for the morning.
Christmas morning was relaxed and beautiful. Ammely got spoiled again. We all did.
Because this part of the pregnancy gets me so sick I didn't make our family do many of the things I normally would have. We didn't have our nativity nights this year. We didn't go see Christmas lights at the temple. We didn't bake cookies or other Christmas treats. However, we did stick to our 3-gift rule. And just to have it written down so I'll remember in years to come, here is how that played out for us this year:
Ammely
Needful: A chair to sit in (Mickey Mouse chair)
Meaningful: Chrysanthemum and McElligot's Pool (Some of Mommy and Daddy's favorite books when we were small)
Joyful: Baby Doll and Stroller
Ammon
Needful: Freezer full of Dad's breakfast burritos (The preggo wifey hadn't been doing much - or any - cooking/grocery shopping this month)
Meaningful: New Wedding Ring & Patriarchal Blessing Pictures
Joyful: Fishing Pole and Creel full of Fishing Supplies
Brelynn
Needful: Paper Shredder
Meaningful: Tent
Joyful: TV for the bedroom
After gifts at home we headed out to Grandma and Grandpa Baysinger's house for a yummy Christmas breakfast, more gift-giving and lots of time spent with siblings and cousins.
Check out the gifts for the
 |
| If you look closely you'll see the darts stuck to the window. |
And one of the great benefits of living in Arizona is the beautiful weather this time of year. So we spent lots of time outside enjoying each other and this beautiful planet.
That evening was Christmas dinner at Aunt Tammy and Uncle Patrick's house. Dinner was extra delicious. And we were all in for some more Christmas presents. Ammely was especially happy with this visit.
Just look at how happy she is!
We were exceptionally blessed this Christmas season. We were fortunate to see so many of our loved ones. We had help and concern from everywhere we went. And the generosity that poured out upon our heads was beyond what we deserved.
I am so thankful for the precious memories that are mine and my family's.
Merry belated Christmas to one and all!
Love your pictures & commentary on the Christmas season. So proud of you for getting it all recorded! These will truly be days to look back on and be thankful for! You can even look back on being pregnant sick and be thankful you're not anymore! Happy days...
ReplyDeleteHow in the world did I not know you were THAT sick???!!! I could have DONE something! I could have BEEN there! (sigh) Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI love those pics of Ammon & Ammely sitting on the couch and the floor! They make me laugh so much! :D Love you, Bre! You are amazing!