Back to reality....

Apparently I spent so much time celebrating this month I had no time to update you all on the holiday happenings! I can't believe that the big day has come and gone! Wes had his first visit from Santa...and he is in holiday heaven. It looks like Toys R Us made a delivery to our house...which I'm sure I've mentioned is the size of a shack. This Christmas, while piles of presents accumulated I finally saw where the commercialism of the holiday collides with good old fashioned holiday spirit. Wes, Luke, and Olivia presented their uncle Chris with a "special" gift this year! It was such an amazing feeling to give a gift to show how much we love and appreciate him, a gift that was completely unexpected and truly appreciated. I will admit this special "gift" was from the electronics department (...insert commercialism of christmas here) but it was form the heart and got our point across. Regardless, it helped remind me about the true spirit of christmas!

As we head towards the new year...and Wes's first birthday!!!...we can account for 2 more teeth, a lot less puking, and about 10 falls a day. It amazes me that he will survive his first year of life without a major head injury. Santa didn't deliver just gifts to all those good girls and boys...he brought along a blizzard too! Wes enjoyed his first real snow fall and cruised around the neighborhood on his shiny new sled.

Even with all the happiness and cheer this time of year brings, sometimes it brings that stubborn dark cloud too. My family has... yet again... been struck with a test to see just how resilient we are. I have no doubt that, as always, we will stay positive and fight back. I have never known a group of people stronger than those I am lucky to call my family. We love you, and are thinking of you every second!

xoxo
Erin

Lots more pictures to add too...apparently I have exceeded the allotted amount from Blogger! Say tuned!

...Mommy was waking Wes up to see what santa brought...

 Daddy and Wes's gorgeous wrapping job! Luckily my kindle was hiding in that box! And yes it is electrical tape for ribbon, white lined paper bow, and a sam adams bottle cap button!

Human jungle gym...

Sadie "gisel" Mckay

Rockin around the christmas tree...

I know, I know...its been awhile! However I take no blame every time I sit down to write Wes follows me around pulls himself up and tries to type with me! Things have been pretty busy around here with Wes's first thanksgiving and my marathon thanksgiving weekend shopping....yep I'm pretty much done, aren't you jealous! I did leave out a few things to pick up so that I can be out enjoying the hustle and bustle of the holiday season...most people think I'm crazy but Nana Pam you know what I'm talking about! It's kind of amusing watching all the people crazily snatching up the last snuggie for everyone on their shopping list! Regardless Wes and I will be out wandering the malls just to enjoy the scenery and a peppermint mocha.

Thanksgiving was a blast, lots of food, fun, and family...Wes truly enjoyed his thanksgiving dinner, and had a great time playing with his cousins! I was super thankful for Derek and Janell on Thanksgiving, I got to sit and enjoy a glass of wine while they chased him around and made sure he was topped off with cantaloupe, brownies, cookies....all the good stuff! Seriously though...we did have a lot to be thankful for this year. Wes is such a blessing, and we are so grateful for him. He was a long time in the making and I did stop a few times over the weekend to just enjoy the moment...his little face peering over the crib rails after a nice long nap....the way he looked from me to ryan and then broke into a huge grin as he snuggled between us watching mickey mouse clubhouse...and the proud moment when I walked in from  a long shopping trip and his first Christmas tree was all lit up. I realized this weekend that I definitely don't take enough time to enjoy the small stuff...funny it seems when I started this blog that was my mission, I guess even I got lost long the way!

And now with my focus back in tact I plan to celebrate this holiday season like no other...its amazing how children can bring a little christmas spirit back into even the biggest grinch!

xoxo
Erin

 Too much turkey....

Obviously checking out there fantasy football stats...

Okay....is someone gonna bring me more stuffing? 

Me, Derek, and Janell!

Sadie and Willa's own personal christmas tree...I was hoping to post some pics of them sitting in front of it in the dark singing "Oh Christmas tree", but the bright pink lights didn't work out so well with the camera!!!