Merry Christmas!

The day has come and gone...but I still haven't shared it with you...so here goes.

We had a blessed and happy Christmas. Sure...my pregnancy brain caused us to miss out on a few traditions...but the kids didn't seem to notice. We went to Memaw and Epa's house, so it was nice to relax on the cooking bit and just assist Mom.

We went to a Christmas eve service at Mom's church and then did the annual Birthday Cake for Jesus afterward.  Eliza really got into it and sang so sweetly! Both the girls helped make the cake this year.

I did  remember to give them both their Christmas Eve gift: PJs.  We stuffed the stockings...and all the usual hoopla. But, when we put the kids to bed, it felt like we'd forgotten something. Couldn't remember what....

After snuggling them down in their warm little beds, I remembered: COOKIES! How do you forget to leave Santa cookies????? I wouldn't dare pull them out of bed just to leave him a note and cookies, so I just did it myself. Jeez! In the morning, Addie pulled a note out of the tree that SHE had written him. It was so sweet!She thanked him for the Christmas gifts and wished him a Merry Christmas. She was disappointed that Santa didn't see it. It's not too late to send it to the North Pole, I hope.

I asked Addie what her favorite gift was and she told me it was her "make-up" set. 

We asked Eliza what her favorite Christmas gift was and she said, "Christmas". I translated that to mean her dolly that comes in an infant carrier. Addie translated that to mean the stacking blocks she had given E for Christmas. Guess it's best that we don't know...that way we both will think we're rockstar gift givers. :)

The kids got some quality time with Epa and Memaw. Eliza was a bit hyper...running around like a, well, a two-year old! Addie did a lot of painting and crafts. I napped a lot. Micah and Dad (& Lucas) took a nice run on Dorner trail. Mom crocheted a hundred million rosettes for the girls' hats (because she's crafty like that). And baby boy...did his usual acrobatics in my womb. 

The dogs LOVED their squeaky toys...I had to put them up because they tried to get into them the night before we left for Topeka...sneaky little things! It's nice to see Kaylee act like a puppy when she thinks someone is going to toss her new toy for her to fetch. 

This goes without saying, but our Christmas was blessed. The weather was nice, the dogs got walks, the kids played HARD with their new toys, and boy did my mom make an amazing Christmas meal!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas as well! Now that we are past the Christmas rush, I'm realizing that I only have ONE month before our little man makes his entrance into the world. There is so much to do to prepare for him, including NAMING him! Let's pray (YOU too- we need it) that Micah and I come to a happy consensus in the next couple weeks. Surely, we can find something we both like, right? :)

Can YOU believe it?

I'm actually updating my blog!!! It's been on my list of things "to do" for some time now. In fact, I found a list by my bed from last Monday and it was almost identical to my list THIS Monday! That's how fast I'm moving.

Of course, I've been sick with a massive cold, performed a play in my church (with lots of lines in all...I thought I might get lucky and just be Mary- but NO. Totally more involved!), we also got a majority of the baby's room done. It's going to be adorable!!!

I'm digressing. So, what have we Hunts been up to lately? Nothing earth-shattering...yet very busy and important. I am, after all, growing a baby! I'm 34 weeks along now...only six weeks left!!! Here's my 8 month belly pic:

I'm much bigger with #3 (who still doesn't have a name) than I was with Addie Sue and Eliza Ann!

Addie Sue was a flower girl in our nephew's wedding.
She and Sydney (her cousin) looked beautiful and took their job very seriously:

Poor E was exhaused. The wedding was at 2 pm...nap time. She was running around the reception like a maniac...so I strapped her in a high chair just so that I wasn't constantly chasing her around. Here's how she spent her time at the reception:

GOING...

 GOING...

 GOING...

 GONE!!!!

Addie and Daddy danced in the meantime. It was so sweet, it make this hormonal mama cry!

This was our first year to participate in Operation Christmas Child...which is put on by Samaritan's Purse. It's a tradition that many families take part in...including my own when I was younger. However, I've never gotten around to doing it with our kids. All you do is decorate a shoebox and fill it with necessities, toys, and a few goodies, and they are sent to children in orphanages all around the world. This is some kids only chance to hear about Jesus and to hear that they are LOVED.

  I'm glad my girls got to help with this project, but know we have a few lessons to learn. Both of them wanted to keep the some of the items inside the box and I found myself repeating, "These gifts are for children who don't have a mommy and daddy. Put it back please." Something to that effect. This is a tradition I'm happy to continue...I think it will eventually sink in with my kiddos & they will hopefully learn to think of others' needs instead of just their own.

Addie and Eliza saw Santa at Bass Pro...but I don't have a picture to show you. They give you a copy so you cannot take your own. I took Eliza to Crown Center with some friends from college and she wanted NOTHING to do with Santa (although she thought he was worthy of a High Five). In fact, none of the kids were too impressed with Santa. I think Lexi was the only one that actually sat on his lap willingly. 
Here are all the two year olds:

 Left to right: Sam, Eliza, Ava, Graham, and Lexi. I have a picture of these kiddos (minus Sam) when they were infants...

Left to Right: Lexi, Ava, Graham, & Eliza

My how things have changed!!!

Other items to note:

• I'm officially a director with Thirty-One! This is a mystery to me b/c I'm not a salesperson in anyway. I think I just got in at a really good time and people have signed up under, thus...making me a director. The timing is a bit off, since I'm having a baby next month. I will take a maternity leave and hopefully get back into the swing of things. Don't really know exactly how much time being a director with take. I know I will have to host trainings on the phone and in person every other month...hopefully nothing too overwhelming. I've also only got one month to go before I get my $1000 bonus from Thirty-One!!! Yay!

• Kaylee and Lucas are doing well. I haven't taken them on walks as frequently as they expect. Poor doggies. They are sweetie pies. We did take them out to look at Christmas lights on Saturday night just so they could feel included in a family outing. It drove Micah nuts. BUT- he knew what he was getting into when he married me. That's why he calls me "Snow White!

Okay....I'm hoping to start updating every week again. Look again next Monday to see what I've come up with. Until then, have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!