Christmas 2006

The year leading up to 2006 was another full and busy one.  In May, we welcomed another daughter to our family, our very sweet Olivia Grace!  Soon after she was born, as we were trying to track down what things were wrong with Sam, he had an MRI which showed he had abnormal white matter growth on his brain.  At first, they told us that he most likely had Leukodystrophy, a terminal brain disease.  We were devastated and didn't even know where to begin to handle that kind of grief.  For 4 days, we believed that and it was some of the hardest days of my life.  By the end of the week, the neurologist said that they may have been wrong, and it could have been caused from a bleed on the brain or something similar to a stroke, while in the womb.  Fortunately for us, the latter is what it ended up being and as difficult as his life is sometimes, we are so thankful, every day to have him!

For Christmas that year, we spent a quiet one at home.  I don't remember a whole lot, partly because I was dealing with a lot of depression.  I think the combination of having a new baby and dealing with so  many ups and downs with Sam, it left me emotionally feeling spent and empty.  I remember not being able to feel very excited about anything.  I forced myself, for the kids' sake to go through the motions of our traditions, but it was very, very difficult.  It is really amazing how consuming it is when something is wrong with one of our children. It makes all the rest of life somewhat of a blur.  I know I survived those days, but barely.  And it makes me sad how many memories are just swirled together and difficult to pull forward.  I remember that Chipper got a keyboard and Mitchell got a bike.  In fact, on Christmas Eve, when we went to put the bike together, it was missing a few pieces and I had to drive 2 hours, to Las Vegas, to get it replaced!  I don't remember what Abby got.  Sam got a Little People ABC set with all the different animals and Olivia got a little monkey gym thing that she could crawl into and play with.  I also remember that year that I bought my husband an ipod, which was the first of any of the iproducts we had ever purchased!

It really is amazing how easy it is to forget and reminds me of why I started this project in the first place!  I'm so thankful for this opportunity, each day.

Today was our Christmas program at church and I played the piano for the choir.  It was extremely difficult for me, as I am not an accomplished pianist-by any stretch of the imagination!  But they were all patient with me, and I got through it, and I really think the program turned out very nice!

Today's freebie is another tag template.  I'm hoping that these are coming in handy for a few of you!

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Christmas 2003

As we get closer and closer to Christmas (Still in denial that it is just over a week away!), I am enjoying each of these years and reliving them in one way or another!  I've found myself talking to my kids about them and remembering with them!  It's so fun!

Christmas 2003 was our last Christmas with John in law school! Our last Christmas of him spending hours with finals and work and trying to make everything meet!  We were still living in Henderson and enjoying it so much!  Chipper had started first grade, Mitchell was 4 1/2 years old and Abby was 2 1/2.  I was enjoying not having to worry about pregnancy or a new baby.  This of course, was short lived, but I didn't know that, at the time! LOL!

My inlaws came and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us.  It was so fun having them there!  I made a big turkey dinner and they arrived in the evening of Christmas Eve.  I remember cleaning the house from top to bottom and it literally shone!  We ate dinner, cleaned up and watched a few cartoons with the kids.  After putting them to bed, we watched Sea Biscuit while we waited for them to fall asleep.

Then we spent most the night putting things together! It's amazing how much more expensive and how much more work it becomes-the older the kids get!!! I remember that  Chipper got this big castle thing that was about a billion little pieces (like lego's) and we followed the book to put most of it together.  Abby got a doll with a stroller, high chair and other accessories.  Mitchell got a new bike!

For today's freebie, I have:

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This tag is totally customizable to match any kit you want! It is layered and easy to change, add to, or use just the way it is!

Have a great day!