Our Christmas

Home sweet home.  After a wonderful Christmas in Nebraska, we are now home sweet home.
 
Thursday was a rough travel day.  Tommy has been sick (ugh, I don't know how to avoid it this time of year!) and so he was not his usual self while we were traveling.  Without going through all the details, it was a long and exhausting day.  Especially since I didn't get much sleep the night before.  We took two flights and for some reason everything was difficult - small planes, bumpy landings, unhappy kids, etc.  I'm just thankful that we made it home safe and sound and we all crashed as soon as we got home. 

This is the second year in a row that Tommy was sick on Christmas Day. :( We didn't take the kids to Mass - because of Tommy being sick and it was just too cold (temps were around 10-15 degrees the entire week.) He had fun opening his gifts, but he just wasn't himself for about 4 days which was sad. 

I ended up taking him to urgent care the day after Christmas and the doctor suspected a sinus infection. I was a little weary to put him on anti-biotics (he's never had them before) but it definitely seemed to work right away. His fever never came back and his miserable congestion/chest cough has been going away. I was up most of the night with him on Wednesday and I slept in a big bed with him to help him breath a little better.

I honestly can't believe that Christmas has come and gone so quickly.  (I realize that we are still in the Christmas season - I know we are still celebrating the birth of our Savior!)  But in terms of our travel plans, seeing family, gift exchanges, etc.  It's so exhausting.  I would love to find ways to make this time of year less stressful and more simple.  There are plenty of ideas out there, we just have to decide what works best for our family. 

We were able to relax once we left town, but the weeks leading up to that were crazy. We had a lovely week with my husband's family.  It was great to rest and relax at their house and spend time with our nieces. 

I'm always excited for the new New Year - having a fresh start, setting new goals, and the hope of what a New Year will bring. I have a few personal goals, plus my hubby and I set some family goals together.  Here's hoping for a great year for everyone!

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Months

Molly can't believe she is four months old! Where does the time go??

Catching My Breath

It's been a non-stop whirlwind for our family for awhile now - at least since early November - hence my lack of posting. So many wonderful things going on, including holiday preparations, but it's been exhausting. We flew to Nebraska yesterday to spend Christmas with my hubby's family and I feel like I can finally catch my breath.

We switched our flights to earlier in the day because of the big snow storm that was coming through in the afternoon/night. I'm so thankful it all worked out. It was pretty stressful on Tuesday night trying to figure it all out. We woke up at 3:00am on Wed to catch the 6:25am flight from DC through Minneapolis to Omaha. Our first flight was delayed by 40 minutes and we missed our connection, but thankfully we made it on the next flight and beat the storm. They were calling for blizzard conditions because of the high winds and it was really blowing through the night while we slept. It's sooo cold here - barely got to 20 degrees today and it won't get out of the twenties during the next seven days while we are here. It's forecasted to be 12 degrees on Christmas Day! Brr!

I'm hoping to rest, relax, and enjoy these days leading up to Christmas. Here are the kids Christmas pictures I had taken two weeks ago.

I'm Still Here

Whew!  November was a whirlwind month, and one full of so many blessings. 

Molly was baptized and my brother and sister-in-law were with us on her special day.  And just a few days later her adoption was finalized in court.  Thank you Lord!

Three days after that, our family of four went to California to spend Thanksgiving with my family.  It was a wonderful week but of course the travel is exhausting.  It seemed like I needed the entire week afterwards to recover and get back into the swing of things. 

Now of course we are into Advent and making our Christmas preparations.  This time of year always seems to fly and I'm trying my hardest to enjoy these beautiful seasons.

I will leave you with some pictures from the last few weeks.

 

 

In my parents backyard 

Tommy was a great traveler

Three months old!

Playing Angry Birds with Grandpa

Knotts Berry Farm!

Meeting Snoopy

Fun with our friends

My BFF and her three adorable girls

On campus for the USC - Notre Dame game

Being silly with my sister in law (pointing to my Dad's name)

My team didn't win, but we had a fun day

Duet

Trying to get our Christmas card photos

It's Official!!!!

Molly is our daughter forever!!! Her adoption was finalized in court today.

Praise The Lord!!!!

I'm off to celebrate...

Baptism

Yesterday was Molly's Baptism and it was such a lovely day.  Sometimes I find it hard to slow down and enjoy these special days with all the planning and organizing - plus getting everyone dressed and out the door on time.  It was a little easier this time since the party was at a restaurant instead of our house.  I was full of joy holding my sweet daughter on her big day as she entered the Church! 

We had about 30 friends join us and it was so wonderful to celebrate with them.  Molly's godfather is my brother and her godmother is our dear friend who watches both kids two mornings a week.  She has become like family to us here, since our families live so far away.  The priest is also a friend of ours who was a big help to us during Molly's adoption.  He used to be at our parish but now runs the Catholic Center at the University of Maryland. 

The Baptism ceremony is short and sweet, but so powerful.  I love all the blessings with the oils - there is nothing like the smell of chrism!  She slept through the first half but of course woke up when the water was poured over her head.  Thankfully she didn't seem to mind it too much and was happily awake for the second half.

My hubby said a few words at the end which was really sweet.  I got all emotional when he was talking.  He shared our good news about Molly's adoption being finalized on Thursday.  He also explained the significance of the Baptismal gown - it's been in his family for a long time and many babies in the past four generations have worn it.  His grandmother (who is still living at 95 years of age and is also named Mary Margaret!) was the first to wear it and it was made by her grandmother.  My hubby wore it, as did his father, uncles, cousins, etc.  And of course Tommy wore it two years ago. :)

After the Baptism we went to a French cafe/restaurant nearby for a simple reception.  We had some delicious food and celebrated this special day for our sweet little girl.

Our family

With the Godparents

The big moment!

Receiving the light of Christ.


Her white garment.

My hubby saying a few words.

My brother and sister in law

Kids decorating crosses during the party. 

Tommy playing with our friend

Molly and her Godmother

By the end of the party Tommy was very tired and a bit delirious. 

Molly on her big day

Family photo at the restaurant

My teacher friends

 I can't remember the last time we took a picture just the two of us :)

With my dear friend

Party favors (I got this great idea from GIMH)

I included a sweet prayer card with a picture of the Blessed Mother on the front and the Memorare of St. Bernard on the back.  Molly's birthday is August 20 - the feast of St. Bernard. :)