Crab for Dinner

Johanna and Eric and Annette went crabbing this afternoon.  They only caught two, and guess who got crab for dinner?!  This girl.  This is the first time I've ever had to kill a live animal (except for that time I shot a squirrel, which doesn't totally count), and I have to say that I felt kind of bad about it.  I mean, not awful.  But pretty bad.  Then, once they were cooked and  I was rushing to get dinner finished before Nick got home, and all 3 girls were purposefully trying to do everything in their power to not let me fix dinner, I sat there cracking the shell with my teeth.  After twenty minutes of picking out crab and looking down at the tiny pile on the plate, I pretty much decided that I don't have time in my life for crab.  But thank you Jojo and Eric for providing us with this delicious meal.  If you guys ever go crabbing again, we will gladly come eat your already picked left overs!!!!

Follow the yellow brick road!

Well, it wasn't exactly a yellow brick road.  Talullah had created a trail of snacks and had Havanna following her from the bedrooms back into the living room, eating along the way.  What silly girls!

And, it's CHRISTMAS!!!

Dad reading the Christmas story to his girls.

This one says Talullah!  She can recognize the "T", so she knows.

Go Padres!

What?!  No way.  A trip to The Spa?!?!

Go, Berlyn, Go!

Stocking time!

It was all just too much action for Havanna.

She's ready for her scooter, too!

Talullah is taking pictures with her very own camera.

Wearing the scarf I made her, all the bows she got,  and ready to read another princess story.

Good job, Nana.  Berlyn loves her Minnie Mouse!

Talullah and daddy.

And, the grand finale... the BOUNCE HOUSE!!!

I've never seen Berlyn in such a deep sleep.  Operation Christmas: Success!

 Wow.  First presents from Grammy.  Then Christmas Eve at Uncle Nates.  Now Christmas day and we're celebrating even more?!?!  We had Nana and Papa over after a quiet morning with just our family.  The girls woke up at 7.   We were all in my bed and when Talullah opened her eyes, I whispered "Merry Christmas." She grinned ear to ear told her sleeping daddy.  "It's CHRISTMAS!!!"  There was no sleeping after that.  We jumped up to shower and prepare for the day.  We ate some of the delicious left over cinnamon rolls while dad read the Christmas story from the Jesus Storybook Bible.  Then, Talullah decided she wanted to read her 'favorite' story, which ended up being about Joseph.  She obviously wasn't in a hurry for the presents.  We called Papa and Nana and they came over with even more gifts.  We can't wait for sunny days to take the scooters outside or to blow up the bounce house and have friends over.  It's not about the presents, I know.  But what a blessing.  What a blessing that God has given us so much.  So many friends and family who love and spoil our family all year round.  I look at the array of cards that covers ever inch of space on the piano, and I'm truly amazed.  We live a wonderful life.  Merry Christmas to all, and too all a good night!

Christmas Eve with the Downey's!

Berlyn loves her Aunt Dallass

Havanna's opening a present from Grandma Downey

Wesley's home for the holiday!  Brianna and Wesley

For me?!

BEAUTIFUL GIRLS!

Bri and Berlyn

Brothers

All of the girls!!!

All of the boys!

Just us!

And, everybody!  Well, almost.  Bri is taking the picture.

 We celebrated Christmas with Nick's side of the family up at Nate and Dallass' new house in Eureka.  With 8 cousins, the eldest being 7, it seems like any event would be chaos.  Not this year!  The kids played so well together.  We opened presents and ate a delicious feast.  It's the most wonderful time.... of the year!!!

Oh no!

It's just days before Christmas, and we're all getting sick!  Berlyn caught it first, and my poor baby was miserable.  Then, Havanna's two top teeth started popping through, which meant one fussy little baby.  Now I've come down with a head cold.  What do we do when the momma's sick?!?!  Who takes care of me?!?!  Looks like it's cereal for dinner, kids.

Say CHEESE!

 What a ham.  This girl is always smiling!!!

***sigh***

The first night Berlyn asked to lay next to Talullah, I cringed when Nick put them together and left the room. We both shook our heads, just waiting to have to go back in to discipline them for playing at bedtime.  Much to our surprise, the girls never made a peep.  We went to check on them and found both sound asleep, side by side.  This was quite possibly the most heart warming moment as a mother of daughters.  A moment that you picture in your mind: your girls growing up best friends, cuddling at night and giggling themselves to sleep.  It's been a week now, and the girls have slept in that tiny toddler bed every night.  Well, most of the night anyway.  Somehow, by the time I wake up, there's a family of 5 all crammed into my king size bed.  Last night I even put away the play pen and designated Berlyn's crib as Havanna's.  Soon enough we will make the triple bunk bed for the girls, but for now... this suits us just fine.