An unordinary Christmas!

A quick Christmas blog: We were thrilled to have Tatum with us this Christmas, so we tried to soak up the season as much as possible and really cherish the memories. We had an early immediate family Christmas with just the 3 of us before heading off to Arizona for a week and a half (we are still here). This Christmas was a little different than others because, as most of you know Jeremey's sister Stephanie is still in the hospital on bedrest awaiting her new baby girl. Because she couldn't be with us for the opening of presents at Grandma and Grandpas we hooked her up to facetime chat and she was able to experience the madness right along with us. And when I say "madness" I really mean it, with so many kids, the gifts, noise and mess gets pretty crazy. After Christmas lunch, and gift opening we headed down to the hospital where we had rented out a big room and spent the remainder of Christmas there. It was different, but it was wonderful. Thank you Jesus for the big family I always wanted.

The only thing Jeremey's mom wanted for Christmas was a photo of all her grandkids together. There is no way we could get all the kids smiling and paying attention at one time, so we took individual pictures of each family group of kids, and photoshopped it together. Here is what it ended up looking like. Not perfect, not professional, but it got the job done, and everyone is at least looking at the camera. Jeremey's mom is such a blessing and such a strong women in the Lord. She holds this family together in more ways than anybody will ever understand. A true proverbs 31 women!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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Aunt Stephanie made tutus for all the girl cousins. We are missing 3 girls who were sick for Christmas day though.

Grandpa handing out the gifts!

Little T got really sick the day after Christmas. We think it might have been a bad reaction to food or food poisoning.

Our almost Christmas cards ...

Go ahead and call us the worst family around when it comes to sending out Christmas cards, baby announcements, or wedding thank you's ... It seems to be something that we NEED to work on, and master before everyone we love thinks we have forgotten about them ... This year, after failing to get professional family pictures taken, we decided to go out on a whim and take them of ourselfs. This involved making our house into a mini photoset, and individually taking pictures of each other, and photoshopping them together to look like we were actually standing next to each other. Resulting in some majorly cheesy Christmas pics! I can't yet reveal all of the photos, (in my opinion some of the best ones), because they may or may not be given as gifts this holiday. But here are a few ... and then a few extra random pictures as well ... TIS the season to Celebrate Jesus. I am beyond thankful for all that he has blessed us with and brought our family through this year. (Even the little bout of the stomach flu that hit my little gal this morning, thankful that she is sleeping sound right now).

Her first year of putting the star on top of the Christmas tree!

Xmas baby??? --- Steph/London update

The not so important issue ...

For those of you that were born near, or have children that were born near Christmas, how did you deal with the whole double wammy gift thing? I am finding that even at the young age of one, with Tatum being born just 5 days after Christmas, giving people enough gift ideas for her, to cover both events is difficult. She doesn't need a whole mountain of new things all at once, but I'm sure in 6 months, she will be on to new things developmentally, and obviously onto new fitting clothes. But by then, it will be way past her birthday, she will be needing new things, but with no special occasion looming. Oh how I long for the perfectly situatuated July birthday, to avoid this dilemma. I always thought it would be hard for the kid when they got old enough to realize what was going on, I didn't think about it from the parents point of view. Also, does anybody have any birthday theme ideas. With her birthday being 1 day before the ever so wonderful new years eve, I'm sure there will be an enormous amount of silver and gold streamers and 2012 hats, but that isn't exactly the them I was thinking, haha. I guess lucky for her (in some ways), for the rest of her life, there are going to be built in "parties" going on every year around her birthday. Just don't want her to get lost in the mix. Just something this first time mom is thinking about these days. Would love some feedback.

On to the more important issue ...

My sister Stephanie (for those that have been following her pregnancy journey) is now officially in the hospital on bedrest. She has been there several days now, and is nearing week 31 of her 3rd trimester. So far, the doctors have informed the family that baby London is doing wonderfully, and are planning the C-section for the 3rd, 10th or 17th (there have been several dates mentioned.) With that news, the main focus is really on Stephanie now. The Doctors have good expectations, but each day seems to bring more serious news. The surgery she will undergo at the time of the birth comes with many many complications, within 3 minutes, because of the amount of scar tissue they have to go through and sew back up, and the amount of blood that will be lost, she could easily bleed to death. We need prayer that the massive team of doctors will have quick hands, and quick problem solving skills the day of. Jeremey has had the chance to talk to Stephanie every night she has been in the hospital thus far. She sounds like she is in good spirits (though we know it is still very difficult). Her room is fully decorated, and there are prayers hanging all over the walls, and we hear that the nursing staff loves her. We aren't surprised though, she is a joy to be around! Thank you for your prayers, and I will be updating as the days drawer closer.

Pure Determination!

The Christmas season is here, thus reminding me of a very stressfull Christmas season that I had last year. I was due with Tatum in 10 days, which turned int0 20 ... I did everything I could to have my baby before Christmas ...but in the end just ended up looking silly in the process ... Here is a little clip of what my life consisted of ... pure determination.

And now, here she is in her first Christmas season, in her first Christmas party outfit, gearing up to turn ONE in a few weeks! LIFE, YOU MOVE SO FAST.

With the christmas season beginning that also means that Jeremey has finished up yet another semester highlight video. Here is a clip from the end sequence. Check out Tatum's buddy Chloe Celaya at the 1:00 mark. She is Jeremey's boss' little girl and one of the cutest kids ever!

Fall 2011 The End from CCBC Videos on Vimeo.

Thanksgiving Madness, our trip up north!!!

I haven't written in a while ... and my 30 days of thankfulness list had a quick death, and ended at day 16 I think. Oh well. Our vacation to Oregon took over, and I am totally fine with that ...

Though most people overlook thanksgiving and skip directly to Christmas, I am NOT one of those people. In fact, I am quite the opposite. I Love halloween and thanksgiving so much, and wish the months of October and November could circulate back and forth forever. For me thanksgiving is the holiday of all holidays, truly my favorite day of the year. So much so, that now that it is over, I have actually started to beleive that it is already spring. Am I the only person on earth who thinks this way? I guess the Christmas season doesn't affect me as much as it use to. I blame that in part to living in southern california, where it never feels like winter, therefore never forcing us into feeling the true cozy Christmas spirit. But while in Oregon for the last 10 days, I was brought back to all those childhood memories, of crisp foggy mornings, rainy afternoons, winter coats, fall leaves, endless food, college football, and extended family galore. It was a great trip. It went way to fast, but when I got home last night to California, it felt like an eternity since I had walked up our front stairs. It felt like we had grown up, like Tatum had grown up, it was surreal.

While in Oregon, we celebrated Jeremey's 27th birthday, I got to meet 2 new nephews, Tatum took 8 steps, Jeremey roped his first cow (it was made out of wood, but nonetheless) we had fantastic conversations about the Lord with extended family, we ate SO much good food, Tatum popped in her 2 front teeth, got to spend time with a dear friend of mine and her family, watched my husband acquire 9 new little best friends in all my nieces nephews and second cousins, and got to RELAX. The Lord really blessed our trip, and I am more thankful than ever that the lord has given me such a Godly extended family. On that happy note, I will send out a prayer request for my health seeing as the second flight home stirred up a pretty scary bout of vertigo. I am still spinning and not feeling too well, which doesn't make for too good of a welcome home. Besides that, thats what we've been up to. Till next time!

There are SO many pictures. Thousands actually from our camera and my moms, here are some of them (for the family members that were there, I will post more in a facebook album and tag you in them!)

Cousins, my brothers kids!

It became routine to do a music session with the kids each day

Sister in law Molly and kids.

Play time with daddy

cuties!

Tatum and Titus, almost the same height, yet Tatum is nearly 9 months younger. Crazy.

Craft time with the kids!

Fun in the wagon.

Looking at the rainy day with grandma!

Linus!

Tatum LOVED the piano!

Spending time with a great friend!

Practicing walking with her shopping cart grandma got her!

Chillin with grandpa and Clyde!

music time with momma!

Sasha! One of my flower girls in my wedding!

Playing at my aunt and uncles house, where they made their back yard into a kids dream, with a wagon and little old fashioned shops. so cute!

Feeding the Horse!

First pancake!

This bear was killed by my grandpa and is hanging on the wall in his house. I Loved this thing as a kid!

The ODELLS!

Coolest grandpa ever!

My cowgirl!

The kids Love Jeremey!

First thanksgiving dinner!

If you look closely you can see her two front teeth coming in!

Family pic!

Roping the cow!