Big Girl Bed!

We made the switch - very reluctantly!  With the baby's arrival approaching fast, we needed to fast track Sunshine into a big girl bed.  The baby is going to need the crib!  :)

I was worried - extremely worried.  Sunshine has always been my best sleeper.  She falls asleep easily at 7:30 each evening and doesn't wake up until at least 8 each morning.  When she wakes up at 8, she hangs out in her crib for at least another hour just singing to herself.  This is valuable time to a homeschooling momma.  Most days we are completely done with school when she does finally decide it's time to get up.  I prayed that this wouldn't end when the crib bars disappeared.

The first night was torture.  She was terrified.  I'm a "cry-it-out" mommy, so you'd think it wouldn't have bothered me that she was so miserable.  But it did -  a lot!  I sat with her for a long time before she finally fell mostly asleep.  She stayed in bed all night, but was up at about 6 the next morning ready to join us for the day.  Ughh!  Not how I was hoping the conversion would go.  Over the next week, she started going to bed much easier but would wake promptly at 6 each morning.  Our entire homeschooling schedule was forced into chaos!

But, Praise Be to God!, two months later and Sunshine has figured out the big girl bed!  She falls straight asleep each evening.  I've tried to snuggle with her plenty of nights, but she won't let me.  And we don't see her in the morning until at least 9.  She loves to just sit in her room and read books, build puzzles, or rearrange her babies.  It's been a wonderful transition!  Although it does break my heart to see our little girl growing up so fast!

December 27th, 2011

Merry Christmas!

December 25th, 2011

Christmas Eve Mass Family Picture

December 24th, 2011

Zep's First Wrestling Tournament

Zep participated in his first wrestling tournament over the weekend.  I was sick with anxiety over the whole ordeal.  I took several years of Judo as a child, and I clearly remember how nervous I was before each and every match.  I was so worried Zep would be just as nervous.  

The day started out pretty well.  Zep was excited to get out on the mat.  But that quickly faded as the first boy he fought pinned him and ended the match within 5 seconds.  Zep was a wreck - full on tears.  At this point, he'd only been practicing for about a month.  He really didn't know the rules...and neither did hubby or I.  Apparently if both of your shoulders hit the mat at the same time for several seconds the match is over.  We explained this to Zep, and he wiped away his tears for his second match.  Unfortunately, he lost this one as well.  But he took to heart what he had learned from the first match.  He made it much longer in the match and fought hard to keep his shoulders off the mat!  I was so proud of him!

Way to go little man!

December 3rd, 2011

Homeschool Christmas Play

Our homeschool group put on a wonderful Christmas pageant after First Friday Mass.  All the kids were assigned their "parts" ahead of time and showed up in their costumes on performance day.  I was really impressed on how well it all came together considering that we hadn't rehearsed at all.  One of the older children was in charge of narrating for each of the scenes and another sweet homeschooling girl played the guitar for us during the performance.  It was absolutely precious!

The boys were shepherds...Bright Eyes' Yoda costume has sure come in handy this year!  Who knew Yoda was so versatile!

December 2nd, 2011

O' Christmas Tree!

We made our yearly trip out to Old Baker Farm to find and cut down a Christmas tree.  I absolutely love this tradition.  The kids love it as well.  This year we were able to take a hay ride and tour the farm before we stopped to get our tree.

I forced the kids into taking a few decent pictures - we had to have something for the Christmas cards!

December 2nd, 2011

Just Because...

I think she's the most beautiful girl in the world!

December 1st, 2011