Merry Christmas to You! 2013

While the blog posts over the past year are a good reflection of what we’ve been up to, sometimes it’s nice to have the condensed version, the quick summary, the cliff notes of the Darling family.  So here it is:

Luke: dentist, loves blizzards (the ice cream, not the weather condition), and wishes he could find more time to golf in the summers.

Kim: stay-at-home mom, on the MOPS steering team, teaches 2nd grade Sunday School, directed the Sunday School Christmas program, and loves Starbucks.

Logan: 2nd grader at Crown Point Christian, enjoys taking piano lessons, favorite subject is PE, would rather type than write, listens to Magic Tree House books before bed.

Audrey: is now enjoying 2-day PreK, loves to color and write, takes a weekly ballet class, never gets tired of doing crafts, loves to play “teacher” with her siblings.

Emily: loves her two days alone with Mommy, plays independently very well and loves her dollhouse, tiny in size but mighty in volume, loves to be babied.

We hope you have a wonderful, safe, and meaningful holiday as we remember our Savior’s birth with thankfulness and love!

Daybook 12.16.13

Outside my window… it is dark and still.  Snow has been falling tonight and the neighborhood Christmas lights are brightening up the street.

I am thinking… about what I want to do next Monday when Luke’s parents will have the kids all day and Luke will be at work.  A day at home to myself!!  I’m thinking my dresser drawers need some sorting and organizing.

I am thankful… for a warm house on this cold night.

From the kitchen… I made mini meatloaves and cheesy potatoes for dinner tonight, and there is still leftover apple crisp from both of our parents visiting before/after the Sunday School Christmas program last night.

I am wearing… a comfortable sweatshirt, boot cut jeans, and socks. My feet are a little cold and I wish I had some slippers.

I am creating… a plan to reveal our spring Disney vacation to the kids.

I am going… to mail Christmas cards tomorrow.

I am reading… nothing right now except for magazines and blogs, but I’m looking forward to reading The Light Between Oceans, our January book club book, over the holidays.

I am hoping… Logan will wear the shepherd costume I’m creating for him for Angels and Shepherds Dress-Up Day at school on Wednesday.

I am hearing… the beautiful sound of a quiet house.  The kids are sleeping and I hear the hum of the fridge and the distant sounds of Luke shoveling the driveway.

One of my favorite things… free shipping!  And the UPS man who is delivering all of my Christmas gifts this year.

Around the house… the school papers and Christmas crafts are piling up.  It’s so hard for me to know what to keep and what to dump.

A few plans for the rest of the week… caroling at a retirement home with my MOPS group, piano lessons tomorrow afternoon, coffee with friends tomorrow night, Awanas on Wednesday, salon appointment and ballet on Thursday, and my friend Erica is coming over the teach me how to make banket on Friday morning (I’m not a baker, so we’ll see how this goes!).

Picture for thought I am sharing… a snapshot of our Sunday School Christmas program last night…

Daybook idea from http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Brunch with Santa

One of our Christmas traditions is heading to Youche to see Santa and Mrs. Claus and eat pancakes with sprinkles.  This is the first year that each child was brave enough to sit on Santa’s lap alone.  Audrey was still a bit apprehensive, but she felt brave for conquering her fears!