Tripping Over Toys

The Cake

Happy Birthday, Jesus!Here's the cake.

It was delicious! I enjoyed it more tonight than last night.

Probably because I had already eaten so much yesterday.

The magazine explained how to make a peppermint plate. I thought it would make transferring from cake tupperware saver (in fridge) to cake plate a little easier. The colors eventually bled together, but it looked cool for awhile.

So, I made the cake over a period of 3 days. I made the cheesecake layers Thursday night. They were supposed to be frozen until ready to assemble, so that was perfect. Friday, EJ came home early, so I made the cake part that afternoon. On Saturday, I made the AMAZING frosting and put the whole thing together.

Will I ever make it again, highly unlikely. But it was delicious!

It felt especially ridiculous that I was making this cake, when I learned that a friend from college was nearing the end of his battle with Central Nervous System Lymphoma. I even thought about not making it. But I am glad I did, because baking made me slow down the pace and gave me a quiet time to pray. I was in the kitchen by myself and for the most part my mind was on them. Pleading for God to have mercy. I can't even begin to imagine what this family is going through. I have been blown away by the community of believers praying for them, amazed by the wife's trust and faith in God and so very very thankful that God's love endures forever. I have looked at my husband differently, my children differently and I more thankful for all He has given us. Please pray for the Kelly family.

Day for Play

All the gifts were a big hit. My, we are SO blessed!

These are tiny and super fast remote control cars.

They looked like sand crabs running around from the window.

Ready for snow!

The helmet even went to bed with him last night ;)

Owen immediately hugged his Aunt after opening their present to him.

It was a book he had been waiting for! We all nearly fainted :)

Loud and Crazy

Opening presents with 3 boys is very very loud. I was overwhelmed and I am used to their noise. Owen decided in the 30 minute wait for family to arrive that should 1st pass out the gifts they had bought with their own money. Ryan got his gifts firsts. Then Owen opened this helmet (on clearance) from Mason. Don't you just love Mason's face. He knew Owen would be so excited.

Be still my heart. They rarely hug!!!

Then Mason opened the gift Owen had bought him. What a face!

And another hug

We took a break from the craziness to eat breakfast

Lissa's beautiful masterpiece

More presents. We occasionally had to hold Ryan back. He was tearing into everything!

Lissa and Alex sent the boys on a scavenger hunt

A sled!

EJ and I made the boys work for one of their gifts with another scavenger hunt

a toy without batteries. amazing!

The Wait and Reaction

Oh my goodness these are some of my favorites from Christmas day. The boys are allowed to get up at 7 a.m. but we told them we weren't going downstairs until 7:30 to give my parents and Lissa and Alex a chance to get to our house. It was quite an exciting 30 minutes :) They spent the last 10 mins like this.

Finally :)

Then we waited for Lissa and Alex. Ryan had no idea what was going on, but by the energy in the room, he knew it was exciting. Mom kept Ryan from jumping off the bed.