Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve day we spent in our pj's, playing games.

Eventually we got cleaned up and headed to St. Luke's (the oldest church in America) for our Christmas Eve service.  I dropped high expectations of Christmas Eve...I let the kids wear whatever they wanted to and I dressed casual, ready to hold 3 squirmy kids.  I was prepared with little pieces of candy to keep the kids quiet, but I was not prepared for the seating arrangements of the church.  When we walked into the very small church, we were seated in the front "box", right in front of Ben and right behind George.  And then the church filled up.  Everyone was squashed together and there was no where to escape if any of the kids started being loud.

 I wore Colin in the wrap and after a bottle and some songs, he crashed with his head looking up.  It was pretty sweet and I was thankful he was able to get a little nap in.  

Alison and Eliot did awesome sitting quietly, but Alison's velvet dress kept making her slip off the old bench and then she'd jump back on.  About half way through, Eliot whispered to me, "I play iPad?"  

Seriously?!  What have I created?  Who is this kid who asks to play the iPad in the middle of the Christmas Eve service.  I distracted him with a snack and told him it was almost over.  I think I told him that 6 more times and when George got up to give the benediction, there was a nice long, quiet pause and Eliot shouted, "WE'RE DONE!".

Yes, we survived the service and I look forward to the day we can all sing the songs together instead of munching on puffs.  

After the service we went over the Boomer's for dinner.  It was nice to have some fellowship, good food and lots of helpers for our "ready to move!" kids.

 

This was the first year that Hope had 2 services, so Ben had to go back to church for round 2 as the kids and I headed home.  He did an amazing job orchestrating the service and I'm so proud of all his work.  But this was the first year that I really felt the sacrifice of a pastor's wife.  

As we drove around to look at lights, opened our Christmas pj's and excitedly got ready for bed, I was sad that Ben was missing it.  Yes it's hard work doing it on my own, but really I just wanted him there with us.  I guess on the positive side, it gave me plenty of time to stuff his stocking :)

Christmas Pictures

I had planned a beautiful 'Shear kids' picture for weeks.  I had their outfits set aside in their closets, ready to go.  I even prepped Eli about wearing a tie and how he wasn't going to complain about it.

Sunday rolled around and I decided that if their outfits were that special, they should wear them to church too, to get maximum cuteness out of them.

Sometimes I feel like my kids are paying me back for all the Sunday mornings I threw fits over wearing tights as a kid.  I have vivid memories of my dad shoving me into tights and crying at church about how itchy they were.  I now feel my parents pain...why must children be so difficult over clothes!

Sunday morning, as I attempted to dress our 3 children for my beloved picture, I quickly found all of us in tears.  Sigh.  Alison's tights were the wrong color, Eliot didn't like all the buttons and the tie-forget it!  I think Colin just felt left out and started crying too. 

 

Well, just like my father many years ago, I shoved my kids in their matching clothes, dried their tears and told them to buck up.  We were going to take that picture!

Somehow in the shuffle of the morning, Colin fell asleep.  Of course.

So, if you will, imagine these pictures pieced together as one beautiful 'Shear Kids' picture.

Even with the tantrums and fits overs tights and buttons, I'm so very thankful for our 3 little blessings.

Christmas Time!

It was a busy Christmas season for our family, but I was thankful to have some Christmas traditions to help us slow down and enjoy time together.

 

We usually decorate gingerbread men...this year our cookie making dwindled down to just making the cookies and eating them.  The kids still had fun helping and they were just as yummy without the frosting.  Who has time to frost when your chasing after this little stinker?

I think this is the first year that I got all of our shopping done early.  Thank you Amazon!

LOVE that a couple of clicks, brings all of my Christmas right to my door.

I felt like I could enjoy the season so much more when I wasn't worrying about what still needed to be purchased...I think this tradition will carry on!

 

One evening Alison helped me make Chex Mix and we watched a Christmas movie together.  She's finally getting old enough to remember our traditions and really want to be a part of them.

Ben added leaves to our table so I could bust out the 1000 piece puzzle I've had for several years.  I was thankful to have something to make me stop, relax and do something for myself for a little bit each day.  With all the commotion of our house, I knew it would take a miracle for the puzzle to actually be finished with all of its pieces.

 

 

Eliot loved helping me "play puzzle"

I'm excited to say that the puzzle was completed Christmas Day, just in time to clear it off the table for our fancy dinner.

 

I have to say, the thing I enjoyed most about this Christmas season, was just being at home with my family.  Early morning and evenings in our pj's, sitting my the lit tree and fire, sipping hot coffee and cocoa, music playing, candles lit and eating lots of cookies.  The parties were fun and the gifts were great, but I'm missing these moments already.

5 Days 'Till Christmas

In a few short days, Colin has gone from "I scoot around and destroy everything in my path"

 

to up on all fours with a very determined "I will get you!" 

 

Looks like Ben's prediction might be right...I'm excited to see what he's doing in 5 days!

He had his 6 Month check up yesterday.

Weight: 14.7 lbs (4th percentile)

Height: 27 inches (67th percentile)

The doctor predicts he'll be walking by 8 months!  She said that babies she's seen with his body type are early walkers.  For the record, I am not ready for this!  At 6 months, Colin is doing things that we spent months in physical therapy to get Alison to do.  Eliot didn't start scooting until 8 months, but he did sit on his own at this stage.  Colin doesn't sit up because he's too busy trying to get to something. 

Scootched over to hear Daddy play music.  Love the look of awe on his face.

Colin certainly is staying true to the name I called him the whole time he was in my belly-"surprise baby".  Everything about him is a surprise.  His birth, his eye color, his car seat hatred, his size (I'm still in shock over his stats) and his mobility.  I thought having a baby was hard, but I was wrong.  Having a mobile baby is hard!

Meeting Adelyn

I apologize these pictures aren't stellar, but I just had to document that we finally got to meet our niece, Adelyn.  She came for a week with Rachel and Cheyenne and we had a blast just getting to play with her.  She's only 11 months old, but walking around like a champ...I have a feeling Colin might be following in her footsteps.  She loved Colin and loved having a whole playroom to spend the day in.  She is one sweet, happy baby and I'm so thankful we got to have some time with her.

6 Months

 

 Colin at 6 Months:

Eating 3 "meals" a day.  Alright, if this was Alison I would list out what all he's eaten...but all I can tell you is he's getting plenty of fruits and veggies :)

2 big bumps and lots of drool have me hoping for some teeth soon!

Loves to jump.

Loves to pull hair.

Loves to slobber and chew on whatever he can find.

He's on the move! Colin is our first baby that has pure motivation to move. No need to prompt him, he always has a mission. This morning I set him down in the middle of the living room and came back a moment later to find him under the Christmas tree, in middle of all the presents, chewing on the corner of a box. He's even started getting up on all fours...Ben predicts he'll be crawling by Christmas.

Our little secret is out.



I know we're weird, that's why I've tried to hide our secret for 6 months. But the truth is, we call Colin "Charlie" a lot. Charlie was the first name that Alison said we should name him the day we found out he was a boy. It was the name that was always at the top of Ben's name list, but I just couldn't do it. Charlie is the name that everyone tried to convince me to name Colin when he was born while Ben was gone, as a special surprise for his dad and it was the name that Rick's (Ben's dad) grandfather called him when he was a kid. It became a sentimental name to us and so many times I would start to call him "bubby" but that name already belongs to my Eli. So "Charlie" has been given to Colin as his nickname.

Ben's Graduation Party

I'm excited to announce that Ben has graduated Seminary and passed his ordination exams!  

In a few short weeks, Ben will officially be Reverend Ben Shear!

He's worked hard for 7 years...taking classes and working a full time job, all while raising a family.

It's a huge accomplishment and definitely worth a big celebration.

Since he's graduating in the middle of the year and school is in Florida, we needed something to really help it sink in that school is over.  And since we always joked that at the end of this journey we were going to party, a surprise graduation party was born.

Walking in the door..."SURPRISE!"

Really, the whole event makes me choke up.

First, just the thought of all the sacrifices Ben has made over the years;

 writing papers late at night after helping me put our kids to bed,

squeezing school time into the end of his work day so he could still be home for dinner,

and long drives, instead of flying, down to Florida just to save our family some money.

Second, the many, many sacrifices our friends and family made to help us celebrate;

long flights and drives,

skipping work and other party invites,

months of planning a graduation gift,

and staying up until the wee hours of the morning prepping food.

Ben telling me, "I knew you were up to something!"

I knew Ben wouldn't let me throw a party and I knew just going out to dinner wasn't going to cut it, so after months of secret keeping, sneaking around and lots of "righteous indiscretion" (aka lying!) we were able to pull off one fabulous party.

Some friends from church opened up their beautiful home, even giving me a key to come over at any time to hide items.  They hosted people all afternoon, while friends and family set up the party.  I had convinced Ben that Rick and Rachel were taking Alison Christmas shopping and the Neel's were going to watch the boys while we went out to dinner.  I was surprised he didn't ask why we were taking the boys over to their house, but he just said, "They're SO nice!".  Yes.  yes, they are.

Wall of pictures of Ben

The food spread

Alison with Mimi and Poppy

Nana and Granddaddy waiting for us to arrive

The kids warming up to the whole party idea

The kids were SO confused.  I hadn't told them a thing, so they were just as surprised.  It took them awhile to process all the family that was in one place.  Never before has Nana, Granddaddy, Mimi, Poppy, Grandma, Aunt Chey, Aunt Madiysn and Cousin Adelyn all been in one place.  Poor Eliot gave up and just started calling everyone Grandma.

Sweet Aunt Madisyn...just love this girl!

George congratulating Ben on passing his exams earlier that morning and praying over him

Elizabeth giving Ben his great-grandfathers bible

So, Ben Shear, I know you won't remember the decorations or food or maybe even the people that were there, but I pray that you will always remember how greatly loved you are.  

I am so abundantly proud of you and am so thankful for you.

Family Pictures

Thanksgiving dinner

 Kent took some amazing pictures over Thanksgiving and yes, I admit that I stole them...sorry.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We were blessed with a house full of family this Thanksgiving.  Elizabeth, Kent, Jordan and Sophie all traveled here to spend a couple of days with us.

I found myself extra sentimental this year, as I thought about where I was a year ago.  Last year, I spent Thanksgiving completely miserable and this year I get to look at this beautiful smile.  

I am SO thankful for you Colin William!

The girls snuck in a little pampering and then it was off to lots of cooking in preparation for our feast.

Our meal included: turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberries and zwiebach.  We also had pumpkin, apple and pecan pie.

Alison loves helping set the "fancy" table

After the Thanksgiving dishes were cleaned up and pj's were put on, we set up the Christmas tree.

Eliot is at such a fun age and was in awe of how high the tree was.

I could just eat him up!

With some Christmas music on, Uncle Jordan danced the night away with Alison.

I know she felt just like a princess.

Friday morning we celebrated Christmas.

Alison got a new art easel and Eliot got a whole new train track!

Colin was completely happy with his new stuffed animal.

After we had some tea pastries, it was time to play!

The kids worked on some art:

And we did some crafts:

And all the boys played trains.  

If you look hard enough, even Colin is in there...behind Ben.

And Aunt Sophie made cake pops with Alison.

Alison has become quite confident in the kitchen.  She grabbed that mixer from Sophie and said, "I can do it" while her little body was trying to keep up with it whirling around.

And we took some family pictures.

While Kent was snapping some shots of Jordan and Sophie, a snagged some of just our kids.

I am so thankful for all that God has blessed us with.