Things Remembered...

We really had a great Christmas this year. Both kids were old enough to really enjoy it and I wanted to record some of the things said and done so we can remember them for years to come.

Top left: Joash, Christian, Parker
Bottom left: Macey, Caleb, Hailey

~ We got to meet our two new nephews, Christian and Joash. My bro-in-law and sis-in-law had been in the adoption process for what seemed like forever and they finally got to bring their new sons home in October. It was great getting to meet them and getting to know them. Next year is going to be insane. There will be 8 grandkids on the Titus side of the family but we are definitely looking forward to getting them all together again next Christmas.
~We started a new tradition in our house this year. I picked up this nativity set at Family Bookstore that you start the week before Christmas and each day you open a little present that comes with it and inside is one of the people from the Christmas story. The set is called "What God wants for Christmas" and the last day, Christmas day, you open the present and there is a little mirror inside showing that God wants you for Christmas. It has a little booklet in it on how to lead children to Christ. It is such a neat little set. Hailey really enjoyed it. She didn't really get the last day with the mirror but she is only three. I look forward to doing that with our kids for years to come.

~ Both kids got just a ton of new toys. I wish I would have had it on video when Hailey opened her present from her uncle Seth. A few weeks ago he asked her what she wanted and she said she wanted a baby with yellow curly hair that eats and drinks. When she opened her present from him on Christmas Eve her eyes got huge and she exclaimed "It's exactly what I wanted!" He had gotten her a Baby Alive doll and it literally was exactly what she wanted.

~Some friends of ours had gotten a Thomas the Tank Engine table and a whole box of tracks and trains and accessories from a friend of theirs and they gave it to us to give to the kids so we decided to use it as Caleb's Christmas present. When he came downstairs Christmas morning he saw the train table and squirmed his was out of Randy's arms and ran to it and started saying "Too-Too...Too-Too!" So cute!
~Hailey spent most of the month of December walking around the house singing random portions of Christmas carols with her own lyrics. I really wish I would have been writing them down but here are a few that I remember...I may add more as I hear her singing them because I'm sure she will still be singing them still after the tree is down and the ornaments and stockings are put away.
  ..."Shuck the halls..."
  ..."Vashing to the snow, in a one horse soap and sleigh, Oh the fills we know, I don't want to stay..."

~Caleb got  a Cozy Coupe car from my parents for Christmas and that was the "item of choice" (meaning it was what the kids fought over) for three or four days after he got it.

He boxes out like his momma

~Caleb also got a LIttle Tikes basketball goal from my parents and he was so excited about it. Every time he would make a basket he would say "OOOOHHHHH"

~Nena and Poppa (Randy's parents) got a hotel room at the Marriott so all the kids could go swimming on Christmas night. It was so much fun and the kids had a blast! It was fun to be able to take them swimming in the middle of winter and they got to swim out all of their Christmas energy. I think it may be a new tradition our family is starting and I am pretty excited about that. And yes, I did actually get my pregnant self in a swimsuit. It's for the kids...
There were so many fun memories this Christmas. I wish I could remember more of them. I am so thankful for friends and family to spend it with.