The Growing Caldwell Family

As we were recovering from the flu, Maw Maw and GG came to visit.  We enjoyed them being here, but wished that we had been well and able to spend more time with them.   We enjoyed the evenings that we spent together and hope that they make the trip again soon.  

December has been a rough month for us, but the hardest part came on December 23rd when we heard that Aaron's Mamma passed away.  When I started writing this blog, it was because of her.  I knew how much it pained her to have a great grandchild so far away and wanted a way for her to feel connected to us.  Even at eighty-nine, she was an avid reader of the blog.  Blogging can feel a little lonely because people know about your life and don't feel the need to reach out and chat about what is happening.  She would send me regular emails to comment on what we were up to and share a bit about their life.  She always thanked me for writing the blog and let me know how much it meant to her.  I'm thankful we were able to stay connected that way.  We are grateful that she is at peace and finally with Jesus, where she has waited to be.  At the same time, we are sad for ourselves that she isn't here with us.  I hope Sarah Graves will remember the fun she had playing stickers with

I really liked our Christmas card this year! Santa came!  SG's big wishes were a bike and the Bitty twins!  Charlie didn't verbalize any wishes so Santa guessed a toy wagon, boy baby doll, singing Mickey, or dump truck would be favorites. The bike with a seat for her baby and an Ariel helmet were a huge hit! His car ride on was the first thing he went to. She got a princess play tent from Maw Maw that they both love! Toy guitars for both were a hit. A cowgirl dress up set was fun for a bit... Pulling his baby in his wagon - after he tried to wedge himself in the wagon! We all had coordinating Christmas pjs and I forgot to get a photo of us all together! We had a relaxing time at our house with Aunt Nay there to look at Santa and open some presents.  We enjoyed a tasty breakfast of sausage balls and pigs in a blanket thanks to Nay as well as a healthy dose of candy from our stockings!  Then, we made the quick trip to Mom an

Christmas Eve went by fast!  We face timed with Grancy while the kids opened their gifts from her.  It was chaotic as they both wanted to open and unpackaged their things at the same time and Aaron needed to hold the phone!  They loved unwrapping their new things! I used nap time to get our Christmas Eve dinner going.  I planned a simple menu that was inspired by a dinner party my friend Sarah posted about on her blog - braised short ribs served over a goat cheese polenta with my favorite salad with strawberries and poppy seed dressing.  For dessert I made a doughnut bread pudding that was simple and so delicious I have made it again already! I thoroughly enjoyed our meal and it was pretty simple to pull together when we came home from Christmas Eve mass.  Our church does a very simple pageant for the children's service that let's them participate in an impromptu sort of way.  Sarah Graves chose to be an angel (an ironic choice given our struggles to g

We received a precious gift that really warmed my heart from my dear friend, Sarah.  She also sent me a beautiful note that was just what I needed at the end of a long, difficult week.   She organized pictures from the blog to show what we have been up to this year!  Sarah Graves and I had so much fun looking at the pictures and remembering the fun times we have had.

Rainbow  Bobby has been back since Thanksgiving and he sure does bring a lot of fun! Along with his crazy antics, he has brought us a box to donate toys so that Santa can get toys to more kids who really need them.  He brought us a letter from Santa inviting us to brunch with Santa and he also brought a note inviting SG to see Madeline's Christmas as a special outing for her with me and Lovie. He does do some funny things and we have a few pictures to remember his magical fun. Relaxing with a good book on a dollhouse bed sized just right for him! Who knew that Rainbow Bobby and Elmo enjoyed playing Don't Break the Ice, too! He really enjoyed his chair made out of Duplos. Rainbow Bobby got into the stickers! He enjoyed some cookies! Apparently, elves enjoy taking marshmallow baths!

I feel overwhelmed and a bit frenzied with Christmas next week.  I thought we were on the ball until we all got the flu and I missed a week of work.  Then, as we were recovering from that, Sarah Graves and I had a stomach bug.  I am terribly behind at work and at home.  Christmas cards are slowly getting done; Christmas gifts have been purchased, but aren't wrapped; gifts have to be shipped in the next day in order to be sure they reach their out of town recipients; I don't have any goodies baked; Lucy hasn't been to see Santa; and despite our efforts, this house looks like the mob tossed it!  In addition to the Christmas activities we are enjoying, SG's classmates are turning 4 and we will go to our 3rd birthday party this month on Sunday. We are having a lot of fun and I will get the pictures edited and posted, but this week I am working hard to make headway on our preparations for Christmas. To keep us all connected during this busy time, I have tried to spend some s

I wasn't sure what Charlie would think of Santa, so I planned multiple visits to see Santa in order to give him time to warm up. It turns out, Charlie isn't afraid of Santa and in fact likes to pretend that he is Santa! This visit was when Santa came to SG's school! After our trip to see Santa, Charlie decided to play Santa! He puts on his hat, puts his chair on top of the play table, and exclaims, "Merry Christmas! Ho Ho Ho!" Then, we want to eat him alive! Oh, the cuteness!

We went to brunch with Santa and had a great time!  The food was delicious, there were only a few families there, and we had a relaxed time seeing Santa.  Sarah Graves thought about her Santa hat that morning and was very excited to wear it to see Santa.   She happily climbed up on his lap and had a little chat with him telling him about the bike that she wants.   Charlie was less than impressed with Santa!  I had to put him on Santa's lap anyway! Charlie enjoyed his breakfast a lot! All in all, it was a low stress way to see Santa and we had a great meal doing it!