Christmas Cheer

Like I said in my before post, we had a great Christmas! December flew by so quickly that it is almost a blur. I wanted to re-cap a little on some of the things we did last month.

Julia at the Bus stop

 Julia had Pajama Day a few days before school was out. She was so excited to get to wear these pj's to school, that she counted down the days until it was Pajama Day. Doesn't she look cute? Two days later, Saige and Lydia and I went up to Julia's classroom to enjoy her little Class Christmas party. I was shy to go with my extra kiddos, but Julia really wanted me there, and I really wanted to be there...so I went. It ended up working fine to bring my littles along. A few other parents ended up doing the same thing. Lydia had a great time playing with the classroom toys and acting as if she were part of the class. She even got to have a cookie and hot chocolate with the rest of the kids. It was so sweet.

That evening, we made sugar cookies of our own and then that weekend, we packed up to go to Wyoming and see Aubrey and her fam. We flew out on Christmas eve, so I told the girls that we would bring this special reindeer food to let Santa know where to find us. That reindeer food worked like a charm!

See the glorious snow?

 The flight to Denver (you have to drive the rest of the way to Wyoming) was eventful, and did not dissapoint in leaving me with a story to share. After getting through security and checking Saige in because she's an infant, we got to our gate with about 10 minutes to spare. The two older girls did pretty well obeying and sitting where they were supposed to, but we had one stop in New Orleans, which made for a bit of a long flight for us all. Right after take off in New Orleans, Dave and I decided to sit beside each other for a minute while Julia and Lydia played a game in the seats in front of us. I had asked for some coffee from the flight attendant, so I had that sitting on my tray table in front of me. Lydia decided to reach back between the seats to hold Saige's hand. In so doing, she dumped hot coffee on my lap. It wasn't hot enough to burn me, but I was sopping and embarrassed. There was so much coffee spilled on me, that it was pooling in my seat. Gross!!! It looked like I hadn't made it to the bathroom in time, but that the color of my accident was brown! All I could think was...."I have to sit like this for 2 more hours?" Alas, I am still alive.

Christmas Cookies and a note for Santa

The Hazelet's Tree on Christmas morning

 While we were there, we also got to snuggle Baby Madelyn and the adults took turns going to see movies. Dave and Andy went to see The Hobbit and 007, and Aubrey and I got to go see Les Miserables. Her and I also got to go get our hair cut.

Lydia and her stocking on Christmas morning

 There were two sad parts about our little getaway though. One was that after Christmas, everyone seemed to get one kind of a bug or the other. Julia started out sick with respiratory stuff, and then Aubrey, Andy and Lydia got some kind of a stomach bug. I also came down with what Julia had, and then Julia got a really bad stomach bug 2 days before we left to come home. Dave started feeling a little under the weather the night before we left, but at least Saige didn't get it. I was hoping that the warmer, humid Houston air would soothe my screaming tonsils the minute we got off the plane, but instead of helping very much, somehow I got a horrible stomach bug the day after we got home. Thankfully we are all feeling better now!
The other sad part is that I lost my wedding ring. I wore it to go work-out, so it got separated from my other rings. I'm still hoping and praying it turns up at Aubrey's or in my luggage.

Sweet Baby Madelyn

Isn't she sweet?

Julia holding little Madelyn

Julia was sad to only get limited time with Madelyn because she was sick a lot of the time.

Saigie sleeping on me on our flight home

All in all, we had a great December! Saige got two teeth last month, and Julia discovered just today she has her first loose one. She is so excited! Life is whizzing by, and I can't wait to see what 2013 holds in store! -Amber

A White Christmas

We are having a beautiful time with family. Santa came and left presents, and it snowed on Christmas Eve! We've snuggled with my new niece, had snowball fights, watched Christmas movies, eaten Sugar cookies, had a lot of coffee and a little hot cocoa, and eaten tons of delicious food.

If Aubrey and I lived close to each other, we would: work out together, watch each other's kids, try new restaurants together, have lunch, plan birthday parties for our kids together, shop in Denver and outlet malls together, and watch our kids grow up together.
But, since we can't do that right now, we will have to make the most of our time together. I am so grateful for that time!

Pictures of our trip are to come! I hope that all of you had a Merry Christmas and plan to have a Happy New Year! -Amber

So much to say, so little time!

The month has been packed! A few things that have been going on with us: Celebration at Houston's First Baptist, a small celebration for Julia's Birthday, a Christmas visit with Granny (Dave's mom), milestones and fun, fun, fun!

Singing along at Celebration at HFBC

Cold morning at the bus stop

 My truly Houstonian second born was mad this particular December morning because she was cold. She originally had her hat pulled her over her face because it was cold, but I told her that she had to keep her hat off of her face while walking on the street. It made her very sad to have to expose her face to the elements. When we got to the bus stop, she pulled her hat over her head for a long time. But, I guess she wanted to see what was happening at this point, and was just mad.

Granny came for a visit, and she came bearing gifts. The girls got some beautiful gifts. Granny also made the girls little ponchos that she made herself. They are so cute!

 Last Sunday, the girls got to wear their new Christmas outfits.

I can't get this second picture to delete. So, you get to see her in all her cuteness twice.

 Julia had a little birthday get together instead of a party this year. We took her, Lydia and two of her friends to a Barbie movie. The girls loved watching "The Princess and the Popstar" while eating popcorn, drinking lemonade and then cheese quesadillas. So fun!

My big girl, Saige, is sitting up! She is definitely mobile these days! She can't sit up with out supervision, but she is doing great.

So besides all of this great stuff, Dave and I also went to my work Christmas party, and I won a '46 TV. How fun is that? It's about the same size as our little townhouse living room and we love it.

Merry Christmas to you all! Love, Amber

Julia's 6 Today

We started Julia's 6th birthday with balloons in her room. I ate lunch with her today and brought cupcakes to her class. 

Cupcakes and Balloons at school

 After school, Julia and Lydia watched a movie until Dave got home. We went to chick-fil-a for dinner and birthday ice cream, and then we came home to open presents.

Princess sweatshirts, pajamas and dress-up dress from Grandma Christie and Grandpa Dan. Julia was so excited she squealed!

Thank you Granny! I LOVE it! 

Dave and I got Julia a princess Microphone

We also got her walkie talkies that look like iphones.

Mimi and Papa sent cash for Julia, and she is really looking forward to getting to spend it. We also got to skype with my sister and her family before the girls got their baths and got into bed late.

Julia never ceases to amaze me. It is a dichotomy to me that God blesses us with kids that are so like us, and yet still perplex us so much. Julia continues to act more grown up, and I love seeing her be the person God made her to be. She actually thanked me for putting balloons in her room this morning. I was very surprised and proud that she recognized that balloons in her room were a gift from Dave and I, and not just a normal expectation.
Julia is still extremely outgoing and is always ready to help in unlikely ways. I plan to do a food drive with our little family this year to benefit our community, and our family. Dave, the girls and I plan to go door to door and ask people for canned food to give to an organization in our community called The Faith Center. I think that doing this can drive will help us all, but especially the girls get their minds off of presents for them, and think about the needs of others. --I share this because when I told Julia about doing it, she was so excited. I think it combines her two greatest passions: meeting new people and helping others. I can't wait to see how she uses those gifts when she is an adult.
Our sweet Julia is funny, intelligent and a blessing to us, and hopefully, to others around her. I just wish I could convince her to stop getting older! I love you Julia bean!

Love, Mom

Thanksgiving 2012

Great Thanksgiving Weekend's equal:

• Tons of great food
• Black Friday Shopping with my brother and his wife for their new t.v.
• Saige getting on all fours for the first time
• Watching the Macy's day parade, non-stop football and Disney movies
• Early Christmas presents
• Lots of coffee
• Listening to my daughter's learn Jingle Bells on their new keyboard 
• Christmas music, Christmas music, Christmas music
• Prayers of Thanksgiving
• Dancing as a family 
• Julia doing her best "China Ballet" at home, at Pappasito's, and everywhere
• Lydia and Julia cracking us up!
• Playing board games
• Family
• Pie
• Laughter
• JOY

1 of 5

Ready to add ornaments, garland and ribbon

Saige is a little unsure about helping

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!! -Amber

Partying

Julia was invited to a birthday party about a week ago. Dave stayed home with Lydia and Saige while I took Julia to the party. (Dave had a super sweet tea party with Lydia while we were gone. But that's beside the point.) Houston has some pretty spectacular places to party for birthdays. This particular place had several of the largest group of connected trampolines that I have ever seen or could have dreamed of. I totally wanted to join the kids, but I guess you have to go when all the other adults are going....

Anyway, at the party, I lost track of Julia a few times. The first few times, I found her fairly quickly, but the third time, I got a little concerned. I searched and searched for her and after no luck for a little while, I even asked the party people to call her name over the loud speaker. Before they did, Julia finally came running out of the play room with pizza sauce on her face. "Julia," I said, "Where were you? It's time for pizza a cake in the party room? Did you already eat pizza?" 

"Yeah, I had some right over there."

Ummm...she was at someone else's birthday party eating their overpriced pizza without a moment's hesitation. Good grief.

In other news, Lydia has been making up words lately and then assigning meanings to them that are completely random and bizarre. She is so very imaginative and creative. 

This morning, Lydia and I were singing a song. The actual song, called Jump for Jesus, goes: "He is our rock, and on his word I'll stand..." But Lydia's version went like this: "He is the rocket he's placed in my hand..."

Lydia is never low on crazy antics melodic tunes.

And now for an update on my youngest. Saige is doing great. She had a little rash on her face last week, but it is finally going away now. Unrelated to the rash, Saige also had to get her vaccinations last week. Dave was the lucky parent to take her this time. And, the sweet little baby of ours didn't even cry at all. She moaned during the shots, but didn't cry. Isn't that amazing? I specifically asked Dave if he could take her for her 6 months shots because when I took her last time, she was so upset that we ended up in the doctor's office with all 4 Stewart girls crying. It was just too sad to go through with the same thing with all the girls again. 

Also, Saige has been flipping back and forth across the floor like a little dolphin. And, tonight, I was sitting with her in our living room and puckered up. Before I new it, her sweet little lips were on mine. She did it more than once, so I definitely count this as her first intentional kiss. So sweet!

We are so blessed. Happy Thanksgiving! -Amber

Mitchell Wedding

My brother, Alex, got married to Autumn, and her son Jayden on November 3rd. We were privileged and fortunate enough to be a part of the Louisiana wedding. I will share just the pictures I took on my iphone. But, I can't wait to get the pictures that are on my mom's camera!

Lydia's "flower girl" hair

Sweet Flower girls

Bumming a ride

Honorary flower girl

During the ceremony

The Happy Couple

My sweet hubby and our third born

Dance, dance revolution

It was a very pretty wedding. Aubrey, Andy and Josiah, and baby Madelyn, we missed you. I wish you could have been there. But, I'm glad that we will get to come see you in December.

Love, Amber

Halloween - Back-up Blog

We had a great Halloween! We have more candy than we could ever want, and some fun family time!

Pumpkin Patch at Cornerstone Christian Academy

The girls, Dave and I visited the pumpkin patch with a co-worker of mine and her son. It was actually nice and chilly that night. 

The cutest pumpkin in the patch

 On Halloween, I picked Julia up from school, and we drove to Dave's office. I wanted to go to meet his coworkers. The girls were interested in collecting candy.

Riding the Elevator

 I wanted to get a picture of the girls together before everything got started on Halloween, but we didn't. :( So, of course, things never slowed down enough that I got one of them all together...

I thought it was cute that we had a little group of insects for Halloween this year; Julia: lady bug, Lydia: butterfly, Saige: Bumble bee. However, Lydia was adamant that her costume represented a rainbow fairy, and not a butterfly. So, for Halloween, we only had two insects and one little rainbow fairy.

Daddy and his Bumble Bee

 After going to Dave's office, we all headed to First Fest at Houston's First Baptist Church. The girls sang with High Five Kids Choir, enjoyed games, and collected MORE candy.

Bull Riding Lydia

Bull Riding Julia

My girlies after trick-or-treating

After First Fest, Dave, Julia and Lydia came back and trick-or-treated for a few minutes. We laid the exhausted Miss Saige down, and I stayed home to pass out these candies:

Turns out there isn't as much community gathering as we had hoped in our townhouse neighborhood. But, we got the chance to pass out the rest of the candy at the bus stop in the mornings following Halloween.

Like I said, we had a great Halloween! Thanks for reading! -Amber

Growth

My pastor touched on something not too long ago that got me thinking about my life. In essence, he said that with growth comes complications and sometimes pain, but that the growth is still worth it. I thought about this statement until I came to the undeniable conclusion that this is so true in every aspect of our lives. A quick example: all parents want their children to grow, but watching them do so is bittersweet and sometimes hard. (Of course, the real pain comes when kids hit the teenage years, but I've yet to learn about that.)

Even though all parents know that growth is a natural and essential part of life, it is still painful to watch at times. When my kids first learned to walk, we were so excited, but then they got their first skinned knees and my heart leapt. Or what about this heart clencher: your child makes a friend for the first time, and that friend ends up letting your little one down. How do you teach them to grow through that situation into forgiveness. Especially when you may not feel very much like forgiving that kid yourself?

Our little family has experienced growth in many ways over the last few years. Obviously we've had growth in family numbers, with our newest addition, Saige. --I wouldn't trade any of my kids for anything in the world, but I'll be darned if they don't make my life a heck of a lot more difficult. As we add more little ones to our family we experience less sleep and alone time, but more joy and fulfillment then our lives would ever have had if we didn't have them. (Lydia is currently singing her abc's very loudly and kicking me in the back. Concentrating is increasingly difficult.)

Then there is growth in my new business. I love being a real estate agent. And, I've really been challenged to get out of my comfort zone and form relationships with people while asking for referrals for them to buy or sell real estate with me. It is uncomfortable, but, so good! I've already made so many relationships with people that I normally wouldn't have. It's not because these people aren't great! It's because I sometimes tend to be more of a people watcher than a conversation starter. I get a little shy.

So, those are some of the areas me and my family have grown in lately. It's not to mention growing spiritually, sending my eldest kid to kindergarten, or trying to shrink my post baby size (which is the opposite of growing...). How have you grown lately?
I'd love to have your comments below.

P.S. Growth give me writer's block. Sorry I haven't been on here in a while. It's my goal to get back on top of blogging.

P.S.S. What keeps me going while growing? Please see the picture below: