Gingerbread House, Lights and Family

I don't know about you, but I've held my babies a lot closer this week, thinking about the parents who will never again get that privilege. We made a gingerbread house, which started out on a cozy day with hot chocolate and perfect little rows of candy and ended with crying baby and smears of frosting everywhere but we had fun making memories with our $3 clearance kit from after Christmas last year.

 We were finally able to slow down this week and do cozy Christmas things. Baking, Christmas movies and music, and the trail of lights. The kids loved it. Watching their faces light up with delight at each light scene was priceless. Nate and I stood back and watched, smiling from ear to ear, as they sqealed out each thing that caught their attention.

 "Mommy, a LOLIPOP!! Look, it's Mator! Can we walk in the snow?" It was a great light show, and the best part was we didn't have to fight the huge crowds in the city--our small town put it on and they did an amazing job! It was actually better than the city one anyway.

This weekend has been spent on a mini-vacation with family and it's been perfect. Being away from home allows for extra time to enjoy the few days before Christmas. Even though we've shopped and baked, it's been a lot of relaxing, talking and laughing. Family is one of the main things I love about Christmas anyway. Blog post to come later this week.

 I hope you all have an amazing Christmas. Hug your loved ones tight, cherish every moment, and thank God for sending his son to earth to give us this wonderful life we live.

Newtown

Nate an I arrived home late from a party tonight. We thanked our babysitter, got a report on how they were and walked her to the door. The party we went to was for couples--games, lots of food and a fun gift exchange. A normal Christmas activity that I felt guilty enjoying. I came upstairs with tears in my eyes to kiss my sleeping babies. Brookie's hand was over her head and I could see her red and green manicure I gave her earlier. I kissed her cheek, she stirred, and I stepped back to stare at her beautiful face. I glanced at Nathan, his stomach and chest rising and falling with each breath he took, his blue blanket partly over his face how he likes to sleep. Joe turned his head and sighed after I kissed his cheek and I stared at his face a well. It was routine but it was slow motion as I took extra time to take it all in. 40 parents tonight didn't have that priviledge. Their babies were ripped out of their arms today by an evil monster who slaughtered them in cold blood. They kissed them goodbye in the morning, not knowing that the next time they would see them would be to identify their little bodies. The shock, the horror, the anger and the devestation...they are feeling it all, and we are feeling it with them. Our hearts break for you, Mother's, Father's, family and friends of the victims in Newtown.Your children will never be forgotten.

 To those, like me, who are trying to wrap our heads around what those parents are feeling: hug them tighter, kiss them longer, get off the phone, get off the computer, and live life in slow motion. You might not have tomorrow but you have THIS minute. Take it all in.