Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Just thought I would attempt a little update on our lives this last year in a quick Christmas letter. We weren't on top of things enough to actually send out Christmas cards or get a Christmas photo taken. We have tried some photos with the kids and trying to get them all to look and smile might pose a problem. So here we go with the digi-card :)

We are so thankful for all that God has given us this past year. The biggest this year was surviving the first year with twins. I would say after the first 6 months, things have gotten progressively easier. Not that it is easy or anything, but much much more manageable and enjoyable. Rachel turned 2 in August and then the twins had their first birthday in October. That year looks like it went super fast, but I know it was full of long days and nights. The kids are all growing so fast. The twins are walking and saying a few words each now. Both are learning some sign language about what Rachel did at their age too. Meanwhile, Rachel is imitating everything we say and do. She is loving playing with her manger scene. Everyday she says, "Good News, Baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem!" She is so excited.

Dana continues to love being involved in the police department. This past year Dana's shift allowed him to be home with me and the kids all morning. What a help that was and a joy for him to get to play with the kids and watch them grow so much over the year. Next year will be a new change for us in that Dana will be working a day shift, something he hasn't done since we were married. This will free up our evenings to get more involved with our church as small group leaders this year and enjoy dinner together as a family. Hopefully I can survive all day with the kids this year. We will be making many play dates I think.

Overall, I am so thankful for the blessings of love from our family and friends and for the good things God allows us to have and experience and His mercy for us.

Praise the Lord.

Love
Dana & Trisha
Rachel, Lauren, & Elizabeth

Thanksgiving

Lately I have been trying to transition all of us back to normal. After vacations it seems almost that I need to get back to normal more than the kids it seems. I love vacation because I get so much extra help with the kids, then when it is back to reality I seem to get overwhelmed. Lately, I have been in pretend world forever. I got out the Christmas "little people" nativity scene for Rachel and all she wants to do is play Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. I love it that she is learning about Jesus and all, but living in play world is a little trying for me. It will be nice when all the kids play together. I have liked to see how much Rachel learns when I do play with her, because she is learning so many new words and phrases. It is amazing what she says and how she uses it. Today I was telling her something and she wasn't totally understanding me so she said, "what are you talking about mom?" Just like a little adult. It seems that she is learning a lot, but also trying me in her behavior too. She has started into really whining. I had been trying to "talk" with her when she does it to get her to use words to figure out what is upsetting her. But I have seen that is futile, so I have started doing timeouts. It seems to work and she ends up behaving better. Especially at lunch. She hasn't been eating well at lunch time if at all. So in the beginning if she whines I am putting her in time out right away no warning, and she is doing much better. Even so, it is so hard to keep it up. I totally know that other moms are feeling it too, especially as winter approaches. I am also wondering what next year is going to hold for us. Dana's shift will be during the day mon-thurs. So instead of having help in the morning, Dana will be there for some of dinner and bedtime. Hopefully I can get showers in there sometime.

Someone just rang our doorbell and woke up Lauren and Rachel form their naps!! Ugggh...